This Green and Pleasant Land: A Glorious Revolution Game

[DensleyBlair]

~ ~ ~


"I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green and pleasant Land"

~ William Blake, "And did those feet in ancient time"

​

If ever there were a time when it could be convincingly said of the British Isles that the Old Order had been washed away, it was 1688. The eviction the absolutist James in favour of his son-in-law William of Orange represented for many the triumph of England's Parliament in Westminster, finally freed from the paranoid vagaries of the recent Stuart monarchs, and the return of the so-called "ancient rights of Englishmen".

Historians have long argued that the Glorious Revolution can be seen as the bridge across the Great Divide – the disparity between the Early Modern era, driven by monarchical power and largely irrelevant to today's society, and the long 18th century and the start of Britain's global dominance. Certainly, its significance as a watershed moment cannot be exaggerated in terms of identifying the resurgence of Parliament after the Civil War. But, from a view that is anything but historiographical, what changed?

Ostensibly, little. The English elite had booted out a native Catholic absolutist in favour of a Dutch Calvinist prince. Where James II was stubborn and aloof in his dealings with Parliament, bigoted in his Catholicism and disliked by his ministers, William was rude to courtiers and cold and calculating in his political involvements. Where Parliament had previously encountered opposition from a recusant monarch, now it was to come up against the monarch's obsession with beating back the French over attending to his new domains. If early anti-Stuart propaganda were to be believed – and this is a contentious point – rights codified by the Whigs in 1689 had in most part been won by the barons in 1215, and the factional unity inspired by anti-popish sentiment amongst politicians had collapsed during the so-called settlement. The question of the balance between Parliament and the Crown had by no means been solved – and throughout this political examination, of course, the lot of the average Englishman remained constant.

By February 1690, when William and Mary formally summoned their first Parliament, it was not at all clear that the storm had been weathered. James continued to be a thorn in the British side from his luxurious exile at the court of the French king; the French king himself had dragged Europe into war via his territorial ambitions; political turmoil had sparked fresh dissent in Ireland and the colonies; and the struggles for supremacy between the Whigs and the Tories had only just begun in earnest. From this vantage point, it was hard to see how the people of a small island on Europe's periphery could make the coming century their own. Yet what could not be disputed is that, for the first time in generations, the British Isles were to be thrust to the heart of European affairs.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Game Overview
​

Hello, and welcome to This Green and Pleasant Land! This is your opportunity to guide England and the rest of the British Isles out of the turmoil of the Glorious Revolution and into their position at the top of the world in the long 18th century.

Whilst the game will be focussed primarily on parliamentary affairs, to be successful you must outmanoeuvre opponents both within Parliament and without. The game will not be bound by history, though it will draw heavy inspiration from it. As the game unfolds, it will transpire that certain events are inevitable; you may be guided towards them subtly, or they may just burst onto the agenda and demand your attention.

The rest of the time, however, players are free to legislate, scheme and generally politick. Whether through polls, pamphlets or patronage, there are many ways to reach the top of the greasy pole – or prevent others from doing so. Will your character prove a dedicated servant of England and Englishmen, or is he simply looking to get the best possible deal from his time in office?

There are many people and institutions to whom this game owes thanks, but I'd especially like to express my gratitude to theAhawk, Terraferma and Syriana – all of whom have, in some way, provided invaluable counsel and inspiration during this game's long gestation.

General Considerations

"The more the English dislike you, the more polite they are."

~ Rabbi Lionel Blue​

It goes without saying that this is, first and foremost, a game; the object is not to win, per se, but to have fun. Most importantly, everyone else should be able to have fun too. Civility and decorum are required and expected at all times – both in and out of character. This extends to all game-related activity, whether in-thread or otherwise. Naturally, forum rules must also be respected as ever. In this vein, I must also ask that people refrain from disliking other people's posts. It serves no purpose other than out-of-character one-upmanship; if you don't like someone's argument, rebut them in-character.

Out-of-character statements in-thread should be reserved for questions concerning game mechanics and other such issues, and should be demarcated via double brackets ((thusly)); off-topic discussion of any sort is for elsewhere. In-character speech will likely get heated at times. If things get excessive, try and calm it somewhat – though discussion between characters should never be taken as being aimed at a player.

Remember that this is a political game, and that people will likely at times be Machiavellian in their methods. Betrayals, reversals and the vagaries of the period are to be expected, and this should merely be taken as part of the fun of the game. Similarly, random events may disrupt plans, ambitions and even careers. Again, this should be taken as part of the game.

