Nineteen-year-old Louise de X*** was quite a beauty, and a celebrity at the court of the King. Unfortunately, she combined this with childish petulance, disrespect for elders, impertinence, and general obnoxiousness. Since she was generally wise enough not to offend the King directly, and he was often amused by her antics, she remained at his court. One day, after hearing about her latest exploits, he quipped “The lass would deserve a good whipping.”.

It is said that King Henry II of England, by saying “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”, set the wheels in motion for Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, to be murdered. It is unknown whether he actually wished for it, or if it was just an expression of frustration. Well…

A few days later the King’s utterance, Louise was invited by the Baroness of A*** to an event at her residence. To her surprise, she was taken to a bedroom, and the door closed behind her, the Baroness, and a group of female servants. The Baroness addressed her

“Our Lord and master the King said that you deserved a whipping. Please raise your dress and petticoats and lay face down on this bed.”

Louise’s eyes open wide and she stood there, helpless, for an instant, before regaining her senses and running for the door. This reaction was expected, and the servants soon grabbed her. Four women, used to manual work, were too much for Louise, despite her kicking and cries. She soon was thrown onto the bed. Each of her limbs was held by one woman. Lifting the dress and petticoats out of the way while holding her down was difficult, but she was alone against five women, and her derrière ended up bare.

“Josette? She kicked you, right? I guess she earned an extra. Spank her as you would an unruly child.”

Josette was quite happy to get an opportunity for revenge. It’s not often that a lowly cook gets an offer to spank a noble woman’s bottom! A volley of spanks colored pink Louise’s whitish behind, despite the young woman’s protests.

“There, there. Thank you, Josette. Now for the whipping.”

The Baroness was by then holding what the French would refer to nowadays as a martinet, a shorter, lighter version of a cat o’ nine tails, with smooth lashes, meant for chastising children. Indeed, Louise was about to undergo a punishment more suitable to a 11 year old than to a 19 year old attending kingly court.

The short and light martinets are meant to sting a lot while not causing lasting damage to the skin. Louise’s behind was soon severely smarting. Her cries of protest turned into sobs, and the redness of her behind intensified. As she was held down from her four limbs, legs apart, her attempts at wriggling away just had her show to the servant what a lady normally never shows.

“There you are. You can let her go.”

Louise took a moment before rising up. Adverting the women’s gaze, her tearful face down, she brought her petticoats and dress back into shape.

The Baroness had a little smile when she noticed that the bed and Louise's clothing were wet. The lass had peed herself. Well, that will teach her, too!

Louise tried protesting to the King; but the Baroness just had to remind her King of his own words. For a while, Louise did not appear at court, for the word of her misadventures had spread. But the court’s attention span was short; two months after these events, Louise was back— but far more prudent and considerate than before.