April 24^th 1460 The Westminster Chronicle Issue 11

King asks Duke of York to head Government!

As expected, the king has made some swingeing changes to his administration before summoning Parliament for mid-May. Early in the morning of the 11^th of April, King Henry asked the Duke of York to head the Privy Council and the Duke duly looked to his supporters for executive skills in time for the Parliament called for the 14^th of May.

Bishop Neville of Exeter becomes Chancellor and the Earl of Essex the Treasurer, as predicted by the Westminster Chronicle.

With his track record as Keeper of the Sea, it is no surprise to see the Earl of Warwick appointed Admiral for a ten-year term. He also remains Captain of Calais.

That Bishop Booth of Durham is deprived of the Privy Seal is expected but his replacement is, surprisingly, his nephew, John Booth, Archdeacon of Richmond. John Booth is widely regarded as a high-flyer among the clergy and touted for a bishopric. His expertise in the realm of administration can hardly be doubted. Perhaps this is an appointment made entirely on the grounds of merit, though it would be hard to find anyone more capable than the Bishop of Durham.

The offices of Steward of the Household and Lord Chamberlain, (not to be confused with the Great Chamberlain), have been vacant for some months, probably as a cost cutting measure. York has nominated Lord Ferrers de Chartley and Lord Grey de Powys to these posts.

The guard against the Scots now falls to Lord Greystoke as Warden of the West March. The Earl of Northumberland remains Warden of the North, though he currently resides under house arrest, pending trial by his peers.

The Earl of Devon also keeps his job as Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall; a controversial decision as rumour says that even Lord Bonville would be a more popular choice. One of the more responsible jobs in the immediate future falls to Lord Berners as Keeper of the Tower of London. He is now responsible for the security of the King's prisoners and the person of the King himself while in London. As the Duke of York is also currently residing in the Tower, Berners has his work cut out for himself, at least until Parliament is over.

Contrary to expectations, little disorder has been caused by fleeing troops thanks to the peace keeping efforts of the earls of Rutland and Essex, Viscount Grey and lords Ferrers of Chartley, Clinton, Grey de Powys and Stanley. 

Of the noble prisoners captured at Melton Mowbray, only the Earl of Lincoln and the Bishop of St. Asaphs are kept under strict security in the Tower. The Duke of Buckingham, Lord Grey de Wilton and Lord Vescy are under house arrest in London at the time of printing. The earls of Northumberland and Shrewsbury are believed to be recovering from their wounds in a secure installation. 

But as of printing, only one of the noble escapees from the battle has yet been traced. The Earl of Essex discovered Lord Manchester at the home of a close friend, Sir William Belper of Nottinghamshire. Major figures still unlocated include the Earl of York, lords Lovel and Delaware and, of course, the Queen. Though rumours place her variously abroad in France or Scotland or in the far north of England.

Other Home News

Somewhat heartening is the response by the nobility to the hardship caused by the recent troubles to the common man. The King and the Duke of York personally visited Rugby to witness the plight of the townsfolk for themselves and to ensure the dead received a decent burial. Later, the Earl of Pembroke personally escorted a caravan of victuals to ease the food shortage caused by the interruption to local services and oversaw the medical aid provided by the local clergy at the Earl's own expense. The day after arriving in London, the King and all the Court attended a memorial service to all those recently slain. 

The capital rejoiced at the news of the lifting of the trade embargo to Calais. The citizens demonstrated their love for King Henry and the Duke of York by hurling flowers during the ceremonial entry by Newgate and procession along Cheapside to the Tower.

Elsewhere, similar joy is reported from the Cinque Ports and Calais itself. 

News has reached the Westminster Chronicle that the Scots are again massing to invade in Berwickshire. Despite the friendly overtures by the new government, it seems King James is bent upon bloody war. 

The King has despatched writs of summons to Parliament for the 14^th of May next. May all MPs and attending peers please forward items to Peter Hansard for the agenda.

