Tharra
30-04-2008, 07:00
The chamber was all at once magnificent and frightening. A massive hall, sculpted all of silvery white marble, and all hung with baroque paintings and tapestry, the eyes of the artistic subjects seeming to speak for the general atmosphere of the room by their very silence and cold gazes. The sent of incense and candle smoke, along with the soft Latin chants of the Tridentine mass, floated in from the nearby royal chapel. The room was all at once somber and forbidding, a perpetual chill hanging in the air. And though it was midday, the hall was still dark, dimly lit by only a few soft lights.
At the very end of this room--the royal presence chamber and audience hall of the Palais de Vendôme--was a great dais, draped in black and white velvet, and an ornate, baroque style throne, covered by a grand canopy of estate of the same colours.
Upon the chair of state he sat, the most powerful man in the entire realm: His Most Faithful Majesty François III, by the grace of God, King of Tharra and its many lands and territories. The king was a pale man, with greying brown hair and a face set in perpetual scowl (it was even rumored that he never had once smiled or laughed in all his life). This man, now nearing sixty, had managed to hold power in the scorpion's nest of Tharran politics for the last thirty years, and indeed had managed to even prosper and reform the somewhat cumbersome and arcane system of government besetting his realms.
Surrounding his Majesty were all his many attendants and household officers: his numerous gentlemen of the bedchamber, his confessor the bishop of Luxembourg and many others. All, including the king himself, were dressed in sober black, the only colour allowed to be worn at the royal court, as if all were to be in perpetual morning. The costumes, while somewhat ornate and embroidered in pure gold and silver threads, were nevertheless a great anachronism, being obviously outdated for the modern age by over four centuries. But they were the costumes required by the old court laws and ordinances of kings past, and thus, no matter how ridiculous they appeared, they were mandatory.
It was in this frightening setting that Jean-Marie, duc de Nevers, found himself. But the surroundings seemed not to phase the middle aged nobleman at all, and on the contrary, the ease with which he moved through them were enough to chill the blood, or at the very least turn a man's stomach. The duke, having been recently promoted to first minister of the realm, was now the most trusted and powerful adviser of the king, and he moved with a grace and dignity equal to his title.
Coming before the royal chair of estate and its occupant, he bowed low, remaining crouched uncomfortably as protocol demanded, until a stiff (and ever so slight) turn of hand bid him rise. He rose and waited for his master to speak.
"Monsieur de Nevers."
"Your Majesty." he added another nod of head, as etiquette demanded.
The king was not one for small talk, and simply went straight to the point, with little regard for the man before him other than pure political use. "We have received your report on the growing trend of unorthodoxy in this realm. It greatly worries us."
"Your Majesty must know that even here in Calais the professors of the University have become lax. They are ordained priests and yet there are some, not many but a significant number nonetheless, who are willing to espouse unorthodox, and perhaps even heretical, teachings to their students. They no longer fear punishment, since the law, God forgive, has turned a blind eye towards deviation from the accepted faith in this country. I am sorry to say it, Majesty, but it is the truth."
"Yes, we have foreseen this problem; it has been long and coming. Tell me, what of the other universities in our realm? Surely the Church has been more keen to discipline itself?" there was almost a tone of hopefulness in the sovereign's voice; almost.
"And why shouldn't there be?" Nevers thought. After all, Tharra is not a secular country by any means, and education, like social welfare, has always been the domain of the Church. Not a public school exists in the realm, nor a state run hospital or homeless shelter. Why couldn't those blasted clerics manage things on their own? Why indeed.
Seeing the king was expecting an answer, the count returned from his musings to the reality at hand. "I must confess that my reports lead me to believe otherwise."
"And what of your other report, Monsieur? What is this that we have read of underground heretical sects springing up in our most blessed realm?"
"Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that there have been reports of an increase in the recent smuggling of banned literature into the realm, with the recent opening up of the country and end of the old policy of diplomatic isolation."
"We understand this cause, yet progress cannot be stopped. Tharra must take its place as a world power."