As I say, however, the most important thing is to simply enjoy yourselves. Take the good with the bad, and remember that there is always time to rebuild should things go wrong.

Players and Characters
​

Characters are the beating heart of the game, without whom this whole exercise would be an elaborate failure. Players will play as members of England's political elite, with a seat in Parliament – either in the Commons or the Lords (see Appendix I). Of course, they may have other interests – though politics will be the main vehicle for action. Characters may be either created or historical, though anyone desirous of playing as a historical character should run it by me first. To join, simply post a character sheet like so:

Name: Edmund Blackadder, 1st Baron Blackadder
Date of Birth: January 1st 1650
House: the Lords
Religion: Anglican
Biography: An unfortunate schemer trying to make a name for himself in Westminster. What he lacks in good luck, he makes up in sardonic wit.
​

Player-characters will account for only a portion of the political scene, and one man has one vote. Issues will be won via rhetoric, pamphlets and political clout. And there's always plain old, unashamed corruption, of course.

Additionally, certain royal characters will be available to play. Both the Williamite and Jacobite courts will be character-controlled and therefore right at the heart of the action – as it only proper; true constitutionalism is for the 19th century. Therefore, the following are required:

William III and Mary II, King and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland – Officially at court in Whitehall, though actually living in Kensington Palace.
James II & VII – Former king and original Jacobite claimant to the Three Kingdoms, living in exile in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, provided for by the French king.
Princess Anne of Denmark – Second daughter of James II and heir presumptive to the throne. She lives with her husband, George of Denmark, at Campden House in Kensington, where her political influence is currently negligible.
​

To assume a royal berth, one need only ask me. Once I've said yes, then you can fill out a character sheet as per any other role.

Finally, a note on non-player-controlled characters. NPCs will be handled initially by me, though I may outsource should I find it necessary. Aside from that, remember that the player-characters in no way represent the entire political scene; with this in mind, other personalities of the period will likely appear in updates from time to time and have some influence on the game. This is largely to help fill out the wider world and to give the game some historical context. Further, note that in all updates I reserve the right to use characters as a feel is appropriate.

Parliament and Elections

"England is the Mother of Parliaments."

~ John Bright, in a speech to the people of Birmingham
​

The English Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Together, they control the country via legislation and government. The king's ministers will mostly be taken from Parliament, usually the Lords – though they are not necessarily responsible to it. Impeachment, however, is always a threat. Perhaps most importantly in this age, Parliament has control over the king's finances; if he wishes to continue with his wars in Europe, he needs to ensure Parliament stays on his side.

To become law, bills must pass both houses and then receive Royal Assent from the king and queen. Therefore, just as the crown must be wary of Parliament, so must each house of Parliament be wary of the other. To survive, a ministry must hold the confidence of both the Commons and the Lords.

Elections are not mandated to occur at any regular interval, save "regularly". The dissolution of Parliament is in the hands of the monarch, usually on their advice, and will spark fresh elections. Be warned, however: regular parliaments was a key tenet of the Revolution. The monarch would do well to remember this.

The elections themselves are different from usual in that players do not get to elect the whole of the Commons. Far from it, in fact. Between 1688–1714, it was unusual to see more than a third of seats being contested. Therefore, at the start of each election I will determine how great a portion is being contested (from a base of 35%). This will then be elected as usual. The rest will be filled in dependent on various factors.

Ministers and the Government

"The Constitution abhors the idea of a prime minister".

~ Anonymous Member of Parliament, 1806
​

Government is exercised primarily by the monarch's ministers, who craft policy and act as the nominal executive. The monarch appoints ministers, and therefore the government – traditionally based on its ability to command a majority in Parliament. Despite this, the monarch can dismiss ministers simply to be rid of them. There is no such thing as a "prime minister" (indeed, the term only appeared in the mid-18th century – and as an insult) and the de facto leader of the government may serve in any post.

By 1688, the idea of a unified cabinet is not as it is today; the "cabinet council" grew during the mid-17th century as an oft-derided form of government foreign to England, where officers of state were used to acting alone. After the revolution, with the advent of party politics and the growing supremacy of Parliament, this cabinet style of government is gaining more traction – though ministries are rarely truly united.

There are no restrictions on which ministers are considered as being in the cabinet, though for general guidelines, as well as a run-down of potential positions and their duties, please see Appendix II.

