This may be a slightly different AAR...as this is not only the first AAR I've tried, it's also the first full game of EU I've tried too 
So I may make some odd decision. And since I'm only a little way through the game, I have as little idea as you how it will all end. Although, of course, I hope it ends with Britain victorious over the foreign scum occupying Europe... The French in particular!
I've decided (for the moment, at least) to go for a blue water strategy for England, and see how it works out. Don't like the heat, so no North African adventures here...
(Oh, and if anyone's wondering who the Earl of Surrey is - wait till the end)
Jan 1492.
A cold, wet day. The sky is gloomy, filling me with foreboding after a nights restless sleep. I dreamt again of the Scots sweeping down upon us, looting, raping, burning. And that was just to the sheep...
These dreams are more than just idle nightmares, I am sure. They are omens...a sign from God! Something must be done to prevent this happening, but what? The King doesn't like the Scot, of course, but that doesn't mean he's ready to wage war on them. As always, most of the nobility is fixated on the idea of France. They see Calais as a sally port from which to re-conquer France. Pah, it is more like a suppurating boil on the backside of England, if only they had the wit to see! Somehow, I must convince the King. At least he has the brains to understand, unlike most of the hangers-on at his court.
After a morning spent in deep thought, an idea comes to me. Summoning my manservant, I hand him a note to be delivered to a young writer I have employed in the past. I have a task for him. A Risky course, but it seems to me to be the right one.
A week later, it is done! A set of letters, between the Scottish King and the French court, describing how they intend to ally, and when the French attack us for the Scots to stab us in the back. Zimmerman has done a good job on the forgeries. Such a shame he fell off his horse and drowned on his way back to London, but these things happen - the roads can be so perilous nowadays, it just shows how much needs to be accomplished in the Kingdom. It is time for me to visit the Court again...
After a cold and muddy trip to London, I am rather glad that the King cannot see me for a day or too - he's busy finalising the marriage of one of his relatives to some minor Prince in Hanover. Minor princes seem to breed like rabbits over there, it makes me wonder how they have time for politics, they obviously spend so much time in the bedchamber. Once the King is finished, I go in to see him. Privacy, I explain, is essential. The King is rather surprised, but once I show him the first of the letters that my spies have obtained, he fully understands why!
He is both deeply concerned, and greatly wroth at the perfidy of the Scots and the French, but as I point out to him, it is in their nature to be such, and we should make use of it in order to cause their downfall. The King is no fool, and soon we are making plans to see how we can avoid what promises to be a tragedy for us if nothing is done.
Many privy meetings, sometimes heated, with the King and the Earl of Surrey, have brought about a plan. It is risky, but the gains promise to be great, if things go well. And if they do, mayhap we will have put off the threat from the onion salesmen to our south, at least for the foreseeable future. Our plan is simple, and direct. Let us hope it is also successful!
Despite the continual carping of some of the nobility, there is no hope of us getting anywhere with a war with the French. At the best, it would drag on for years, draining our meagre treasury and ruining our armies to little effect. Far better to deal quickly with the lesser menace to the north, thus allowing us to thrust all our forces into the face of the French should they dare to come at us again. Our spies have provided us with the information which makes this plan look so promising. James has his army close to the marches, a position which he hopes, no doubt, will intimidate us. Little does he realise how difficult it is to scare a true Englishman! Furthermore, in his ineptitude he has split his forces, and Surrey has hopes of thus being able to take on and defeat him in detail. At the worse, he will have to deal with all of them at once, and so we decide at once to start the training of more men. While he is an able commander, the current odds of 2:1 in favour of the kilted barbarians is rather too high for comfort.
However, just attacking north will take time, and the essence of our plan is a quick conquest, before Scotland can call on France for aid. A quick campaign to emasculate Scotland will not give the French time to act, vacillating garlic eaters that they are. So we plan to create two additional armies in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and use our fleet to land the troops in the northern part of the Scot's realm - a desolate country, but with many places convenient to land our brave men. Caught between the two attacks, Scotland will quickly sue for peace, and be so weakened as not to be a threat for many years.
