If it is used to accentuate one's clothing, status and status, the stabbing sword referred to by the Earl of Surrey is indeed an irreplaceable gentleman's sword or lady's sword. The complex and delicate handguard structure, the slender sword body, and the stabbing are the main ones, light and slender and extremely charming, with exquisite and luxurious decorations to show the identity and status of the owner. It looks like a beautiful and deadly toy.

At this time, Isabel would hang on the saddle bridge in front of the saddle when traveling, and wear a cross-handed half-sword on her body when she went out to social occasions, which was largely a substitute for the bayone. However, it was not exactly an ornament, at least she was still serious about learning the swordsmanship related to the hand half sword.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, pursed his lips and smiled, elegantly assuming a posture of a noble class, "Miss, the chaos in the northern region has been going on for a long time, and it may continue for a long time. I believe, however, that under His Majesty's rule, and under the strong supervision of the Duke of Richmond, Chairman of the Northern Council, the Northern society will eventually become as peaceful and beautiful as the Southern society, and that everyone will be willing to follow order and do his part. ”

Being in the midst of it, it is inevitable to say things that are out of bounds, and Isabel Walton feels that the Earl of Surrey is right. But why did he mention the Duke of Richmond? If a nobleman were to be appointed chairman of the Northern Council, he would not necessarily be worse than the Duke of Richmond. Maybe it will be even better.

From a strategic point of view, the position in which the Duke of Richmond now finds himself is critical and important. With the suppression of the most powerful Parcy family in the north in several years of rebellion, the sphere of influence of the earl and bishop of Durhamshire, who has always regarded itself as an "independent kingdom", was also forcibly intervened by Henry VIII, and it can be said that no one in the current northern society dares to confront Henry VIII head-on.

Therefore, the Duke of Richmond, who was the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, naturally became his father's spokesman in northern society. In his father's name, he exercised executive and judicial power in the northern counties, controlled the northern army, and supervised the northern nobles who wished to rebel against the southern government at any time.

That's right, the Duke of Richmond is already a highest-ranking nobleman in the eyes of the Earl of Surrey. With the help of such a nobleman who controlled the nobility and the army, it would not be difficult to usurp the throne of Henry VIII. Moreover, these two young nobles with royal blood are still good friends who get along well.

From the perspective of a U.S. naval intelligence analyst, when dissecting the subtext of this aristocrat who always claimed to be a descendant of the royal family, Isabel began to feel that the Earl of Surrey's desire for power was gradually growing. Taking a sip of red wine, he glanced at the other party with a smile in his hand, "Your Excellency is right. I believe that the chaos in the North began with the aristocracy and special historical reasons. However, as long as the family power of the nobles is completely controlled, the chaos in the north can be completely eliminated. ”

"Well, the power of the nobility?"

"Your Excellency, the Parsi family, who took part in the rebellion a few years ago, is a good example. The patriarch of the family died of illness, the eldest son was beheaded by His Majesty the King, and the family that suddenly lost two leading figures, can it still affect the northern society? ”

"Miss Isabel, your words have convinced me." The Earl of Surrey nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at his wife, "Madame, pray to God that God has bestowed upon you such a wonderful and wise noble woman, to be your good companion, to be the godmother of the eldest son. ”

Mrs. Surrey's Frances looked at her husband and then smiled at Isabelle's eyes. The Earl of Surrey thought the two of them were smiling a little strangely, "Madame, is there anything wrong with my words?" ”

"No, Henry, you're saying it very well." Frances smiled and complimented her husband.

The Earl of Surrey nodded hesitantly and glanced at the manservant at the door of the parlor, "Bring me the prepared gifts." ”

"Yes, sir." After saluting, the valet turned and picked up a finely crafted rectangular wooden box from the cupboard against the wall and walked over.

"Miss, this is a gift from me as a good companion of the Duke of Richmond, I hope Miss will not refuse." Looking at the wooden box in the manservant's hand, the Earl of Surrey smiled generously at Isabel.

When the valet arrived, Isabel stood up and looked at the wooden box, which she guessed must contain a weapon such as a sword. Smiled lightly, "Your Excellency, I'm curious what gift you would give me. ”

Equally curious was Frances, who was sitting on one side, then stood up and walked over to Isabel to look at the wooden box in front of her, and whispered, "Isabel, Henry will not give gifts to others easily." ”

Isabel squirmed her lips as she stared at the wooden box, "Really? Hopefully your Henry won't have other ideas. ”

The Earl of Surrey got up and walked to the side of the manservant, opened the wooden box and looked at the contents, then looked at the two noble women and said gently: "Miss Isabel, this is a stabbing sword made by the Italian craftsmen of the Greenwich Royal Workshop, and now I present it to you!" ”

Frances stretched out her finger and gently touched the Italian hoop gauntlet near the grip of the bayonet, and then stroked the grip and looked at her husband, "Henry, how did you come up with the idea of giving Isabel a sword?" ”

The Earl of Surrey laughed and stroked his beard, "Madam, Mademoiselle is an excellent, intelligent young aristocratic woman who is no stranger to duels. Only this bayonet sword from the royal workshop can reveal the identity of the young lady and her inviolable dignity. ”

"I am very grateful for Your Excellency's generosity!" Isabel stretched out her right hand to grasp the grip of the sword, and while grasping the scabbard with her left hand, she took the delicately crafted and expensive bayonet out of the wooden box.

Hold the scabbard in your left hand and draw the blade with your right hand. Surprisingly, the cross-lattice bayonet grip is decorated with a metal gauntlet similar to that of the end of the 16th century. When we look at the flat diamond-shaped blade, we can see that the left and right sides of the blade are not only open, but also thin and thick.

Slightly lacking, the blade is not particularly long and thin. The wider blade can also make effective slashing motions against enemies when the enemy is not armoured, and can even block a variety of larger, heavier weapons. It should be said that the sword gifted to her by the Earl of Surrey still bears traces of a one-handed stabbing sword from the end of the 15th century.

In any case, this is a weapon that can be used to compensate for physical deficiencies with skill, and it is also a cold weapon that is very suitable for women who are not strong enough to have a strong physique but have enough flexibility and agility.