Conseil du Royaume

**Braden** · 10-20-2009, 08:26

*Henri stands and acknowledges Barbus’ entrance*

I thank my….brother…for his words praising our actions thus far and trust such honour and bravery is to be matched by his own in the near future.

**Ibn-Khaldun** · 10-20-2009, 08:44

Charles looks towards Louis..

I may be young but at least I know how to make sons!

Turning towards Barbus Selvio..

So, what took you so long to get here? Made some money or 'bought' another princess on your way here?
I really don't understand why Constance chose you! Venetian from all people!!

Charles shakes his head..

**AussieGiant** · 10-20-2009, 09:20

Alain leans back in his chair and gives the young Charles an exaggerate thumbs up signal.

He mouths the word "Nice".

**Marcus Agrippa** · 10-20-2009, 11:04

Alexandre stands to be heard by the king, A concerned look upon his face.

Mon Roi,
I have to ask what your intention is for the future of France. Your named the chivalrous and you deserve that title. However since war with the Holy Roman empire began, you have avocated that we conquor with few limits. Now you tell us we should keep lands that are far flung and difficult to protect.
What happens when other kingdoms decide that our garrisons are so small that they can take what they want with little effort.
We have few trade routes few allies and an army we have to pay more for, than if we trained our own.
If they wish to blocade our ports we have few ships to defend us.
We have war on three fronts that seem to have no end.
If you have a master plan please elaborate because this counsel seems split between sense and loyalty.

Having said his peace Alexandre bows and sits eagerly awaiting the kings response.

**Ituralde** · 10-20-2009, 12:15

Simon nods at the words of Alain de Rohan.

**OverKnight** · 10-20-2009, 13:36

Hugues nods as well.

**_Tristan_** · 10-20-2009, 14:10

Philippe listens attentively to the objections.

I hear you well, mes Seigneurs... But tell me how honourable would it be for us to relinquish the hold we have over those English provinces to the Scots who are themselves at war with England ? Would it be honourable to turn those people over to some of their fiercest enemy ? Is that how you see honour and chivalry ? I do not... What I know is that under our rule, the people of England will prosper as much as our own, that they'll be treated fairly... Do we have such guarantees if we turn them over to the Scots ? Do we even have these guarantees if we release them to the descendants of Guillaume ? Will he not exert upon them his vengeance for having submitted to our rule, for not having fought back ?

Maybe some of our neighbours will see our work in England as self-centered but in our hearts, and more importantly in God's eye, we will be doing what is honourable and right so I say let them see us the way they want to see us... The more important is knowing that we'll be recognized for our deeds on Judgment Day.

And Sieur LeSueur, may I remind you that the war against the Reich was started by an aggression upon my very person and that following God's Will as expressed by His Holiness, I ordered a cessation of hostilities which were started again upon the Kaiser's excommunication. Hence the war in the East is based upon the same grounds as the war in Albion.

Around us, Kingdoms and Duchies fall prey to heresy... Heretics march upon our lands... But through all this, France remains as a bastion of faith, a beacon to those who would seek shelter...

Who are we to refuse it to those who require it ? Is that the conduct of a true Christian ?

Or are you, mes Seigneurs, acting out of spite, because the Crusade that so many of you required against Guillaume has been nipped in the bud ? And your dreams of glory with it ? Why is it only Albion that occupy your mind and about which you wish us to turn tail and run ? Out of some strategic insight ? Then tell me what position is the more threatened : Nuremberg which can be assailed by Imperial armies from almost all corners of the Earth ? Or our English provinces which are assailable from the North and West only and can provide for themselves in matters of recruitment ? How come none of you demands the return of those provinces to the Reich or Denmark or Poland ? Wouldn't that prove, as you claim, to our neighbours, that we have accomplished until now is not a land-grab ? Let me hear you on these mattters, my Lord.

Nevertheless, mes Seigneurs, I hear your words and I understand your fears that our Royaume may flounder against too many enemies. Do not forget that we are favoured by God, as has been proven countless times, defeating insurmountable odds here and there... To adress your concerns, I'd be willing to amend my Proclamation to reflect the changes you deem necessary to make our Royaume more defendable. But I wish you take time to consider my words and the necessity for us to provide to the needy, for the salvation of their souls...

**Braden** · 10-20-2009, 14:34

Father,

I hear your words and they sound reasoned and sensible. However, many of us here hear such words and just think of “Imperial” aggression, of a need to conquer and control rationalised by words which sound appeasing to the ear yet we still fear them for there is a real possibility that such noble words can be used to gain something abhorrent to someone as worthy as yourself.

Beware Father, when you rethink what you propose here, of what will become of those people and those lands should your noble thoughts be perverted.

Far harder is it to stay your hand now but far easier than attempting to make amendment should this all turn to folly. The only enemy I fear is God and his wrath my father, this is why I wished England to be in English hands be they their own local Duc’s or their own new King.

For sure we can say we will rule the English well and justly, but perhaps were they not the words that Bastard William used when he sailed for that land? Have the English exchanged one yoke born of France for yet another? What of a call for their country in their own hands?

There is no right by birth or Gods will that says we have claim to their lands.

I await a reworded Proclamation 3.1 before commenting further.

**Ramses II CP** · 10-20-2009, 22:03

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Louis winks in Charles' direction,

As do I dear boy, as do I! It is only my wife who lacks this ability, and my daughters are suitable to serve France. I daresay little Heloise may be a match for your courage already.

For my part I welcome good Sir Selvo, and salute his courage. He has tackled an adversary more terrible than the English by far!

As for Proclamation 3.1, it is writ by the hand of the King whose authority descends directly from God. As such it has my unwavering support, but I wish also to acknowledge the very great nobility of Mon Roi in agreeing to listen to the Council's suggestions. It is a testament to the might of the Franks that we can come together to make such matters acceptable to all.

Louis bows to his father and resumes his seat in silence, with a troubled look on his face.

**Vladimir** · 10-20-2009, 23:31

*Gontran looks down at his papers*

*looking up*

The word of mon Roi descends from God but gold comes from the treasury. While London is a potentially profitable city, it and the rest of the isle will take considerable investment. Look at the poor condition of our trading cities. For centuries we suffered from Dark Ages brought about by the rise of the heretic, many of whom reside in Iberia. Our lands are fertile and our people are proud, but our cities are laughable. Let us restore our lands to our former glory and beyond before we invest so much in foreign lands. The occupation of England will restrict desperately needed funds and cause additional burdens for our Seneschal. We've recently seen how oppressive those duties are.

**deguerra** · 10-21-2009, 01:17

It will come as no surprise that I agree entirely with the objections to the Proclamation that have been put before this Conseil in better words than I could find.

There are two answers to these objections put forward:

1. That it is a proclamation from our sovereign and beyond doubt. If that is the case, so be it and may God have mercy on our souls.

2. That it is equally or more honourable to keep Albion than hand it to the Scots. This fails on two counts.

Firstly, a French master is equally, if not more alien to the English than a Scottish one, and Scotland and England are no more blood enemies than are England and France.

Secondly, it ignores the alternative proposals which have been made, namely to return the lands to the English or to give them independence of all three.

**OverKnight** · 10-21-2009, 04:06

Reeves speaks.

My Lords, I have been informed that the time for the proposing and seconding of Legislation has passed. Voting will begin shortly.

OOC: Zim has asked me to handle the voting thread for this session.