Re: French Court (IC Thread)
Baronet Hermant Tanlay stands and clears his throat.
Noblemen of the Court, Chancellor and Prince Louis, I am but a lowly Baronet, not a man of great rank or prestige. Yet my lands stand watch at the far north of France's domain. Beyond my walls is nothing more than the untamed wilderness and wild Scotsmen. Indeed, the garrison of my city, York, is the front line of all of Western Civilization. Pagans and wolves lie to the north, and we shield true Christians from their wrath. And yet, we are vulnerable.
I have trained the men available to me to the best of my ability, but they are simply peasants and there is only so much that can be done. In the event of an invasion by the Scots or an uprising by the Welsh or other rebels, York will be powerless to resist them. Indeed, I note with concern that there is only one army in all of Albion that is even capable of confronting an enemy in the field: Viscount Henry's Private Army. Even this force is easily the weakest of all of France's armies. It is mainly composed of mercenaries, and not even ones of great quality. Indeed, in this entire army there are only two regiments of true French soldiers, a regiment of Knights and a regiment of unarmored Spearmen.
During times such as these, I hear much about concerns to the south and east, yet no one speaks for the deplorable state of our defenses in the north. True, the Scots are our allies at the moment, but they are a fickle people. The Scots have never been true friends with the rulers of England, whether those rulers hailed from London, Normandy, or Île-de-France. Give them a chance, and they will assail us, I assure you.
I ask the Chancellor to find some room in the budget for some small improvements to the defenses of Albion. I ask not for any great expenditures, simply an investment in our defense and future that may give us a small chance of success in the event of betrayal or rebellion. First, a few watchtowers to control the countryside and watch the border. Second, a fort along the Scottish border with which to delay any invasion. Third, the recruitment of some small number of true French soldiers for the border. Finally, an investment in the facilities of Caernarvon so that they may at least field the most basic of archers.
These investments may not be easy given the demands of other fronts, but I think they are small requests for the defense of an entire House. A House led by your own brother, my Prince. It should not be difficult to find a few hundred florins a year that can be diverted to cold Albion.
My thanks for your time, nobleman of the Court and my Prince.
*Baronet Tanlay bows and sits.*
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