"Of course, Majesty. But censorship laws are not being enforced properly, and dangerous and banned literature that proclaims horrid and heretical doctrines is fast entering the realm. They even say that there are underground religious groups springing up, in the face of the legal ban on all faiths save our most holy state religion, the Roman Catholic faith. They even say," the count lowered his voice for dramatic effect, in the face of the many who still were within an earshot, "that tracts and treatises of Lutheran and Presbyterian nature are entering this realm. I have heard reports of an underground Pentecostal discussion and prayer group that has sprung up in our holy capital of Calais itself!"
There were a few gasps from nearby. Just as well, the count mused. "We find this news most disagreeable," the king began gravely, "Tharra has been a Catholic nation from its very beginnings, since the fall of the ancient empire of Rome and the age of Constantine. If we do not enforce this, we stand to loose everything. Tell me, what is the current penalty for non-conformity and how many heretics are there believed to now be in our realm?"
"Nearly two or three percent of the population Majesty, have strayed in some way from the true Church, be it in error of dogma or worse. And the current laws only provide for fines for not attending mass once per month."
The king was silent for a minute, then, after a long pause he turned to his confessor, "Have you not said to us, my lord bishop, that to tolerate heresy is to support it?"
"Indeed, Majesty, I have. If one is to allow even but one soul to be lost to damnation and wickedness, they are sinning themselves; for is not sloth one of the seven deadly sins we are told to resist?"
"Indeed." The king then turned back to Nevers, "We are most displeased with the state of affairs spiritual in our realm today."
"What does your Majesty plan to do, pray tell?" the wily count asked.
The king was obviously enjoying the drama of the event. He was a man who knew his own strength well. "We have decided, after much prayer and thought, to issue an edict promulgating an office for Holy Affairs. We believe that the best of possible cures for this disease is to establish an inquisition in this realm." The words were sharper than a sword.
"An inquisition, Majesty?"
"Yes; we will set up an ecclesiastical council of the Inquisition to oversee the Holy Office. We believe our dear bishop of Amiens will be a prime candidate for the post of its president and grand inquisitor. Inquisitorial courts will be established in every provincial capital, and a tribunal will hear reports and cases, and try those thought in sufficient error to be arrested and brought before it."
"Majesty?" the duc de Nevers looked apprehensive. At the king's nod, he continued, "What of the reaction of the international community? Surely this may be detrimental to our standing."
"We have considered this, but believe that the state of the souls of our subjects far more important. However, considering the practicality of the matter, we have decided that our main focus and goal is repentance and rehabilitation. The heretics must be brought to see the error of their ways and recant, not be lost to damnation. Besides, we have read your reports well. Many of those mentioned and spoken of are simply in error, and wrongly ascribe to a deviation in doctrine or dogma, not outright heresy by any means. They simply are not of the sufficient education to understand that they are in error at the expense of their soul. Even those that, God forbid, are foolish enough to hold to their misguided views are not guilty of a mortal sin and thus do not deserve death. But they must be tried and handed over to secular courts for punishment nonetheless. We believe that having them defrocked (if a priest), heavily fined and imprisoned will be enough. Perhaps deportation may be necessary as well, for persistent trouble makers."
"And the heretics themselves? What of those subscribing to outright heresy, your Majesty?"
"They must be made to recant and their souls saved. But, we recognize that some may not be convinced of their great sin, and may not be made to do this. We pray all will of course, but we know full well that this will not come to pass. Those that are guilty of heresy, such as Protestantism for example, and who refuse to repent must pay the ultimate price: their bodies, in punishment for the wickedness of their souls. We only pray that they may somehow find forgiveness and all heretics may be made to repent of their sins."
"I see." Nevers was silent.
"The edict will be promulgated in two weeks, and go into effect in two months. We only hope it is not too late, for the sakes of our most dear populace. However, we ask you to make no mistake: this is not an enforcement of morality or Church law. As we see it, so long as one conforms to established dogma and remains in communion with the Church, they may do as they like with their consciences and go about their private lives unmolested, no matter how sordid, immoral or sinful they may be, for we trust one who is a good Catholic to repent eventually of their own accord. It is heresy that we oppose, for heresy is not but a venial or deadly sin to be confessed at one's pleasure. Heresy is a mortal sin, more grave than any other, and unforgivable unless renounced."
