Canterbury

[Oznerol]

CANTERBURY

Home to the Primate of England, Canterbury is one of the most populous cities in the realm. Granted a charter only recently, in 1448, the city is thereby ruled by a lord mayor and a sheriff. Surrounded by sturdy Roman walls, which have been repaired continuously (specially during 1378 and 1401) the city is rather well defended. However, Canterbury's major atraction is its cathedral, seat to the Archbishop and one of the greatest pilgrimage sites in all England, as home to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, whose cult was widespread all over Europe, from Castile to Sweden.

• Canterbury Cathedral: This radiant monument to God's glory is the oldest cathedral in England, originally founded in Anglo-Saxon times and then rebuilt & expanded further by the Normans and Plantagenets. It holds special significance in the Catholic Church in England, and its Archbishop is the most powerful representative of said Church in the country. +10% income, +2 Charisma, +2 levy and taxation rolls. Characters may also seek refuge within the Cathedral for up to 1 in-game year and, unless permitted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, anyone who would do harm unto them on its consecrated ground will certainly have to face some consequences at the Church's hands.
• The People of Canterbury: Canterbury is a major charter city of England, and its large population is keenly aware of their rich history & religious significance to the Kingdom. They will defend the city with their lives should they be given reason to fear that the attacking army intends to loot its sacred treasures and their homes. d5*d1000 Militia (75% Militia Longbows, 25% Militia Footmen) will spawn when the city comes under attack unless its people happen to actually like the attacker more than its present controller and are confident that they won't sack the place upon victory.

The Primate has a splendid palace, built within the grounds of the cathedral, a palace that has suffered the ire of the populace once, being ransacked in 1381. Still, the recent archbishops have restored it to its former glory, being a residence befitting the Archbishop. However, both Thomas Bourchier and his nephew Humphrey prefer Knole House, a palatial manse with excellent hunting grounds and removed from Canterbury and its populace. The archbishop also has several castles, including the imposing Saltwood Castle.

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

HUMPHREY BOURCHIER Born 1437 (36) Status: Celibate. Children: None acknowledged. Traits (9): +3 Survival. +3 Charisma. +1 Wealth. +1 Duels. +1 Battle. Biography: Son of the late Henry Bourchier, 1st Duke of Aumerle, and nephew to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury. Humphrey was destined to the clergy long ago, under the auspices of his uncle, who wished a heir to his legacy from his own blood. Dean at Canterbury for several years, he was later raised to the bishopric of Exeter and in 1473, after his uncle's death, he was ordained as Archbishop of Canterbury. Little is known of Humphrey's character and traits, even if he was, briefly, Lord Privy Seal during his uncle's service as Lord Chancellor of the Realm. However, at first he was never intended to become a priest and received formal training in arms like all his brothers. A quite unusual priest, he likes to live as any other noblemen and, since he became Bishop of Exeter, like a peer of the realm: he hunts, he trains and he whores, albeit in the privacy of his residence. As fiery and hot-headed as Lord Scales or Lord Ferrers, he is burdened by his priestly duties and vows. Nevertheless, he tries to be a worthy successor to his late uncle.

[Lucius Malfoy]

One day, the Earl of Salisbury, John Neville, arrives to speak with His Eminence, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

[Oznerol]

The Archbishop was holding mass, so Neville would have to wait; it was half-done already when Salisbury arrived. Several minutes later, the Archbishop, clad in heavy golden robes raised a jewelled hand and made the sign of the cross:

"Ite ad Evangelium Domini nuntiandum"

A horde of clergymen and attendants raised from their seats as soon as the bishop concluded the ceremony, rushing themselves to attend Bourchier, who entered the sacristy. Salisbury was summoned. The Archbishop had already removed his cincture and maniple:

"Salisbury, to what do I owe this honor?"

Said Bourchier, while an attendant helped him undress. The lithurgical robes were resplendent, heavily embroidered and jewelled.

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Your Eminence."

Salisbury bows and then takes the hand of Canterbury when it is offered and kisses his ring. Afterwards, he rises to speak with Bourchier.

"Your Eminence, I come to you as Primate of the Church in England to make a most vital request. I hope you may hear it out and consider my reasons for it."

