Conseil du Royaume

[econ21]

My Lords, this display of collective hand wringing ventures on the absurd.

It is the settled will of all of us that we reclaim our lands from the English, is it not? Some of us have endeavoured to secure this by peaceful means, even going so far as proposing an alliance to achieve that. But, no, offering friendship with the English was going too far. The possibility of using war to reclaim what was rightfully ours was always there and never rejected by any one of you.

It is the settled will of all of us that we ally with Scotland, but now that that nation is being overrun by the English and the English have been excommunicated by the Pope, that sympathy is forgotten. We are members of a Catholic church. That church has rules. To wantonly kill fellow Christians in an war of aggression is a crime against God. The English were warned. They knew the consequences, but they persevered. If Scotland falls, where next will they turn? It takes little imagination to fathom. Obeying the will of the Holy Father is not a war of aggression - it is obedience, duty, piety.

In the east, we were attacked. We defended ourselves vigorously. A little too vigorously for the Pope and so now we must halt there. We will not abandon that frontier, nor lose homes if we turn against the outcast. The skill of our generals, the fortitude of our men have been proven season after season. Our King has demonstrated how much he can achieve with so little. As has our Dauphin and indeed our Seneschal. I am firm in my conviction that we can join a crusade while defending the east. Indeed, those opposing the English crusade seem of like mind, since they instead propose a crusade on the Moors.

It is simple. The Pope has excommunicated the English for their aggression against the Scots. If we do not march on them, our brother Catholics will. Do we abandon our duty and our lost lands? Our goal is clear and the King has stated it with no equivocation. We must petition the Pope for a crusade on England. All that remains is implementation and I humbly suggest that we trust our Seneschal with that responsibility, by passing Edict 1.3.

[i]Hermant bows before the Conseil and respectfully leaves the chamber. OOC: not a walkout, just got stuff to do.]

[AussieGiant]

There is a cracking sound, Alain speaks.

"Ze Pope 'as called for no Crusade.

'e 'as simply excommunicated ze English, zere is a difference my lords!!

We could 'ave asked for a crusade against ze Muslims at any time in ze last decade or two but we did not, likewise no ozer Cazolic kingdom or ze Pope 'imself 'as either.

If ze Pope 'imself wishes to take ze matter fuzer zen we should let 'im decide if zere is to be a crusade against ze English.

So I say again, if we are to be vaguely honourable and chivalrous we should make simple war against ze English for our lands on the continent. We should not parley ze Pope's displeasure for our own secular aims. If a crusade is to be called zen let ze Pope decide, if at all."

[KnightnDay]

Crusade or no, Angers and Bordeaux should be set free and now is the time. I do not, as one put it, feign interest in the well being of peasants. Their suffering under English rule is true, and their excommunication only furthers their anguish. If any man here questions my integrity on the matter, let him accuse me directly, and I will have satisfaction. On my honor, I believe we have every reason to free our brothers and sisters under the English yoke in Angers and Bordeaux.

[ULC]

Although I do care for those laboring under English rule, Thomas, a point in which I will have to disagree with you, I do agree that the Royuame should be liberated first. I think this Council is laboring under some false perception of what is going on in English lands, but, since you are all educated men, this cannot be, can it?

Surely you would all know that excommunication is simply a proclamation? Giving voice to what has already happened? And that the intent with any excommunication is to force the offender to repent? That it is a medicinal penalty, not a vindictive one? That those excommunicated are still christian?

Surely you all realize that the Pope excommunicated William and his generals - not the English as a whole, not all of Albion? That to excommunicate the English people, it requires an Interdict? And that even under an Interdict, it is medicinal, a way to have those ousted from the sacrament to repent? That those under the Interdict are still christian?

But, obviously those asking for a Crusade must know of this, since they have such boundless knowledge of God and the Pope's will. They must know that when they kill the English in London or upon the field, that they kill fellow christian men in the name of God.

Surely I cannot be mistaken, and those calling for a crusade are ignorant of both the actions taken by the Pope, and the circumstances in lands under English rule, can I?

[woad&fangs]

Bertin enters the Conseil. He is visibly shaken by some recent event.

I second edict 1.4.

After taking several long gulps of wine to calm his nerves Bertin rises again.

I second edict 1.5..

[Ituralde]

It seems the Nobles of France have spoken. This is nothing but an opportunity to take English land without fear of the Pope interfering. It saddens me to hear this, I only hope that the voted legislation will show a different picture.

To the righteousness of a Crusade against the English, this would be entirely up to the Pope, who despite different opinions voiced here is the direct representative of God on earth! So I am not concerned about legal word-trading. If God wills it the Pope will let us know, if not then there is still time for William to repent while you ravish his lands.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

Yvon breaths deeply his face taking on a bored expression once again

Yes, yes, In Nomine Dei Patri. Good luck with that.

I am finding it more and more difficult to take part in this. Many of you seem so full of self-righteousness you can not see the course you are taking. May god save you all.

Yvon turns and leaves the council chamber

[Ramses II CP]

Edict 1.5 is a direct challenge to the authority of the King to distribute lands as he sees fit. It is extremely distasteful for anyone to propose such nonsense.

In addition, as Edict 1.3 has not been altered I must amend my own edict to counter the nonsense:

Edict 1.1a War shall be declared upon the Kingdom of England immediately. All provinces conquered in this war shall be considered ratified at the time of conquest.

Provision 6a (The Hermant Provision) Where this edict contradicts others that are passed, this edict takes precedence, especially over other edicts that claim they take precendence.

Now, let's stop acting like a bunch of bloody ninnies concentrated on our own vapid political machinations. I will join Gaetan de Rethel in refusing to take up the cross for merely territorial reasons, and I will also point out that no one has asked for a Moorish crusade in this emergency session! You embarass yourselves dragging out that old cow from decades ago. Yes, it is a future ambition to aid our allies in Iberia, but it is not on the table today as far as I am aware.

Furthermore it is not petty to reclaim our stolen lands from my father's former, traitorous vassal, William. Bordeaux is ours! Valencia was ours, conquered at great cost by my men, and paid for with no small quantity of my own blood! Pamplona certainly cannot be left to the English, although quite honestly I think the Spanish might need it more than we do.

Have any of you idiots actually spoken to the men from Caernarvon? I've sent Sir de Rochefort, the nominal commander there, a message and am awaiting a reply. Until we hear from him let's stop acting hysterical about the danger they're in. I think we can be fairly confident he'd laugh at you girls throwing your hands up and delaying our whole nation's plans on his account.

Now, Valencia currently stands with no garrison. We will be going to war with England, do any doubt it? If we delay the English will garrison Valencia and good Frenchmen will die to retake it.

Bordeaux currently stands with only one company of men inside. Bordeaux is a part of FRANCE! If we delay more men will be trained, and more Frenchmen will die to take it.

Anger, also a part of France, is lightly garrisoned as well, and could be taken in short order. If we delay.... well, you know the bloody story.

I am sometimes acclaimed the greatest general in France. This is my strategic advice: Declare war instantly, drive the English out of France, and go on crusade whenever you wish subsequently, then let the King distribute the lands afterward as is his right. If you're worried about my House getting too powerful man up and admit it, then petition the King openly for lands that Aquitaine will conquer without trying to tie the King's hands. Or you could stop being a pansy about it and just go out and conquer your own bloody lands. Trying to politic this war into some mad kind of fair, sweet, even handed affair is purely crazy.

French lands stand under occupation! Let's free our people FIRST, and punish the Pope's enemy SECOND, and go grasping after each other's hard won lands THIRD. Or perhaps not at all that last, hey?

The look of disgust on Louis' face is palpable.