Rebellions and Unrest

"It shews the anxiety of the great men who influenced the conduct of affairs at that great event, to make the Revolution a parent of settlement, and not a nursery of future revolutions."

~ Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
​

As hinted in the epigraph, overall stability was achieved by the Revolution – if not necessarily stretching to Parliament. Further, at a time when the king appoints his ministers and there is no head of government, seizing power becomes academic. Therefore, there will be no coups in this game. Nevertheless, this does not mean that everything will be eirenic the whole time. Rebellions will come generally in the form of Jacobite attempts to recover the throne, fomented by the conflicting dynamic between claimants. At a time of rebellion, players will declare their allegiance of a faction and events will unfold from there. Of course, the people can never truly be accounted for. They will be swayed by eloquent rhetoric and pamphleteering far more easily than by pike and shot.

Otherwise, unrest will usually come in the form of trouble in the rest of Britain or the colonies. Ireland is especially wary of having a foreign, Protestant church imposed on its large Catholic majority – and the Parliaments in Edinburgh and Dublin have not taken too kindly to recent attempts at British centralisation.

The Constitution

"The British constitution has always been puzzling and always will be."

~ Queen Elizabeth II​

England has no constitution. England does, however, have a very proud common law tradition, and as such what might be called the 'English Constitution' can be derived from a set of key pieces of legislation passed throughout history. Key documents in the context of the Glorious Revolution include Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of Right (1628), the Habeas Corpus Act (1679) and the Bill of Rights (1689). The latter is arguably the most important in 1690.

 

[DensleyBlair]

"It is hard to write the history of the British Isles in these years as anything other than a success story."

~ Jonathan Clark, From Restoration to Reform

Appendix I

Who can sit in Parliament? Who sits in each house?
​

In general terms, commoners sit in the Commons and lords sit in the Lords. In other words, anyone who holds a peerage in the Peerage of England as a substantive title is eligible to sit in the Lords; anyone else is eligible to be elected to the Commons – with the notable exception of serving military personnel and members of the Royal Household. MPs (so those sitting in the Commons) must also be solvent and have attained their majority. In theory, there is no limit on the number of people who can sit in the Lords – though a practical lack of space often mandates otherwise. Additionally, the 26 most senior bishops in England sit in the Lords as Lords Spiritual. The bishops of Canterbury, York, Durham, London and Winchester are always represented in the Lords, with the remaining 21 seats decided by the length of time for which one has been a bishop. Lords Spiritual are not peers, but rather "Lords of Parliament".

If anyone has any questions as to where their character would sit, or any other aspects of the Houses of Parliament, please do not hesitate to ask and I will do my best to answer.

Appendix II

Who can sit in the Cabinet? Which positions make up the Cabinet? What does each minister do?
​

There are no rules or restrictions about who may be a Cabinet minister, or which offices must be included in Cabinet meetings. The Cabinet is fluid and can adapt to the political climate. In 1690, ministers admitted to the cabinet were as follows:

First Lord of the Treasury – Head of the Treasury Commission, and therefore ultimately responsible for the development and execution of financial policy, working to formulate it in tandem with his deputy, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Lord Keeper – More fully the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, he is in charge of the execution of all duties relating to the Great Seal of England; namely, all actions requiring monarchical approval. This includes granting letters patent and royal assent, other ecclesiastical and ministerial appointments, and summoning and dissolving Parliament. In effect, the post is a sinecure. Usually a peer, though not necessarily so.

Lord President of the Council – The presiding officer of the Privy Council – a body with a quorum of three. This is another de facto sinecure.

Lord Privy Seal – The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal serves a similar, though even less vital, function to the Lord Keeper. He is in charge of all duties related to the function of the monarch's personal seal. A nominal sinecure.

Lord Steward – More fully the Lord Steward of the Household, he is responsible for the management of the royal household – including travel and finances, which he oversees as head of the Board of Green Cloth. He is always a member of the Lords and the government.

Lord Chamberlain – The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the monarch's liaison with the House of Lords, and is also responsible for regulating court dress and organising royal ceremonies. He is always sworn of the Privy Council and usually a peer.

Master of the Horse – In charge of all matters relating to the royal stables, kennels and coach-houses, the Master of the Horse is always a member of the ministry, sworn of the Privy Council and by convention a peer.

Southern Secretary – The more senior of the two Secretaries of State, the Southern Secretary is responsible for the administration of the south of England, Wales, Ireland and the American colonies. He also oversees relations with Roman Catholic and Islamic nations of Europe.