Our agents also inform us that at the moment Scotland is not allied with France. A useful bonus - the King notes that obviously the scum are still sending letters to each other, unaware that we know about them. We must strike quickly, before their secret talks bear a fruit that we would find bitter to swallow. A quick review of our finances shows that the Kingdom's finances have still not recovered from the recent civil war, and so with heavy hearts we decide to arrange a loan to allow us to muster the troops we need. The plans are set; once the men are trained, the fleet will sail north, and thence much further north. While haste is of the essence, there is simply no way we can attack with any meaningful strength this year, so we decide to strike early in 1493. The Scots will no doubt be even less ready for our armies in the winter, and any surprise will be helpful.
Despite our worries, the rest of the year passes quietly, as our preparations slowly bear fruit. More letters are intercepted by my spies, and the King appraised of them. Thankfully these furtive discussions seem to be proceeding at a snail's pace. The King even manages to smile when I point out that such is most appropriate, considering the French are involved.
Abroad, the rest of Europe also seem fairly quiet. Reports from merchants show that Venice, the Hanse and Genoa are tightening their grip on the trade they control, but we have other matters to worry about, and little money to pay for merchants to holiday abroad. In February, Granada is annexed by Spain, but that was hardly a surprise. Apart from that, little happens. The quiet before the storm, perhaps? We are able to concentrate our efforts on the humiliation of the Scot, although I do worry that the peace will allow certain countries to take an interest in us that we would rather not have just now.
The bulk of the new troops are ready by early summer, and half are sent to the Marches with Surrey, who commences working the green forces into something (hopefully) approaching soldiers. The rest are quartered in Yorkshire and Lancashire, until the fleet is ready to sail this autumn.
Jan 1493.
A new year dawns. We prudently save the annual taxes in case of coming need during the approaching conflagration, and the fleet is ordered to embark the troops and to head northwards. Rumours are circulated that they are on their way to Ireland, which we hope might confuse the not-too-bright Scottish King. The weather is mild this year, and Surrey suggests that striking early will reap the benefit of surprise. The King and I discuss, and in the end decide to take his advice. The attack will commence in February, and we intend to have James offering us peace before the end of the year. The latest reports from my spies show that Scotland still has not foreign allies. How foolish of them. And how useful for us.
An unexpected event occurs at the beginning of February. An emmissary arrives from Navarra, suggesting a royal marriage! I am appalled at the timing, but the King merely smiles, and agrees to work out the arrangements. He reminds me after that this will distract any spies from what we are really up to. I remember that this is the man who risked all at Bosworth to gain his kingdom, and bow to his wisdom.
February 10th. The day of reckoning with the Scots dawns. Our emissary, sent North in readiness for this, hands James a list of our grievances - border raids, plotting with our enemies, and unnatural acts with sheep. Once the colour of James' face is less choleric, he offers him our declaration of war. We decide against asking our allies to take part. If all goes well, we intend to have the Scots begging for terns before they can be of any use, and their presence would only confuse the issue.
Surrey marches north into Strathclyde with the Royal Army (19/4/0), while our ships carefully edge into shore, unloading our brave infantry onto the wet and dismal shores of the Highlands(8/0/0) and the Grampians(10/0/0). To our pleasure, initial despatches confirm that our landings are unopposed, and the men assemble, ready to assault the pitiful piles of rocks the Scots term castles...
Our biggest and most pleasant surprise occurs when Surrey informs us that the main Scots force under James (some 15,000 men!) is heading into the Marches, rather than engaging him! We are not sure whether James is planning on cutting Surrey's army off, or is merely enamoured of all the pretty sheep inhabiting the Marches, but whatever the reason we are happy to let him waste his time there. We have new forces mustering in Yorkshire and Lancashire just in case he decides to keep heading south.
In early March Surrey spies his foe, a much smaller Scottish force, and one with few horses! (5,400/270/0). He manoeuvres brilliantly, and near a small village called Flodden, wipes them out to a man with hardly any losses of his own! (< 1,000 infantry) His victorious men march on to Strathclyde, where he immediately organises them for an assault on the fortifications.
In mid March James starts to besiege the March fortresses. We can't understand why he's so unconcerned of the threat to his rear, but perhaps his ministers have been too scared to inform him of the amount of Scots blood spilled at Flodden. Whatever the reason, we are happy to let his men waste their time against the stout granite walls for as long as they wish.
