Conseil du Royaume

**_Tristan_** · 09-25-2009, 09:19

Philippe smiles to the assembled nobles.

Ah, Constance... Ever the one for surprises it seems... I had heard from one of her maid that some young Italian lad had caught her eye, but knowing my daughter I was surprised to hear her talk of marriage...

Nevertheless the man is of good standing, part of the Venetian ruling family and with a claim to the Doge seat, even if tenuous. And if he's willing to deal with Constance, I wish all the good to him...

To the newly weds !! (Philippe raises a goblet brought by a servant for a toast)

To celebrate such a joyful occasion, I think it is high time I made amends... A good ruler should recognize when or where he's in the wrong, and that I have been these past few years...

I wish to apologize to Duc Alain for the harshness in words and deeds I may have displayed against him and his House.

He surely didn't make things easy on him but I can allow for his surliness and anger with the unfair treatment I've been giving him.

I set him as Senechal a difficult mission, a mission at which he didn't balk or quail in fear at but tried to accomplish to the best of his abilities. He succeeded in what few could have accomplished : taking land on the British Isle under the nose of Guillaume, a thorn in the British lion side, a thorn which may serve us well to kick the English out of France.

And this was accomplished while he also had to manage the day-to-day life of the Royaume as Senechal, a balancing feat few ould have been capable of.

I hope Alain will accept my apologies and should he do so, I offer him as a reconcilation gift the good city of Bruges, as a token of my faith in him to be a good servant of the Royaume.

Should he accept the gift, all I would require of him is to release the men garrisoning Bruges and send them back to Paris to bolster the defences of our Capital City.

**OverKnight** · 09-25-2009, 09:28

Hugues bows to the King.

A gracious offer your Majesty.

Hugues looks expectantly at Alain.

I am sure the Duc will accept.

A tinge of doubt can be heard in his voice.

**Braden** · 09-25-2009, 09:50

*Prince Henri dutifully reads the Sceneshals reports*

My lords, it is a great pity that the Pope chooses this moment to Excommunicate the English is it not. We have lost one good holding in Iberia and 1,700 florins but Gods will is done and to this end the calls of this council to strike at England must be considered in more detail and seriously. Should we not strike at a neighbour who has fallen so far...what would the Pope feel towards us? I sincerely hope that we take this opportunity to unify France fully and completely. Whilst I do not believe an assault on Englands isles is prudent we could again look to Valencia as another avenue of battle with the English once, and only once, the remaining provinces of France are in our rightful hands.

The Germans worry me still of course but I believe that the Kings army near Frankfurt and the garrison at Dijon will be sufficient to stifle incursions from both the Upper and Lower Rhine areas, especially if the Kings Army withdraws to a point between Frankfurt and Metz.

My sister Constance, I wish her all happiness...for truly to have a daughter so rapidly after marriage must indicate happiness...I will miss her deeply though but her husband seems to have the makings of a significant governor and in the near future I hope that we will have need of such people when we take back what is ours.

**OverKnight** · 09-25-2009, 10:05

Hugues nods a bit sheepishly.

I am not a seer. I made the best deal I could with the knowledge I had at the time.

I expect there to be much discussion in the Conseil about war with England and a possible Crusade.

However, the Germans have not rolled over. They still hide behind the Pope's robes and regain their strength. If we strip our Realm of forces to pursue a Crusade, we open up ourselves to German invasion. While I am working toward developing the finances of the Kingdom, I do not believe we are strong enough, yet, to support two wars at once.

**deguerra** · 09-25-2009, 10:05

Prince Henri, forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but your desire for war worries me. I understand that you youths need to get some blood smeared on you to cover up the wetness behind your ears, but I for one strongly discourage any sort of armed conflict against yet another foe when we have not even managed to come to a settlement in the last rash war.

In any case, it is my belief that our rightful lands in France can be reclaimed with a minimum of bloodshed, most preferably through negotiation. Now that they have managed to incur the wrath of his holiness, who seems to change his mind more swiftly than a child of three, they will all the more be looking for a friend. I do not speak for an alliance with Albion, but surely even they must recognise their position is hardly strong (OOC: If only Raoul knew about the Total War AI).

