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| treason and traitors; tag;;HRex | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 28 2010, 08:21 PM (244 Views) | |
| Cardinal Thomas Wolsey | Dec 28 2010, 08:21 PM Post #1 |
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January 28, 1512 Much had happened with the dawning of the new year, Anto Domini. There was talk of war with France, the heresy at court had been put down, and now, there was talk of treason. Edward Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, was set to try and take over the English throne. He remembered the vicious, bloody war between the Houses of Lancaster and the House of York, the white and the red rose, for control of the English throne. No one wished to go back to those days of civil unrest. When he heard of this plan, he thought His Grace to be rather foolish. The Tudors had claim to the throne. It was done. The king was the king. He heard about this through the network and web of spies he set up all over court, as he heard that the Earl of Warwick, the future Earl of Northumberland, and Sir John Shilston visited the king about the very same treason. If His Majesty wondered how Wolsey found out about information so quickly, it was because of his spies, the men (and women) he paid with money and sometimes, political favor. He made it his business to know the king's business; this is what kept him so powerful in court. The king trusted him because he offered him true and devoted counsel...the king could barely even breathe without asking him if it was all right. To have this kind of power...it was sacrilegious. He used it to accomplish great things for the country...though he was merely the son of a cloth merchant, through his policies (that were carefully crafted as such so the king made them his own) he was able to do great things for England. Now, the king was asking for his advice once more, on what to do about the Duke of Buckingham. Yes, the man was ignorant and boorish, but he did have power, armies, and money at his command. The evidence for treason needed to be definite. If it was not, then there was nothing they could do at this juncture. If the evidence was definite, then they needed to be cautious. The late king, His Majesty, Henry VII, didn't even go against His Grace. He would be tried by a jury of his peers, and Wolsey would advise the king that he be convicted of a lesser crime, and banished from court. That way, none of his followers would be tempted to rise up against His Majesty. They were already going to war with France, and the scarlet cardinal did not want to deal with any trouble on the home front when Henry left. He requested, via a missive, a meeting, and of course, the king responded in kind, like he was an equal. As well he should. By all means, Wolsey was the King of England, as Henry Percy once told him. That knowledge he still kept in mind for future use. How would the king react if others said the Archbishop of York was the King of England? Not favorably, he knew that much. It was a rather hasty meeting, but he knew the meeting would last for many minutes, possibly hours. The meetings often did. He was the one that enjoyed the king's full confidence and nobody, especially not that bloody Duke of Norfolk, could ever change that. He'd known Henry since he was a small boy, and watched him grow up into the man he was today...from a tiny cub to a majestic lion. Though it was Wolsey's job to pacify the young lion, and to not ever let him know he had as much power as he could have. For if the lion did indeed realize his own strength, he could no longer control him. That, besides a possible downfall, was his greatest fear. Making sure he looked his absolute best...his robes even more scarlet than usual, his chains of office sparkling and shining, and the ruby ring on his left hand polished to a brilliant sheen, he made his way to the chambers of the king, and nodded to the men guarding the door. They knew, right away, to let him in. They opened the doors, and one announced, "His Eminence, Cardinal Wolsey, Archbishop of York." Wolsey entered the room, and gave a small bow. "Your Majesty." He met his eyes not long after his bow of acknowledgement. "I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me today. I want to listen to your concerns, and I will try and advise you the best way I can." |
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| King Henry VIII | Dec 29 2010, 07:11 PM Post #2 |
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His father had been right. So right. As a pretender, Henry VII had taken the throne for himself. Thereafter no one, it seemed, would be safe from those who wanted to take the throne from the Tudors who had won it on conquest, creating stability for a country, a crown Henry VIII wouldn't let drop from his hands even if all the demons in Hell were dragging him down with them. Not surprised Wolsey had heard of his meeting with the noble men, he had immediately sent a note back, requesting the Cardinal's presence for some sage advice. He was the only man Henry would truly listen to, for he was older, had more experience, and had the young king completely under his thumb, something Henry was vaguely aware of; and yet it did not bother him. What kingdom would this be without Thomas Wolsey? One that did not run effectively, for during their discussions, Henry learned so much about ruling. His father had made sure Arthur had been taught all about being a king; Henry, as the second son and then the only heir, was walled up like a girl, unable to do anything, not even to learn about what was his right. He had been risen up to the church. Now, God had taken Arthur away, and still Henry was not taught what he needed. Aware of the deficiencies, he leaned on Wolsey more than he ought, but there was no one else he would rather trust. Henry could lash out, he could show compassion, he could do anything and be himself with the cardinal he had known