(This is the third of a five-part journey into Rob Slane’s medieval kingdom. Read part two here, where the tyrannical State has so far resorted to feminism and family breakdown to increase its power.)
Now it came to pass that many marriages were dissolved, and as the bonds between the menfolk and the womenfolk grew faint, social problems were multiplied throughout the realm. But the more the problems grew, the more did the people look to the King as their benefactor, and he duly obliged by raiding the Royal Treasury to pay for a multitude of solutions. Thus did his power and the fulfilling of his every desire increase.
Yet many families still stayed intact, and most of the womenfolk continued to stay at home to raise their own children. And so by and by the King’s countenance fell and once again he grew sorrowful in his heart. At last there came a day when he could take it no more and so he gathered his wise men to him once more.
This time he turned immediately to the Lord Cuthbert, the twelfth wise man.
“O King, may you live forever,” replied Cuthbert. “May I ask Your Majesty why he thinks that a goodly proportion of the womenfolk still cleave to the old ways?”
After thinking for a moment, the King replied that he supposed them still to be bonded by natural affection to their children.
“Thou hast answered well, Sire,” replied Cuthbert. “Methinks many of the womenfolk of the realm think too much upon their little ones, and so they continue to pay no taxes into the Royal Treasury. The answer therefore lieth in separating them from their young.”
As before, there was an uproar in the court and the other wise men all agreed that such a policy would bring about revolution and the King’s rule would be placed in peril.
“You have heard them,” said the King as the noise abated. “What is your reply?”
“Once again I perceive Your Majesty’s wise men hath misunderstood the matter,” replied Cuthbert. “Tis not a forced separation of which I speak, but a voluntary one. But to achieve this, begging your pardon, O King, you will need to make peace with the barons, merchants and captains of industrie.”
At this saying the King’s anger was kindled, for hitherto had the barons, merchants and captains of industrie been his sworn enemies.
“Sire,” replied Cuthbert. “I perceive that though there hath been no concord betwixt thee, yet in this matter there is common cause. O King, may you live forever, tell me who would benefit if every one of the womenfolk left off from raising their own children, and went into the workforce: thou or the barons, merchants and captains of industrie?”
“Well I suppose both would benefit,” answered the King.
“Thou has answered well,” replied the Lord Cuthbert calmly. “Verily, the profits of the barons, merchants and captains of industrie would increase, and the Royal Treasury would swell increasing Your Majesty’s power and the fulfilling of his every desire. It would of a very truth be a double whammy.”
Slowly but surely a broad grin spread itself across the King’s face, and the very next day the barons, merchants and captains of industry assembled before his throne.
“Gentlemen,” he declared. “It hath been said that there hath been no concord between the King and thyselves. Yet I have called ye here today as I perceive that there is much common ground betwixt us. For some time, it hath been my desire to get all the womenfolk in the realm to give up raising their own children and to go into the workplace, in order to swell the Royal Treasury and increase my power and the fulfilling of my every desire. Yet I perceive this plan to be in your interests too, since if the womenfolk do leave off from raising their own children and labour for ye, verily thy profits will increase greatly. Yet many of the womenfolk in the realm are stubborn, and remain too attached to their own children. Gentlemen, what say ye that we today join in league together to sever the natural attachment that the mother hath to the child by means of advertising and heavy propaganda to our mutual benefit?”
When they heard the matter, the barons, merchants and captains of industrie rejoiced and became firm friends with the King from that day forth, and they did work in cahoots to lure the womenfolk away from raising their own children. And the following day, the King did issue a Royal Emancipation Proclamation in every square throughout the realm:
“Women of the Kingdom of Grebbleton. His Royal Majesty, King Gondil III, being eager to show favour to the fairer sex, hath of late become mindful of your unfortunate condition whereby, through no fault of your own, you hath had to look after your own children without recompense. Be it known that this day, your cry hath reached the King’s ears, and in accordance with his grace, mercy and favour, he hath answered your prayer by forging an alliance with the barons, merchants and the captains of industrie to help you find true fulfilment away from your homes and your children, as a cherished member of the Kingdom’s Workforce.”
Read the penultimate instalment on TCW tomorrow, will the King finally come unstuck?
(Image: adam w)
