The execution of Arundel

[Oznerol]

That dawn had brought tidings of the royal army being only few miles away from the city. John Holland returned with his prize, the hummilated and fettered Richard FitzAlan, chained to a cart pulled by a pair of old mules. Huntingdon rides at the head of the army, dragging the FitzAlan banner, tied to his horse's tail, through the mud of the streets, while his own fluttered with the royal arms above his head. The old earl was incarcerated and thrown to a dungeon in the tower of Newgate. Several days later everything was ready, as the king had decided to make an example of of Arundel. In an unfittingly nice and sunny day the traitor was dragged from his cell, thrown in a caged cart and paraded through the streets to Tyburn, where, ominously, stood a large ladder. A dais, benches and several platforms had been erected for courtiers, peers and such, while the populace crowded every available spot: it wasn't usual to witness such an event and the masses took great delight on it. There were many children in the crowd, as it was told such punishments were exemplary. A flock of priests surrounded the gallows. Heralds announced the traitor's former titles, crimes and punishment: hanged, drawn and quartered, as was customary for high traitors since 1351. Considering the severity of charges, Arundel wouldn't be spared any of it.

The King arrived with full court, a crowned statue of gold and silk surrounded by colourful birds, all chirping around him: including the black crow, the turbulent John Holland, the silent sparrow, Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent or a colorful rooster, William le Scrope.

[Gandalfus]

Gaunt arrived at Arundel's execution with a large household. On his arm was Constance of Castile; the couple took their expected position not far from the King himself. Lancaster observed the proceedings in silence, staring coldly down his beak-like nose at Arundel from up on high, whilst the Duchess engaged in conversation with the Queen and her entourage. Bolingbroke and Mary Bohun also stood among the royals, though despite Henry's role in the victory he struck a contrast to the ecstatic Holland - his dour gaze betraying regret that he did not mercifully end Arundel's life instead of allowing Richard to indulge the public's sadism.

Gaunt's mistress Swynford tactfully positioned herself away from the royals in a rare public appearance. Though not a noblewoman of any note she looked every inch the matriarch, surrounded by both her late husband's family and her eldest Beaufort sons, John and Henry, the former now having received a handsome grant of land from the King for his loyalty.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Three Percys would stand in attendance for the execution of Lord Arundel; the oldest of the three was Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland and his brother, Thomas Percy, both of whom held places, not only among the King's royal offices, but also as Knights of the Garter. Standing to the right of the Earl Percy was his son, the noted Harry 'Hotspur,' the impulsive and reckless son of the Earl's offspring. The trio had arrived some time before the return of the Royal Army with the captured Arundel in tow. Though they were not able to gain much in services to the King, the arrival of their soldiers was enough to show their loyalty to the King.

Henry watches quietly for now, examining the disgraced Arundel. It seems his gut was right to begin forming allies to field an army. He then turns his gaze to his son, Harry, who would be deputy warden of the Marches while the Earl of Northumberland did his duties in London as Lord Constable. He began to ponder on whether to send Thomas off with his nephew, to ensure Harry didn't do anything too impulsive to break the fragile peace up north between Scotland and England.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The men of House Stafford were present, having arrived with the Guant retinue.

[Xion]

The Baron de Ros stands amongst the assembled nobility of northern England, silently watching the procession.
--
The Archbishop of Canterbury and his nephew, the Earl of Devon, attend the execution with a small procession mixed of the Earl's retainers and clergy and a few guards of the Archbishop. Devon apathetically watches the events, while his uncle watches in disapproval, apparently the king had decided to make an example of FitzAlan. The Archbishop then quietly muttes some prayers.

[Barry Goldwater]

Sir William de Beauchamp was present in the crowd, grimacing. It seemed he had made the right decision to stick with Gaunt after all. His brother, on the other hand...well, in light of how little the Appellants had managed while in power and his decision to enter royal custody without a fight, William naturally hoped that he'd be allowed to go free with some less crippling penalties - or failing that, he certainly hoped that the worst outcome possible would be a quick and clean beheading, as opposed to the grisly public spectacle that was about to be visited upon Arundel.

------

Geoffrey Chaucer was also present with his wife Philippa on his arm and their son Thomas on his other side, the three of them taking up a position close to his sister-in-law Katherine Swynford. The Chaucers' dress was humble, befitting their station and the circumstances, and unless an observer knew them personally they had little chance of telling that this plain-faced man with a brown beard was in fact an experienced royal bureaucrat & writer.

[Oznerol]

Guardsmen brought the Earl forward, holding him as they walked towards the gallows: the multitude threw dirt, feces, rotten fruits and vegetables to him. Obscenities were yelled, curses. Richard frowned in disapproval, the rude won't inherit the earth. And, when the crown openned to let pass Arundel a figure fell to the king's feet, kissing the border of his tunic. There was a murmur of disapproval and disbelief among the gathered courtiers, two yeomen rushed forward, but the king, frowning, stopped them.

"Please, spare him. Mercy, your Majesty, mercy"

The distressed lady was Alice FitzAlan, Lady Holland. Kent rushed to her side and grabs her arm, trying to raise her from the floor. She resisted.

"I beg you, your Grace. I plead for him, please"

"Woman, come on. Your Majesty, brother, you know how women are..."

Kent looked nervous. Everyone was already looking at them, surely. Lady Alice weeped and begged, her hand grabbing the king's hand.

"Spare him that suffering, your Maj..."

