Politics

Imposed almost immediately after the death of the King when none truly understood the extent of the crisis, martial law was only lifted with the crowning of Elizabeth in 1616. It is therefore remarkable that throughout this time it continued to protect civilians and serve the best interests of Albion, rather than those of the commanders. Curfews made life difficult for those rebels trying to spread dissent and destruction through Royalist strongholds. Many Catholics were put under house arrest, often under protest. When mobs of Royalists came baying for their blood, however, they soon realised the advantages as the Dragoons kept both sides from each other. Though there were instances of Dragoons turning Catholics over to mob justice, rapid discipline kept these instances rare.

For wars and the reconstruction that followed alike, Albion needed money. Wriothsley and Molyneux were the men to ensure that this was provided and did not bankrupt the country in the process.

Rather than imposing harsh taxes, the Crown took out loans from Roebury's, the capital coming from many wealthy investors who were eager for at least a chance of seeing their money again. Government debt was mixed with shares in the NEC, bought up from MISC, as well as some from several other respectable companies floated there. Promoted as patriotic, and made less risky by the incorporation of shares, investment packages like this saw a wide take-up, particularly as land was turning out to be a risky prospect.

Despite the scandal, widely publicised by rivals, of its founder's marriage (soon annulled) to a Jesuit spy, MISC recovered quickly to take charge of the sale of NEC shares. Though some speculate that this was helped by a number of letters reminding powerful men of the sanctity of marriage, this has never been proven. If anything, the hint of a scandal attracted more of the young men, and women, who would become MISC's lifeblood and main clients.

Whilst Roebury's settled down to quietly rebuild the country, MISC became heavily involved in the colonisation effort, ensuring those going to the New World would be prepared for the hazards they would face…and be sending plenty of money back home. The dashing young man about town might want to work at MISC – it would get you those girls who had a sharp eye for a gentleman's pocketbook as well as his pistol. His father would certainly deal with Roebury's. Despite the risks of MISC's business, it did remarkably well in avoiding bad investments. Many thanked Molyneux's financial acumen for this, and so there was grave concern for the health of investments following his death. His adopted son, Charles, however, had his father's knack with money and the mood soon lightened. The succession at Roebury's was far less explosive, business passing from father to son as Thomas Wriothsley retired to devote more attention to spiritual matters.

The difficulties of the political situation during the last years of the Civil War and what became the Succession Crisis required the assistance of the Queen's closest allies and advisors. A unique position was created in 1609 - that of the Prime Minister, the first and chief among the Queen's advisors and her direct representative in Parliament. The first person to be appointed to this position was His Grace William Milton, Duke of Somerset and one of the Civil War's heroes. Always a supporter of the Queen he was chosen as a man of sound political sense and a clear vision of Albion's greatness and unity (indeed it was he who arranged the unification of all Britain's kingdoms).

The appointment fixed the position of the monarch's First Minister as the head of the Council and leader of the Queen's government which has had to co-operate more and more with Parliament.

With the Lord Chamberlain who had served Henry IX and Elizabeth I murdered and replaced by the Catholics, the position of advisor and administrator of the Royal court became spread between the Queen's new Council and courtiers. The majority fell upon the Countess of Reading, Meredith Kendall, Mistress of the Robes who ensured that the Queen was informed, protected and was concerned only with the most important of business.

In time the position of Lord Chamberlain was necessarily re-created with the assistance of Lady Meredith Kendall, His Grace William Milton and the Archbishop of York.

The necessity of protecting the monarch from magical deception as well as physical harm, was dealt with by the Archbishop of York as well as the Duke of Somerset and Countess of Reading who in time developed ways for the Monarch and his or her advisors to be aware of any conjuration or other altering magics in effect in Court.

Laws in Parliament forbid unauthorised use of Conjuration in the presence of the King or Queen, in Court and in Parliament itself. The impersonation of any subject of the Kingdom using conjuration or other magical means is considered treason and is punishable by death.

Appointed official Speechwriter soon after his return to England, Master William Brandage did a great deal to improve Queen Elizabeth's image in the eyes of the nation and establish her not only as the rightful monarch but as a national hero. His help in writing morale-boosting plays and speeches during the civil conflict with Scotland was particularly worthy in rallying the tired English people and sowing doubt and discord among the forces loyal to James.

Frequent rumours that Brandage acted as Elizabeth's spymaster circulated among the court; both Elizabeth and Brandage would laugh these suggestions off. It is undeniable, however, that he kept close counsel with the Queen, and was an influential voice in the politics of Albion.

Archbishop William Frewen was one of the Queen's closest confidantes during the country's troubled years, and is generally supposed to be responsible for quelling the worst effects of the “Diocesal Scandals” which wracked the English clergy in 1614, and keeping the Church of England firmly behind Elizabeth through the years of bloodshed. It has never been firmly established whether or not Frewen was himself firmly in support the revised Recusancy laws which allowed Jews to worship with as much freedom as Christians, and introduced harsh penalties for recusants, Catholics and dissenters, or whether it was pressure from Prague that led to the changes in policy.

The court's policy on Ireland was certainly heavily influenced by the clergy, and it was under Frewen's instigation that exile to Ireland was chosen as a more merciful penalty for those found to be practising Catholicism. The Church still often sends “Missions” to Ireland in an attempt to convert the Papist heathen, though it should be noted that the young Church-men and -women appointed to these missions tend to be either of a particularly adventurous and martial bent, or particularly unpopular with their superiors.