Weather - Father Johannus predicts. [67% accuracy]

The weather opened with a return to unseasonable snow, which plagued the country for three days and severely inhibited travel, on and off road. Then a southerly wind brought milder showers followed by a long dry spell with changeable, even blustery winds for the rest of the two-week period. Father Johannus says, "Tomorrow's weather will be just like today's."

Sir John Hotspur interviews her Grace, Queen Margaret of England and France, Lady of Ireland.

H: Your Grace, you have just lost a battle and your husband the King is now in the protection of Richard Plantagenet, the ex-Duke of York. Is your cause now lost?

QM: The cause for good governance is never lost. Simply from time to time, its proponents must swap places. 

H: Your Grace, with only a few exceptions, your most powerful supporters are either dead, in prison or in hiding. Will you now surrender your freedom and enter a nunnery for the sake of England?

QM: As a married woman with a young child to raise, We have absolutely no intention of entering a nunnery or any such institution. There are still many of the King's supporters at large who shall rally to his cause if need be. 

H: Your Grace, your enemies have called you the 'She wolf of France' or 'Joan of Anjou'. Do you know why the English dislike you so? They think that you have influenced the saintly Henry to be a most vengeful King upon his enemies.

QM: Those who indulge in name calling only help to besmirch their own characters. The King is, as you observe, saintly, but it is up to those who love him to ensure that he does not become a martyr. 

H: Your Grace, many blame you for the acts of attainder issued against York, Warwick and others for forcing them to declare war against the Crown. Now that all that has come to past, would you have acted differently?

QM: Contrary to popular rumour, We have performed very little action so far. The ex-Duke of York and the ex-Earl of Warwick held high office when they decided to raise arms against their King. It is difficult to force powerful persons to gather armies against their wills or ambitions.

H: Your Grace, can you confirm or deny rumours that you have put a price on Calais and Berwick and intend to sell these fortresses to the enemies of England?

QM: Once again, our character is assailed by rumour. Our intention has been to maintain the Crown's current possessions. 

H: Your Grace, do you believe King James of Scotland or King Charles, the said King of France will offer you support now when you have no money or soldiers?

QM: We have no need for external aid. The loyal Lords and commoners of England shall ensure the safety of the king. 

H: Your Grace, for the tranquillity of England, will you consider any peace proposals put forward by the ex Dukes of York and Warwick?

QM: Before a single drop of blood was shed on English soil, the King proposed a deal by which the lands of York and Warwick might be returned to them and which would have restored them to high office. Throughout this current conflict, they have offered only ultimata without regard for peace. We would, however, welcome any proposal that secures the King's position and brings harmony to England. 

H: Your Grace, the parentage of your son Prince Edward has been doubted in some quarters. Can you confirm that he is the one and only true son of King Henry?

QM: Might we refer you to a question that was previously answered: slander not - lest you yourself should be slandered. 

H: Your Grace, the lack of brothers and sisters for the Prince has been much commented on. Are we to understand that there are reasons why you have been unable to conceive more heirs for the throne? 

QM: We look forward to more children, given the blessed bounty of God.

H: Your Grace. Why did you have Henry Bourchier executed and is it true that you wish to see the head of the ex-Duke of York atop Mickelgate Bar in York wearing a 'paper crown'?

QM: The regrettable death of Sir Henry Bourchier was due, solely, to a clerical error. A general order was given after the Battle of Rugby that those captured who were under the King's Attainder should be executed, by due process of law. A list of such persons was produced and by some spelling mistake or other such action of human error, Henry Bourchier was confused with his brother Humphrey, the Lord Cromwell. After the mistake was realised, medical attention was sought, but alas too late. May I take this opportunity to express my deepest regrets and heart felt condolences to the grieving Earl of Essex and his family. 

H: Your Grace, can you tell the readers and preachers of the Westminster Chronicle what your plans are for the future?

QM: We intend to take this opportunity of retiring from public life to spend more time with our family. As always, we shall, however, look for any opportunity where our talents might aid the King. 

H: Your Grace, is it true that Prince Edward talks nothing but revenge and cutting off heads. Do you think he takes after you or the King in his expressed sentiments?

