The Wars of the Roses

[TheExecuter]

Good God, these people have no sense...no sense at all.

Margaret throws accusations around purely from her fears, and no one questions any of her smears.

York and the other Lords squabble about slights and poor performance...instead of working together to support the kingdom, they try to tear each other down in their unseemly haste to get more 'glory', gold, or lands.

Oh man, another Lord wronged you in the past...so that means you decide to burn the house down? What the hell is Richard of York and Cecilie thinking of trying to fight Lord Somerset? Do they not see what is going to happen?

Some might say I think this story unrealistic. No, for I see the same crass stupidity in human leaders today.

On to page 13. Rant over...for now.

 

[Rensslaer]

@TheExecuter you're entirely right. It's realistic because the characters are passionately pursuing ends that make no logical sense, making decisions based on emotion, working at cross purposes to their own interests, misperceiving goals and motivations of others, etc.

We live in a screwed up world run by screwed up people and this is all too realistic a story.

Rensslaer

 

[TheExecuter]

If only Richard and Cecily would not seek the head of Somerset merely for his failures...I could actually like their dynamic.

As it is, though, as long as people continue to demand awful fates for their enemies instead of playing the long game...I shall continue to believe that Margaret's irrational fears will eventually become rational. York's absurd feud with Somerset and others will get him into trouble...and Cecile will pay the price for egging on her husband in this rash manner.

Seriously...political and diplomatic failures or poor performance are NOT reasons to arrest a man and throw him in the tower...or declare him an outlaw and let the mob kill him. No matter how loving your home dynamic, or your protests of not wanting the crown...acting in such a high handed manner is bound to provoke resistance even from a sainted cousin as patient and tolerant of failures as Henry.

On to page 17.

 

[TheExecuter]

As the Lady left the chamber, Margaret splashed some water to her face. She looked out the window at the grounds of her beloved palace and sighed. How could it be? It was not possible. She and Henry had still not forgiven one another and there had been no bed peace since they had returned. She knew it. And Henry would as well. There had only been the one...and his wife had just left her room.

Oof, this will be a mistake as difficult to hide as Chernobyl...

Why do we all imagine there will be no consequences for our poor choices?

 

[Bullfilter]

On the catch up trail during the latest RL diversion - the sale of our family home our children grew up in and have long since left the nest - goes to auction tomorrow. And yesterday we heard our lawyers stuffed up an aspect of the sales contract to the extent it could derail the auction after weeks of work in a tough real estate market. Hopefully we, our agents and the apologetic lawyers can right the ship in time! But the whole process has devoured much of our time and especially nervous energy of late, hence my apology for tardiness in keeping caught up and commenting.

But I have just got to here …

And sadly, this Wednesday, his time finally came. He passed in my arms in the afternoon.

Been there a couple of times with beloved family pets, both way too early (the second at 7 when it should have been 12-15) and it is never easy. Time heals, but gradually and never to 100%. But that just means they had a special place in your heart which just needs to be respected and embraced with enough time. Hope a new friend can come along eventually to help fill the space left.

I’ll get back up to speed with the story when I can.

PS: oh, I have caught up, I just realised. But if there’s a delay in my next comments, you’ll know why: next will come packing and removal.

 

[TheExecuter]

A few updates missed (as always @coz1 your pace remains terrifying) but I've caught up and looking back I detect a common theme - this recent run has been quite depressing. The Queen does evil but suffers no consequence. Good men are spurned and sycophants prosper. The King finally understands his wife, but his decline robs him of any chance to dispense justice and then strikes him low. There are no heroes, not even any tolerably likeable characters.

It is all looking a bit miserable really.

It's so depressingly realistic...

 

[TheExecuter]

"Then we must wait,” Kempe looked to him again, “For the King...and for the realm.”

The realm...do you know what the realm is? It's a story we agree to tell each other over and over until we forget that it's a lie...

 

[TheExecuter]

“It is a prince, my Lord!” Anne responded, “A beautiful prince!”

A pity that many would view this moment of joy as something other than good.

 

[El Pip]

A pity that many would view this moment of joy as something other than good.

Indeed. A very literal example of the sins of the Father (and Mother) being passed down to the child.

 

[TheExecuter]

Somerset stepped forward, “Madam...do you not think it better that mayhap I...instead of you...present for a regency?”

For the first time, the Queen isn't making the dumbest possible suggestion.

How can Somerset believe he is a viable candidate for the Regent if he considers York a terrible choice?