for years: first as a boy, then as a young man, now as a king. "Ah! Thomas!" said Henry with a smile, rising from his seat at the desk in his study, his blue eyes bright for a man knowing he would discuss such serious topics as treason and death. They deserved it. Now, it was only a talk to decide what exactly to do about this. Thomas would give his opinion and Henry would decide. As always, Henry's decision was influenced by the cardinal's opinion. Just as Henry's word was law, that meant Wolsey's word was law. "I am not surprised you had found out my little meeting with the Earl of Warwick, young Henry Percy, and Sir John Shilston," he added with a chuckle, gesturing at the desk. "Come, come, sit and talk to me, I need your counsel more than ever." He knew he was flattering. He did it on purpose. Henry was a tempestuous man, not a stupid one. Clearing his throat, he flopped back in his chair. No appearances at royalty here: Henry was leaning back, apt to put his boots on the desk, yet he did not, twisting his rings, eyes boring into the cardinal's despite the smile on his lips, growing wry. "I have heard the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Northumberland are causing trouble of the treasonous variety. They wish to oust me from my throne. They think it theirs. Northumberland is assisting Buckingham in raising an army, though it is all Buckingham's idea, as well as that fool Cecil Williams. What is it you think I should do? I am apt to punish them harshly, what they deserve, for such things. Treason is not a light subject, Thomas: you know that. I will not sit back and allow this." The mirth in his voice had gone, in its place harshness and anger. No one wanted this king angry. It was dangerous. But perhaps the anger, the danger, was what they needed to defeat the insurrection. His indignation needed to be reigned in to a cause, not left to swing about with no target. "What say you? The men suggested we send our own army to stop Northumberland, and then catch Buckingham in his tracks." Staring at Wolsey, all emotion gone except righteous anger, Henry simply said, "I want them dead. Traitors are beheaded, Thomas. They need to be an example, heads on pikes. I shall not allow even talk of treason in my country, the country my father fought so hard to piece together. Now that I know what is happening, it must be crushed." To put paid to his words, he slammed a fist into the table, jaw clenched, going from pleasure at seeing his advisor to barely concealed rage at the topic that brought Wolsey to his apartments. One had to be careful with the King. He was near aflame with hate. |
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[align=center]His Majesty is in 3 threads. plotter[/align] | |
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| Cardinal Thomas Wolsey | Jan 4 2011, 10:59 PM Post #3 |
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He wanted to laugh at all of the nobility. If the king had any problems with his skills and his endeavors, he would have rid court of the cardinal a long time ago. As it stood, he was the man the king trusted the most, and the man the king listened to the most. It was rather strange that Henry, as the second son, wasn't also taught about being a king. For he was the only other son and if something happened to Arthur, Henry would need to know what to do so that he would be prepared and ready. This was not the case, so Wolsey, through conversations and political debates, taught the king much...but not too much. The king trusted him above all others: this was evidence via the use of his Christian name and greeting him with a warm smile, as one would a dear friend. This, in itself, was the greatest reward of all. Returning the greeting with a nod of the head, he said, "Talk of the meeting has spread about court. When men of that caliber meet with you, it is going to get noticed." All three of those names made him wary: The Earl of Warwick because he was married to the countess; Henry Percy because of his stiff attitude toward him; that Shilston because he was the brother-in-law of the Duke of Suffolk. Every one of them might have cause to go against him. Then again, every man of noble birth might have cause to go against him. Wolsey had to be ever cautious. His thoughts were interrupted on the king's request he come over and sit, just to talk. That he needed his counsel, now more than ever. "Of course, sire, I will do my best to offer you the best counsel I can possibly give." He walked over and took a seat, brows raising in amusement at the impropriety shown from the ruler of England. Though he did not regard this, and chose to lean back in his chair, his hands on his lap as he took in all the younger man had to say. It did not surprise him that the Duke of Buckingham was involved in such a way, but to have the Earl of Northumberland and Cecil Williams involved? How could those last two gentlemen, the former more than the latter, be this ignorant? After all he had done for him. "Majesty, this is most grave news indeed." Wolsey schooled his face into a solemn look. "Most grave, indeed." He was not able to offer much more, for the king roared out and pounded his fist on his desk. This was one of his weaknesses, besides blind trust and being young...showing his anger. If his enemies saw they could make Henry this angry, then they won. "Treasonous and traitorous hearts never stay beating for long, whether they meet the axe or the noose." He leaned forward. "And you have every right to be angry. You asked for my counsel, so I shall speak plainly: those men, Buckingham and Northumberland, both have followers, titles, lands, and multitudes of resources. Should you behead them, you would give their followers cause to rise up against you. I am unsure of the position of this Cecil Williams. But yes, they do need to be made example of. Arrest them, hold them in the Tower, charge them with an offense which will banish them all from court. They don't cause you difficulties, and your allies won't rise against you. Your father, rest his soul, did not ever go against Buckingham and Northumberland. You are a mighty ruler, and know how to keep these gentlemen in check." |