QM: The talk of children is of little consequence: it is the conversation of adults that should concern the public. As yet, the Prince of Wales has little to avenge but we shall see what the future brings. If any punitive actions are required, you can be assured that the King and I shall be of one mind. 

Though the Queen was most upset with some of my questions and at one point suggested to a knight that I should be 'left outside to feed the buzzards', she graciously allowed me to leave and report back to the Westminster Chronicle. Sir John Hotspur, Knight of the Holy Order of St John of Jerusalem and Rhodes. Praise be to God.

Next issue - Scotland.

Church News

The Archbishop of Canterbury called convocation to meet at Lambeth Palace on the 10^th of May in the week before Parliament. Among the many questions for debate are the various translations of bishops, at least one new ordination and the growing heresy scandal in the Home Counties.

Business

Stephen Hulyn, Mayor of London, comments on the recent events: "Blimey! At bleedin' larst! Ver King's got some decent nobs givin' 'im some proper advice abaht trade an' all vat. When I saw King 'Enery and ver Duke ridin' in at Newgate. I said to Ada, "Cor! Nah vat's wot I call bleedin noble. Pity ver King don't look as good!"

Appointments

New Creations:

Richard, Lord Dacre is raised to the rank, style and dignity of Viscount Dacre.

Officers:

Lord Chancellor - Bishop Neville of Exeter

Lord Treasurer - Henry, Earl of Essex

Lord Admiral - Richard, Earl of Warwick (for 10 years)

President of the Council - Richard, Duke of York

Keeper of the Privy Seal - John, Archdeacon of Richmond

Steward of the Household - Walter, Lord Ferrers of Chartley.

Lord Chamberlain - Richard, Lord Grey de Powys

Keeper of the Great Wardrobe - Sir William Hastings

Keeper of the Privy Wardrobe - Sir Robert Ogle

Warden of the Cinque Ports - John, Earl of Nottingham

Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster - Thomas, Lord Stanley

Chamberlain of Chester - William, Earl of Arundel

Warden of the Western Marches - Ralph, Lord Greystoke

Captain of Calais - Richard, Earl of Warwick

Keeper of the Tower of London - John, Lord Berners

Other offices remain unchanged, a great surprise in certain instances.

Lesser appointments include

Sheriff of Berks. & Oxon. - John, Lord Clinton

Sheriff of Cambs. & Hunts. - Sir Tobias Leake

Sheriff of Derby & Notts. - Thomas, Lord Scrope of Masham

Sheriff of Leicestershire - Sir William Blount

Sheriff of Sussex - Edward, Lord Cobham

Sheriff of Leicestershire - Sir William Stanley

Constable of Huntingdon - Edmund, Earl of Rutland

Constable of Rockingham - John, Lord Rivers

Constable of Newark - John, Duke of Norfolk

Constable of Dover - John, Earl of Nottingham

Constable of Rochester - Edward, Lord Cobham

Constable of Queenborough - Edward, Lord Bergavenny

The shrievalities of Hereford and Worcester are again combined under Sir Richard Herbert but Sir Anthony Wydeville remains Constable of Worcester. James, Earl of Wiltshire is stripped of all constabularies.

Court & Social

After a brief sojourn in Melton Mowbray, the King started a tour of the East Midlands, spending Easter at Leicester, then visiting Rugby and Dunstable before entering London on the 19^th of April. The King is now resident at the Tower and will remain so until after the coming Parliament. 

The marriage of Sir Robert Greystoke, son and heir of Lord Greystoke, to Elisabeth, daughter of Viscount Grey de Ruthyn, due to take place at St. Asaphs Cathedral on the 22^nd past, has been postponed. Lord Greystoke said that after the recent battles, in which so many peers of the realm had fallen, it would be inappropriate to have a celebration when much of the country was in mourning. He and his family offered their condolences to the bereaved. The family of the bride is unavailable for comment. 