On March 19th Surrey leads his men on a ferocious assault on the fort, taking it at his first try. The heads of the Scots generals who were so unwise as to refuse his offer of surrender and impaled on their men's own pikes outside the walls. After a few days to recover, Surrey leaves his cavalry under Sunderland to guard the province, and starts his infantry marching on to Lothian.
Our forces in the Highlands and Grampians achieved less, both assaults failing, though inflicting casualties. The men pause to regroup and get ready for another assault.
Despite all these reversals, the Scots have the cheek to offer us a white peace! We sneer at their ambassador; as long as James is piddling against the March forts we see little to fear.
On April 1st, a pleasant surprise! Cheered by the victories already won in the north, and anticipating more happy news, the King graces me with a Barony. I am most pleased at this sign of his favour, and in return am able to show him my spies reports - despite being attacked and besieged, the Scots are using their money to build new ships, rather than raise new troops. We share a bottle of wine, and many jests about James the Incompetent.
News reaches us that Surrey started to assault the forts in Lothian on April 8th! We are much impressed with his speed, as well as martial verve, and wish him every success. Barely a week later, a courier on a spent horse arrives to inform us that the Lothian province fell to Surrey's army on the 19th. It was a providential day for the Kingdom when Henry Twydr spared his life on Bosworth field...
After leaving some men behind in case the Scots revolt (as opposed to simply being revolting), Surrey's men start to march northwards to aid in the attack on the Grampians. The force there attacks again, but although inflicting losses on the defenders, doesn't manage to reduce the fortifications. Hopefully Surrey will have more success when he arrives.
Another attack in the Highlands leaves the enemy greatly weakened, but again doesn't succeed. Well, as long as James and his men are enjoying their holiday in the Marches, we are prepared to bide our time. Indeed, the campaign has been going so well that the King informs me that instead of just humiliating the Scots and taking a province from them, he is minded to annex their entire Kingdom! While it is true this will not enamour us to our neighbours, the thought of destroying the threat of invasion by skirted barbarians is indeed most pleasant.
On May 6th the Grampians are assaulted again, but resist stubbornly. Either the garrison hasn't heard that Surrey is on the way, of they have imbibed too much ouiskie. Surrey arrives on the 28th, gathers the dispirited attackers, and launches an immediate attack! Truly the man is indefatigable. The fortifications are overwhelmed, and again the proud English flag waves over a (rather battered) Scottish castle. The King is greatly pleased, and it seems that the people of London are already calling Surrey the 'Hammer of the Scots' , a title he richly deserves.
The Scottish ambassador again grovels for an audience. After much mumbling, and the occasional mutter in his barbaric tongue, he finally manages to offer us the provinces of Strathclyde and the Grampians. With a complete victory so close, he is laughed out of the Kings presence, with many rude jests (mainly about sheep).
The ongoing campaign is, however, proving to be a strain on the treasury. The King agrees that it is vital to keep up the army's pay to keep their morale up and allow them to continue to crush the Scot. In order to pay for this, we halt work on nearly all other projects. Surely this will only be a temporary measure. Our latest courier from the Marches informs us, to our amazement, that James is still languishing outside the walls of our forts! Either he is so fascinated by the construction of our castles that he is making a detailed study of them from the outside, or he is afraid of returning home and facing the redoubtable Surrey.
In June, Surrey regroups and starts to march his army into the Highlands. The Scots troops are noticeable by their absence; Surrey informs us that he wishes that the same could be said for the damnable insects that seem to abound.
Before his men can arrive, however, the remaining Scottish bastion falls! It seems that Gloucester and his men, unwilling to see Surrey get all the glory, hurled themselves at the Scots one final time, their fervour overwhelming the remaining Scots, who broke and ran, disappearing into the hillsides.
The church bells peal out all over England. Never in many years has so complete, and so fast, a victory been won by English arms. We wait for the Scottish ambassador to come and demand our terms, but it seems that the man is a ouiskie-soaked bundle in his room. So instead, we send our own terms to the court of James the Unprepared - complete and total annexation of his kingdom! The Scots accept, and we hear that James himself has taken a boat, presumably to France, accompanied only by a few faithful companions and some pretty sheep. I'm sure that he will try and cause trouble for us in the future, but at the moment he can be safely ignored. In any case, we have only won the first battle - there is still much work to be done.
