By this time, the fourth phase of the Italian war, which took place on the European continent, was already underway. Known as the "War between Francis I and Charles V", it was named after the kings of France and Spain, and it was also one of the most important stages of the Italian War. Francis I inherited the established national policy of the first two French kings, and began a desperate struggle with Spain for Italian dominance and continental hegemony.

Spanish interests were greatly damaged by the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529, followed by the French recovery of Western Burgundy and the acquisition of Savoy in 1538. As a result, Charles V was asked to wage a series of wars against France by his allies, the English. However, the battles of the overseas mercenary legions commanded by Henry VIII's noble generals in France always made him angry. Eventually, Henry VIII decided to personally go to France to command the battle.

His Majesty the King personally went overseas to direct the war, and that was determined by his personal will. It seems to have little to do with the local leaders of his kingdom, the nobles with titles. Of course, from the time of Richard I in the 12th century, the nobility of the Kingdom of England was no longer responsible for serving overseas.

Although nobles were not obligated to fight overseas, they were still allowed to fight overseas or abroad for the sake of titles, status, and rewards. Isabelle's brother, Sir Ernest, and her godson, Baron Latimer IV, were two war fanatics from Yorkshire who volunteered to fight abroad or overseas.

Back in early July, while Baron Walton and his family were still preparing for the funeral of their eldest son, the young Baron Latimer IV returned to the estate in Kirkrington. When he told Baron Walton and his family members of his decision to go to France to fight against Henry VIII's army, the Baron was impressed with his chivalry.

Baron Latimer and Isabel then had their last conversation in the hall. Isabel focused on the other party's expression and whispered, "John, aren't you going to go to France after attending Ernest's funeral?" ”

Baron Latimer, John Neville, looked at her in silence, and after a long time said slowly: "Miss, I want to use my courage to kill my enemies on the battlefield to tell the knights of Paradise that I am a brave knight. I don't need anyone's protection anymore to get my own spoils. ”

Isabel nodded, "John, it's good that you'd think so. Suffice it to say that war is not a game, and I hope you are ready to die in France. ”

"Yes, Mademoiselle, I will defend the honor of knighthood with my life."

"John, may God bless you."

Baron Latimer, who is not yet married, is very young and has just been awarded the title of knight, so it is natural that he will fight for honor, even at the cost of all his blood. However, the nobles and knights of Yorkshire or neighboring counties would not be so irrational. After all, the war in France was not a business they should be concerned about.

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It seems that some of the court rumors that Madame Surrey told Isabel a few months ago have turned out to be true. At this moment, Isabel, who was accustomed to war, was only a little puzzled by Henry VIII's decision to go to Europe in person, and asked His Majesty's illegitimate son, "Henry, this war in Europe should be a matter between France and Spain, does His Majesty need to go to France to direct the battle in person?" ”

The Duke of Richmond looked at the garden with his hands behind his back and shook his head, "Your Majesty told me in your letter that he was disappointed with his field marshal's operations in France. Defeat on the battlefield will have a direct impact on our alliance with the Spaniards. ”

"Field Marshal...... You mean Lord Surrey? Isabel was a little puzzled as to why the Earl of Surrey, the knight whom Henry VIII admired the most, had lost the battle. After thinking about it, he asked with some hesitation, "Henry, will His Majesty no longer trust Lord Surrey?" ”

"Oh, what do you mean?" The Duke of Richmond, who regarded the Earl of Surrey as his only good partner, hurriedly asked her.

"I would say that I always thought that Lord Surrey's royal blood would bring him some bad luck. However, I am somewhat puzzled as to why Lord Essex (William Parr, the younger brother of Her Majesty the Queen), who is also of royal blood, has never been brought to His Majesty's attention. ”

"Miss Isabel, you're getting married, how can you remember Lord Essex?"

Baron Walton's daughter stopped, turned to look at the Duke of Richmond, who had a typical English appearance, tilted her head and sneered deliberately, "Your Highness, you are right. So, why would I, who am about to get married, take a walk with you in this garden of flowers and plants where you can't see a third person? ”

The Duke of Richmond blinked twice and suddenly laughed, "I'm sorry, Isabel, this was a joke. ”

Isabel snorted and shook her head, "If I had a choice, I would never marry that coward of Sir William Ingleby." ”

"I think you'll have a way of turning Sir into a brave knight." For some reason, the Duke of Richmond suddenly came up with such a sentence.

"Brave knight?!" Isabel nodded thoughtfully, then looked back and forth at the flower garden and smiled softly, "Henry, I think Lord Essex is probably a coward too. ”

When the Duke of Richmond saw her turn and walk towards the swing hanging from the branches in front of her, he hurried after her and said, "I remember that the Lord of Essex did not make any effort to learn knightly trades during all the time he was serving as an attendant for me. Therefore, His Majesty will not trust such a knight. ”

The funeral banquet of the brother, the departure of his godson Baron Latimer to France, the imminent marriage of his own family, the regency of her close friend Her Majesty the Queen, the defeat of the husband of her close friend Madame Surrey in Europe, the brother-in-law who was seriously ill, the unresolved Scottish Wars, the uncaptured Queen Mary I of Scots, the affairs of the Counsellors of the Duke's Court of Richmond and the construction of the Naval Infantry Corps, Isabel felt a headache at the thought of these troubles in her head. However, there will be trouble that will come to her next - the poor Earl of Lancashire.

Then she suddenly noticed that there seemed to be a cave under the stone wall to the west of the garden, and remembered the civet that Baron Latimer had brought back from Scotland to give her. As she hurried towards the cave, the Duke of Richmond followed her.