Sir Peter Hansard writes: The Duke of Norfolk has asked my to make public the news that he, as Earl Marshal, and the Lord Constable, the Duke of Somerset, will convene the Court of Chivalry at the Duke of Norfolk's house in London on the 10^th of May, next.

Letters

Dear Mr Caxton, I am writing to your august organ in an attempt to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict. I hope and pray that your readership will work towards a sense of national unity and reconciliation. The King is physically very healthy but has suffered mentally from the pressures of recent times and is taken to resting much. I am willing to work with many of those who fought at the King's side at Melton Mowbray for they are mostly loyal to his majesty. However, there is, as I have reported before, a rot of greed amongst some of those courtiers. There were those who chose to follow the King for the fine living he could provide, for these nobles there will be no escape from justice. I would have been quite willing to parley with the King and talk to his majesty of peace and good government but you will have read what happened to the Earl of Salisbury when he tried to parley. Refused because the Queen was afraid that the King would see reason, when all she sought was England's noble bloodshed by noble hands. Refused because the Queen sought to hide her crimes by manipulating the King. She oversaw the pillage of Ludlow from her pavilion. She walked among those who had received quarter from honourable men with her executioner, John Clifford [sic] and had prisoners murdered to sate her unwomanly blood lust. Knowing all this had happened when the good Earl Richard had tried to parley, my men wanted none of it, but fought with an eagerness to liberate the King from his unnatural companion. We fought against honourable men who thought it was the King we sought to hurt. Far from it, it was the King we came to save. Thus we gave quarter and conducted ourselves like men, not like the beasts which cowered among their force. So the Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Northumberland and men like them have nought to fear, for they showed gallantry, honour and valour and I would be proud to stand alongside them if they would have me. While men such as these held the field like heroes, the Queen and her beast, Clifford, fled. All she left was her pet, the Earl of Lincoln. Weighed down as he was by his gold, even the head start he gave himself at the start of the battle did not help him escape. So those who sided with us to raise an arm against the oppression of Queen Margaret, do not chide your fellow man for his loyalty to the King, do not scorn him because his path differed from yours and he could not see what sat at the King's ear. Though some have to answer for other deeds, we are all subjects of the English Crown and must work together for the common good. Yours faithfully, Duke of York.

Editor - The Westminster Chronicle is honoured to be his Grace's instrument of peace; it has ever been our only ambition. While we applaud the general sentiment of this missal, we cannot help noticing its specifics as being, "...do not chide your fellow man..." unless his name is Lincoln. Quite why he should be singled out is unclear to me but then I'm not privy to the councils of the wise.

Dear Mr Caxton, my Lord Warwick, blessed by the saints of England and with a manly figure to strike fear in the cowards who have so afflicted this realm, commands me to be your editor of literature in your manuscript.

Pained by false reports and lies that he has been foully slain, he entrusts me to make sure that in future all will be well in the Westminster Chronicle. My most noble Lord wants you to write only what he says is true and to bring peace to our most divided kingdom. His Grace is not a man to seek harsh penalties on mere trifles; he seeks only the broth of justice and only forbears that your adherence to truth will need his assistance through my guidance.

In my humility to the Lord Warwick, I stayed his hand and told him that Mr Caxton means well - if he is sometimes served by base knaves like that impudent Knight of St. John, who wishes to speak to my Lord without asking my assistance. So, for the time and season, I seek only the position of literary editor. Yours in Truth, Sir Thomas Malory - a man most wronged but a man who can say his prayers without a flush of red coming to his cheeks.

Editor - Oh Thomas! The Duke of Buckingham says it was a definite throw-away-key job. He says you should just do your stir and count the years till you're free and stop trying to curry favour with the Earl of Warwick; you know he prefers action to books. Tell you what! Why don't you write a nice little story and then I'll publish it for you. Something exciting with lots of jousts, sword fights and damsels in distress should go down very well.

To Master Caxton

Sir, I wish to offer a reward of £20 for information leading to the safe recovery of William Bourchier and Humphrey, Lord Cromwell. Bourchier, Earl of Essex.