Determined not to allow the Queen to meet the same fate as her husband, de Vries insisted on the implementation of what later came to be known as the De Vries Escapement before Court was called again. This was a complicated series of protocols which saw the Token being checked at regular intervals for any tampering, and the Circle maintained by three Theurgists at all times, in case any one was compromised. The wisdom of these precautions was proven when a member of the Order of Arundel, as the Jesuits had renamed themselves in honour of the Regicide, was caught replacing the sands used in the ritual with ones which, whilst highly magical, would have had anything but the desired effect.

Lord-General de Vries was instrumental in ensuring that those who had turned traitor to the Crown were brought to justice, along with the Archangel Michael, though the methods of the two could not have been more different. Whilst de Vries intervened for many Catholics who might otherwise have been hanged by a nation eager for revenge, Michael hunted down many rebels who had sought the safety of foreign lands.

It was thus that Don Santiago de Maldonado and Sir Phillip de Montford met their end, one in Florida and the other in Italy. News of each death was received in Albion as yet another sign that God favoured the Royalist cause.

Doctor Judith Harrow, the Theurgist responsible for Cry God for Harry when the King was cut down, was given a remarkably fair trial given the circumstances, as was Dame Fiametta Castaldi, who was widely believed to be responsible for the rebels being able to listen in on the Royalists’ communication drums. It was largely thanks to de Vries’ involvement that when the charges against her could not be proven Dame Fiametta was freed to return to her native Italy, and that Judith Harrow was given the mercy of the hangman’s noose rather than a more painful death, as was Karin Mayer.

Thanks to the effort of Lord Thomas Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, Parliament remained firmly in support of the Queen, voting her new taxes and laws during the Civil War. The indirect consequences were that the Monarchy has come to rely more and more on Parliament, making it a key instrument of government. The Succession Bill, pushed through Parliament, established the Queen and her son as the only legitimate rulers of the Kingdom while they lived, but has also provided for precedent of Parliament selecting or ratifying Albion's monarchs.

Relations have remained good, however, as the majority of Parliament has been filled with Royalists and few radicals, either religious or political. The Earl of Southampton's Parliamentary faction has established a programme of expansion and economic growth.

A typical conversation across England during the Civil War between soldiers

Sergeant: That's right boy - now that we've got the factory 'ere we can arm you with a proper weapon. Muskets strike the terror into damned Catholic souls.

Soldier: It looks empty to me Sarge!

Sergeant: Wait, this ain't right, damn place is empty!

Soldier: Them Catholics we fought off must 'ave took it.

Sergeant: Well I'll be, this place wasn't even made right for makin' gunpowder. It's like an alchemist's never even smelled this place.

Soldier: So…

Sergeant: I think our Captain'll be having a bit of a talk with those Company gentlemen we found packing sacks of gold in the town.

An extract from “The East India Company Under the Lord Directors”

The Gunpowder crisis caused the Company no end of trouble during the Civil Wars. The discovery that at most the powder-mills were used for storing the gunpowder, the reserves having been distributed or seized by Catholics, caused an uproar. Inquiries were made and it was publically revealed that all gunpowder had been from trade with India and anything made in England was of such small quantity and such poor quality that it could scarcely be used to propel a musket-ball one foot.

Gunpowder did have to be found and France, Spain and the Netherlands made a handsome profit in supplying it to England. Ventures of the Dragoons' General de Vries and the Duke of Somerset helped but it wasn't untill the EIC restored their ability to supply the precious dust (indeed, I have it on good authority that the Queen claimed she would personally execute the Lord Director of the Company if he did not arrange a supply) that England could fight at a relaxed pace.

Until then strategy of the Civil War depended as much on gunpowder supply as on manpower and the few companies of archers that could be raised in Wales and England became premium troops…

… Though a dark period for the EIC, the perseverence of such individuals as the Viscount Surat and the Countess of Reading have restored the Company's trade in gunpowder to the country. Of course by then it had to compete with those individuals who had obtained a Gunpowder License or and those that could use the routes direct to Cathay…

An Alchemist's manual published by the Colleges of Oxford

Some prefer to dabble in creating Gunpowder for profit and the Kingdom's good. Though we have come a long way since King Henry IX's reign the art is not an easy one for Alchemists to master. Good and fine powder may be produced but useful quantities take a little time to prepare and it is this University's opinion that more time should be spent on study and learning than base manufacture.

“Catholic Albion” an English-language pamphlet published in Spain and distributed wherever English Catholics may be.

… and so the King makes good men swear a heretical and most unholy oath penned by the foolish Archbishop of York himself. For it doth require that any right and true Catholic defender of faith swear loyalty to the King above the Pope else his lands are forfeit and his presence on Albion soil untolerated. The English yet remain a most evil and vile nation for no good Catholic there remains - they are gone to long-suffering Ireland, else Spain and the Americas for no true son of the Church could swear such a false oath…

… yet more, they welcome Jews and though yet proclaim that the state is Christian allow the practice of Shul and all the unholy practices of Judaism. This they say is to embrace and convert the Jew, but rather, having started down the path, they would ruin their souls further and sell them to the devil! Of course they make the hell-hole Prague their ally and pander to their every need.