The Privy Council

[Oznerol]

The privy council is an advisory body to the king, with members appointed and dismissed at the monarch's discretion. Usually, the privy council is drawn from high ranking peers, members of the Commons, clergymen, and those otherwise courting royal favour. They meet when called upon by the monarch or the Lord Chancellor to dictate the policy of state; strong kings have often used the privy council to circumvent Parliament and rule by decree. Often, however, it serves merely as a more intimate body of advisers to the king, made up of those heavily attuned to matters of state.

The Great Offices of the Privy Council

Lord High Steward: Initially an honorary appointment, the office of Lord High Steward has steadily grown in importance until its holder became one of the most powerful men in England. Since the end of the 12th century, the office has been considered bound to the Earldom of Leicester. The Lord High Steward presides during trials of peers in the House of Lords, and can hold courts dealing with trials of peers by their peers when parliament is not in session. At coronations, the holder is honored with being the bearer of St. Edward's Crown. The Lord High Steward has a salary of 200£. Lord Chancellor: Often held by a man of the clergy because of their literacy, the Lord Chancellor is usually one of the King's closest advisors in both spiritual and temporal matters. Officially, he may in his position as Keeper of the King's Conscience hold Courts of Chancery, concerning judicial cases where the inflexible common law leads to unfair rulings. This office is usually tied to the position of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, which is used to make laws and documents official that are passed by both the privy council and parliament. However, the two offices can be split between persons if the King so wishes. The Lord Chancellor has a salary of 200£. Lord High Treasurer: An immensely important office, this involved the managing His Majesty's treasury, as well as no small amount of influence at court. The Lord High Treasurer has a salary of 200£. Lord Privy Seal: An honorary title in the realm with no real function save holding the personal seal of the King. The privy seal is used to authenticating official government documents. This is a great honor for any that is granted this title and displays a great deal of trust and friendship between the King and the royal appointee. The Lord Privy Seal has a salary of 200£. Lord Great Chamberlain: The holder of this office is a close companion of the Sovereign, and is responsible for managing the household of the King at the Palace of Westminster. At coronations, the Lord Great Chamberlain holds the honor of dressing the King, and is involved with investing the Monarch with the insignia of rule. This position is traditionally held by the Earls of Oxford. The Lord Great Chamberlain has a salary of 200£. Lord High Constable: While primarily the commander of the royal armies and the King's master of horse, the position of Lord High Constable also has a judicial nature, acting as a position of authority on legal matters concerning the military. The Lord High Constable has a salary of 200£. Earl Marshal: This royal appointee is in charge of the King's horses and stables, as well as the protection of the King. He also holds, in conjunction with the Lord High Constable, court known as Court of Chivalry. Here they administered justice in accordance with the law of arms, which concerned many military matters, such as ransoms, booty and soldiers' wages, along with the misuse of armorial bearings. The Earl Marshal could in many circumstances exercise the traditional duties of the Lord High Constable, such as commander of the King's armies. This office is often tied to the Earldom of Norfolk. The Earl Marshal has a salary of 200£. Admiral of the Fleet: This officer of the Privy Council is the highest naval authority in England. In his capacity, he is the commander of the royal fleets and overseas trade. Due to the nature of naval warfare of the time period, the appointee rarely had any actual experience of naval warfare. The Admiral of the Fleet has a salary of 200£.

Councilors of the Realm

Lord High Steward: Edward de Courtenay, Earl of Devon Lord Chancellor: Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York Lord High Treasurer: Thomas Neville, Earl of Worcester Lord Privy Seal: John FitzAlan, Earl Arundel Lord Great Chamberlain: Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland Lord High Constable: Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham. Lord Marshal: Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. Admiral of the Fleet: Henry Beaufort, Earl of Bedford

[Lucius Malfoy]

With the appointments made, the Duke of Gloucester calls forth a meeting of the Privy Council.

[General Brewster]

The duke of York rode hard from York to be on time for the meeting. He greets the Duke of Gloucester as he enters and takes a chair.

[Jokern]

Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and Earl Marshal, arrives at the privy council chambers and takes his seat.

[The Mad Skylord]

Richard FitzAlan strolled into the chambers and took his seat - he couldn't help but notice that he, a co-leader of the Lord Appellant, had been given a post beneath all of his fellow Appellants.

[Gandalfus]

Bolingbroke, now Lord High Steward, entered cautiously, taking his seat alongside his fellow Appellants. He had begun to have second thoughts about their supplanting of his cousin; surely his father would soon return to try and dismember Woodstock's government.


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[Lucius Malfoy]

With majority of the councilors present, the Duke of Gloucester got to work.

My Lords, with the traitors eliminated and the realm of England free from mismanagement, we must begin the hard work of renewing this realm.

And to begin with renewing the realm, Gloucester immediately set his sight upon France.

Our first order of business is to dismantle the peace treaty that exists between France and England. This treaty was not made with the interests of our realm in mind, but rather as an error of this realm's misguidance by those who once sat where we are now. The work of Edward III has yet to end and we must seek to continue it, for the good of England!

[Gandalfus]

"Agreed. The French are our enemies, and should remain as such, for the crown of France belongs by right to the Kings of England." Bolingbroke nodded, himself a firm believer that there were wars to be fought and lands to be gained at the expense of the French, in particular Aquitaine and Normandy, which had been lost since the year of Edward's death.

[Jokern]

"Rip the thing to pieces, every last bit of it. Edward III brought most of the France under English rule, and there is much to do if we are to retake what is rightfully ours. Normandy, Maine, Anjou... all of France belongs to our King."

