A History Of England

[1a9t88]

Chapter One : The Conquerer's End
In this the year of our Lord 1087; the one and twentieth year
after William the Norman began to govern and direct England, as God granted
him, was a very heavy and pestilent season in this land. Such a
sickness came on men that full nigh every other man was in the worst disorder; and that so dreadfully, that many men died in the disorder. Afterwards came,
through the badness of the weather as we before mentioned, so
great a famine over all England, that many hundreds of men died a
miserable death through hunger. Alas! How wretched and how
rueful a time was there. In the same year also, before the Assumption of St.
Mary, King William went from Normandy into France with an army,
and made war upon his own lord Philip, the king, and slew many of
his men, and burned the town of Mante, and all the holy minsters
that were in the town; and two holy men that served God were burned therein. This being thus done, King William returned to Normandy. Rueful was the thing he
did, but a more rueful thing him befel. He fell sick, and it dreadfully ailed him…

The harsh smell of tallow candles and incense could not cover the stench of rotting flesh, the great conqueror lay dying of gangrene and all around him could only watch. Most had already abandoned him, Lord’s had departed to secure their landholdings upon the new ascension. Only the most pious of clergy remained to administer extreme unction, willing to put up with the stench. Finally his son William, soon to be the new King of England had left to make safe his treasury as soon as his dying father had assured his new Kingdom to him, William was already at the docklands waiting for favorable winds to take him across the channel...
The King’s painful final hours drifted on into the night, until; finally, his great body gave up its soul unto the judgment of the Lord. At first realization of his death, those servants whose task it was to prepare his body for funeral, their eyes gleaming at the chance of riches, rushed forward and stripped it of all its possessions, scuttling over him like rats they robbed all from the dead man. When there was nothing left to take they fled into the darkness, leaving the wretched body alone.The news of his father’s death reached William Rufus before he boarded his vessel to transport him to his new domain, Rufus smiled, his waiting was over, he was King.

By the grace of God I have lived many years, I have seen famine, treachery, martyrdom, conquest. I have learned much about human nature in my time, and I predict dark years ahead; the black raven is no longer the symbol of our peoples suffering, though they say the Danes will return to this land. Our suffering is under the Norman Yoke, first the Conqueror and now, worse, his son, impious and brash he levies harsh taxes upon the people and shows utter contempt for the church.
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This Lucifer, aided by his Chancellor Lord Fitzalan and Uncle Bishop de Bayeux will do anything to increase his riches at the expense of the English.
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Yet he does not have the support of all those he would like to think, I wonder how many of the great Lords would support him if there was rebellion.
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Even Lord Roos, appointed Lord of Wessex is unsure of his own loyalties; after all he remains in Normandy with the King’s brother and Duke of Normandy Robert the Curthose.
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The Duke would have England for himself, it may yet happen. Yet William’s agents are everywhere, and already he is working his Kingdom back into the iron grip his father held it in.
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Meanwhile a demon stirs in the east, we hear the Turkish monster moves forward once more and the Greeks will come to meet it, we hope the Emperor will have greater success than those before him. If not, who can he look to for protection from this demon? I tell you now, a storm is coming...
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[joerd9]

I like the style, very close to actual medieval chronicles.
Could become an interesting AAR. Keep it coming!

[Atterdag]

Interesting style, however it would be nicer if you would put the tags around the picture links. That way we can look at them without opening the links..

[joerd9]

So whats up? Has the scribe died of the plague...?