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| King Henry VIII | Jan 8 2011, 02:15 AM Post #4 |
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Vaguely bemused judging by the expression resting on Henry's face, he said, "You always give me your wisest counsel. After all, that is why I keep you around, isn't it? You are most important to me, the wisest man who could help me with this job given to me." It was not all false flattery. When he wanted to be, he was as earnest as any child. The praise for Thomas Wolsey that fell from his lips were truthful utterances. "Now I have told you what has been happening, then, you may assist me in such a matter," continued Henry, suddenly serious. It never ceased to amaze some how he could vary between moods all at once, within moments: from happy to enraged to sad to pleased, to anything else. His varied temperament made him difficult to deal with. He knew this, somewhere inside him, but it was not something he would question. No one could question him, not the least himself, for he was King of England. All he needed to do was enjoy himself. Involving himself in such important matters reminded him, in a flash, that it was not all fun and games, that he needed to say and do things, not just the ceremonies he so enjoyed. Real ruling, something he was ignorant of, was what the time called for. When dealing with treason he wanted to be swift and efficient, also cruel. If anyone else dare rise up against the Tudor king, there would be hell to pay; anyone who wished to follow the foolish desires of Edward Stafford ought to have been very afraid of the will of His Majesty. Machiavelli would be proud. "Banishment?" For the first time, Henry looked at Wolsey as if his most trusted adviser had grown two heads. "Banish them where they can still cause trouble? Do you think?" His voice was not, as one would have expected, combative or angry; the King simply wanted to know why Thomas thought such, for His Majesty most certainly did not agree, judging by the callous stare the cardinal got from his youthful, proud king. Instead of raging which he was known to do if he did not get his way, he simply laughed, a dark chuckle as he shook his head. "You know as well as anyone how I value your sound advice and your help on every matter known to me," he said with a charming smile with a hint of slyness, the snake hiding amongst the King's charm, "yet I think it time for me to use your advice and yet not use it, for I do not think it is a good idea at all." Tapping his fingers on the dark wood of the table, Henry exhaled deeply, looking up to the chandelier of candles above his head, murmuring something or other under his breath, most likely just noises rather than words, before turning his gaze back again to the cardinal. "Their followers are simple commoners with pitchforks given axes," said the King with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You cannot simply let treason fester like a wound gone bad; you must cut it off." Here was a young king, twenty one, yet supremely confident in God's good graces that it was he to rule England and no one else. No sly pretender would get past Henry Tudor, no matter how they said he was not worthy in his youthful escapades having allowed Thomas Wolsey such control over his kingdom. "My father did not go against them because my father did not have them as traitors!" burst out from Henry in sudden anger, his blue eyes cold as icicles. "Those who wished to ruin or tarnish the family, the ruling family, were given one option and that was death. I do not want them to remain on this earth when they have proven themselves so horrific as to go against the ruler God has appointed them. They mock not only their earthly king but their heavenly ruler as well with their insolence." No matter what the cardinal said, it seemed Henry was set on one thing and one thing only. The only thing he wanted to do was to wipe the slate clean, forget such men as Buckingham and Northumberland ever existed, by putting their heads on the block. Their lives were forfeit for their treason. Such criminals, he believed, deserved nothing less. |
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[align=center]His Majesty is in 3 threads. plotter[/align] | |
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| Cardinal Thomas Wolsey | Jan 8 2011, 12:11 PM Post #5 |
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Being the advisor to the king was a job that might have taken a toll on a lesser man. You had to indulge the king's every whim, and his moods were ever-changing and mercurial. Any lesser man would have frustration beset upon him rather quickly. Not Wolsey. "You are too kind," he said, in response to the king's compliments. "I only try to give you the best council. The final decision is yours, of course, for you are the king, and know what is the best for your kingdom." No one could deny that Wolsey wasn't loyal...he was, the most loyal of all the king's subjects. However, he was very interested in furthering himself, much like any man here at court. The man had everything, and he still felt he might be able to rise higher still. Hi s further advancement meant keeping the king in as good a humor as possible. The king asked for his advice, and Wolsey gave it, much like he gave his father the best and most sound advice as possible. No, they should not rise against Buckingham or even Northumberland. Buckingham was an idiot, but powerful, and Northumberland was the unsung king of the North. He was even richer than the king himself, why should they be unnecessarily angered. "Your Majesty, I don't believe they will cause you any trouble. Being banished from court is punishment enough for any man. It is true, your father did not