Conseil du Royaume

[OverKnight]

Hugues dips his head to Henri.

I am quite happy with keeping my head on my shoulders, unless it's after a night of too much wine.

The Duc shrugs at Alain.

Yes, two Crusades have been sanctioned by the Conseil, though I doubt the Pope will grant us a second Crusade against the Moors until many years have passed. (OOC: Ten turns assuming continued Papal favor.)

[Braden]

Henri stands again at mention of the crusade against the Moors

My Lords, this edict was my proposal. Obviously, should the Pope not grant us this then we cannot fulfil the edict fully. It may be possible to agree an amendment to the edict AFTER our current possible conflict with England and the potential crusade against them has passed.

I am sure that a Holy Quest, a Crusade by any other name other than official sanction from the Papacy, would be sufficient and even a fitting use for those noble troops who heed the call for Crusade now.

However, that is to be decided and we must now concentrate on the immediate task we have set ourselves.

[_Tristan_]

Mes Seigneurs,

We must prepare for war... Let us use this season for our preparations and at then send a request to the Pope at the turn of the season for a crusade on England.

As I've told our Senechal privately, we shouldn't delay too much nor should we be too hasty lest it endangers the lives of our stranded Knights in Albion. This season's delay should also allow us to discover the whereabouts of Guillaume.

As to the choice of a target for that Crusade, I know that the Edict asks for the Crusade to be called on London, but in this respect I think we should follow the spirit of it rather than the letter.

Should our spy discover that Guillaume has fled his capital, we should have his new hiding ground declared by the Pope as the Crusade target.

Turning to Louis

That said, I will ask my son Louis to leave his camp under the walls of Bordeaux and march a few days' march away, to be still able to strike swiftly but not be too threatening.

Then looking at Alain,

I will also ask Duc Alain to assemble his men for his proposed assault on Angers.

Finally scanning the benches

Lastly I will ask all knights of the Royaume to make themselves known as willing to take the Cross and join me on the road to Calais from where we'll be crossing the Channel and bring the fight to Guillaume.

Philippe then turns to his son Henri

Henri, I consider your Edict to be nothing more than a declaration of intention, a good one at that. The Moors are a wart on Europe's fair face and I'd like to see French knights in the front rank when we decide to lance it and restore Europe's beauty.

[Ituralde]

I would be willing to join your Majesty in a Crusade to rid he world of William. I have made no secret of it that I desire to got. But I also made clear that I will only leave if there are sufficient men left to defend the East. I know of your son Henri and the Baron of Frankfurt, which should be sufficient, especially considering this is to be a fast operation.

[KnightnDay]

If the seneschal will grant me two spear militia companies in the coming season, that should provide an adequate defense for Frankfurt. From the reports I have, the empire is not yet massing significant forces in the area.

[OverKnight]

Hugues nods.

If the funds are available, you shall have them.

[econ21]

Now that Edict 1.3 is known to have passed, all knights wishing to go on crusade should declare that intention and ride to join the King in Paris. I declare that is my intent and believe that the Company Order will soon redeploy.

OOC: it's probably a logistics nightmare, but hopefully Ituralde, Overknight and Tristan can sort this out.

[_Tristan_]

Senechal,

If funds are available, I'd also like you to recruit some ship to allow passage back to Marseille of my daughter and her bride, Signore Barbus Selvo. Or perhaps you could forward them the necessary funds.