[MR] King Richard and Prince John

[Karen Setze]

Fellow Atlantians:

	I know that many of you, like myself, Lady Yseulte Trevelyn of the Barony of Bright Hills, have been waiting anxiously for further word of King Richard of England, since hearing of his imprisonment by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, at the request of his conspirator, the diabolical King Philip of France. I am afraid I must shock you with disheartening news of treachery by King Richard's brother John, the earl of Mortaigne.

	This dire news comes by way of the latest letter my confessor, Hugh de Puiset, the bishop of Durham, received from his friend, Walter of Coutances, the archbishop of Rouen.

To his venerable brother in Christ and his most dearly-beloved friend Hugh, by the grace of God, bishop of Durham, Walter, by the same grace, archbishop of Rouen, health in all that is truly healthful.

I am saddened to tell you that we have learned that his Majesty's brother John, the earl of Mortaigne, has apparently been in correspondence with King Philip of France, who told him that his brother the king was detained in captivity, and would never escape from the custody of the emperor of Germany. King Philip offered that if John would acquiesce in Philip's wishes and designs, he would give him his sister Alice in marriage, and to restore to him Normandy, Aquitaine, and Anjou, and all other territories beyond the sea, that his father, Henry, king of England, had ever possessed, and would secure to him the kingdom of England.

Upon this, John, the king's brother, repaired to the king of France and did homage to him for Normandy, and for the other territories of his brother beyond the sea, and for England as well. He also made oath that he would marry his sister Alice, and released to the king of France all claims upon the noble fortress of Gisors and the whole of the Vexin, in Normandy. For his part, the king of France gave to him, with his said sister, that part of Flanders which belonged to him, and swore to him that he would, to the utmost of his ability, assist in gaining England and the other territories of the king of England on his behalf.

After this, the said earl of Mortaigne returned to England, bringing many foreign mercenaries with him; immediately the castles of Wallingford and Windsor were surrendered to him. The earl came next to London, and demanded of myself and the other justiciaries of England the kingdom, and the fealty of the subjects of the realm, asserting that the king of England, his brother, was dead. However, we knew better than to place any confidence in his words, and he was repulsed. 

While he was retired to Windsor during the Holy Week, her Majesty executed a secret plan to strengthen the garrisons of the seaports of the southern coast, and muster the fyrd to defend against invasion by any who had promised their aid to earl. Some of their number who did land, were taken prisoner and placed in chains.

While we face treachery from within as well as without, those of us loyal to the rightful king must remain vigilant. I am glad therefore, to hear of the forces gathered by Baroness Martelle von Charlottenburg to hold Nottingham Castle for King Richard, against the treacherous earl, and the bandits we have had report of in the royal forest of Sherwood. Her Majesty still hopes to attend the tournament and feast there on October 23 to 25, to view the skill of the men at arms and the artisans of the barony, and savor a feast from her famed cooks.

Given on the nones of April, in the city of London.