Neville had come here for a means to secure the inheritance of his nieces and to ensure those lands did not fall under the influence of those who would take that power away from his family.

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[Oznerol]

"You may speak son"

Granted the Archbishop, who looked like a bird of prey.

[Lucius Malfoy]

"As you know, with the death of my brother, Richard Neville, his wife, the Countess of Warwick, has become a widow. Her daughters by my brother are without a father. And their lands are open to hunters, men who would displace them of their inheritance through marriage."

John sighs deeply, thinking of the still beautiful Anne who was still within childbearing years. He had to do this for his nieces future and that of his family.

"I wish to ensure they are secure and not pawns in the ambitions of other men. I am married, but I plead with Your Eminence to grant me an annulment so that I may wed the Lady de Beauchamp. I know it would be an ease to my brother's spirit knowing his wife is looked after and his offspring have a father they can rely upon."

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[Oznerol]

"You may look after them without marrying your sister, Lord Neville"

Said Bourchier abruptly. His gaze hardened.

"By marrying her you will only put in jeopardy your nieces' inheritance, shall you father a son. Also, your marriage has been consumated long ago and what God has united, the man shall not disolve. Moreso, 'Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness', Leviticus 18:16"

His sharp gaze stared at him unflinching.

"'If a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless' Leviticus 20:21"

He added like burying Salisbury's hope under a stone.

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Yet, Your Eminence, I did not kill my brother to be with his wife. And it is out of my Christian upbringing that I seek to help her and my nieces. To prevent them from being displaced or otherwise used by men who would seek them for their land and wealth."

John remains humble in his words and posture. He did this out of the love for his young nieces. One of whom still wondered where her father was. He sighs deeply.

"I would only marry my brother's widow to secure her position and the inheritance of my nieces. My son will one day inherit the Neville lands just as my nieces will inherit their mother's lands. But at least those lands would be theirs and theirs alone."

He bows his head to the Archbishop, keeping with the humble posture to ensure that Bourchier could see that he desired nothing but to look out for his family.

"I will respect the word of the Lord as always, Your Eminence. If that is your decision, then I shall respect it as you speak on the behalf of our Lord in heaven."

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[Oznerol]

"Do you speak out of greed?"

His fingers pitter-patter the table. A handful clergymen remained on the sacristy. Bourchier wavered a hand dismissively.

"Begone, leave us alone"

The bishop scratched his chin.

"Your son has just been born, sinner"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Salisbury watches as members of the clergy present departed after Canterbury dismissed them. He bows his head once more, speaking again.

No, I speak out of kindness and the love for my family, who has lost a great champion, brother and father. Who I know I can never replace, but can do what I can to make sure his family is looked after so that he may rest easily in heaven above. Any good household needs a father figure after all, a man to protect them and ensure they are looked after.

John sighs deeply at the mention of his son. He knew this was to be brought up.

My son has just been born indeed. But just as I must look after his inheritance so must I for my nieces. I do not do this out of lust, Your Eminence. I do this out of care for my family, the family my father and brother worked so hard to build up and ensure we were left in good hands. To ensure we all had roofs and were able to control our own destinies.

Neville would remain silent for a moment.

I will not press this subject, Your Eminence, if you will not allow it. I only spoke out of the care for my family who I now lead as my brother's successor.

[Oznerol]

Salisbury watches as members of the clergy present departed after Canterbury dismissed them. He bows his head once more, speaking again.

No, I speak out of kindness and the love for my family, who has lost a great champion, brother and father. Who I know I can never replace, but can do what I can to make sure his family is looked after so that he may rest easily in heaven above. Any good household needs a father figure after all, a man to protect them and ensure they are looked after.

John sighs deeply at the mention of his son. He knew this was to be brought up.

My son has just been born indeed. But just as I must look after his inheritance so must I for my nieces. I do not do this out of lust, Your Eminence. I do this out of care for my family, the family my father and brother worked so hard to build up and ensure we were left in good hands. To ensure we all had roofs and were able to control our own destinies.

Neville would remain silent for a moment.