Northern Secretary – The junior partner to the Southern Secretary, the Northern Secretary is responsible for the administration of the north of England, as well as relations with the Protestant states of Northern Europe.

Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Second Lord of the Treasury, he is the controller of the Exchequer – the account into which is held all national receipts are paid – and as such responsible for making payments and collecting revenue on behalf of the sovereign. He is generally a member of the Commons – often one of the most influential Commons ministers – though his own importance is dependent largely on his status within his party, and he is overshadowed by his superior: the First Lord of the Treasury.​

In addition, the following positions are occasionally made part of the cabinet council:

Master-General of the Ordnance – Often a serving general, he heads the Ordnance and is therefore responsible for the administration and outfitting of the British Army. Not usually in the cabinet before the 18th century, but almost always a serving general.

Lord High Admiral – The head of the Admiralty Commission, whose purpose is to oversee the administration of the Royal Navy. The office is seldom out of commission, though can be in the cabinet when it is. Almost always a naval officer.

Archbishop of Canterbury – The Primate of England and the primus inter pares within the Anglican Church. Appointed by the monarch, serving at their leisure. Not usually political, though often sworn of the Privy Council. Ex officio member of the Lords as a Lord Spiritual.

Comptroller of the Household – The deputy to The Lord Steward, the Comptroller assists in the execution of the duties of the royal household. Serves at the pleasure of the monarch.

First Lord of Trade – Head of the Board of Trade, responsible for promoting trade both at home and abroad. Dormant until reestablishment of the board in 1696.

Paymaster of the Forces – Responsible for the financing of the British Army. Seldom a political post, and rarely sworn of the Privy Council before the 18th century, at which point it became a highly-valued political prize owing to the usual talent of its holders for greatly enriching themselves during their service.
​

At this point in time, the monarch will also sit in Cabinet meetings and is very much involved in government. Ministers all serve at their pleasure, and they can attempt to influence policy in their appointments. These will usually be used to ensure no person or faction becomes too powerful, though this is not always the case; everyone has favourites. Should a monarch feel one office is becoming too important, it can be placed "in commission". This means it is exercised vicariously by a commission of ministers – for example, the First Lord of the Treasury is head of the Treasury Commission, which replaced the dormant role of Lord Treasurer. That is not to say the commission is permanent…

Appendix III

Who are the main factions? Who supports each one? How stable are they?
​

At this point, the two main factions are the Whigs and the Tories. The Whigs are supporters of a limited monarchy and tolerance for dissenters, though not Catholics. Their support is derived mainly from the towns and cities (or "boroughs") and includes both the country's biggest landowners and the monied interest. The Tories are the party of the landed gentry, supportive of a stronger monarch (in some cases, adhering to the principle of Divine Right) and highly protective of the Anglican Church against all recusants. They tend to be more supportive of the Stuarts, though being anti-Catholic are no more likely to favour Jacobitism than anyone else. Their support comes predominantly from the country and the established gentry.

Both groupings, however, are loose. In reality, labels are more often applied by others than by self-identification and the majority of parliamentarians simply cooperate when it suits their aims, disbanding when it doesn't. A large minority of members of parliament will be truly independent, though that is not to say neutral.

Transecting this divide is that between the so-called Court and Country parties. This is easier to distinguish: those supportive of the ministry are by definition members of the Court Party, and those against the ministry members of the Country Party. This isn't too important at the game's start, but will become more so as things progress.

If you are uncertain as to which faction your character would likely belong, please don't hesitate to ask.

Appendix IV

What benefits come with playing a Commoner? What benefits come with playing a Lord?​

Fundamentally, it comes down to personal preference. I've tried to refrain from making either the Lords or the Commons more appealing to play, and in order to have a balanced game a healthy number in both houses is good. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the game the Lords will have more power, and are also likely to make up the greater portion of governments. In addition, members of the Lords will be able to hold a certain amount of power over the composition of the Commons owing to their status as magnates and landowners, therefore able to control so-called "pocket boroughs", where the electorate is small enough that it is "in the pocket" of the local grandee. This will work out in the following manner:

Barons and viscounts will control one seat each.
Earls will control two seats.
Marquesses will control three seats.
Dukes will control four seats.
​

Note however that I am imposing a rule on character creation in that fictional peers may be earls at most; we will start with no player-controlled marquesses or dukes, reflective of the very small number around in 1690. Historical dukes and marquesses may be allowed should I feel them necessary for the narrative.

