What follows is the tale of the Order of the Black Hand, a secret society which rules England from behind the shadows. They exert a great deal of influence from behind the curtain of power. Especially in matters of finance.
October 2, 1420:
My Lords. I see that we have all assembled.
"A message from France! It reads of victory.
“King Harry’s armies have crushed France and her vassal lords. King Harry has made a beneficial peace--annexing the French vassal Orleans in a seperate peace, and accepting the provinces of Picardie and Champagne in return for our English blood. Suceess my Lords.
“Now there is the matter of the bill. While our victory has been great, the costs have been crippling. Our treasury is nearly empty.
“The cost of our armies alone will exhaust this amount within a month. On top of this we have only five years in which to pay the 200d war loan. This could ruin England!”
The young Earl of Kent, recently ordained into the Order of the Black Hand, rises to speak. “My Lord Marquis, congratulations on your promotion. I have a suggestion which may not only save our dear country from financial disaster, but also bring us a tidy profit.”
“Go on.”
“We can take the remaining money from the treasury and loan it to another nation. This interst income will not only cover all our interest payments on existing loans, but we will also have money to pay our armies and still make a tidy profit!”
The chamber is alive with talk. Could it work? Are the risks too great? No greater than bankruptcy and shame. The Order votes to persue this course.
“My fellow brothers of the shadow, it seems our novice may have an idea. We shall commit ourselves to this financial scheme and save England...if Portugal is able to repay the loan. Make it so....”
October 2, 1420:
My Lords. I see that we have all assembled.
"A message from France! It reads of victory.
“King Harry’s armies have crushed France and her vassal lords. King Harry has made a beneficial peace--annexing the French vassal Orleans in a seperate peace, and accepting the provinces of Picardie and Champagne in return for our English blood. Suceess my Lords.
“Now there is the matter of the bill. While our victory has been great, the costs have been crippling. Our treasury is nearly empty.
“The cost of our armies alone will exhaust this amount within a month. On top of this we have only five years in which to pay the 200d war loan. This could ruin England!”
The young Earl of Kent, recently ordained into the Order of the Black Hand, rises to speak. “My Lord Marquis, congratulations on your promotion. I have a suggestion which may not only save our dear country from financial disaster, but also bring us a tidy profit.”
“Go on.”
“We can take the remaining money from the treasury and loan it to another nation. This interst income will not only cover all our interest payments on existing loans, but we will also have money to pay our armies and still make a tidy profit!”
The chamber is alive with talk. Could it work? Are the risks too great? No greater than bankruptcy and shame. The Order votes to persue this course.
“My fellow brothers of the shadow, it seems our novice may have an idea. We shall commit ourselves to this financial scheme and save England...if Portugal is able to repay the loan. Make it so....”
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