I will not press this subject, Your Eminence, if you will not allow it. I only spoke out of the care for my family who I now lead as my brother's successor.

"Speaking out of love or greed it doesn't matter. Your are bound to your wife by the holy bonds of marriage, until death sets you apart"

Said the Archbishop, sternly.

"Not only would you commit incest by laying with your brother's wife, but would cast away a wife most faithful, even a fertile one who has graced you with a son"

His raises a finger.

"A son who you would let without either a father or a mother by your ambition. Your nieces are yours to defend and protect, and you don't need to marry their mother in order to do so: as John of Gaunt cared for Richard of Bourdeaux or Louis d'Orleans looked after his nephew King Charles you will ward them both. Out of love you will remain their uncle, and not their stepfather. Out of love you will care for them without having to marry their mother. Selflessly, like a true Christian. Or you can't protect them being their uncle? Aren't you the eldest man in their household? All those duties you stated can be performed without commiting the sin of incest"

His voice leaves no doubts, any transgression would be against the Church's wishes.

"I shall personally look after your nieces, the Church will protect those poor orphans and defend Lady Warwick's widowhood. Once they come of age, your duties as a faithful uncle will no longer be necessary and their husbands will look after them and their inheritance"

His sharp gaze stares at him for a while, quietly.

"You harbored incestous thoughts, my good Earl. Thus you sinned. You shall donate a good sum to a parish of your chosing and you will make sure to distribute alms every Sunday for a whole year. Then, I will grant you absolution"

Thomas Bourchier made the sign of the cross.

"Now, before you leave, pray with me: Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen"

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Now, before you leave, pray with me: Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen"

Humiliated. Absolutely humiliated. John wondered if this was because his brother, Warwick, was dead. The respect for the Neville household had diminished overnight. Salisbury quietly swallowed his anger for now before bowing his head and uttering the prayer that Canterbury had said. When the prayer was finished, Salisbury bows his head to Canterbury before kissing the Archbishop's ring.

Thank you, Your Eminence.

Afterwards, Salisbury departs Canterbury and Kent for his home.

[Pontifex Maximus]

A weary looking Bishop Repington arrives

[Lord William]

Intrigued by the invitation, Francis left York and ventured south to Canterbury.

[Oznerol]

A weary looking Bishop Repington arrives

He is led to the bishop's audience chamber, on his palace. The walls are covered with fine tapestries, Bourchier was looking at something Lincoln could only see from behind, but seemingly was a tryptich, still partially covered by a white cloth. The Archbishop studies Lincoln's face:

"Son, you look tired, wearied down. What afflicts your soul?"

Intrigued by the invitation, Francis left York and ventured south to Canterbury.

An attendant orders him to wait. After a full hour waiting outside the palace, York is led to the archbishop's solar.

[Lord William]

Instead of waiting an hour, Francis decided to visit London

[Gandalfus]

(LW, You do realise it'd take a more than a day or two to walk to London, right?)

[Lucius Malfoy]

A letter arrives bearing the crest of Percy from Northumberland. The letter contains a stunning piece of accusation, reinforced by the fact that it was the Bishop of Lincoln who warned the Earl of this. The accusation states that the Archbishop of York intended to expand the land and power of the Church by the aggressive usage of excommunication and witch hunts in the hopes of bullying nobles into submission and extract gold and land from them by trumped up and fabricated charges. The Earl states he had reported this to the King only out of the loyalty for his home in the North and his concern for the tranquility of England were York to carry out his vile plots against innocent men and women to satisfy his greed for power and gold over that of his duty as a good man of Christ and his church.

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[Jokern]

A small group of knights arrive at Canterbury Cathedral, all bearing livery of the royal arms differentiated by a white label. The only one not in armour, instead draped in in black velvet and furs, with a livery collar displaying a white lion and a black chaperon with a white rose brooch, entered on his own. He announced himself as John de Mowbray, the Duke of Norfolk, who humbly requested an audience with the Primate of All England, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

[Oznerol]

He is led to the palace and straight to the audience chamber. The archbishop arrives with a whistle of velvet and fur.

"My son, what brings you here?"

A hand, clad in a glove is offered to kiss. A signal ring on it.