In the Commons, any baronets will also control one seat to reflect their status as a member of the landed gentry.

To counter this influence of the Lords over the Commons, members of the Commons who achieve political note will be considered even more influential than a peers who do the same. This is designed to reflect the historical public affection for "Great Commoners", as well as recognising the skill required to succeed in a world largely dominated by peers.

Otherwise, practical roles and abilities of all characters are the same.

Appendix V

What is the Privy Council? Who are Privy Counsellors?​

The Privy Council is a ceremonial organisation whose de jure function is to advise the monarch. In reality, it is seldom convened and its duties have largely been superseded by the monarch's ministers. This is shown most obviously in the fact that all ministers of the crown are usually sworn of the Privy Council, if not already a privy counsellor, upon their assumption of office. To be sworn of the council, one need only hold a cabinet position. Alternatively, worthies can be sworn of the council by the monarch as a reward for good service. Members of the council are entitled to the use of the post-nominals P.C., and will generally command a greater deal of influence in Parliament than ordinary members.

Appendix VI

Some general advice on titles, styled and forms of address
​

Most of the time, titles and styles will not be an issue. Nevertheless, it's always helpful to use the correct form and goes a long way to increasing that much sought-after quality of these games: immersion. So as to keep this from turning into a massive section, which it has the potential to do, I will instead yield to Debrett's, whose advice can be found here.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that Westminster is a courteous place. It is tradition that members of the Commons never refer to each other by name, but rather in the third person via the Speaker. For example, if I were talking about a backbencher I would refer to him as "The Honourable Member for Nonplace". If he were a PC, however, the form "The Right Honourable Member for Nonplace" would be used. Where someone holds an office, this is used, for example: "The Right Honourable First Lord of the Treasury".

In the Lords, people are addressed as per social convention; if I were addressing a peer up to and including the rank of marquess I would refer to "The Lord Nonplace". If he were a duke, the form "The Duke of Nonplace" would instead be used. On a similar note, all British titles come with some sort of designation. Therefore, it would be "Reginald Jeeves, 1st Earl of Worcester" as opposed to "Earl Reginald Jeeves (of Worcester)". The exception is royal princes who also hold titles, as well as their spouses. For example, "Prince Reginald of Worcester" would be correct, and his (hypothetical) wife would be "Princess Reginald of Worcester".

Appendix VII

Some general advice on the designation of privacy​

In line with the recent practice in such games as these in giving players the option of conducting business in the thread in private, such a mechanic will be implemented in this game. Generally, if one wishes for something to be private, then one need simply to designate it such via some clear indication that the post is private – preferably by placing some warning at the top of the relevant post. Should one wish to open one's business up to others, one need only include such people by name when designating privacy. For example, if I were corresponding with both Francis Urquhart, and The Lord Bilsborough with regards to some intrigue or other, I might deploy the following header to any letters:

Private – Mr. Francis Urquhart, MP; The Lord Bilsborough

​

The contents of the letter would then be considered known only to Urquhart, Bilsborough and me. Others would be free to read it, but could not consider their characters as knowing anything about the letter.

If a player wished to express wider sympathies by way of a private post, he is perfectly entitled to indicate such. In such cases, I will consider that no specifics of the letter or post are known, but well-founded rumours exist as to the author's views on a subject. For example, if Urquhart wished to subtly leak his ambitions to secure the premiership, he might write a detailed letter to any co-conspirators as to how he would achieve his aims; what would be known to his colleagues would be that he has ambitions of securing higher office.

~ ~ ~​

I'll add more to this section as people request, or as I think of new things to note. If anyone has any questions about procedure or custom of any sort, I will do my utmost to provide a satisfactory answer. As a general rule, Wikipedia is more than sufficient for most queries.

 

[DensleyBlair]

General History

Prologue: December 1688–February 1690

General Election: February–March 1690

March–September 1690

September 1690–May 1691

May 1691–April 1692

April 1692–May 1693



Other Histories

Scotland: 1688–1693​

 

[DensleyBlair]

Character List – Blair's Almanack

Legislation List – Densley's Review​

 

[CaesarCzech]

Name: Jacob Black.
Date of Birth: March 11. 1665
House: Commons
Religion: Protestant
Biography: Former mercenary who later joined army and managed to reach rank of lietuant .in War he was on Parlament side and due to his skill managed to reach colonel rank. This Former Army Colonel and War hero had to retire from military life after his injuries.Very witty but cant hold his mouth.Is able to speak fluently German and decently French,



edited it because of quality submisions of others i want to be atleast decent

 

[Watercress]

Oh my god I am so up for this. I'd like to claim either Good King Billy or a senior parliamentarian, although it'll be about a week or so until I can fully commit myself to the game.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Oh my god I am so up for this. I'd like to claim either Good King Billy or a senior parliamentarian, although it'll be about a week or so until I can fully commit myself to the game.

