Deleted member 147978
2000th comment of the thread, congratulations.
Also, I smell a civil war between Louis and Conde.
Albion Rising: A Henry Frederick Timeline
- Thread starter VVD0D95
- Start date
Also, I smell a civil war between Louis and Conde.
Chapter 158: Trial
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 158: Trial
August, 1616
The walls of the Star Chamber were white, James knew, having ordered them repainted a few years ago, but right now they looked a sickly yellow, as his head ached. He shouldn’t have drunk quite as much as he had last night, but he had wanted to celebrate. After all, word had finally come through from Virginia. The travellers who had left with John Rolfe to increase the population of the colony had landed and had acclimatised reasonably well.
Though there was only one problem, half of them had been separated from the main body, though a letter had been sent to Rolfe by one Henry Penn, telling him that the travellers who’d been separated had landed on the coast of a different territory, and had found the climate reasonably hospitable, such that they’d started building a town. Rolfe wrote to say that Penn had called the settlement Jacobia[1], in his honour.
James had celebrated that and drunk heavily, and now he was feeling the consequences. He was also remembering something that Anne had said to him at the feast they’d held to see Charles off to Scotland. “Less drinking and more parenting.” That’s what she’d said or words to that effect. She had claimed he was drinking far too much and not doing enough to be a good parent, that he had treated Charles abysmally and should be ashamed.
James had been too drunk at the time to reply, but now? Now he had had time to think it over, and he had to admit that maybe his wife was right. He had been too distant from his children. Henry and Charles were men grown now, but Robert and Mary were still around, still young enough for him to be different. Maybe he could try?
He pushed that to one side. He had to think about the matter at hand now. He looked at one of the guards and nodded. The guard bowed and then walked out of the room. The man had gone to fetch Edward Radclyffe, the man accused of assisting the Spanish in sabotaging the letters during the Orkney campaign. James was somewhat disappointed by this. Of course a Catholic would assist in such an activity. Was there no such thing as originality anymore?
He looked at Radclyffe as the man was brought into the chamber, his hands shackled, his hair long and his beard unkempt. He looked vaguely handsome, but he was of course a traitor. James looked at the man and felt nothing. No fear, no hatred, nothing. Just emptiness. “Edward Radclyffe.” James said slowly and calmly. “You have been brought here before the Star Chamber to answer an accusation of treason. Do you understand?”
Really, the Lord Chancellor should be asking this question, but in a less than sober moment months ago, James had said he would ask the questions and nobody had refused him. So, here he was, with his head pounding, asking questions of a judicial nature.
“I do.” Radclyffe said.
“Then let us begin.” James said. He looked at the Attorney General, who then spoke.
“You are accused of aiding and abetting enemies of His Majesty in sabotaging letters meant for His Majesty, sent by His Highness the Prince of Wales, during the Prince’s campaign in Orkney. You are also accused of preventing letters from His Majesty from reaching His Highness. How do you plead?” The Attorney General asked.
Radclyffe opened his mouth but nothing came out, it took him a second attempt before he said. “I accept the charge.”
James nodded, he had expected as much, Radclyffe had confessed almost immediately upon being pressed and brought to the Tower. James waved a hand, signalling for the Attorney General to continue. “You are accused of conspiring with His Majesty’s enemies to bring about discord and chaos within the Kingdom, of trying to aid would be rebels and of pressing on prejudices. How do you plead?”
Radclyffe hesitated again which James found odd. “I accept the charge.” The man said.
James spoke then. “Why did you do it?” He asked, that was what he wanted to know, why had Radclyffe done all of this? From what James could tell he’d had a comfortable life, and was making a fortune from trade in Newcastle, so why abandon all of it?
Radclyffe looked at James and instead of answering immediately with confidence, as James expected, the man hesitated, for a third time, which caused James to frown, why was he hesitating so much? Eventually Radclyffe spoke. “Because my family owed a large debt and they offered to clear it if I assisted them.”
“Who did? The Spanish?” The Attorney General asked.
“Those who wanted to cause chaos.” Radclyffe said.
“Was it the Spanish?” The Attorney General asked again.
Radclyffe ignored him and kept his attention on James. “I know I should have come to you Your Majesty, but by the time I realised what I had gotten into I was in far too deep. I accept that my life is forfeit, I only ask that you spare my family.”
“Which of your family had gotten into debt?” Sir Edward Coke asked.
Radclyffe looked at Coke then, and in a very soft voice replied. “My brother.”
