[YG Conlang Archives] > [romanceconlang group] > messages [Date Index] [Thread Index] >
--- habarakhe4 <theophilus88@hidden.email> wrote: > > It is a vague recollection of a > > semilegendary event in the early life of John > > II. > > > What incident would this be, pray? Ah, the year was 1422, the second year of the Rising of the Free Tradesmen. Since the 1410s, both the High Senate and the Tinners Senate had introduced legislation that put the pinch on the pocketbooks of certain businessmen, the Free Tradesmen, who were a group of powerful merchants in the Province not affiliated (hence "Free") with the Guilds. The steady loss of money ticked them off and in 1420 they hired an army of disaffected Bretons to march on Esca, then Castreleon. In 1422, the hired army finally got underway and (incorrectly) landed in Wight (hey, at least it wasn't Thannet!), and at last ended up landing close to Chichester. Once they realised they were, in fact, in England, they headed for the Ffens. At the border, they were stopped by the local constabulary; but were apparently passed on by the officers who had trouble believeing their story, but were amused by the notion. Once in the Province, they managed to sack Durnoers, and were swiftly marching west towards Esca. A local farmer, Constantine Castregalli, had heard of their doings and was dead set against uprisings, rebellions and other Foreign ideas. He was definitely a Kings Man; and the rebellion wasn't popular in the neighbourhood. Once he spotted the army on the highway, he called to his son Jowan to take a horse and warn the folk around about the rebel army; for perhaps they could waylay it, if not defeat it, and at least send a few of the buggers to glory into the bargain. As it turns out, Jowan was in favour of the Merchants and their gripe, so he was slow in warning the neighbours. The army was able to get away, and Mr Castragalli beat Jowan with a horn. As far as the sheep reference is concerned, in 1423, the hired army was at last caught and forced into a proper battle with the Army. They fled the field before a shot was fired, and were burlesqued in song as being "sheep in wolves clothing". The merchants had lost their little war and could no longer carry on the fight. By 1426, all the Free Traders had been absorbed by the Guilds. The rhyme came about on the part of Free Tradesmen supporters, who were pleased that the "sheep" got away. Padraic. ===== il becko Jowans backalars sew ncorne tan llar'ment ys wentast; yen dia s' ouws desfussiont co lê corn sew dda li cabast. .