Greenwich Palace

[Gandalfus]

Built by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in 1433, this magnificent city house fell into the hands of the crown after Duke died in prison in 1447, haven fallen out of favour with the royal court; specifically Henry's Queen, Margaret of Anjou. With the Palace of Westminster becoming rather crowded, the King now uses Greenwich as his official court to receive petitioners and mediate judgement, with Westminster being used for more private and personal visits.

[Gandalfus]

AUGUST, 1484

With the King of England returning to London in triumph, the whole realm celebrates the victory of Edward Plantagenet over the Lancastrian pretender that had for two decades lurked across the channel, out of reach, plotting his vengeance over those who took his deranged father's throne. It was the height of summer. The King's heir would soon be born; for the Queen Soleil had gone into confinement at King's Langley, the court praying for her return along with a Prince of Wales to put the realm to right. The crippling debt of the royal treasury and the breakdown in relations with France was masked by the optimism and hope of a new era of unprecedented peace that Edward's predecessor had been so close to delivering on, but could not quite reach, his only legacy being the vacuum of power left in the wake of his death. Indeed, the King had been discussing ambiguous plans of great reform with his closest confidantes, though none outside of that circle had apparently heard anything other than vague rumours and hearsay. But nonetheless, such talk was all but forgotten when Edward moved the royal court for that summer to his father's old residence of Greenwich, and announced that months of festivities had been planned to celebrate the victory over Lancaster, the imminent birth of his firstborn, and his wife's coronation as Queen that would follow thereafter. All enmities and rivalries would be cast aside in these coming weeks, with the 'Palace of Pleasance', having lain unused by a monarch for many years, was now outfitted to accommodate the entire upper echelons of English society. Many events had been planned at the Crown's expense: mock battles and jousts, great feasts with oddities from the far east providing entertainment, hunting and falconry in the nearby royal forests... Inordinate amounts of food and alcohol would surely be consumed, for the appetite of men returning from battle is legendary. Many would surely throw themselves into this celebratory event, but the King himself, for now, remained as aloof as he had been upon his return from Christchurch, anxiously awaiting news from King's Langley of his beloved and the fate of their firstborn child, which, if it were to be a son, would be presented here to the Barons as the new Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester. One could be forgiven for assuming all the realm's problems had been fixed, that three orders of society would forevermore exist in harmony and contentment. In truth, the King's rule rested upon the shoulders of his vassals, such was the fragility of royal authority at present - something previously epitomised by the Appellant rebellion the year before. Edward of Lancaster's fate was to serve as a horrific reminder of his own potential destiny should the pillars that held up his crown be tore down from under him.

But it is ill fortune to bear such thoughts during a time of happiness and celebration. War was over, and the men of England were concerning themselves eating, drinking, and being merry, spending their days at the aptly named 'Palace of Pleasure'. Great tables had been lain out akin to the one seen at the coronation feast, and though the atmosphere here was much less apprehensive than it had been in the aftermath of Woodville's victory, old rivalries had certainly not been forgotten. The Dowager-Queen herself had even been invited back to court, seen by all at the right hand of her son the King of England at the head of the table, where his absent wife would usually sit. It would look upon the surface as if nothing had changed at all over the last few years, that all the conflict and toil between Richard Plantagenet's scions had been for naught.

[Oznerol]

Elizabeth had pretended to be completely satisfied with her return, proudly taking a seat by the king's right, as pridefully as ever. She leans, however, and mutters something to his hear:

"Your choice of bride is rather poor, son. I daresay it has not been prudent"

She grabs her son's arm.

"You did so out of love, I presume. I hope it wasn't a fleeting impulse and that you won't regret it. That it was worth it"

Woodville talks in whispers, while smiling and nodding to those that presented their regards to the king and his mother.

"Do you think that sits well with your loyal and honorable vassals?"

[Gandalfus]

"Over mighty vassals, you mean."

Muttered Edward, gaze flitting over all those who had deemed to make themselves present. Many of them could field a thousand men or more alone.

"They are too strong, and I am too weak. Father didn't leave the treasury in a healthy state."

[Oznerol]

"Over mighty vassals, you mean."

Muttered Edward, gaze flitting over all those who had deemed to make themselves present. Many of them could field a thousand men or more alone.

"They are too strong, and I am too weak. Father didn't leave the treasury in a healthy state."

"The necessity of war. Trust me, I tried to manage the treasury the best I could, but your father, God bless him, only demanded more and more coin. The siege of Dreux costed us thousands upon thousands of marks"

Said the queen.

"A marriage would have been helpful in gaining you lands. But you're already married to that Soleil of yours and I don't want to cast any doubt about the legitimacy of your children, no matter what my thoughts over these matters are, Edward"

She had frowned, oh so slightly, wrinkles appearing on her forehead.

"Your vassals are indeed too powerful. Scheming and mischevous, they must be taught a lesson, least you end like one of those feeble kings of yore"

Said the queen, vaguely.

