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Battle Siege
A method of defeating a castle was laying siege to it, by trying to starve out the inhabitants, or waiting until they ran out of water. If their water could be poisoned, they had to surrender. A good well was extremely important to a castle.
A troubled household in troubled times......
It is the 15th Century, the final flowering of the feudal age.
In this infamous period of British history, many long established customs are starting to be challenged -
much to the annoyance of those who would preserve them.
One such custom is the arranged marriage.
Children might be promised in wedlock from infancy,
although when they reach the age of maturity they have the right to annul the agreement and choose a partner of their own -
if they have the strength of character to do so.
One such marriage is planned between Sir Robert Lange and Lady Elizabeth Seyntmaur.
Sir Robert has been married twice before, but both ladies have passed away without giving birth to an heir.
Having been recently knighted as a reward for his loyalty to King Edward IV,
Sir Robert hopes to secure his fortunes and future with another young bride.
The good Lady herself is less than ecstatic about this match.
She had hoped to marry her childhood sweetheart, William Mareys, who has himself been recently knighted.
Sadly, Sir William is away in France and has not been able to press his suit to Lady Elizabeth's family.
Thus her family have agreed to the wedding with Sir Robert.
Today, Sir Robert has come to claim his less than blissful bride.
Complicated Loyalties
A man’s son inherited his lands and his obligations to fight. As time went on, inheritances became complicated, because there were lords who had no living children, who had only daughters as heiresses, and who split their inheritances among their sons (rarely daughters). When the daughter of a lord married the son of another lord, the young couple inherited land from both families. If the overlord from whom they got one piece goes to war with the overlord from whom they got the other piece—on which side did they fight? If there are two possible heirs to the throne itself, for whom do they fight? If a higher lord rebels against the king, does his vassal fight for the lord, or for the king? Who is closer, and more likely to take away his castle and his land? What will the other knights do? Which families is he allied to, by marriage or other bonds?
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