Coke didn’t reply to that, and so James said. “Very well.” He glanced at Coke, then at the Attorney General then at the Lord Chancellor, when he saw all three of them nod, he continued. “Thank you for your honesty. It is regrettable that you felt the need to go through with this. You committed treason by aiding our enemies, and thus must be punished accordingly. You are to face execution.” Radclyffe said nothing he merely nodded. “Guards take him back to the Tower.” The guards came and escorted Radclyffe out of the room.
James couldn’t shake the image of Radclyffe hesitating out of his mind though, and he wasn’t sure why. Something about all of this felt off, but what it was, he couldn’t place.
“I don’t think a normal execution will work, Sire.” The Archbishop of York said.
James glanced at York. “How so?”
“Radclyffe is incredibly popular in the north, his family has helped various merchants and workers over the years. If he is executed in the normal fashion, I fear there will be unrest.” York answered.
“So, what do you suggest?” James asked.
York didn’t answer, instead he looked at the Attorney General who said. “I have had one of my household devise a solution that can be given to Radclyffe with his meal.”
“And what will this solution do?” James asked, he was somewhat repelled by the idea of killing Radclyffe via a drink but if things became problematic through the normal means, then perhaps this would be for the best.
“It will destroy his organs within moments. He will die within minutes.” The Attorney General said.
James considered this; would it be dishonourable? He looked at the Archbishop of Canterbury and asked. “What say you, Your Grace?”
Canterbury looked ponderous, stroking his wispy little goatee, and when he answered, his words were cautious. “I believe it would be a greater sin to allow bloodshed and carnage, Sire.”
James nodded, then looked at the Attorney General. “Give the solution to the guards and tell them what to do.”
“Yes, Sire.” The man replied. James nodded, but he still couldn’t get over the unease he felt. Why had Radclyffe hesitated so much?
[1] Otl’s state of Delaware
Aka Anne of Denmark being the only reason that the Stuart kids came out reasonably normal. Bless her
Well, if that's not a big clue it isn't/wasn't the Spanish I don't know what
Hopefully his family will be paid by his co-conspirators, for taking there secret to the grave and hope it wasn’t all in vain.
Would his family not kick off more that he died alone in his cell in pain? I can understand not doing the full Hung, Drawn and Quartered but a simple execution performed in Scotland as a traitor against the Duke of Rothesay, Peacekeeper of Lewis and Orkney.
Would his family not kick off more that he died alone in his cell in pain? I can understand not doing the full Hung, Drawn and Quartered but a simple execution performed in Scotland as a traitor against the Duke of Rothesay, Peacekeeper of Lewis and Orkney.
VVD0D95
Banned
They might well do, at least privately, but raising direct objections to the king? I don’t think so.
This crime needs more investigation than this, Radclyffe is clearly hiding something and if a half-drunk King can see it then so should any half way decent investigator.
Radclyffe clearly knows who was offering to clear his brother's debt, and I bet it was not the Spanish.
More work required!
Radclyffe clearly knows who was offering to clear his brother's debt, and I bet it was not the Spanish.
More work required!
Well, in any investigation the question is cui prodest, who gains from the crime? I think that France would be the one to gain from a war between from a War between England and Spain.
VVD0D95
Banned
Oh I deed, the question is does the council habe the stomach for a long investigation.
oh how so?
Chapter 159: Inconsequential
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 159: Inconsequential
October, 1616
Felipe ignored the urge to place a hand on his stomach. As of late he’d been experiencing a lot of stomach pains and it was beginning to worry him. His doctors hadn’t been able to figure out what the issue was, but they had given him some substances to take to ease the pain, though they didn’t seem to be doing much good. He just prayed to God that the pain wouldn’t become anything worse. He had not prepared for his death. His eldest son and heir was but a boy still, and really, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to leave a regency to his wife.
He pushed that thought to one side and looked at Lerma and asked. “What word from France?”
“Positive news, Sire.” Lerma said. “King Louis successfully staged his coup in Paris.”
“Oh?” Felipe said, that was surprising, he had half expected the boy to fail.
“Yes, Sire. He managed to seize control of the Treasury, turning the Royal Guard against Condé. Condé was captured at the Louvre and the King rode in in splendour.” Lerma said.
“So, what has happened now?” Felipe asked, if Louis had succeeded then perhaps he would need to adjust his thoughts on what to do with France and their marriage entanglement.
“Condé and his followers have been imprisoned in the Bastille, the King of France has dismissed several men that Condé had appointed to senior government positions and installed his own men to those positions. The Royal Guard has raided various houses associated with Condé and his followers and taken back what they believe to have been stolen.” Lerma said.
“I see.” Felipe replied. “And what does this mean for us?”
Lerma understood what he meant immediately. “The French ambassador and I met yesterday, Sire. He says that his King is desirous of the dual marriage going ahead at the earliest convenience.”