Prospectively, we have a William – so perhaps one of the Immortal Seven would take your fancy?

 

[Watercress]

Prospectively, we have a William – so perhaps one of the Immortal Seven would take your fancy?

Yeah I'll do a little reading and pick one of them, or another prospective historical figure, a little later on.

 

[Sneakyflaps]

​

Name: William III, By the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Stadholther of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Date of Birth: 4 November 1650
House: Monarch
Religion: Protestant
Biography: William III, the grandson of Charles I, and son-in-law of James II. Upon his birth he inherited the principality of Orange from his father who had died a week before William’s birth. In 1672 a disastrous year for the Dutch occurred as King Louis XIV of France invaded the republic, in response the Dutch elected William as Stadtholder. To further improve his standing he married the daughter of James II in 1677. In 1678 a peace was made with France, and a lasting rivalry between king William and Louis was made.
When James II took the throne, William became a candidate for the people who opposed James. And as the reign of James II continued, it didn’t take long before he was removed from power after an very unpopular reign.
William was originally opposed to a landed invasion of Britain, and as such asked to be invited instead, and when the time was right, the French occupied elsewhere, allowed William to finally come to England. William and parliament came to a clash, which was eventually mended when parliament accepted William as king until his death, and that he was equal to his wife, and not a mere consort as the English originally wanted. On the 11 April 1689, William and Mary were crowned king and queen of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Now a new rebellion has sprung up in Ireland, led by James II which needed to be dealt with quickly and with a firm hand to ensure Williams future reign.

 

[Gorganslayer]

( i would really love to take part but im afraid im going to have to pass )

 

[DensleyBlair]

( i would really love to take part but im afraid im going to have to pass )

Should you ever be in a position to change your mind, you would naturally be most welcome.
_______________

Otherwise, I should probably clarify that the game starts on February 6th 1690, with the summoning of the 'second' parliament of William and Mary's reign.

 

[99KingHigh]

​

Name: Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godophin of Rialton [Historical]
Date of Birth: 15th of June, 1645
House: the Lords
Religion: Anglican
Biography: In 1645, Francis Godophin, the noted Parliamentarian royalist, and his wife, Dorothy Berkeley, were bestowed with a second male for the familial brood. The patriarch of the family was no timid man: an active Royalist during the Civil War, Francis had participated with vigor in the brawl to protect King Edward's Chair from Cromwell's desired vacancy. The year before this newborn's conception, Francis was disbarred from his seat in Helston and relinquished of his estates. The family was forced to travel with the Royalist Army, as noble vagrants, until the war was brought into conclusion. As the governor of the Scilly Isles, Francis was able to negotiate the return of the isles to Parliamentary control following the capitulation of King Charles. In return, Francis was allowed to return as an MP and his estates were restored, although parliamentary members remained suspicions of his Royalist allegiances.

Francis and Sidney Godophin (aged 15 in 1660) were returned to royal favor following the restoration of King Charles II. Sidney, in particular, became the favorite of the regal majesty, and was introduced as a member of the royal retinue. Alongside his elder brother, William, Sidney became MP for Helston after his father's retirement. Although he seldom addressed the House, and, when he did so, only in the briefest manner, he "gradually acquired a reputation as its chief if not only financial authority." In 1668, Sidney served as the successful intermediary between King Charles and his sister Henrietta Anne (the wife of Phillipe I, Duke of Orleans) in order to secure an agreement with King Louis XIV of France. After the successful resolution of the negotiation, Godolphin was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber alongside a pension of £500 and a 31-year lease on all tin mines in Rialton and Retraigh. Sidney was later called to ensure that Louis upheld his end of the bargain during the Franco-Dutch War, but was frequently noted as unimpressed with Louis's military capabilities.