have to deal with them as traitors, for he placated them. He fulfilled their requests and kept them happy enough so they did not have cause to rise against them. Do not forget that I was almoner to your father and was part of the Privy Council. He trusted me with the most important ecclesiastical matters of the kingdom, by his good will and his good graces. I remember the war between the houses of Lancaster and York. No one wants to go back to the days of civil unrest and war. I will say this...though you have been showing Northumberland the favor he deserves, perhaps Buckingham feels like he has been slighted?" No one dared to ever speak to the king in such a manner and not expect the full brunt of his rage. Wolsey was one of the few that did, along with Sir Thomas More. Both advisors, both unafraid to tell the king what they truly thought. Henry treated him like his advice was unsound and unfit, judging from the darkness in his attitude. "I beg Your Majesty to heed my words. We are already on the brink of war with France because you did not heed my words and advice to make a treaty for peace and be known as the architect of such a thing." He wanted glory through brutality. "Your father wished to maintain peace and make England's economy strong. He did such things as embargo the wool trade, strengthen the navy, and outlined a treaty with France. War will drain the coffers your father worked so hard to build up. A treaty would strengthen it." The cardinal was indeed a pacifist, and absolutely abhorred the idea of war, no matter that he would be left in charge while the king was away. "Believe me, your father did not always do as such. He spared lives when it was convenient, by taking away their power and even, indeed, undermining it. It is a bigger blow than if you remove their heads." At this, he managed to chuckle. Yet his good humor disappeared the longer he was in the king's presence. Which shocked him, for this rarely happened. He was hellbent on execution, and would not listen to a single word the scarlet cardinal had to say to him. "It appears, then, you have no need of my advice this time." He forced himself to sound hurt, though inside, he was churning with paranoia. Was the lion finally realizing his own strength? "I shall support whatever decision you make, of course, for you are my king and I am bound, by God, to follow your every wish and command. Let me know what it is I need to do." |
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| King Henry VIII | Jan 10 2011, 08:21 PM Post #6 |
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The look the young, determined king gave his wise adviser was probably not the way Wolsey wanted Henry to look at him. Irked could be used to describe it, annoyance in his eyes that were usually so animated with pride and good humor (or rage, if his mood turned sour). He did not agree with what Wolsey was saying, that was noted enough in the expression in his face: the way his eyes rested on the cardinal, the thin line his lips had become. Why was he so keen on letting them go? Why? Treason was such a horrific crime, not a crime against the sovereign, but against God for Henry Tudor had been anointed with holy oil at his coronation. It made him important in the eyes of his people and more importantly in the eyes of God. A being higher than the common people, higher than the nobility that surrounded him, the divine right of kings puffing him up with pride. Going against that was a crime so severe Henry was not about to forgive. He felt he could not. If Buckingham and Northumberland were let go, banished yet allowed to live in seclusion, they would gather up another army. He was not trained to be a king, he had such little knowledge of politics and the like, but he was not a stupid man. On the contrary, he was intelligent and wily; he knew that these men who were rising up against him would not simply sit on their hands once banished. "What would keep them from rising yet another army? Nothing, if they were banished from court." Resignation was in Henry's voice, as he realized what exactly it was he was doing. He was fine with the deaths of two men. Once betrayed, Henry would never forgive. He held grudges. He nursed them for years and once he could exact revenge, he would. This revenge would be swift and certain, ending in blood. For a few moments it disturbed him, but the king shook his head. "All good advice, Thomas, yet I do not trust them. I will never trust them," he said darkly, hinting at what ambition and ultimate power were doing, eating away at his soul. "And France! Do not get me started on the pompous French, going as they will, against the Holy Father. This is not about that, this is about Buckingham, Northumberland, and treason, and you know as well as I the only punishment for treason is death." No longer was he excited at the prospect of breaking up this rebellion, he was finding he indeed had absolute power to send men to his deaths. It was a revelation he needed to sit upon alone, not reflect on it when Wolsey was here. "Not just bound by God, Thomas," said Henry with a sigh in his voice, "but I would hope bound by what you know should happen, which is not as you are saying, no matter how much you know I appreciate your counsel." He was so set on the path before him: a judgment brought upon Northumberland and Buckingham by their peers, ending in their execution on Tower Hill with the courtiers watching their ultimate downfall. Exhaling a deep breath, he added with finality, "They will be brought to court to answer for their crimes. They know what their crimes are. They know the punishment and yet they have done it, rising up against their king, ordained by God. They go against God. And for it, they will lose their lives." [align=center]CLOSED[/align] |
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[align=center]His Majesty is in 3 threads. plotter[/align] | |
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10:54 AM Jul 11