Ely House

[Gandalfus]

Usually the London residence of the Bishop of Ely, this house has, since the destruction of the Savoy Palace in 1381, been leased out to the Duke of Lancaster and used as his London residence.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Stafford men arrived, the Earl was looking particularly unhappy as he requested to meet with the Duke

[Gandalfus]

Stafford is admitted into the Duke's household, escorted by a pair of retainers into a spacious chamber used for meetings such as these. Gaunt awaited him, arms folded, staring down his pronounced nose at the Thomas. Servants fawned around the new arrivals, offering wine and food before scurrying quickly away.

"My Lord Stafford, be welcome. You have come to speak with me about the trial, I suspect?" Holland's conduct had irritated Lancaster to no end, especially when he had been trusted by the King as the foremost authority among the judges.


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[Pontifex Maximus]

Thomas and Roger bowed, Roger more low than his brother. "I have indeed your grace." the Earl began. "I was in parliament when the lords appellant first leveled their charges. They claimed the King had become a victim of bad counselors. The events of the trial demonstrated to me that there might be some truth to that accusation. This Holland spoke with the King's authority on matters he should have deferred about. I fear that Holland has ingratiated himself with our gracious king and assumed untoward influence over the king to tacitly approve of his own plots and machinations."

[Gandalfus]

"Holland is the King's own brother, but perhaps your words ring close to the truth." Lancaster conceded with a sigh. Almost all of Arundel's lands had gone to the King's two half brothers, Thomas and John Holland. Gaunt considered that he would perhaps have to act as a mediator, should things stretch too far. The last thing the realm needed was more bloodshed.

"Worst news still is that the Duke of Ireland will be returning. Though he is a great friend of the king, he was the prime cause of the Appellant debacle in the first place." Lancaster grumbled, folding his arms. Oxford had disgraced Philippa of Coucy, the King's own cousin, to run off with some Czech handmaiden. Worse still, their were rumours that he and the King went beyond friendship, but that was surely gutter talk.


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[The Mad Skylord]

A tall Baron arrived to see the Duke of Lancaster.

[Gandalfus]

Maltravers, after his heraldry is recognised, is admitted into the Duke's presence.

[The Mad Skylord]

The Baron bows lightly, acknowledging the Duke of Lancaster's superior rank. "Your Grace, I have come with a proposal in which you may find interest, providing you are willing to hear itthat?"

[Gandalfus]

Lancaster waved his hand in acquiescence. The Duke was sat behind a desk, and did not bother to rise when Maltravers entered.

"You may speak." ​Lancaster replied, and then sipped from a goblet of wine.

[The Mad Skylord]

Maltravers felt a tinge of irritation at this man's arrogance - it reminded him of the King. It was in the blood, he supppsed. "Your Grace, this whole business has been a farce - a bloody affair that has left many children orphaned and many wives widowed.

The approach of the Lords Appellant to the King's favourites was, at best, foolish or, at worst, downright murderous. It was an affair handled badly by both the Duke of Gloucester, my Uncle and their fellows.

They did, however, have a point. The favourites of the King did actively mismanage the Realm. Action had to be taken - but declaring the ministers in question traitors and lopping off their heads? A tad overzealous, perhaps.

The fact does remain though, that the Duke of Ireland, Sir Nicholas Brembre and many of their other fellows still live, having escaped the wroth of the Appellants.

Undoubtedly, the King will continue to show then favour - as is his right as King. This will, however, simply create a similar situation, be it one year, two years or ten years hence.

I feel that, rather than allow another situation of this ilk to form, we peers can prevent it by a simple petition. I propose, Your Grace, that the Barons of the Realm petition the King to create a new set of Provisions - less radical than the Provisions of Oxford and Westminster, but firm enough to prevent more wanton shedding of blood over the choices for the King's government in the future."

[Gandalfus]

"So you wish to limit the power that the King can exercise over us. How? Through a council? The Appellants tried that, and failed miserably." Gaunt folded his arms, a crease appearing in his brow that indicated his frustration. "Isn't this exactly what the Appellants wanted? To copy Montfort and his ilk?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Perhaps the king's brothers have ambitions I dare not speak aloud." Thomas offered. "It would not be the first time such has happened."

[The Mad Skylord]

"The Appellants hardly copied the Provisions. They overthrew Royal government by force of arms and attempted to control the King through force. I simply suggest a similar method laid down by the Provisions of Oxford. The King shall select a number of peers, the Barons shall elect a number of themselves, and the council formed by these two parties will select the Privy Council officers - with one advisor chosen by the King and one advisor elected by the Barons with the Officers elected by the joint council. Such a method would prevent overt favouritism from ruling, but also prevent attempts at overthrown Royal Government by arms."