In March 1679, Sidney's political career was advanced when he was appointed as a member of the Privy Council, and later that same year, he was promoted, alongside the Viscount Hyde and the Earl of Sunderland, to the chief management of affairs. But deep partisan divisions regarding the Exclusion Bill threatened to divide the political system. Although most Tories were fiercely opposed to the exclusion of the Duke of York from the royal line of succession, Sidney's fierce Anglican views made him a recherché among the Tory royalists. But this atypical defiance to his Royalist sympathies did not destabilize his political career, and in 1684, he was crated Baron Godolphin of Rialton, and succeeded Hyde as First Lord of the Treasury. After the accession of the Duke of York as James II, he was made Chamberlain to Queen Mary, and alongside Hyde (now the Earl of Rochester) and Sunderland, enjoyed the King's special confidence. Now a member of the Lords, Godolphin continued to exercise his unique bargaining techniques between James and King Louis, who had become the unlikely ally of the English crown.

Immediately preceding the "Glorious Revolution," King James appointed Godolphin to a special council of five to represent the royal presence in London. Upon William's landing, he quickly joined James' defense, but was later appointed as a commissioner to negotiate with the prince alongside Lord Hailfax and Lord Nottingham. On the accession of King William, though he only obtained the third seat at the treasury board, he was effectively in control of affairs. In early 1690, the Lord Godolphin unofficially retired, but with instability across the nation, few doubt that he will be recalled to serve in His Majesty's Government once again.

 

[Dadarian]

​

Name: Richard Davidson, 2nd Lord Dingwall, 2nd Earl Desmond, 1st Baron Wigan, Chief of Clan Davidson, and Chief of Clan Chattan.
Date of Birth: June 12th 1639
House: the Lords
Religion: Catholic
Biography: Chief of Clan Davidson and elected to head the Chattan Confederacy, Richard Davidson was content with his lot within the framework of the Highland nobility. However when Richard Preston, 1st Lord Dingwall, died without an heir in 1684, domestic pressure from Highland Catholics to return the lordship to a Catholic noble. This the King did, passing it on to the closest Catholic family member, which was Richard. By the grace of his mother's mother, Richard was named the 2nd Lord Dingwall et al in 1685. For his loyalty to James VII (and to give him a vote in parliament), he was given the position of Baron Wigan in 1687, shortly prior to the Glorious Revolution.

Prefering hunting and residing in his home in the highlands, Richard is out of place in England. Being a known loyalist to James VII and a staunch Catholic doesn't help whatsoever.

 

[Noco19]

((Count me in once I reach a computer and have time to find the character I seek!))

 

[Syriana]

Name: Her Majesty, Mary II, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith
Date of Birth: 30th April 1662
House: Stuart and Orange
Religion: Anglican
Biography:
​

The daughter of the deposed King James and wife of the ascendant King William, Mary's life has always been a difficult balancing act. She was married off by her father to William - her cousin - in order to placate Protestant opinion, against James' preference for a French alliance. Although the betrothal left her miserable, Mary made the best of her things with her often-absent husband, and procedured a degree of independence that she had never enjoyed in England. Despite their religious differences, Mary remained loyal to her Catholic father; although the Netherlands hosted the illegitimate Duke of Monmouth, she informed on his plans of insurrection to James and expelled his supporters from Orange.

But the relationship withered as James increasingly sought to create a Catholic dynasty in England. She criticised her father for constantly overriding Parliament in order to secure freedom of expression for Catholics, acts which she deemed illegitimate. The gulf widened with the French invasion of Orange, which James abetted by his inaction. Thereafter, both she and her husband were in correspondence with disaffected Protestants in England, a confederacy that would blossom into the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The seed of rebellion was the birth of James Francis Edward Stuart, who would displace Mary as natural heir and who she, amongst others, considered to be a changeling brought in to secure a Catholic succession. In the month of his birth, the so-called 'Immortal Seven' proffered their invitation to William: invade England and raise Mary as queen.

Alrhough their mutual love had been tested by time, distance and politics, Mary was not enthralled by the prospect of opposition to her father. But expediency demanded that she support her husband and the Revolution. Indeed, she was integral to its success, for she legitimised William's struggle against James as a mere dynastic dispute rather than a foreign invasion. With the throne declared vacant, William - envious of being reduced to a mere consort of his royal wife - demanded that both he and Mary be raised as equal rulers. Although many of his earlier English supporters were reluctant to accept this, Mary knew that such schism would open the door to James' restoration; she demurred from sole sovereignty and offered to reign as equal to her husband.​

 

[LordTempest]

((I do demand that henceforth Dada writes all IC posts with a thick Scots accent. ))

 

[99KingHigh]

((I do demand that henceforth Dada writes all IC posts with a thick Scots accent. ))

((Didn't we already have to suffer that?))