Felipe nodded, that was good, he didn’t have a backup plan for his children, at least not yet, given the young age of Matthias’ children. “Do we have the necessary funds for the dowry?” He asked.
“We do, Sire.” Lerma replied, though the way he said it made Felipe think there was something else there as well.
“But?” He asked.
“But that has necessitated eating into the naval budget to ensure that the amount is met.” Lerma said.
“I see.” Felipe replied. “Will this be detrimental to us?” He didn’t want to find that a war with England was in the offing and that the navy wouldn’t be able to properly fight due to a lack of funds.
“I do not think so, Sire. The English have resolved their little issue.” Lerma said.
Little wasn’t the word Felipe would use to describe the prospect of war over letters, but whatever. “How?” He demanded.
“The English have found someone to pin the guilt onto. Edward Radclyffe.” Lerma said.
“Radclyffe?” Felipe said, the name sounded familiar though he wasn’t sure how. “Was he one of ours?”
“No, Sire.” Lerma said very quickly, which made Felipe think the man was lying.
“So, what happened?” Felipe asked.
“The Earl of Strathearn found evidence that Radclyffe had been tampering with the post and preventing it from getting to the King and to the Prince of Wales. Radclyffe was questioned and confessed to the crime, and of also doing it for payment from the King of England’s enemies.” Lerma said.
So, us. Felipe thought, though he didn’t say that, instead he asked. “What happened next?”
“Radclyffe was brought before the King and said everything he needed to say, his guilt was proven, he was then sentenced to death. Initially he was going to be poisoned I believe, but my sources say that an intervention from the Prince of Wales made it so that he was executed on Tower Hill.” Lerma said.
“I see.” Felipe said. “Why was he going to be poisoned?” That sounded oddly cowardly.
“A desire to avoid causing chaos in the north, it seems Radclyffe is very popular there, Sire.” Lerma said.
“And this execution, did it cause any chaos?” Felipe asked.
“NO, Sire. Instead it seems the Catholics of the British Isles have doubled down in their attempts to prove their loyalty to King James.” Lerma said.
“How?” Felipe asked intrigued.
“They’re rooting out anyone who is avowedly loyal to His Holiness, and anyone who so much mentions the plotters of 5th November in a positive light.” Lerma said.
“I see.” Felipe said. “Is there anything we can do to make their lot easier?” He didn’t feel right about Catholics turning on one another to appease a heretic.
“Nothing that wouldn’t cause an international incident, Sire.” Lerma said.
“I see.” Felipe replied, he exhaled and then asked. “Whatever happened to your man in Prince Henry’s camp?”
“Lord Fraser?” Lerma asked.
“Yes.” Felipe said.
“He died of a chill, Sire.” Lerma said.
Felipe said. “How convenient.” Then something came back to him. “Wasn’t he in contact with Radclyffe?”
“He was, I believe, yes, Sire.” Lerma said.
“But you think that this could not come back to us?” Felipe asked, worry flickering inside of him then.
“I do not think so, Sire. Radclyffe did not talk.” Lerma replied calmly.
“Very well.” Felipe said. There was a brief pause and then he said. “Perhaps it would be best if we stopped trying to get the natives to harass the British in Virginia then? To show that we are willing to turn over a new leaf?”
“I think that would be wise for the time being, Sire.” Lerma agreed. “The British will no doubt push the natives into attacking them anyway.”
Felipe snorted. “Ever the optimist.”
Lerma smiled. “Of course, Sire.”
Felipe rose then, prompting the other man to do the same. “Very well, if there is nothing else, I am going to spend some time with my family.” He wanted to get his wife’s view on something and he wanted to do that away from Lerma.
“Of course, Sire.” Lerma replied, bowing as Felipe pushed his chair back and walked away from the room. The stomach pains came back then and he winced.
Methinks you need to look at your diet Felipe, you may be allergic to something.
Henry moved the execution? Wonder if he had words with Radclyffe and found out extra info? Perhaps in exchange for a 'proper' death instead of a cowardly one?
Interesting the North settled down and are falling over each other to prove loyalty. Wonder if this is more towards Henry than James?
If you are trying to 'turn over a new leaf' perhaps talk to Britain directly as well as the less direct thing in the colonies?
Glad Louis got his coup over with. Bet that was messy, even if quick.
Henry moved the execution? Wonder if he had words with Radclyffe and found out extra info? Perhaps in exchange for a 'proper' death instead of a cowardly one?
Interesting the North settled down and are falling over each other to prove loyalty. Wonder if this is more towards Henry than James?
If you are trying to 'turn over a new leaf' perhaps talk to Britain directly as well as the less direct thing in the colonies?
Glad Louis got his coup over with. Bet that was messy, even if quick.