While Surrey consolidates the armies, and incorporates those Scots who haven't vanished back home, I start to see to the non-military side of things. It seems that both France and Spain are most wroth with us - while I can understand the French, who grow wroth with us if the King so much as breaks wind, I am rather more surprised at the Spanish. Perhaps they harboured secret desires to see us kept weak and helpless? I make a note to keep a closer eye on the Spanish court in future. The rest of Europe is none too pleased with us either, it would seem that the happy assumption that English armies were weak and ineffectual has been broken, and this causes some unrest. If that wasn't enough, our war has caused inflation to rise to the terrifying height of 1% a year.
While I concentrate on putting the economy back into balance, the army reorganises. Some men are kept in Scotland, just in case, while another detachment is sent to Ireland. The rest is to be brought back south under Surrey; we plan a victory parade and celebration for him, and expense be damned!
In October we hear that Poland-Lithuania has first broken off their royal marriage with the Hanse, and then declared war on them. Tsk, some of these Poles can get so excitable. We do wonder at the wisdom of fighting in Eastern Europe during the winter, but presumably their men all have nice warm boots.
At the end of the year, just as we are preparing to celebrate, word reaches us that Pskov has also declared war on Poland. We spend some time trying to find Pskov on our maps, wondering why a sneeze would declare war on the Poles at Christ's Mass. Perhaps too much drinking, we surmise.
At the turn of the year, we honour Surrey and his brave troops with a victory march through the streets of London. The march lasts a day; the drinking and celebrations over three! Further honours and due to the man who almost single-handed destroyed the kilted barbarians; the King announces that he is pleased to create him Duke of Norfolk, the title that had been taken from him when he was attainted after the Battle of Bosworth. Norfolk was most pleased, and vowed to continue to destroy the King's enemies wherever they were to be found. The only odd thing was the defiant insistence by the (ex) Scottish ambassador that they had had no plans for any secret deals or alliances with the French. As I said to the King after, well, they would say that, wouldn't they...
Well, that's all I've got written up so far. The Scottish War of 1493 was a resounding success, but it seems to have annoyed lost of people, and we still have much work to do before England is secure. The next part (assuming anyone wants to read a next part??) will continue with what happens during the peace...and after it...
So, shall I bother writing any more of this?
So I may make some odd decision. And since I'm only a little way through the game, I have as little idea as you how it will all end. Although, of course, I hope it ends with Britain victorious over the foreign scum occupying Europe... The French in particular!
I've decided (for the moment, at least) to go for a blue water strategy for England, and see how it works out. Don't like the heat, so no North African adventures here...
(Oh, and if anyone's wondering who the Earl of Surrey is - wait till the end
)Jan 1492.
A cold, wet day. The sky is gloomy, filling me with foreboding after a nights restless sleep. I dreamt again of the Scots sweeping down upon us, looting, raping, burning. And that was just to the sheep...
These dreams are more than just idle nightmares, I am sure. They are omens...a sign from God! Something must be done to prevent this happening, but what? The King doesn't like the Scot, of course, but that doesn't mean he's ready to wage war on them. As always, most of the nobility is fixated on the idea of France. They see Calais as a sally port from which to re-conquer France. Pah, it is more like a suppurating boil on the backside of England, if only they had the wit to see! Somehow, I must convince the King. At least he has the brains to understand, unlike most of the hangers-on at his court.
After a morning spent in deep thought, an idea comes to me. Summoning my manservant, I hand him a note to be delivered to a young writer I have employed in the past. I have a task for him. A Risky course, but it seems to me to be the right one.
A week later, it is done! A set of letters, between the Scottish King and the French court, describing how they intend to ally, and when the French attack us for the Scots to stab us in the back. Zimmerman has done a good job on the forgeries. Such a shame he fell off his horse and drowned on his way back to London, but these things happen - the roads can be so perilous nowadays, it just shows how much needs to be accomplished in the Kingdom. It is time for me to visit the Court again...
After a cold and muddy trip to London, I am rather glad that the King cannot see me for a day or too - he's busy finalising the marriage of one of his relatives to some minor Prince in Hanover. Minor princes seem to breed like rabbits over there, it makes me wonder how they have time for politics, they obviously spend so much time in the bedchamber. Once the King is finished, I go in to see him. Privacy, I explain, is essential. The King is rather surprised, but once I show him the first of the letters that my spies have obtained, he fully understands why!