Finally, let me congratulate Constance on her marriage, even though the nationality of the groom is only outmatched in curiosity by his age.

**Braden** · 09-25-2009, 10:16

My lord Châtillon,

You would have us negotiate with a King who has been judged Heretic? I speak of war with only the English…as a Frenchman this is not a “desire” but a necessity. The English have shown themselves to NOT be willing to negotiate at a level that we can match again.

They accepted our offer of TWO provinces AND significant coin for Caen. Surely they only accepted such a generous offer after they heard they were to be Excommunicated? Gathering provinces and coin to defend themselves…if I had been English, it is as I would have done.

I am also certain that all our hard efforts, from our hard working Seneschal, would be adversely affected if the Papacy discover we are talking in favourable terms with the English.

We have been handed an opportunity by Gods representative on Earth to reclaim our historic lands and, as a Catholic and Frenchman I cannot ignore such an opportunity.

The Germans are NOT finished, I concur, but the danger to our East is outweighed by the benefits shown us to the West…you must also note that such a campaign in the West would not have my direct involvement. I pledge to hold the Germans back with my blood and my blade so that others can free our people from the English heretic.

**Ituralde** · 09-25-2009, 10:50

I congratulate the Princess on her marriage and welcome Barbus Selvo as new member of the Royal Family! I also congratulate Seneshal Hugues for his succesful negotiation witht he English. Had we known then what we know now things might have gone a different path, but at least now that the English have shown their true colors we have a well developed Castle in our midst to wage war against them!

And waging war against them is our duty as Christians. We can not stand back while the subjects of William are damned for the deeds of their ruler. I suggest we gather our forces as fast as possible and slay the traitor personally. Only in killing King William can we save the souls of the English!

**_Tristan_** · 09-25-2009, 11:10

Philippe nods at Alain.

I also accept your apologies, Duc Alain.

Then turning to the rest of the assembled Lords

Mes Seigneurs,

France must truly be favoured by God, to find such a godsend in our path.

The excommunication of Guillaume grants us enough cause to ask Pope Gregory to call a Crusade on London to get rid of my cousin and his willingness to see France as his kingdom.

Should the Pope accede to our own demand I'll be the first to take the cross and take my newly assemble army across the Channel to bring him Guillaume to the justice of God.

Long have we suffered the insults of having to tolerate their encroaching presence upon our lands.

It is my prerogative to declare war on the enemies of France and let me assure you that should the Pope hear our plea, I'll declare war on the Bastard and his minions.

Pour la France ! Pour Dieu !

**_Tristan_** · 09-25-2009, 14:17

Philippe looks at the back of Hugues tromping out and turns to Alain.

Pray tell us what better way to ensure the safe return of Bretagne's men than to bring forth to England mighty armies to purge that land of Saxon and Norman presence ? Surely if we could take London, Le Sueur and Rochefort could find their way back there... They must have gathered a few words of the English tongue by now and should be able to ask their way from the local peasantry ?

And let's not forget by whose fault these men are in the quandary they are... Our intention to give Caernavon back to Guillaume has been known for countless years now... Why didn't Alain take his vassals on board when he sailed out ? Why didn't he leave some mercenaries there rather ? Men we could have forsaken without thinking twice on the matter...

I maintain we must grab our chance to strike back while it is there for us. We must not delay our assault.

Duc Alain, you're of course welcome to join in the fray... Angers would be a fine addition to your Duchy, as my son has his signts set on Bordeaux.

**AussieGiant** · 09-25-2009, 10:14

Alain stands slowly and bows to the King.

Your Majesty, I accept your sincere apology 'ere in zis shamber and give you mine in return. I apologies for my past tone and anger toward ze King.

I appreciate ze words you 'ave spoken 'ere which go a long way towards creating a better understand of what occurred all zose years ago.

Zank you my King.

I will move my seat to Bruges and send you ze requested troops to Paris as soon as I 'ave ze city garrisoned.

Some what stiffly Alain continues.

I also congratulate Princess Constance on 'er marriage and wish 'er good 'ealth and 'appiness in ze future.

There is a stiffled laugh by members of his retinue at the last statement. Medoc turns and grumbles his displeasure, quietening the situation immediately.