The duc de Nevers bowed low, seeing his king's hand wave him away in dismissal. "Majesty." he said, walking backwards slowly and still bent low, his hands behind his back, in the old manner court etiquette proscribed. As he reached the door and heard the guards open it, he dipped low and exited, turning as soon as he was out of the chamber, to ensure he did not turn his back on his sovereign. "I only hope the reaction from the international community won't be as bad as I think." he sighed.
At the very end of this room--the royal presence chamber and audience hall of the Palais de Vendôme--was a great dais, draped in black and white velvet, and an ornate, baroque style throne, covered by a grand canopy of estate of the same colours.
Upon the chair of state he sat, the most powerful man in the entire realm: His Most Faithful Majesty François III, by the grace of God, King of Tharra and its many lands and territories. The king was a pale man, with greying brown hair and a face set in perpetual scowl (it was even rumored that he never had once smiled or laughed in all his life). This man, now nearing sixty, had managed to hold power in the scorpion's nest of Tharran politics for the last thirty years, and indeed had managed to even prosper and reform the somewhat cumbersome and arcane system of government besetting his realms.
Surrounding his Majesty were all his many attendants and household officers: his numerous gentlemen of the bedchamber, his confessor the bishop of Luxembourg and many others. All, including the king himself, were dressed in sober black, the only colour allowed to be worn at the royal court, as if all were to be in perpetual morning. The costumes, while somewhat ornate and embroidered in pure gold and silver threads, were nevertheless a great anachronism, being obviously outdated for the modern age by over four centuries. But they were the costumes required by the old court laws and ordinances of kings past, and thus, no matter how ridiculous they appeared, they were mandatory.
It was in this frightening setting that Jean-Marie, duc de Nevers, found himself. But the surroundings seemed not to phase the middle aged nobleman at all, and on the contrary, the ease with which he moved through them were enough to chill the blood, or at the very least turn a man's stomach. The duke, having been recently promoted to first minister of the realm, was now the most trusted and powerful adviser of the king, and he moved with a grace and dignity equal to his title.
Coming before the royal chair of estate and its occupant, he bowed low, remaining crouched uncomfortably as protocol demanded, until a stiff (and ever so slight) turn of hand bid him rise. He rose and waited for his master to speak.
"Monsieur de Nevers."
"Your Majesty." he added another nod of head, as etiquette demanded.
The king was not one for small talk, and simply went straight to the point, with little regard for the man before him other than pure political use. "We have received your report on the growing trend of unorthodoxy in this realm. It greatly worries us."
"Your Majesty must know that even here in Calais the professors of the University have become lax. They are ordained priests and yet there are some, not many but a significant number nonetheless, who are willing to espouse unorthodox, and perhaps even heretical, teachings to their students. They no longer fear punishment, since the law, God forgive, has turned a blind eye towards deviation from the accepted faith in this country. I am sorry to say it, Majesty, but it is the truth."
"Yes, we have foreseen this problem; it has been long and coming. Tell me, what of the other universities in our realm? Surely the Church has been more keen to discipline itself?" there was almost a tone of hopefulness in the sovereign's voice; almost.
"And why shouldn't there be?" Nevers thought. After all, Tharra is not a secular country by any means, and education, like social welfare, has always been the domain of the Church. Not a public school exists in the realm, nor a state run hospital or homeless shelter. Why couldn't those blasted clerics manage things on their own? Why indeed.
Seeing the king was expecting an answer, the count returned from his musings to the reality at hand. "I must confess that my reports lead me to believe otherwise."
"And what of your other report, Monsieur? What is this that we have read of underground heretical sects springing up in our most blessed realm?"
"Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that there have been reports of an increase in the recent smuggling of banned literature into the realm, with the recent opening up of the country and end of the old policy of diplomatic isolation."
"We understand this cause, yet progress cannot be stopped. Tharra must take its place as a world power."
"Of course, Majesty. But censorship laws are not being enforced properly, and dangerous and banned literature that proclaims horrid and heretical doctrines is fast entering the realm. They even say that there are underground religious groups springing up, in the face of the legal ban on all faiths save our most holy state religion, the Roman Catholic faith. They even say," the count lowered his voice for dramatic effect, in the face of the many who still were within an earshot, "that tracts and treatises of Lutheran and Presbyterian nature are entering this realm. I have heard reports of an underground Pentecostal discussion and prayer group that has sprung up in our holy capital of Calais itself!"