He is both deeply concerned, and greatly wroth at the perfidy of the Scots and the French, but as I point out to him, it is in their nature to be such, and we should make use of it in order to cause their downfall. The King is no fool, and soon we are making plans to see how we can avoid what promises to be a tragedy for us if nothing is done.
Many privy meetings, sometimes heated, with the King and the Earl of Surrey, have brought about a plan. It is risky, but the gains promise to be great, if things go well. And if they do, mayhap we will have put off the threat from the onion salesmen to our south, at least for the foreseeable future. Our plan is simple, and direct. Let us hope it is also successful!
Despite the continual carping of some of the nobility, there is no hope of us getting anywhere with a war with the French. At the best, it would drag on for years, draining our meagre treasury and ruining our armies to little effect. Far better to deal quickly with the lesser menace to the north, thus allowing us to thrust all our forces into the face of the French should they dare to come at us again. Our spies have provided us with the information which makes this plan look so promising. James has his army close to the marches, a position which he hopes, no doubt, will intimidate us. Little does he realise how difficult it is to scare a true Englishman! Furthermore, in his ineptitude he has split his forces, and Surrey has hopes of thus being able to take on and defeat him in detail. At the worse, he will have to deal with all of them at once, and so we decide at once to start the training of more men. While he is an able commander, the current odds of 2:1 in favour of the kilted barbarians is rather too high for comfort.
However, just attacking north will take time, and the essence of our plan is a quick conquest, before Scotland can call on France for aid. A quick campaign to emasculate Scotland will not give the French time to act, vacillating garlic eaters that they are. So we plan to create two additional armies in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and use our fleet to land the troops in the northern part of the Scot's realm - a desolate country, but with many places convenient to land our brave men. Caught between the two attacks, Scotland will quickly sue for peace, and be so weakened as not to be a threat for many years.
Our agents also inform us that at the moment Scotland is not allied with France. A useful bonus - the King notes that obviously the scum are still sending letters to each other, unaware that we know about them. We must strike quickly, before their secret talks bear a fruit that we would find bitter to swallow. A quick review of our finances shows that the Kingdom's finances have still not recovered from the recent civil war, and so with heavy hearts we decide to arrange a loan to allow us to muster the troops we need. The plans are set; once the men are trained, the fleet will sail north, and thence much further north. While haste is of the essence, there is simply no way we can attack with any meaningful strength this year, so we decide to strike early in 1493. The Scots will no doubt be even less ready for our armies in the winter, and any surprise will be helpful.
Despite our worries, the rest of the year passes quietly, as our preparations slowly bear fruit. More letters are intercepted by my spies, and the King appraised of them. Thankfully these furtive discussions seem to be proceeding at a snail's pace. The King even manages to smile when I point out that such is most appropriate, considering the French are involved.
Abroad, the rest of Europe also seem fairly quiet. Reports from merchants show that Venice, the Hanse and Genoa are tightening their grip on the trade they control, but we have other matters to worry about, and little money to pay for merchants to holiday abroad. In February, Granada is annexed by Spain, but that was hardly a surprise. Apart from that, little happens. The quiet before the storm, perhaps? We are able to concentrate our efforts on the humiliation of the Scot, although I do worry that the peace will allow certain countries to take an interest in us that we would rather not have just now.
The bulk of the new troops are ready by early summer, and half are sent to the Marches with Surrey, who commences working the green forces into something (hopefully) approaching soldiers. The rest are quartered in Yorkshire and Lancashire, until the fleet is ready to sail this autumn.
Jan 1493.
A new year dawns. We prudently save the annual taxes in case of coming need during the approaching conflagration, and the fleet is ordered to embark the troops and to head northwards. Rumours are circulated that they are on their way to Ireland, which we hope might confuse the not-too-bright Scottish King. The weather is mild this year, and Surrey suggests that striking early will reap the benefit of surprise. The King and I discuss, and in the end decide to take his advice. The attack will commence in February, and we intend to have James offering us peace before the end of the year. The latest reports from my spies show that Scotland still has not foreign allies. How foolish of them. And how useful for us.
