Combing the Books

[Lucius Malfoy]

After returning to his duties as Lord Warden of the Clinque Ports, Henry Beaufort sought to comb the books involving taxation and owes that were documented within the past few years. He suspected there were those merchants, within the ports of Hastings, Rye, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich, which were under his jurisdiction as Lord Warden and Admiral. He suspected there were those who owed the King and the Royal Coffers overdue taxes and promised amounts of coin. He spent some days in Dover Castle, looking over the accounts with some of his officers as they looked for any overdue amounts.

OOC: Henry Beaufort is currently looking for overdue amounts in taxation as stated above. I am not asking for a bunch of possibilities, more like a max of 3 to deal with.

[Dirty Chai]

There seems to be a couple of wool merchants with outstanding fees and a horse trader who was involved in some harbor fiasco and owes a fine to the king

[Lucius Malfoy]

Beaufort examined each of the merchants, pondering on which to approach first. Wool trade was very essential to the economy of England, making the outstanding fees owed by these two merchants more important. If these merchants had outstanding fees, Henry felt others would follow. An example needed to be made. As such, with a retinue of ten mounted guards, Henry would ride for the port of Rye, where they were last known, to resolve these issues immediately. Once there, he had has his men spread out to find the merchant or merchants, involved in the wool trade, in question. Henry hoped that he may find one or both of them.

[Dirty Chai]

By virtue of being armed men in the service of a man serving the king, it only takes a little name-dropping for the harbormaster to point Beaufort in the direction of the two merchants in question: John Townsend had a house down by the fishmarket and Tom Fleming could probably be found on his cog, preparing to set sail for Flanders.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Immediately Beaufort sets for Fleming, knowing he was on a time limit. Otherwise, the man could sail for Flanders and thus be unable to pay his dues to the King. After gathering his guards, Henry made his way to the docks, inquiring where Fleming was. The presence of armed men was enough to make the dockmaster point directly to where Fleming's ship was. As the crew prepared itself to sail, their routine would be interrupted by the arrival of the Lord Warden and his guards. Henry looks around for a moment before turning his eyes to the ship.

Tom Fleming, come forth!

After the recent meeting with the King, Sir Beaufort had become a somewhat dark-humored man. The insults left by Richard still stinging.

By order of the Lord Warden of the Clinque Ports, come forth now!

[Dirty Chai]

The crew slowly assembled on that side of the ship, looking over the rails silently and worriedly. Eventually a short, thin, swarthy man came to stand at the ramp.

"M'lord," Tom said, his eyes looking over the small armed party before him, "What's the problem?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

"I have come to collect your outstanding payment owed for the past year. I do hope you have the money owed."

Henry Beaufort crosses his arms, looking at the individual who was Fleming. He glances at the ship for a moment before looking at Tom, hoping he would be cooperative.

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[Dirty Chai]

"But I've paid all my dues, m'lord Dover," the merchant gestured with open hands, as if suggesting he had nothing to hide.

"I even have all my permits," Tom explained, a very worrisome expression on his face.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Henry Beaufort reaches into his pockets, pulling out a piece of paper that was folded. Once it was unfolded, he held it up to the merchant, showing it was a document.

According to this, written by the previous Lord Warden, you have owed payments since last year. A payment that has been remained unpaid and is almost a few months overdue!

He folds the paper, placing it back upon his person.

I could easily ensure my half-brother, the Duke of Lancaster, gets a hold of your name and have it forwarded to His Majesty. I doubt you will keep your permits after that, Fleming.

Henry wasn't sure about his relationship with Lancaster and the King was hardly someone that Beaufort would want to speak to again, but these threats, idle or not, were still a powerful weapon.

Choice is yours... pay what you owe or I can see it to that all those wonderful permits in your grasp simply, poof, vanish.

Or perhaps you could bribe me to forget about this, thought Beaufort. He didn't have a lot of money after all and the funds could be put to good use.

[Dirty Chai]

"Surely, it cannot be more than a few pounds, m'lord," the wool trader almost pleaded, "I'll pay it, how much is it?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

(So for each merchant, I am just gonna roll a random number between 20 - 100 to determine what they owe. Rounded to the nearest tenth)

More like sixty pounds, Fleming. Now I would suggest you pay it up in full or I may be forced to take more... drastic measures.

Henry then turns his eyes to the ship, eyeing it hungrily. There was surely hundreds upon hundreds of pounds worth of material aboard. Enough to pay off the debt and to let Beaufort pocket the rest.

[Dirty Chai]

"Fine it's yours, sixty pounds!" the merchant threw his hands up. "I don't want any trouble, sir,"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Henry smiles and collects the necessary payment before departing. With Fleming handled, the Lord Warden made his way to fishmarket house where Townsend was occupying. After a lengthy walk and speaking to a few locals, the house was identified. Townsend would surely hear the pounding of a guard's fist upon his door moments after Beaufort arrived. He waits calmly outside, to see if the merchant would come out.

[Dirty Chai]

The door is opened by a young boy who immediately hurries away and it is likely Townsend himself who returns; a fuzzy-faced man with a stained white shirt. He looked at the men before him quite warily, more afraid than Fleming was.

"Yes, sir? How can I help you?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

As Lord Warden of the Clinque Ports, I am here to collect what you owed from last year, Mr. Townsend.

Beaufort reveals a piece of paper, showing the necessary document that showed the proof of the debt owed.

We can't let this debt continue to be... unpaid. It sets a bad example. Wouldn't you agree? As a merchant, wouldn't you agree?

[Dirty Chai]

"I.." the merchant was in disbelief. "There must be a mistake, there are no taxes that I owe, simply cannot be.."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Are you calling these documents lies? Are you calling a royally appointed official of His Majesty a liar?!

Henry suddenly became furious, gripping the paper tightly within his hands.

This is hardly a mistake! It is clearly written that you owe the taxes, notarized last year, that would be repaid almost several months ago!

Beaufort then raises two fingers, ready to point directly at Townsend's house.

Guards!

Townsend had seconds to make a reply or else things would get ugly.

[Dirty Chai]

"My lord, there's nothing in my house even worth this sum!" he pleaded, "Please, my lord, I have no way to pay these,"

[Lucius Malfoy]

You are a merchant in the wool trade, Mr. Townsend and you are telling me that you can't pay taxes that you promised to pay off this year?

Beaufort could not believe this man. Wool trade was vital to the English economy and thus could make many merchants on both sides of the channel rich. How could this merchant be a part of that trade and not have the money to pay his dues? He examines the house quietly for a moment before returning his gaze to the merchant.

I suspect your house is worth, same goes for your ship and assets, to pay your taxes tenfold!

He turns to a few guards, pointing at them.

Now I can send my guards in and see where you are hiding your hoard or you give the money owed, Mr. Townsend. The Crown does not like taxes being unpaid.

[Dirty Chai]

"Not anymore, sir, I have no ship or wool, I lost it all in a storm off Gaunt,"