[Jokern]

The Mowbrays had taken their seats as the premier ducal family in England close to the royal table, merrily drinking and eating at the king's expense. They were all dressed in rich and colorful fabrics after the latest fashion at court. All of them were there, an easy feat considering their numbers. John Mowbray, the Duke of Norfolk, seemed ecstatic and happily chatted away with anyone who happened to come by, while his wife tried to calm him down a bit. For so long had he slaved for York to make sure Lancaster never rose again, and now it was all over.

William Mowbray, Earl of Surrey, was moderately dressed in soft blues and yellows. He had gotten some reputation for counting pennies during his brief time as deputy chancellor in Wales with the lack of grand feasts and hunts. Yet he was almost as jovial as his father, talking to those that stopped by to greet them, though a bit more reserved in the amount of drinks and food consumed. Next to him sat his Holland wife Elizabeth, barely a woman by the looks of her. William looked between her and his younger brother's wife, feeling a bit jealous at the fact that Edmund already had a son.

Finally, there was Edmund. The second son seemed the least happy of the Mowbray men, though his goblet had been refilled quite a few times. What did he have to be happy over? While his brother had been in Wales and his father had fought against their age-old Lancastrian enemies, Edmund had been forced to stay at home and protect their family in Suffolk. What was most frustrating was that his father-in-law, Hastings, had not asked for his daughter's husband to serve as deputy, but instead asked for William. Edmund was ready to throw his goblet in his brother's head and brawl, though conceded to sulking. His darling wife Anne's consoling had some effect on the young man.

[Dirty Chai]

The Duke of Buckingham showed himself at the festivities in Greenwich, bringing his small litter of children by lady Catherine with him. There was little Harry, his heir, a boy nearly ending his first decade of life; he looked like his mother more than anyone with the name Stafford, with little heavy eyelids, pudgy cheeks and a round face, but had his father's hair color, dirtied and satin. Then there was little Anne, a golden haired girl of a mere few years, still attended upon by one of Catherine's lady servants as a nurse and mistress. Catherine did not show it yet, but had already proclaimed to her husband, prior to coming here, that she was with child again, and that the Duke and Duchess were expecting a new member of their family sometime next year. Then there was Edward Stafford, who was the sole heir of John Stafford, the deceased Lord of Stamford; he was just a couple of years older than little Harry, but was in fact the duke's first cousin, being a late child of his uncle. This boy was the duke's ward, but soon perhaps he'd be someone's squire.

---

Thomas de Saint Leger was present; despite his being a part of the new queen's household, the knight did not go to Ludlow with her and her small court for her childbirth, and had stayed in London. He stood now in some satin houppelande, posturing with one hand on his waist, laughing loudly with a handful of the king's other knights off to the left of the dais, all lurking and wasting about with large chalices and mugs in their hands.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Bishop of Durham was present, merry as ever. The drinking began almost immediately, though perhaps less out of merriment and more to block the horrofic scenes of the battle from his mind. How the now dead pretender had wailed, choked, and died...it made him shiver. It was all he could do to take a trembling hand and mark a shaky cross on his forehead with the sacred oils. He drained a cup of wine and called for another.

----

Sit Thomas Bourchier arrived with the Duke of Aumale, who had remained in London. Thomas was surprised to have survived the battle unscathed where his niece's husband had met such an unfortunate end. The young Duke sat wide eyed as tales of the battle were recounted to him.

[Mary The Quene]

Ralph Neville, now Earl of Northumberland, arrived aswell with his eight year old son, although in a pessimistic mood, for secretly he hoped Lancaster had won the day, but alas it was not to be. Thus Neville isolated himself somewhat from the rest, already pondering about his next moves he would undertake.

[Gandalfus]

The new Duke of Exeter attended the first of the celebrations at Greenwich; he, his wife, and daughter we garbed head to toe in black mourning clothes, that this just so happened to mix with the Burgundian fashion of court was a happy coincidence. The Duke's younger brother, the bachelor Sir Thomas was ingratiating himself into families with eligible daughters. The youngest of them, Derby, was sat near to the Duke of Bedford, his betrothed's father. It was likely that they would soon be wed.

[Xion]

The earl and countess of Devon arrive at Greenwich with their children and Devon's brother Charles, arriving later than most due to first returning to Tiverton to see the damages caused by Lancastrian men looting the castle of some valuable items and Devon having to deal with the collapse of one of his mines earlier in the month. Devon and his family takes their seats on one of the benches towards the back.

[Gandalfus]

"They don't trust me, and I don't trust them, either."

It was certainly a precarious position that had been shared by multiple of England's past monarchs. Edward took a sip from a goblet that had been placed before him.

"I have Thomas and uncle Anthony, at least. And the Kyriells."

It wasn't much. It seemed, ironically, that the most stable foundation of his reign was his maternal kin.

"But the others all marched against me only last year."

[Oznerol]

"They will never leave your side, Edward"

Said Elizabeth, reassuring her son.

