London 1469 - The Royal Assembly
((This is a joint IC between me and
@alscon ))
((This meeting between of Huntingdon and Arantxez happened after the Assembly meeting before the update - Here is the
LINK where the conversation started, it was after the fierce discussion about the language act))
After the Assembly meeting had ended Ximeno Arantxez went to Lord of Huntingdon, thanking him for his support.
Ximeno: I don't know if they had simply listened to a financial argument, and my threat of bringing the world down upon England - I may have lost my temper for a moment. Hearing the same from a well-trusted diplomat certainly helped to let the act fail. So I come to the matter of your paper mill and printing press… An interesting idea. I am always in support of new ideas as Master of the Coin, when they are viable. Therefore I must ask - what do you plan to do 'for the greatness of our Queen'? Paper gains its value with the words on it - my books would be useless without the balance on it, for example. What do you want to print, Lord Chancellor?
Robert: I am also glad that you supported the right side on the matter of the language act as fiercely as you did. About the printing press: I want to produce my own paper and print on it, because I have seen in continental Europe how it makes the whole work in a chancellery easier. We could produce so much paper that we can write everything down, not just important deeds or documents. Every little order of our Queen can be written down and send to the far places that our realm controls. This is simply not possible with the most expensive parchment as you surely understand.
Ximeno: I certainly know that, for I use paper in my own books. A lot of balances, prices bought, prices sold, for all that I need my books. Paper is truly necessary in these times, and I don’t see why England shouldn’t start producing its own in greater quantities. But what do want to print, Lord Huntingdon?
Robert: What do I want to print? Everything that is written by hand in the Chancellory at the moment. Letters that are sent inside our nation and outside, deeds that should be published all over England and are therefore needed in great numbers, books for our schools, colleges and universities that are maintained by the crown. Sir Arantxez, I want to use this technology to make the life of the people that work in the Chancellory easier.
Ximeno: You do realize that this does not come cheap? I do not see the need for publishment in greater quantities currently, if it is to be kept as internum of the Chancellory. Surely, for the deeds, you may send couriers, who can show the letter, which you need to write down once, to the man that is there? Why do you need multiple exemplaries?
Robert: If we have many examples of a letter we can send it to every Lord that rules in England and he can keep it. If everyone has the laws or the orders of Her Majesty in his castle then it’s harder for him to say he didn’t know. Furthermore, Sir Arantxez, the Chancellory works in the name of the crown and the realm. Everyone who has a government position can use it’s writers and maybe in the future it’s printing presses to further the cause of the nation. Think about the possibilities: Generals could put their orders down fast, easy and in great numbers, Merchants could use it to print their documents. Also, this press won't be under my private roof, Sir, it’s under supervision of the actual Chancellor, and therefore the government.
Ximeno smiles at Huntingdon’s similies : For all I know, generals are shouting during war, not writing their orders.
He pauses.
Ximeno: Yes, I know what you mean. And as for merchants, I prefer to write things down myself. And I never thought that you wanted to use it for personal gains - the Chancellor that has shown himself before would not do such a thing. But surely letters of the crown aren’t so enormous that a skilled writer can’t copy them quick enough? How would a printing press help here, with the cost compared to the little gain in time?
Robert: You realise though, that the cost of 200 ducats that was proposed is not only for the printing press. It’s also to start the paper production and to build a workshop so we are able to expand both if needed.
Ximeno: I do see that. But the Crown’s finances are not like my own - I don’t have to plan for a future that is peaceful, I have to keep enough ducats in the treasury as to avoid a loan when the nation is at war. And for that, the cost efficiency of the paper mill seems reasonable, but not for the printing press, which would cost - how much, 50 ducats? Enough to arm some thousand men, should it come to war, what the Assembly has decided if I am not mistaken.
Robert: Then I propose that we build the workshop in two phases. We start with the paper mill, and when the paper production is running smoothly we might even be able to sell it for a good price. In the second phase we extend it with the printing press. What do you think about that, Sir?
Ximeno: I think that this would work - only that we have to discuss the printing press at that later date again. Who knows, maybe these Moral Standard Acts work wonders and there are enough literate men around so that the press might be very efficient?
Robert: I’d say then, we make ourselves a time plan, we build the paper mill now, and in ten years we meet again to discuss the printing press?
Ximeno: That looks very reasonable to me. So do we have an agreement? The Crown will fund a paper mill now, a possible printing press perhaps in ten years?
Robert: I agree, Sir, should we write it down?
Ximeno: Certainly. I would invite you to a good glass of wine at my residence, where I have enough paper to do that.
Robert: That seems good to me, it’s always a pleasure to work with you, Sir.