An unexpected event occurs at the beginning of February. An emmissary arrives from Navarra, suggesting a royal marriage! I am appalled at the timing, but the King merely smiles, and agrees to work out the arrangements. He reminds me after that this will distract any spies from what we are really up to. I remember that this is the man who risked all at Bosworth to gain his kingdom, and bow to his wisdom.
February 10th. The day of reckoning with the Scots dawns. Our emissary, sent North in readiness for this, hands James a list of our grievances - border raids, plotting with our enemies, and unnatural acts with sheep. Once the colour of James' face is less choleric, he offers him our declaration of war. We decide against asking our allies to take part. If all goes well, we intend to have the Scots begging for terns before they can be of any use, and their presence would only confuse the issue.
Surrey marches north into Strathclyde with the Royal Army (19/4/0), while our ships carefully edge into shore, unloading our brave infantry onto the wet and dismal shores of the Highlands(8/0/0) and the Grampians(10/0/0). To our pleasure, initial despatches confirm that our landings are unopposed, and the men assemble, ready to assault the pitiful piles of rocks the Scots term castles...
Our biggest and most pleasant surprise occurs when Surrey informs us that the main Scots force under James (some 15,000 men!) is heading into the Marches, rather than engaging him! We are not sure whether James is planning on cutting Surrey's army off, or is merely enamoured of all the pretty sheep inhabiting the Marches, but whatever the reason we are happy to let him waste his time there. We have new forces mustering in Yorkshire and Lancashire just in case he decides to keep heading south.
In early March Surrey spies his foe, a much smaller Scottish force, and one with few horses! (5,400/270/0). He manoeuvres brilliantly, and near a small village called Flodden, wipes them out to a man with hardly any losses of his own! (< 1,000 infantry) His victorious men march on to Strathclyde, where he immediately organises them for an assault on the fortifications.
In mid March James starts to besiege the March fortresses. We can't understand why he's so unconcerned of the threat to his rear, but perhaps his ministers have been too scared to inform him of the amount of Scots blood spilled at Flodden. Whatever the reason, we are happy to let his men waste their time against the stout granite walls for as long as they wish.
On March 19th Surrey leads his men on a ferocious assault on the fort, taking it at his first try. The heads of the Scots generals who were so unwise as to refuse his offer of surrender and impaled on their men's own pikes outside the walls. After a few days to recover, Surrey leaves his cavalry under Sunderland to guard the province, and starts his infantry marching on to Lothian.
Our forces in the Highlands and Grampians achieved less, both assaults failing, though inflicting casualties. The men pause to regroup and get ready for another assault.
Despite all these reversals, the Scots have the cheek to offer us a white peace! We sneer at their ambassador; as long as James is piddling against the March forts we see little to fear.
On April 1st, a pleasant surprise! Cheered by the victories already won in the north, and anticipating more happy news, the King graces me with a Barony. I am most pleased at this sign of his favour, and in return am able to show him my spies reports - despite being attacked and besieged, the Scots are using their money to build new ships, rather than raise new troops. We share a bottle of wine, and many jests about James the Incompetent.
News reaches us that Surrey started to assault the forts in Lothian on April 8th! We are much impressed with his speed, as well as martial verve, and wish him every success. Barely a week later, a courier on a spent horse arrives to inform us that the Lothian province fell to Surrey's army on the 19th. It was a providential day for the Kingdom when Henry Twydr spared his life on Bosworth field...
After leaving some men behind in case the Scots revolt (as opposed to simply being revolting), Surrey's men start to march northwards to aid in the attack on the Grampians. The force there attacks again, but although inflicting losses on the defenders, doesn't manage to reduce the fortifications. Hopefully Surrey will have more success when he arrives.
Another attack in the Highlands leaves the enemy greatly weakened, but again doesn't succeed. Well, as long as James and his men are enjoying their holiday in the Marches, we are prepared to bide our time. Indeed, the campaign has been going so well that the King informs me that instead of just humiliating the Scots and taking a province from them, he is minded to annex their entire Kingdom! While it is true this will not enamour us to our neighbours, the thought of destroying the threat of invasion by skirted barbarians is indeed most pleasant.
On May 6th the Grampians are assaulted again, but resist stubbornly. Either the garrison hasn't heard that Surrey is on the way, of they have imbibed too much ouiskie. Surrey arrives on the 28th, gathers the dispirited attackers, and launches an immediate attack! Truly the man is indefatigable. The fortifications are overwhelmed, and again the proud English flag waves over a (rather battered) Scottish castle. The King is greatly pleased, and it seems that the people of London are already calling Surrey the 'Hammer of the Scots' , a title he richly deserves.