To the Westminster Chronicle

We are somewhat alarmed by reports that we have somehow absconded with a large reserve of monies from the Treasury and now wish to make a note for the official record.

For several months, we have been funding the treasury from our privy purse. These monies have been garnered from several charitable sources who wish to remain anonymous. Due to the reduction of income caused by the Calais embargo, we have had to use our own monies to pay the salaries of several Crown employees.

Now that the ex-Duke of York has seen fit to take the reins of state, we shall be making no such further donations. As the drop in Crown income was due to his own machinations, we think it only proper that he arranges for the payment of any outstanding bills. We intend to use our money to finance ourselves and good causes. Margaret Regina. 

Editor - Well the Duke of York is arranging the payment of wages to Crown officers, since the removal of the Calais embargo, the customs duty is once again flowing into the Crown's coffers and all demands on the Treasury are currently being met.

To the Said Mr Caxton, in the name of the Holy Catholic Church, Blessed with the Blood of Saints.

My master, the Prior of Segovia under the protection King Henry IV in the realm of Castile & Leon, would like you to know that we have burnt 1,000 copies of your diseased organ of sinfulness known as the 'Westminster Chronicle'.

They were discovered in a consignment of fine English woollen garments sent to our most Holy home. It had been considered to return them to England but when the Prior asked me to translate some of the words contained within the Westminster Chronicle, he was soon of one mind and had them burnt in the chapel garden.

My master is most vexed by the spread of heresy - a contagion he blames on the English sorcerer and consorter of devils John Wycliff, and continued by Lollards and Hussites. He will write to your Archbishop and request that everything and everyone associated with the Westminster Chronicle suffer the flames of eternal damnation unless confessions can be obtained. This evil of printing must be cast out and destroyed. By the hand of Brother Philip, late of Bath, on behalf of Tomas de Torquemada, Prior of Segovia.

[Translated from the Latin] 

Editor - The Westminster Chronicle would like it to be known that it in no way condones heresy in any form and especially condemns the 'English Heresy' of Lollardy.

Advertisements

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TRAITORS: No 'treacherous dog' too big to handle. Thanks to our new 'Duke of Exeter's Daughter' rack system, we can extract a confession from the mightiest to the meanest. Our well-equipped workroom can deal with all types of malcontents including Lollards and other heretics. Unusual punishments our speciality, free Malmsey Wine on our introductory tour. Royal Corrective Services, Tower of London.

Weapons and Tactics in English Warfare

Finding considerable time on his hands in the last fortnight, the noble Duke has graced us with a distillation of his profound knowledge of the modern battlefield to answer the questions from our non-armigerous readership.

For the last two centuries, England has consistently fielded smaller armies than her opponents. Our superiority on the battlefields of Europe has perforce been based upon superior weapons and tactics. In particular, our use of massed archers.

This advantage in firepower is negated in our home wars by the tendency for archers to shoot back at other archers, thus mutually negating their advantage against non missile-equipped troops and the lack of the supply-line needed to keep archers in arrows during battle. Most archers called up by their lords, muster with only a dozen arrows or so; a supply exhausted in a few minutes of continuous shooting. Reserve arrows can be provided but at a cost of 1s 6d a dozen, for just 1000 archers, this equates to a cost of £37 10s per minute. Kings can afford this level of expenditure thanks to the taxes granted by Parliament but such resources are beyond most magnates.

Thus, in this century, it has been found best to only have the best men equipped as archers. Those less able serve as billmen. The bill is a cheap and effective pole-arm, capable of opening the heaviest armours of the continental man-at-arms. They are especially useful when our men-at-arms are required to fight mounted and thus are not available to stiffen the foot troops.

This brings us to our second great tactical advantage. Our men-at-arms are equally at home mounted or on foot. Our armours weigh only 50-60 lbs. and are designed to allow mobility on foot, unlike the 80+lb. armours worn in Germany.

