Between the Gosport Peninsula and Portsmouth to the east is a relatively enclosed bay that became the base of the royal fleet with the succession of Henry VIII, and is about to be known as the Portsmouth Military Harbour. At this moment, a huge naval fleet with no less than 57 warships is quietly berthed in the military port with a mild climate and clear skies. In 24 hours, half of the ships of the naval fleet will leave the port for the port of Le Havre, across the channel, where they will cause a major event that could destroy the entire French fleet.

On the morning of 9 May, Queen Catherine led 50 knights, valets, maids, and the Earl of Essex from the city of London, more than 80 miles away, to Portsmouth, where the military port was located. The Duke of Richmond and Viscount Lyle, who had been waiting in the town for a long time, dressed in noble gowns, greeted Her Majesty the Queen. However, Lady Ripley no longer wore a noble lady dress, but appeared beside the two of them wearing a battle suit.

Queen Catherine then led a group of knights, maids, and the Earl of Essex aboard the flagship of the raid, the Henry Grace Adiou. At this time, the entire crew of the flagship, together with 400 infantry sergeants and 40 gunners, had lined up on the open deck, the bow and the stern to welcome Her Majesty the Queen.

Although Queen Catherine and the Earl of Essex knew little about naval affairs, they were immediately struck by the new artillery battleship with heavy guns on board as soon as they stepped onto the open deck. When Viscount Lyle introduced the new flagship of Henry VIII to the Queen and Earl, the two looked east and west curiously at everything on the open deck.

Queen Catherine nodded as she listened to Viscount Lyle's introduction. When she looked up the mainmast on the open deck, she spotted two lookouts on the mainmast. The queen felt very fresh, and smiled and looked at the Lady Ripley, who was beside Viscount Lyle, "Your Excellency, what is this platform on the mast?" ”

Isabel held the hilt of her saber in her hand, stepped forward to the queen and nodded, "Your Majesty, this is the lookout. ”

"The Lookout? Well, was it used to spy on enemy ships? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. Not only can you watch enemy ships, but you can also use it to see everything on the sea. For example, if there is a large wave on the sea, the captain can change the course in time according to what the sailor sees, so that the ship can avoid the waves. ”

The Duke of Richmond and Viscount Lyle, who were standing below the Queen's left hand, were satisfied with her answer and nodded slightly. The Earl of Essex, who was standing to the right of Queen Catherine, looked at the heroic Isabel and moved his lips but did not dare to speak. The queen, who is the earl's own sister, seemed to sense something, and when she looked sideways at the earl, she said, "William, do you want to say something?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have a word for Lady Ripley." The Earl of Essex immediately walked up to the queen, nodded in greeting, and said.

"Well, I grant your request."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Essex then looked at Isabelle, who was standing side by side with him, "Your Excellency, what should we do if the waves are very strong and the captain's ship cannot avoid it?" ”

Isabel put on a businesslike face and looked at each other calmly, "Your Excellency, this is the time when the captain and crew need to steer the ship at full speed with knightly courage!" Rushing to the top of the waves with death is the only way to save the ship and its crew. ”

Except for Viscount Lyle, who had rich experience in naval warfare and overseas service, almost everyone else looked at her with a look of surprise. For a moment, the Duke of Richmond, who was silent, seemed to understand how Isabel had earned the 100,000 pounds for him. Queen Catherine's eyes, which were surrounded by all the nobles, moistened a little, and she couldn't help but sigh slightly, "It turns out that the ocean is so terrible. ”

A smile of comfort suddenly appeared on Isabel's face, and she turned to look at the queen and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, the waves higher than this flagship can only appear in the Caribbean. ”

Queen Catherine only nodded, and then said to the others, "You guys go for a while, I need to talk to Lady Ripley alone." ”

Soon, Isabel followed the queen up the stern to the railing at the very end of the stern. As the queen needed to talk to someone alone, Viscount Lyle ordered all the crew on the stern tower to leave the stern. Queen Catherine glanced at the empty stern and whispered to Lady Ripley, "Do you know why I'm talking to you alone, Isabel?" ”

Isabel nodded respectfully, "Your Majesty, for I am a woman with a noble title and a good companion to you. ”

The queen nodded, and stood in front of the fence reservedly, looking at the various warships anchored in the military port, and said, "Isabel, now I understand that sailing on the sea is a very dangerous thing. This time to attack the port of Le Havre in France, you... Is it okay not to go? ”

"Withdraw from the sneak attack on the French?" Isabel thought for a moment and muttered again, "You can't fight a few naval battles with the Spaniards, you can always fight with the French." ”

Raising his eyelids, he looked at the queen who cared about him very much, and replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am the Lady of Ripley, whom Your Majesty has conferred, and Your Majesty needs me to resist all invaders for him and for the kingdom. ”

"Isabel, I promised you that you would not be allowed to enter the court as my lady-in-waiting. But why would you refuse your partner's kindness this time? ”

"Your Majesty, we are a kingdom living on an island, and the sea has always been a vital cause. It was a means for people to come here from overseas, a barrier against invaders, and a route for overseas trade. So, the history of the kingdom is the history of the king's fleet. ”

"Isabel, shut up!" Queen Catherine didn't expect that the other party still looked like she had served Henry VIII to death, and blurted out in anger.

At this time, the atmosphere of the conversation became a little cramped. After a long silence, Queen Catherine said softly, "Isabel, although there are many female relatives in my court who serve as maids and attendants at my side, only you and Lord Latimer's sister (Queen Catherine's unmarried lady-in-waiting) are relatives and companions from the north. ”

Isabel didn't want the queen to be angry about her adventure, but she was reluctant to give up the opportunity to take the risk. What an exciting thing it was to lead a part of the royal fleet to attack the ships in the port of the French. Thinking about it, she can only use some excuses for fame and fortune to hide her true purpose