The Scottish ambassador again grovels for an audience. After much mumbling, and the occasional mutter in his barbaric tongue, he finally manages to offer us the provinces of Strathclyde and the Grampians. With a complete victory so close, he is laughed out of the Kings presence, with many rude jests (mainly about sheep).
The ongoing campaign is, however, proving to be a strain on the treasury. The King agrees that it is vital to keep up the army's pay to keep their morale up and allow them to continue to crush the Scot. In order to pay for this, we halt work on nearly all other projects. Surely this will only be a temporary measure. Our latest courier from the Marches informs us, to our amazement, that James is still languishing outside the walls of our forts! Either he is so fascinated by the construction of our castles that he is making a detailed study of them from the outside, or he is afraid of returning home and facing the redoubtable Surrey.
In June, Surrey regroups and starts to march his army into the Highlands. The Scots troops are noticeable by their absence; Surrey informs us that he wishes that the same could be said for the damnable insects that seem to abound.
Before his men can arrive, however, the remaining Scottish bastion falls! It seems that Gloucester and his men, unwilling to see Surrey get all the glory, hurled themselves at the Scots one final time, their fervour overwhelming the remaining Scots, who broke and ran, disappearing into the hillsides.
The church bells peal out all over England. Never in many years has so complete, and so fast, a victory been won by English arms. We wait for the Scottish ambassador to come and demand our terms, but it seems that the man is a ouiskie-soaked bundle in his room. So instead, we send our own terms to the court of James the Unprepared - complete and total annexation of his kingdom! The Scots accept, and we hear that James himself has taken a boat, presumably to France, accompanied only by a few faithful companions and some pretty sheep. I'm sure that he will try and cause trouble for us in the future, but at the moment he can be safely ignored. In any case, we have only won the first battle - there is still much work to be done.
While Surrey consolidates the armies, and incorporates those Scots who haven't vanished back home, I start to see to the non-military side of things. It seems that both France and Spain are most wroth with us - while I can understand the French, who grow wroth with us if the King so much as breaks wind, I am rather more surprised at the Spanish. Perhaps they harboured secret desires to see us kept weak and helpless? I make a note to keep a closer eye on the Spanish court in future. The rest of Europe is none too pleased with us either, it would seem that the happy assumption that English armies were weak and ineffectual has been broken, and this causes some unrest. If that wasn't enough, our war has caused inflation to rise to the terrifying height of 1% a year.
While I concentrate on putting the economy back into balance, the army reorganises. Some men are kept in Scotland, just in case, while another detachment is sent to Ireland. The rest is to be brought back south under Surrey; we plan a victory parade and celebration for him, and expense be damned!
In October we hear that Poland-Lithuania has first broken off their royal marriage with the Hanse, and then declared war on them. Tsk, some of these Poles can get so excitable. We do wonder at the wisdom of fighting in Eastern Europe during the winter, but presumably their men all have nice warm boots.
At the end of the year, just as we are preparing to celebrate, word reaches us that Pskov has also declared war on Poland. We spend some time trying to find Pskov on our maps, wondering why a sneeze would declare war on the Poles at Christ's Mass. Perhaps too much drinking, we surmise.
At the turn of the year, we honour Surrey and his brave troops with a victory march through the streets of London. The march lasts a day; the drinking and celebrations over three! Further honours and due to the man who almost single-handed destroyed the kilted barbarians; the King announces that he is pleased to create him Duke of Norfolk, the title that had been taken from him when he was attainted after the Battle of Bosworth. Norfolk was most pleased, and vowed to continue to destroy the King's enemies wherever they were to be found. The only odd thing was the defiant insistence by the (ex) Scottish ambassador that they had had no plans for any secret deals or alliances with the French. As I said to the King after, well, they would say that, wouldn't they...
Well, that's all I've got written up so far. The Scottish War of 1493 was a resounding success, but it seems to have annoyed lost of people, and we still have much work to do before England is secure. The next part (assuming anyone wants to read a next part??) will continue with what happens during the peace...and after it...
So, shall I bother writing any more of this?