The man-at-arms uses three principal weapons. The lance is used couched and, braced against the arcons of the saddle, provides a truly devastating punch in a cavalry charge. The sword is still the main back-up weapon both afoot and mounted but the one-handed variety is inadequate for penetrating modern armours. Instead, the two-handed sword, used on foot, serves to open most armours. But the weapon of choice for the English man-at-arms on foot is the poll-axe, a 5ft long wooden shaft carrying a 15+lb. multi-purpose head and capable of opening even the toughest German armours.

How are these troops used? The commonest formation, called the 'Agincourt' by some veterans, is the simple one of men-at-arms dismounted in the centre flanked by archers, all in close formation. This is the customary 'battle' or 'division'. Recently, there has been a return to keeping men-at-arms in the saddle, their place being taken by the billmen. This weakens the infantry but provides a useful mobile corps that can launch a devastating charge once the opponent shows the least sign of disorder.

In large set-piece battles, it is usual to divide the army into four roughly equal portions and place them left, right and centre under subordinate captains. The fourth battle is usually commanded by the general and kept as a reserve.

In the domestic conflicts of the last five years, it has become common for the inferior side to dig in. This certainly improves the fighting potential of the troops but there is a price. If beaten, it is harder for them to get away and casualties are higher. In victory, pursuit is difficult and it is harder to punish the enemy.

Complicated tactics such as flank attacks can be battle winners if they work but all too often, the flanking force merely gets lost or falls foul of broken terrain.

The losses to the French in the decade up to 1453 were often at the hands of French artillery and we lag behind the continent in this area. France, Burgundy and even Scotland use artillery much more effectively. In particular, bombards are invaluable for reducing castles.

Lonely Hearts

Has anyone seen my wife, Mrs Margaret Plantagenet? Last seen swimming in the River Eye on the 10^th of April, she is small, dark-haired, beautiful, sensual and wilful. I am worried that she may have got lost in a snowdrift. Anyone with any information, please contact the Privy Council at the Tower of London.

If you see her, tell her all is forgiven. Henry Plantagenet.

The Parliamentary agenda

Our political commentator, Peter Hansard, writes:

The King has summoned Parliament to meet at London, (that should probably read Westminster), on the 14^th of May 1460. Here is the published agenda....

1) Review and likely reversal of attainders passed at the last Parliament. The title 'Earl of York' will be either transferred or deleted.

The reversal of attainders we may take as a formality. The Earl of York is an interesting case for which there is no precedent. He cannot retain his title once the Duke of York is restored, yet he is now a belted Earl and very powerful in his locality. Attainder is not an option since, whatever his crimes, treason does not seem to be one of them.

2) Crown Finances Bill: A review of the Royal finances and an Act of Resumption without exemptions. Earlier proposals for a Royal land commission will be considered as well as modifications to Chancery procedure.

A complete lack of exemptions would be rather hard on the earls of Richmond and Pembroke, stripping their lands completely but this will no doubt be a matter for negotiation.

3) Ratification of new titles and officers of state.

Normally a formality, the convention of the Court of Chivalry to specifically review the recent creations could lead to its recommendations being seriously considered by the Great Council.

4) Review of recent conflict and actions of participants. The Lords to hear and pass judgement upon fellow peers to be charged.

Now here we come to the very nitty gritty. This does sound like a trial for war crimes. It is hard to see a war hero such as the Earl of Northumberland being found guilty of anything leading to more than a small fine. Perhaps the idea is to try all upon the losing side at Melton Mowbray just for the appearance of fairness. Assuming someone is to become a scapegoat, it would seem the Earl of Lincoln and Bishop Bird of St. Asaphs are being groomed for the job.

Campaign Matters

Right! Parliament! Here's how it works. First, I need to know if you're going to be there. I shall assume you won't if you don't say so. Remember you vote only if you're personally in Westminster. Second, if you want to discuss something, it will help us all if you put it on the agenda. Third, you'll want to know how the House of Commons works. This one's tricky so I'll try to make it clear.

Each English county, aside from Cheshire and Durham, returns two members to Parliament. Cheshire, Durham and all of Wales don't get any. There are also a lot of towns scattered around in a very uneven fashion; check the enclosed list. Each town also returns two members except London, which returns four.