[Gandalfus]

"Perhaps the king's brothers have ambitions I dare not speak aloud." Thomas offered. "It would not be the first time such has happened."

"Perhaps." Gaunt replied cautiously, scratching the bridge of his hooked nose. "But unlikely. They'll amass themselves lands and wards from their brother's pocket. But the realm would not accept either one as King. They are less royal than my dog, with a mere scrap of blood from some brother or other of the first King Edward." He snorted. The rascal Huntingdon, who he didn't mind overmuch, had married Gaunt's own daughter Elizabeth. It was Kent who was the dangerous one.

"The Appellants hardly copied the Provisions. They overthrew Royal government by force of arms and attempted to control the King through force. I simply suggest a similar method laid down by the Provisions of Oxford. The King shall select a number of peers, the Barons shall elect a number of themselves, and the council formed by these two parties will select the Privy Council officers - with one advisor chosen by the King and one advisor elected by the Barons with the Officers elected by the joint council. Such a method would prevent overt favouritism from ruling, but also prevent attempts at overthrown Royal Government by arms."

"Suggesting this to His Majesty will see you hanged, I hope you realise that." Gaunt chided him. Richard was very secure following the downfall of Arundel, Gloucester and Warwick. Putting such a thing in place now would be impossible.

[The Mad Skylord]

"Perhaps." Gaunt replied cautiously, scratching the bridge of his hooked nose. "But unlikely. They'll amass themselves lands and wards from their brother's pocket. But the realm would not accept either one as King. They are less royal than my dog, with a mere scrap of blood from some brother or other of the first King Edward." He snorted. The rascal Huntingdon, who he didn't mind overmuch, had married Gaunt's own daughter Elizabeth. It was Kent who was the dangerous one.



"Suggesting this to His Majesty will see you hanged, I hope you realise that." Gaunt chided him. Richard was very secure following the downfall of Arundel, Gloucester and Warwick. Putting such a thing in place now would be impossible.

Maltravers chuckled easily, though his eyes were dark and filled with malice. "Indeed. The King has a fondness for hanging FitzAlans. I'd hate to see him complete the set. It'd put my neck right out of sorts."

The chuckle ended almost abruptly as it began, and Maltravers became serious again. Certainly it cannot be proposed this year, or even the next. Nor will I be so foolish to enter Shene Palace to inform His Majesty of the proposal unless it is back significantly.

I do not doubt the King would breach the Magna Carta to see me hang over such a proposal, but I am adamant. Things cannot continue the way they are going, we will end up in real civil war next time."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I pray you are right my Lord." Stafford replied. "You may count on my continued friendship in the future. I plan on naming my brother, Roger, whom you knighted, as my deputy here in London as the King's Master of Horse. My duties in Dover and now Brittany will keep me much, uh, indisposed and far from London." He hoped the Duke would take his meaning, that a Stafford would remain in London to be of service. "I regret that I find myself embarrassingly short of funds in this year. Please let my brother-in-law, your son, know that within several months the full sum of my sister's dowry will be delivered unto him."

[Gandalfus]

"Good. Your brother is a dependable man, and no doubt he'll perform your duties here satisfactorily." Gaunt nodded stoutly in agreement. "Think nothing of it, lord Stafford. It happens." In truth, Stafford had perhaps been generous accepting the offer in the first place, given his son's status. But that was how the game was played - no man could survive without friends in the King's court.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"No doubt my incomes from offices in Brittany will keep me well funded in future." Thomas said, rising. "Though I do not look forward to the continued sea voyaged between Dover and Brest." He had suffered from seasickness before, and was prone to coughs as well. He rose to take his leave. "I must be gone now, I have much to do before I leave for Dover."

Roger watched his brother leave. "Better him than me." the lad said with a smirk

[Gandalfus]

"Did his majesty not remove the office of the Cinque Ports from thee?" Gaunt queried with a frown, having heard that de la Pole had taken the position. "Best of luck with the Bretons, Lord Stafford. Tread carefully around the Duke." Gaunt inclined his head, and the servants moved to show Stafford out.


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[Pontifex Maximus]

Thomas rebounded "Nay, the King has confirmed me doubly in that position, it would seem. It is a wise move, methinks, as his constable of Brittany shall retain maritime and admiralty jurisdiction over the channel as his deputy in both offices - it means that both positions may exist and at in concert with one another. Should any miscreants wish to cause trouble in Brittany or the high seas, I might deal with them accordingly."