Merciless Parliament
The Merciless Parliament convenes to pass judgment on the supporters of King Richard II, who have been accused of treason. The Chief Justice presides over the proceedings, while the Condemned Noble st
Setting
Westminster Hall, the grandest hall in medieval England, with its high hammerbeam roof and vast open space. The hall is filled with nobles, clergy, and officials, all gathered for the Merciless Parliament. The stone walls are cold and imposing, and the air is thick with tension.
Characters
Chief Justice
primary
A tall, imposing man in his late fifties with a gaunt face, deep-set eyes, and a sharp, aquiline nose. His silver-streaked dark hair is cropped short, and his beard is neatly trimmed. His hands are bony, with long fingers that grip the edge of his podium with quiet authority.
Condemned Noble
primary
A man in his late 40s with a gaunt, aristocratic face bearing the marks of recent imprisonment. His once-proud posture is slightly hunched from fatigue, but his piercing blue eyes still burn with defiance. His dark brown hair, streaked with gray, is disheveled from lack of care, and his skin is pallid from lack of sunlight.
Bishop
secondary
A middle-aged man with a stout but dignified build, his round face framed by a neatly trimmed grey beard. His deep-set eyes are watchful and sharp, though lined with the weight of moral concern. His hands are soft but strong, often clasped together in contemplation or raised in benediction.
Guard Captain
secondary
A battle-hardened soldier in his late 30s, with a muscular build and a face weathered by years of service. His dark hair is cropped short, and a thick beard frames his square jaw. A prominent scar runs from his left temple to his cheekbone, a testament to past conflicts. His piercing grey eyes constantly scan the room, alert for any sign of trouble.
Scribe
background
A thin, middle-aged man with a slightly hunched posture from years of bending over parchment. His fingers are stained with ink, and his sharp eyes dart between the proceedings and his work. His hair is neatly trimmed but graying at the temples, and his face bears the marks of long hours spent in dim candlelight.
Dialog
Chief Justice
Whereas thou standest accused of high treason against the crown, and whereas all pleas for clemency have been duly considered and dismissed, it is the judgment of this court that thou shalt be drawn, hanged, and quartered.
Condemned Noble
By the blood of my ancestors and the oaths sworn before God, I declare this judgment null! You, who are but a servant of the law, dare to pass sentence upon one whose lineage predates this very hall!
Chief Justice
Thy lineage doth not exempt thee from justice, nor thy oaths from scrutiny. The statutes of our forebears bind all men, high and low. Prima facie, thy guilt is manifest.
Condemned Noble
This is no justice, but a slaughterhouse! Have you forgotten the fields of Crécy, where my sword defended this realm while your fathers cowered in their scriptoriums?
Bishop
Miserere nobis... My lords, let us not forget that vengeance belongeth to the Lord. The accused may yet confess and seek absolution before the final hour.
Chief Justice
Sub judice est, good bishop. The time for confession hath passed with the verdict. The law must have its course, lest anarchy take root.
Condemned Noble
Anarchy? Look to your own benches! When the king returns from his minority, he shall know who upheld his rights and who butchered them in this sham of wool and parchment!