If you want to get people in the House of Commons, you must say, "I want to influence the voting in Abcham or Xyzshire" or words to that effect. Otherwise, the electorate assumes you're not interested.

Then I assess your influence within the county: it's simply that fraction of the county that you own. Your influence can be modified by your popularity, using troops to frighten people and by spending cash. The effect of money works as follows. Multiply the number of your manors in a shire by their value and add 50x the value of the cash influence you spend in that shire. Most towns are cheaper to buy than shires but you can still only influence a town in a county in which you hold at least one manor. Anyone can influence London.

Once this is done for all nobles influencing the election in a shire, MPs go to the nobles with the greatest influence. Generally, the voters will try to please the biggest wodge of influence they can.

Some towns will automatically return MPs friendly to certain people by virtue of their lands, title or office. You will be told of these in your results. If there's no mention, you don't have any.

An MP will vote your party line except on issues clearly not in his interests.

Once Parliament is opened, I can't see any other way to make things work than by you all debating in real time using e-mail and phone, or even face-to-face. If you have an important speech for popular consumption, make sure that I get a copy so it has a chance of influencing the NPCs. If I like it, they'll like it. I'll like it most if it's fairly short and punchy. Long-winded speeches will bore me and the honourable members.

When your mind is made up on an issue, tell me and I'll register your vote.

This last turn was two weeks long. It may not sound like much but that makes it the second longest turn of the game. Unless someone starts moving troops again, the next one should be longer and cover at least the start of Parliament, possibly right up to it's close. I'd say 4 weeks minimum up to a couple of months so please plan accordingly.

Whew! Probably the most difficult turn to adjudicate yet, both from an interpretation point of view and from all the intrusions and distractions of work, training and X-mass but not from slowness of orders. I'm very glad to say that almost all of you got your orders in good time and that's why you're getting your results before Christmas Day. J

But now for the bad news: Ed's found his workload is too heavy to allow him to give Rosewar the necessary attention. He hopes to come back to the campaign if, and when, things ease up. I'm sure we all wish him well.

So it's a warm welcome to Andy Sturman as Greystoke and made Rosewar history by being the first new player to get his orders in before getting anything about the game through the post. Great! I like 'em keen! J

Several people have also changed their e-mail so, yet again, a new list of contacts is provided on the reverse.

In addition, Keef is going on a two-month training course on the 28^th of December for two months. All contact will have to be via his parent's address unless he phones you.

Thanks for your subs all those that sent them. This close to Christmas, they were necessary.

I still intend to open up Rosewar to at least two new PCs quite soon. The events of this Parliament could decide exactly which NPCs jumps the divide.

General Chat

So, here we are at Rosewar's second real-life Christmas. I've an ambition, call it my New Year's resolution, to pass the first game-time Christmas before the advent of the Millennium. Let's see! J

Claire and I are looking forward to a quiet Christmas followed buy a hectic January. I think I'm doing something every weekend out of the first five of 1999. With any luck, I should be getting more tour-guide work from the museum and I also have a playscheme job on Tuesday evenings, so I might even be flush, too. J

On the other hand, my youth-work training is a nightmare but there's not much that can be done about that.

Claire is also getting some extra work but the other side of her coin is that the dreaded writing-up of the thesis is looming severely and causing a few tremblings.

I expect to see quite a few of you at Stabcon and some of you perhaps sooner. I do intend to run Runequest at Stabcon so I'll need someone to transfer all the usual gear to Manchester in time for the 7^th of January. 

Speaking of Runequest, I'll be getting that stuff to you and Brendan, Mikey, as soon as possible; probably after Christmas, along with that job description for Dominic Newman's post in Moonguard's Chancery. 

Well, it's a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you. I hope you will all get appropriately drunken and give and receive at least one utterly amazing present each. J

Next Deadline

The deadline for turn 12 is January 31^st 1999. This period is especially packed with training weekends, visiting relations and midweek work so can I ask everyone to be as punctual as possible and aim to get your orders in before the deadline.