 |
|  |
 |
|  |
 |
|
Patient English
|
 |
Sussex, England
Dec 2000 time: 05:13
|
|
It's the Year of Our Lord 1139. At Hereford, on the Welsh Marches of England, Jon of Sussex takes up his quill:
"Since becoming Seneschal to My Lord Humphrey last summer, great events have troubled the land of my birth.
I always felt that mischief would be made of the way our beloved King Stephen came to the throne. That cold and arrogant women who claims to rule all Englishmen just because she was the daughter of the Great King and persuaded him to champion her cause in his dotage - some call her the "Empress" Matilda - has landed on the South Coast to challenge the rightful King. She landed not far from my own dear village and I hear that the King had her in his power - and then let her go to join her rebel kinsman in Bristol. The King is truly a just and kindly man, but I cannot believe this. I suspect some foul witchcraft.
Many of the great men of the land have joined her cause. Many others have rallied to the King. Still others acknowledge no master and roam the land with their men, killing and burning. My Lord Humphrey has declared his loyalty to the true King, but does not seem to be acting very forcefully against that cursed woman. Indeed, his own retainers have just ridden out to a village near Shrewsbury and most cruelly treated the people there. Perhaps it is true that they secretly supported the Empress. I'm sure my Lord knows best. On a happpier note, I hear some of our men based around Monmouth have chastisted those savage Welshmen, burnt their houses and drove off their cattle. They won't be plundering our sheepfarms again, I'm thinking!
Other news: the work to complete the castles at Stamford and Ledbury continues apace. I fear we will have need of such strong havens in the months to come.
It is with mixed feelings that I report the suppression of rebels in the marshes of the Wash. Misguided they may be, but they were fellow Saxons protesting against the harsh treatment of their Norman overlords in the only way left to them. Thank the good Lord our own wise Lord Humphrey treats all his people justly, according to their desserts.
No news recently from our cousins in France. I pray they have not fallen foul of that she-vixen and her warlike Angevin family.
I will write again soon."
|
|
|  |
 |
|
JMarks
|
 |
formerly known as the artist
Mar 2000 time: 05:13
|
|
The Greek Ioanes, far from his home and hired by the Lord Bigod as scribe, writes thus:
"These English are most unusual. Their government is strictly layered, consisting of vassels beneath vassels above them all the king. Yet this system is not perfect. It seems that there are two claiments to the throne. The popular King Steven, who has obtained the loyalty of the greatest nobles, including my Lord Bigod, and 'Emress' Matilda, claiming liniage to the throne via the Great King. However, this is all from third hand sources. I hope that in the future I will be able to write a first hand acount of the Kingdom's going on.
I can however give acount of my Lord's Earldom. The grain is being harvested this september, and there is talk in the halls of going out this winter and taking the strongholds of rouge lords who dare defy the King. My Lord hopes to be allowed to retain the halls he has taken for the King, to pass on to his son and to his son's son.
This I write in September, the Year of Our Lord 1139."
|
|
|  |
 |
|
Patient English
|
 |
Sussex, England
Dec 2000 time: 05:13
|
|
From the writings of Jon of Sussex:
"July 1140,
Our East Anglian troops have suffered a reverse in the forests of Cambridgeshire. From France, better news. The fields there are apparently very fertile, and the Town of Honfleur grows apace..."
File sent to JMarks...
Attachment: 1140july-debohunmoved..zip
This has been downloaded 1 time(s).
Last edited by Patient English on 31-05-2001 at 02:59
|
|
|  |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:13. Apolyton Time is 00:13. |
top of page
|
| archivepost |
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|