 

[Watercress]

​

Name: John Somers [Historical]
Date of Birth: March 14th 1651
House: the Commons
Religion: Anglican
Biography: Born in the town of Claines in Worcestershire, Somers followed in the footsteps of his father by pursuing a career in law. Graduating as a 'gentleman commoner' from Trinity College, Oxford, Somers joined the Middle Temple. He became involved, although not intricately so, with the Whigs during the Exclusion Bill crisis, producing pamphlets defending the right of Parliament to regulate the royal succession. Somers' legal standing gradually grew, achieving fame as a one of the defence counsel in the Trial of the Seven Bishops, prominent Anglican clerics who had refused to read out James II's Declaration at Indulgence in their parishes. Somers would take a leading role in the Whig conspiracies that led to the Glorious Revolution and subsequently in the Convention Parliament, in which he stood as member for Worcester. He was appointed one of the Commons' commissioners in the key conferences of that Parliament, championing the legal claim that James II had abdicated the throne by his flight to France. Somers would also play a major role in the drafting of the Declaration of Right, later to be the Bill of Rights 1689.

Somers remains a major figure in the new Organist government, serving as Solicitor General of England and Wales and acting one of William III's most confidential advisers. Re-elected to his Worcester seat for the 1690 Parliament, Somers is expected to continue in his function as one of the King's parliamentary managers, serving as a heavyweight in the House of Commons, and an ardent paladin of Whiggism and the New Order.

 

[TJDS]

​

Name: William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, Viscount Woodstock, Baron Cirencester, Baron Bentinck of Diepenheim and Schoonheten, Groom of the Stool K.G. P.C. (née Hans Willem Bentinck) [Historical]
Date of Birth: 20 July 1649
House: the Lords
Religion: Calvinism
Biography:

Hans Willem Bentinck was born to Bernard Bentinck, Baron Bentinck, on July 20th 1694, as heir to an old title in the Dutch province of Overijsel. Due to the size and Orangism of the Dutch nobility, a heir of a Barony in one of the poorest provinces of the Dutch Republic would quickly become page and later "kamerjonker" (a chamberlain) of Prince William of Orange. When William contracted smallpox, Bentick served his master faithfuly, which would become the foundation of their friendship. The Prince send Hans Willem Bentinck to England in 1677 with the mission to negotiate a marrige between him and Maria II of England, the eldest daughter of Duke Jacob of York, after the successful conclusion of his mission, he would become defacto ambassador-at-large of Stadtholder William III and the Dutch Republic. He was send to England two more times, in 1683 to King Charles II to congratulate the discovery of the Rye House conspiracy and in 1683 to offer King Jacob II the support of the Dutch Republic against the Duke of Monmouth.

In 1688, during the preperations for the Glorious Revolution, William send Bentinck to the City of Amsterdam - the most important city of the Netherlands at the time - to convince the reluctant City Council to support the invasion of England, he succeeded and was send to Brandenburg to obtain military support in case the Dutch were attacked by France while the majority of the Staatse Leger and Vloot (Dutch Army and Fleet) were engaged on the British Isles. Bentinck also worked tirelessly on the military and logistical preparations of the invasion of England and as maintainer of a secret network of correspondents with which he maintained William's contact with the English opposition against King Jacob II's reign. He would accompany William on his passage of England and his march to London.

After William was crowned King of England, France and Ireland, he recognized Bentinck's vital role in the Glorious Revolution and raised him to Peer of England and made him 1st Earl of Portland, Viscount Woodstock and Baron Cirencester. Moreover, he made Bentinck Groom of the Stool, first gentleman of the bedchamber, to maintain his proximity to the now King. He played an important part in the governance of the Kingdom and the diplomacy with the Dutch Republic and quickly became one of the most important advisors to King William. However, due to his alleged arrogance and greed and he had a very influential position in the court as a foreigner, he was very unpopular among the English upper class and was seen as the symbol of Dutch infringement into the politics of the Kingdom of England. Ironcially, he, as primary liason between King William III and The Hague, was very unpopular among the Dutch upper class, for he was the symbol of English, Orangist and Monarchical infringement into the politics of the Dutch Republic.