"However, we must do something to diminish the crippling debt. We can do nothing, at all, as long as even your dishware could be pawned, any time"

She commands more hippocras to be brought, her cup refilled and warmed with a hot iron.

"I mourn having to bid her farewell, but... Your sister must be married, like your own brother York. He is getting unruly with age, needs a woman to ease his foul temper"

[Gandalfus]

"Yes, she must. I considered the Emperor's son as a match for Elizabeth. God knows who for Richard."

Nodded the King, thoughtfully. England's position was precarious at the moment, with Burgundy potentially weakened by the succession of Philip.

"All the royal house must have marriages arranged. Even the children of mine uncles."

The King could not allow coalitions could be formed between lords to counter his power. Such arrangements would have to be monitored and controlled: the irony that he had married for love and was preventing others from doing so was lost on him. He was King, and thus his will was the law made manifest. At least in his own opinion.

"I shall hold a Parliament in a few months, at York or Lincoln. Find ways to restore the treasury and the authority mine father built."

[Oznerol]

"Yes, she must. I considered the Emperor's son as a match for Elizabeth. God knows who for Richard."

Nodded the King, thoughtfully. England's position was precarious at the moment, with Burgundy potentially weakened by the succession of Philip.

"All the royal house must have marriages arranged. Even the children of mine uncles."

The King could not allow coalitions could be formed between lords to counter his power. Such arrangements would have to be monitored and controlled: the irony that he had married for love and was preventing others from doing so was lost on him. He was King, and thus his will was the law made manifest. At least in his own opinion.

"I shall hold a Parliament in a few months, at York or Lincoln. Find ways to restore the treasury and the authority mine father built."

"Blessed Saint Catherine help me, for I don't know who could be spoused to my children"

Save you, I had a wife for you.

"You cannot let your uncles marry without your consent. They must be watched carefully, very carefully"

She whispered, cautiously.

"I hope the Commoners shall be willing to grant you the required funds to lessen the debts"

[Gandalfus]

''I was occupied with settling my household in Alnwick, Majesty''

Lied Neville, he needed time to reconcile with the defeat of Lancaster, but it is what it is.

''I'd like to discuss the old Westmorland inheritance'' Said Neville who glanced toward the Queen Dowager, surely that inheritance would better off in his hands than in Montagu hands who had supported the Lords Appellants.

"Were you at the river Stour, lord Neville?"

Asked the King, pointedly. He knew for certain Montagu was, but didn't see this man's banners among his host.

"I do not recall. Anyway, I digress. Talk with me about these claims, would you, my lord?"

Edward gave a genial smile, lightly drumming his fingers upon the goblet that hovered above the table in his hand.

"Blessed Saint Catherine help me, for I don't know who could be spoused to my children"

Save you, I had a wife for you.

"You cannot let your uncles marry without your consent. They must be watched carefully, very carefully"

She whispered, cautiously.

"I hope the Commoners shall be willing to grant you the required funds to lessen the debts"

"Not just the commons."

Edward took another draught. Who could be a bride for Richard? Perhaps he could put his brother to some use, in the north.

"The magnates can afford soldiers. These livery wearing men are a plague upon the Kingdom. Badges give them courage to perform acts they would never do alone."

Such private armies levied without the permission of the Crown were flagrant breaches of the law. A fine would suffice.

[Mary The Quene]

"Were you at the river Stour, lord Neville?"

Asked the King, pointedly. He knew for certain Montagu was, but didn't see this man's banners among his host.

"I do not recall. Anyway, I digress. Talk with me about these claims, would you, my lord?"

Edward gave a genial smile, lightly drumming his fingers upon the goblet that hovered above the table in his hand.

''Unfortunately i arrived too late, i had even raised troops and all to support your rightful cause but when i and my troops arrived the battle was already decided''

Said Neville, this was awkward.

''But ofcourse, my dear uncle held the Earldom of Westmorland and its attached lands once, stolen by Lord Montagu during the Lord protectorate incident of the late Norfolk, and my family suffered attainment which is now long lifted, my uncle surely would have these lands and title's to remain in this branch of the family.'' Certainly not in the hands of the junior Nevilles.

[Gandalfus]

''Unfortunately i arrived too late, i had even raised troops and all to support your rightful cause but when i and my troops arrived the battle was already decided''

Said Neville, this was awkward.

''But ofcourse, my dear uncle held the Earldom of Westmorland and its attached lands once, stolen by Lord Montagu during the Lord protectorate incident of the late Norfolk, and my family suffered attainment which is now long lifted, my uncle surely would have these lands and title's to remain in this branch of the family.'' Certainly not in the hands of the junior Nevilles.

"Perhaps you could submit this claim in writing, Lord Westmorland, and it shall be considered."

Edward knew of what Ralph spoke, of course, as he'd been made to study the genealogy and heraldry of every great house of England. Or he would know if his mind wasn't clouded by both the effects of the wine.

"Anything else?"

[Mary The Quene]

Ralph Neville seeks out the king.

[Gandalfus]

Audience granted. Ralph is brought before the King's raised seat at the head of the table.