Conseil du Royaume

[_Tristan_]

Having listened silently to the debate, Philippe speaks calmly.

Sieur Mauvoisin, you have pointed a flaw in my reasoning in Edict 2.2. I had taken for granted that his Holiness would send the same warning to the warring factions on both sides of the border and that both would heed his call for peace or truce, should I say.

I did count on Emperor Maximilian to be different from Heinrich and be more pious, but there's nothing to guarantee it. He may be cast in the same mold as his predecessor.

Thus you proposed amendment of my proposal makes sense.

I'll rephrase the Edict.

Edict 2.2a : No further attacks are to be made on the Reich for the next Senechal term and suitable negotiations will be held with the Kaiser to regain a state of neutrality. Defending against attacks from the Reich doesn't impinge on this Edict..Should the Reich be excommunicated, the present edict will be void and agressive action will be authorized on all Imperial assets. If any provinces should be acquired in this fashion, they will be considered ratified.

I'll also give my support to Edicts 2.5 to 2.7, as seconds are not needed anymore.

As to the question of my deal with my cousin Guillaume, I prefer to keep the specifics secret for now and until the Senechal is chosen. Diplomacy is a very sensible matter and telling too much too early may well cause it to fail.

Let us simply say that I specifically had asked the previous Senechal to propose an alliance to my cousin Guillaume as a gesture of goodwill before proposing to make an exchange of our lands, something which the Senechal admittedly didn't do. It remains to determine if that was his fault for not conveying the information to the diplomat he sent or a blunder of the diplomat. Whatever the cause, I consider that the fault is to be laid at the Senechal's feet.

[_Tristan_]

Philippe suddenly adds

Oh... and I forgot to reconduct Edict 1.11. I wouldn't like some fool-hardy noble to get ideas.

So I propose :

Edict 2.8 : No armies under French command (OOC : under the command of an ingame avatar or an ingame avatar) shall cross the borders into Norman (English) lands for the duration of the King's truce, which is to be ended only by direct declaration from the King. The Seneschal shall be required to immediately disband the armies of any general who violates this Edict. Said edict will be suspended if the Seneschal successfully negociates military access or an alliance with England , and while that agreement lasts.

[AussieGiant]

Alain stands.

Indeed your 'ighness. Zat seems to be where one of ze misunderstanding lie.

I would ask ze assembled nobles a question.

Alain turns to the chamber as a whole.

Should alliance offers be ratified by ze Conseil and not arbitrarily offered, particularly to an old enemy?

[econ21]

The Duc of Bretagne raises an interesting constitutional question. However, if a candidate for Seneschal stands for election on a platform that includes offering an alliance, then reasonable men would regard that alliance as approved by the Conseil should it elect that candidate. I also would hesitate to call the King's proposed alliance arbitrary. When we are at war on our east, an alliance to keep the peace on our west would appear prudent - not arbitrary. If it paves the way to a rationalisation of our borders, even better - especially for Bretagne.

On a related matter, I second Edict 2.4.

[AussieGiant]

Alain turns to Hermant.

"I zink you will 'ave to remind me Ser Hermant where I said I would offer an alliance to ze English as part of my term as Seneschal.

I am quite certain I did not.

Alain glances at the throne.

Instead I was instructed to do so by one of god's representatives on earth.

Zat seems razer arbitrary to me, no?

Last time I gazed at ze English, we were not trying to kill each ozer. Zat would seems peaceful to me."