Kent almost managed to free the king from her grasp, but Richard raised a hand and his brother stopped to struggle, a drop of sweat on his forehead.

"My good lady"

Said the king with his melodious, soft voice. He grabs her arms, raising her.

"Sister"

Richard wipes her tears with his sleeve.

"Granted"

Alice cracked again under the pressure, sobbing. She was carried away by a midly annoyed Kent. The king took a seat again:

"Out of mercy and thanks to his sister's tears, God and His Mother bless her, Arundel shall be hanged to death. Then, the execution might proceed was expected. We are Law, we are Justice: the hand that delivers Punishment is also source of salvation and mercy, be mindful of it"

The ritual was what mattered, anyway. The evidence that royal power wasn't something to be contested. He gestured for everything to be resumed.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Late to the execution came John Hastings, the young Earl of Pembroke, and his older cousin, Sir John Hastings. Known as John the Younger, to differentiate himself from his father, John Hastings, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, the young Earl was known as a generous and kind man, loved by the gentry and commoners of his lands in Wales. With news of the war coming to an end and he, himself, only having just become a man a couple years ago, it was advised that Lord Hastings appear in London for the execution of Arundel as a public appearance. His cousin, Sir John, came along as his ward and retainer, making sure that Lord Hastings did not mess up his first appearance in London.

[Gandalfus]

So, FitzAlan wasn't to be gutted in the manner Despencer was, thanks to a sorry spectacle from Kent's wife. Gaunt smiled a little. She was a crafty woman, that much could be said, appealing directly to the King in such a manner that if he refused, he would look cruel and merciless.

"Lets get on with it, then." Lancaster callously murmured. Arundel had the gall to besiege his own seat at Kenilworth, and thus the rascal was getting his just reward for his great pride. FitzAlan had tried to seat himself above the King, and had been spectacularly pulled down in the process. ​"Hang him, and be done with it."

[Jokern]

Thomas Mowbray sat among the nobles next to his wife as they watched the spectacle that played out before them. He felt relief in the fact that the King had granted Arundel's wife's request of mercy, though the Earl of Nottingham was still distraught by the whole ordeal. He held his wife's hand, Elizabeth's face hardened and clenched to stop the tears from running down her cheeks. Her father was about to die a traitor's death, hanged before being drawn and quartered.

"The wroth of a King is a terrible thing, destroying everything in its path. May God have mercy on your soul, father-in-law."

[Mary The Quene]

Lord Montagu stood present among the crowd together with his young wife, the Lady Maud, it seemed the right decision to side with the King's cause, as he had been awarded quite alot for his support to the King, including a portion of the traitor's land. Lord Montagu silently grimaced at the fate of the traitor, hanging, his deserved fate. His own wife held the hand of her husband dearly and firm, being unsure of herself being able to watch the incoming spectacle.

Do it then, end his miserably life. Lord Montagu silently murmured, the better we get rid of these kind of men the better it is he thought.

[The Mad Skylord]

Arundel went to the gallows with his head held high and as much dignity that the rough woven shirt and manacles allowed him. Standing on the gallows was not so scary, he thought. Just a quick drop and a sudden stop. He did feel relief, his entrails being pulled out foot by foot had been a scary thought.

He cast his eyes quietly down the nobility, smiling sadly at his daughter, and winking once in thanks to his dear sister Alice. His eyes came at last upon Henry of Bolingbroke. He looked the man carefully in the eye, and nodded once - forgiving him for not doing the deed. What was the point in hatred and grudges while he literally stood on Death's door?

His eyes flicked from Bolingbroke to Lancaster and - perhaps to the confusion of the crowd and the chagrin of the King - he laughed maniacally. "Well, Duke of Lancaster, my only regret is that I didn't crack that of a castle Kenilworth open. Perhaps my son will manage, in years to come!" his laughter finally faded as he glanced around. "Well, get on with it then. Don't keep Old Nick waiting."

[Mary The Quene]

Likewise Lord Neville is present to watch FitzAlan's execution, accompanying Lord Neville is one of his mistresses, named Elizabeth who tactfully placed herself distantly from other noble's, his own wife was allowed to run the household in the North during Lord Neville's absence in London. Lord Neville merely laughed at the words of this traitor, it had been ofcourse a foolish rebellion from the start, and therefore deserved his fate. Lord Neville did not feel any pity for the traitor but he saw nonetheless his mistress making the sign of the cross for Arundel's damned soul.

Do it, down with traitors!. Lord Neville shouted whising to return to his newly purchased manor in London with his mistress.

[The Mad Skylord]

"Oh, bugger off, Neville. If you had brainds you'd be dangerous."

[Mary The Quene]

Lord Neville merely made a slight smile at FitzAlan's rant, it seemed that even at the doorstep of death the man does not know his place, as a traitor to the crown.

Whatever you say, traitor, your words carry no weight. He then rolled with his eye's hoping that the traitor meets his fate.

[Oznerol]

The king gestured, the priests took Arundel's confession and repentance, if any, and then the earl was dragged up the ladder and hanged. The affair took a while, but he was finally dead. Then, the expert executioners carried the rest of the ritual, methodically. Finally, the corpse was quartered and the pieces sent to the major cities of the realm: the head would be impaled in Newgate. The king didn't move an inch during the whole ordeal, he solely raised from his seat when everything was done. John Holland seemed midly annoyed by Arundel being spared, however he had more pressing matters to think about, like moving his household to Arundel Castle.