I am proud to represent France in the Royal French Guard. I have recently been promoted to the head of a small group of men who guard the Cathédrale Notre Dame. My family is very proud of me, as this is a very high honour to receive at the young age of 18. My mother butchered one of the pigs we keep in the yard, and we made a special dinner to celebrate my new position. We shared the news of my promotion with as many as would listen, but the news was not received with much enthusiasm. This seems to be the case with anything that is related to the great King Louis XIV, or the Roman Catholic Faith.I have noticed recently that less and less people seem to be pleased with the actions of the King, and are vocally expressing their dissatisfaction with this country. At my post, I have begun to hear discontent with the way this county is being run. I often hear others call rudely to me as well as my superiors, vulgar words describing the King, his wife, and many people of a higher standing than they will ever be. It appears that they wish to rise above their social standings and in doing so make comments that are totally above their station. I cannot deny that it does not anger me that people who have not worked nearly as hard as I enjoy privileges that are well beyond my own, however, this is not in my right to say. Sometimes I do imagine rising above what I have now, though I am honoured to have it, and becoming a wealthy man with privileges I do not have now. However I remain loyal to the King, and believe that my wishes and those of my fellow people will eventually be met. The people on the streets say they are preaching ideas of progress and have new enlightened ideas, stating that they want the monarch to have a responsibility to them, but what they do not seem to realize is that the most important duty they will ever have in life is to serve their King loyally and well. The difficult economic times we have been experiencing recently, with the shortage of bread and heavy taxes has been hard on everyone, my family included, but we will eventually get past it with the help of our King, and grow into a more prosperous and strong nation.

-Jacques Pétain, Guard in the Royal French Army