[General Brewster]

Edmund remained silent letting the other lords bicker. He was tapping silently on the table the man sat on with is fingers. "Lord High Treasurer. Would the realm financially be able to fight the French? Do not misinterpret me gentleman. I would've ripped that document up yesterday and not bicker about it now. However if the realm cannot sustain a long conflict with the French we must postpone. Prepare the finances, the armies, the navy and than strike the French with full force."

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel sighed helplessly - had Gloucester become a fool ad well as a would be usurper? "Have you forgotten, gentlemen, that this government is not yet secure? Enemies still lurk in an attempt to remove it - John of Gaunt lingers across the Channel in Aquitane, who knows what he will do? We have yet to discover De Vere's corpse - rumour is abound that he is in Ireland, there is no conclusive proof on the matter either way. Do you really intend to throw troops at France when England is still unstable?"

[Gandalfus]

"Ripping up the treaty made without our knowledge and imposed upon us was our first step, Arundel, not an invasion of France." Bolingbroke harrumphed, a formidable crease having appeared in the midst of his brow. "May I remind my lords that our noble sovereign agreed to give away all England has left in France to the French crown, as well as any claims, in exchange for a mere scrap of land in Gascony." It was galling to think that Richard would sign away the great legacy left to him by his warlike sires. "My father of Lancaster is imposing order in what lands we have left across the channel. He is not some rebel or usurper to be feared, my lord, but the King's own uncle." Henry did not fear his father, though perhaps Arundel and Woodstock were right to. Certainly he'd support Richard in any dispute, just to even his scored with Gloucester.

[Barry Goldwater]

"Eliminating the peace treaty with France in its entirety is a good start, but it is only the least we can do in that regard," The Earl of Warwick, who had been silently present in his seat until now, finally opined. "We should take more concrete steps to ensure that there remains no possibility for renewed negotiations with the French in the foreseeable future, which could easily derail any glorious campaign we begin. I am not suggesting some grand march on Paris, of course...but, perhaps, a short sharp raid into Picardy and Normandy or down the Garonne..."

Edmund remained silent letting the other lords bicker. He was tapping silently on the table the man sat on with is fingers. "Lord High Treasurer. Would the realm financially be able to fight the French? Do not misinterpret me gentleman. I would've ripped that document up yesterday and not bicker about it now. However if the realm cannot sustain a long conflict with the French we must postpone. Prepare the finances, the armies, the navy and than strike the French with full force."

"A raid would not require such preparation." Warwick answered Langley. "The French too must have expended a significant amount of treasure and blood, fighting Trastamara's war for him in Spain and propping up the false Pope in Avignon and God knows what else - we'll have the time to build up and prepare for a greater confrontation in the future. For now, we need only sting them and remind them that we English have not forgotten why we fought - and, soon enough, still fight - in France."

[Lucius Malfoy]

It is one thing to remove the treaty that has humiliated England, but another to declare war once more. It will take time, but we can prepare our realm for such an event. Yet with the presence of troops in Gascony, surely the French will be on alert.

Gloucester curses under his breath, knowing that Gaunt was in Gascony. If he was back in English-controlled land, then he was surely done with his adventures in Spain.

I will take the necessary documents for the King to sign, ensuring that this treaty is ended. In the mean time, we must look to shift the garrison commanders within our territories across the waters. Place men who can drill the soldiers for battle and prepare them for the inevitable. Beyond that, we should seek to calm the realm and ensure that our government is stable as Lord Arundel suggests. I know that Sir Thomas Mortimer, who will serve his nephew as deputy lieutenant in Ireland, will seek to place order once more over Ireland. He will surely find out if de Vere is both alive and in Ireland or not.

[Jokern]

"If we are to prepare for war with France, we will need to raise taxes to hire soldiers and buy arms and armor, not to mention all other logistics necessary for a military campaign. However, I doubt the Commons would be content with such an act, ever the greedy burghers. I say we keep any campaigns to France off the table for a time until we are able to extract the funds without being threatened by another Peasant's Revolt."

Though he had been too young to witness the revolt himself, the stories had been vivid enough. The peasantry were a frightening entity if roused to anger, for there were a hundred farmers and smiths and merchants for every peer and knight. Thomas was also mindful of the fact that the Appellants needed to be on good terms with the other powers of England until their control had been cemented, and the support, or at least neutrality, of the Commons was an important factor.

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel was obviously in a pessimistic mood. "I would suggest raising troops of your own as well - we have cast our die and this government must stand at all costs, more misguided fools who are nothing more than the King's favourites will only damage the realm further."

[Barry Goldwater]

Noticing that a majority of his fellow Appellants opposed taking any measure against France beyond simply expunging the peace treaty for now, Warwick conceded the point. "Very well. In the interest of not provoking another Peasants' Revolt so soon into our administration, I suppose it would be best not to levy a new tax. At least, not at this moment." He allowed a small sigh to escape his lips. "I concur with Arundel. If we are not going to levy a tax, then we will have to rely on our personal funds to raise troops. And we will surely need those troops, loyal to us as their sole paymasters, in both the struggle with whatever remains of the King's favorites and with the French in the future."

[Gandalfus]

A dozen knights in Lancastrian colours arrives in London, with one of them apparently bearing a message for the so-called "Lords Appellant".

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel takes the message.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Duke of Gloucester notices the knight who brought in the message. He turns to Arundel.

What does it say, my Lord Arundel?