Just, wow. Margaret is a better choice, and that's a low bar.

 

[coz1]

Firstly, thank you all for continuing to follow the thread and story. For reasons outlined earlier, my writing of late has been nonexistent. Yet it does me good to stop by and see comments are still rolling in from catch ups and new readers. Thank you especially @TheExecuter for pouring through what has become a mammoth work by now! I am enjoying greatly looks at scenes written now some years ago.

Still lots to go when I can get the spirit back. On that note, I have found potentially something to assist...

Meet Ringo. He is just about 5 months old and I rescued him from the shelter on Wednesday this week. It has been a lot of training, though he is probably part Australian Shepherd and they are known to be very smart. This boy certainly is. In just 3 days, he is already taken to his crate training and though we've had a few accidents, his potty training proceeds apace.

Max will never be forgotten or replaced, but I hope he trained me well to serve this new little guy as best as I can.

 

[Rensslaer]

Aww, sweet little Ringo!

Are you going to pass your story ideas past him to see if they pass muster? It's good to have a smart dog in the house.

Have you heard Bill Burr's comedy sketches about dogs?

Take care of yourself. Looking forward to resumption of the story when you can.

Renss

 

[TheExecuter]

Yet these last four years. From one moment to the next. He resented these Lords in their petty squabbles. From York to Somerset...down to the smallest of them...Devon and Bonville...Norfolk who could fight with anybody...now the Percy and Neville feud. It was never ending and that was before the King became ill. Now what? It seemed a free for all and any Lord might play. Now that they knew of the King’s condition, did they not feel need to silence their grievances for a time? For the betterment of the realm? For the King?

At last, one of the players is starting to see reason!

When there was no reply, he turned and moved to the door. Pulling it open he spied a figure retreating down the hallway.

Oh no.

At the age of seventy and four John Kempe, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was dead.

Yup.

God is very displeased with this group of nobles. Perhaps a TPK incoming.

 

[TheExecuter]

Yet he knew in his heart that he only wished what was best for the realm

Beware the power of self deception...

Most cheered his words. Most...but not Somerset and his. Richard paid them no mind. The bill was moved to the Commons and passed without issue. He was now Lord Protector.

This was inevitable, I think. York is the only real choice.

Now, if the realm dissolves to Civil War, it will be entirely York's fault.

 

[TheExecuter]

Good...” Richard followed, “...for neither shall be easy. At the first we must deal with Somerset. He shall be stripped of all offices and deposed of all duties. I wish him taken to the Tower and I will bring up formal charges to Parliament soon. The Archbishop is dead and Buckingham plays well but someone must be held to account for our lack of hearing on the King. To my mind, it shall be him.”

...and York ensures there will be a civil war.
Sigh.

What a fool.

 

[TheExecuter]

Henry showed a firm eye, “Then do not ask me to do what I cannot. My sons hold right place and while I may counsel, they will do as sons do. Only the fear of the sovereign might rein them in. And he is...not.”

Isn't the Lord Protector acting in the name of the sovereign?

There is an obvious answer to the contention that the King 'is not...'

But of course, I am looking at things through the eyes of someone in the post Richelieu era where government position / authority need not rest in a person's body...

 

[TheExecuter]

Thomas Percy lifted Nan to him and kissed her cheek before looking back to the elder, “You are bold, my man. Impressive. Yet I grow weary at trying to take my piece. These lands are mine and I shall be paid for what is owed.”

A Lord who destroys his own villages to try to get money out of them...

Truly an astonishingly stupid individual. Why anyone would trust such a person with owning anything is beyond me.

 

[TheExecuter]

To quote Machiavelli - People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. Richard is not doing any caressing while doing a lot of minor damage, pretty much the worst combination.

Indeed.

First rule of the game Diplomacy.

 

[Bullfilter]

Meet Ringo. He is just about 5 months old and I rescued him from the shelter on Wednesday this week.

Lovely!

probably part Australian Shepherd

If theres a bit of Australian border collie that contributed to the breed, those are indeed very smart. This mention was the first I ever recall hearing of an Australian Shepherd breed (which isn’t a thing here, to my knowledge) so I looked it up. You learn something new every day!

 

[TheExecuter]

“Husband...” Margaret continued, “...do you know what day this is?”

When he did not, she smiled in her answer, “It is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, Henry. Surely this is a miracle given to us by the grace of God!”

It may indeed be...but what others will make of it will be the issue of the day.