There were a few gasps from nearby. Just as well, the count mused. "We find this news most disagreeable," the king began gravely, "Tharra has been a Catholic nation from its very beginnings, since the fall of the ancient empire of Rome and the age of Constantine. If we do not enforce this, we stand to loose everything. Tell me, what is the current penalty for non-conformity and how many heretics are there believed to now be in our realm?"
"Nearly two or three percent of the population Majesty, have strayed in some way from the true Church, be it in error of dogma or worse. And the current laws only provide for fines for not attending mass once per month."
The king was silent for a minute, then, after a long pause he turned to his confessor, "Have you not said to us, my lord bishop, that to tolerate heresy is to support it?"
"Indeed, Majesty, I have. If one is to allow even but one soul to be lost to damnation and wickedness, they are sinning themselves; for is not sloth one of the seven deadly sins we are told to resist?"
"Indeed." The king then turned back to Nevers, "We are most displeased with the state of affairs spiritual in our realm today."
"What does your Majesty plan to do, pray tell?" the wily count asked.
The king was obviously enjoying the drama of the event. He was a man who knew his own strength well. "We have decided, after much prayer and thought, to issue an edict promulgating an office for Holy Affairs. We believe that the best of possible cures for this disease is to establish an inquisition in this realm." The words were sharper than a sword.
"An inquisition, Majesty?"
"Yes; we will set up an ecclesiastical council of the Inquisition to oversee the Holy Office. We believe our dear bishop of Amiens will be a prime candidate for the post of its president and grand inquisitor. Inquisitorial courts will be established in every provincial capital, and a tribunal will hear reports and cases, and try those thought in sufficient error to be arrested and brought before it."
"Majesty?" the duc de Nevers looked apprehensive. At the king's nod, he continued, "What of the reaction of the international community? Surely this may be detrimental to our standing."
"We have considered this, but believe that the state of the souls of our subjects far more important. However, considering the practicality of the matter, we have decided that our main focus and goal is repentance and rehabilitation. The heretics must be brought to see the error of their ways and recant, not be lost to damnation. Besides, we have read your reports well. Many of those mentioned and spoken of are simply in error, and wrongly ascribe to a deviation in doctrine or dogma, not outright heresy by any means. They simply are not of the sufficient education to understand that they are in error at the expense of their soul. Even those that, God forbid, are foolish enough to hold to their misguided views are not guilty of a mortal sin and thus do not deserve death. But they must be tried and handed over to secular courts for punishment nonetheless. We believe that having them defrocked (if a priest), heavily fined and imprisoned will be enough. Perhaps deportation may be necessary as well, for persistent trouble makers."
"And the heretics themselves? What of those subscribing to outright heresy, your Majesty?"
"They must be made to recant and their souls saved. But, we recognize that some may not be convinced of their great sin, and may not be made to do this. We pray all will of course, but we know full well that this will not come to pass. Those that are guilty of heresy, such as Protestantism for example, and who refuse to repent must pay the ultimate price: their bodies, in punishment for the wickedness of their souls. We only pray that they may somehow find forgiveness and all heretics may be made to repent of their sins."
"I see." Nevers was silent.
"The edict will be promulgated in two weeks, and go into effect in two months. We only hope it is not too late, for the sakes of our most dear populace. However, we ask you to make no mistake: this is not an enforcement of morality or Church law. As we see it, so long as one conforms to established dogma and remains in communion with the Church, they may do as they like with their consciences and go about their private lives unmolested, no matter how sordid, immoral or sinful they may be, for we trust one who is a good Catholic to repent eventually of their own accord. It is heresy that we oppose, for heresy is not but a venial or deadly sin to be confessed at one's pleasure. Heresy is a mortal sin, more grave than any other, and unforgivable unless renounced."
The duc de Nevers bowed low, seeing his king's hand wave him away in dismissal. "Majesty." he said, walking backwards slowly and still bent low, his hands behind his back, in the old manner court etiquette proscribed. As he reached the door and heard the guards open it, he dipped low and exited, turning as soon as he was out of the chamber, to ensure he did not turn his back on his sovereign. "I only hope the reaction from the international community won't be as bad as I think." he sighed.