In 1544, after returning to Plymouth, a privateer fleet led by Captain Isabel and Hawkins auctioned off some of the goods obtained from the plundering of Portuguese ships, and handed over a percentage of the proceeds from the auction to the royal family. However, Henry VIII was only focused on the European battlefield, showing an indifference to other affairs, and furthermore, he issued "privateering licenses" only for the purpose of attacking French shipping ships, and did not seriously consider the question of how much enemy cargo could be plundered by privateer owners.

Now, even though he was greatly interested in the overseas adventure trade told by his illegitimate son, the Duke of Richmond, he had a feeling that he wanted to do it so much but did not have enough strength. When the Duke of Richmond had finished talking about Isabel's overseas trade process, a new idea arose in his head.

Henry VIII, with the assistance of his attendants, moved himself to sit comfortably in the king's chair and then said to the Duke of Richmond, "My son, I am a little tired from the war. Perhaps, I should have taken a little more rest. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. Only by resting a little more time can you gradually get better. The Duke of Richmond stared at his father's expression intently, and he was a little afraid that his father, who was already sick and easily angry, would take his anger out on Isabel over some overseas trade.

Then Henry VIII said, "Henry, overseas trade affairs are after all merchants' affairs, which is inconsistent with your status and status and that of Lady Isabel. You should pay more attention to other aspects with the assistance of Lady Isabel. ”

When my father said this, the Duke of Richmond figured it out. At the moment, his father's main concern was not how to make a lot of money, but whether his half-brother Prince Edward could succeed to the throne, whether he could get Mary Queen of Scots, whether there were nobles in the court who wanted to usurp his brother's throne and the stalled Reformation.

Queen Catherine, who sat to the left of Henry VIII and always maintained a graceful posture, remained very silent. She knew very well what her husband was most concerned about when he was dying. You know, since she was forced to marry the king two years ago, she has often had several heated arguments with Henry VIII because of differences in religious views. On several occasions she almost lost her life, but she always made timely concessions.

After hearing his father's "earnest" conversation, the Duke of Richmond quickly turned the topic to his father's interest, "Your Majesty, the other matters you are talking about are not Mary Queen of Scotland, the Reformation and Prince Edward's succession to the throne......"

Henry VIII held the wine glass and took another sip of wine, then nodded slowly, "My son, this time you and John (Viscount Lyle) led a fleet to attack Stirling Castle......"

Halfway through Henry VIII's words, the Duke of Richmond became even more nervous. After all, in this battle to capture Queen Mary, he and Viscount Lyle and Isabel were negligent in their duties. Queen Catherine, who was silent, seemed to see the change in the Duke of Richmond's mood, and hurriedly comforted her husband softly, "Your Majesty, this attack on Stirling Castle has been resisted by the Scots, and it is not entirely caused by the negligence of His Highness and Lord Lyle. ”

"Catherine, don't speak!" Henry VIII suddenly roared loudly. When his roar resounded in the hall, none of the people present dared to make a noise at will.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Queen Catherine obediently agreed, and remained silent.

After a while, the voice of Henry VIII resounded in the silent king's drawing-room, "Henry, I don't blame you, John and Lady Isabel who spied on Queen Mary. I would say that if it weren't for the rebellion of the Scots loyal to the kingdom this time, you and John could have captured Queen Mary or her mother. ”

The Duke of Richmond felt some beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, and he didn't dare to wipe the sweat with his hands. But, no matter what, the heart that mentions the throat can be put down. Staring at his emotionally fluctuating father, he nodded, "Your Majesty, you are quite right. Well, you're trying to tell me not to give up the hunt for Queen Mary? ”

Henry VIII leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked at the Duke of Richmond, "While I guarantee your brother at court that you will inherit the throne, you will also strictly fulfill your duty to supervise the affairs of Scotland in the north. I will personally write to the nobles and knights guarding the border to follow your orders and capture Queen Mary. ”

The Duke of Richmond thought to himself, "This battle to capture the queen has failed, and the queen must be hiding in a new location." What do I do to find the Queen? ”

Looking at his devastated father, who was suffering from illness, the Duke of Richmond only resolutely agreed, "Your Majesty, I will strictly fulfill my duty." ”

Henry VIII nodded with some satisfaction, and then turned his gaze to Queen Catherine, who was silent, "My Queen, Sir William, who is engaged to your good companion Lady Isabel, died in this battle?" ”

Despite her silence, Queen Catherine listened carefully to the conversation between father and son. At this time, he suddenly heard Henry VIII asking him, and hurriedly looked at Henry VIII and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, Lady Isabel's betrothed husband was killed by the Scots. ”

"Well, Lady Isabel and her family have given a lot to the kingdom." After Henry VIII finished speaking, he handed the empty wine glass to the court attendant on the side, "Squire, pour me some more wine." ”

The attendant quickly added some wine to Henry VIII's glass, and Henry VIII took a sip of wine and stared at his illegitimate son, "Henry, what do you think should be done to praise Lady Isabel?" ”

For a moment, the Duke of Richmond was very happy, and what Isabel had said to him flashed through his mind again. Maintaining the posture of a royal duke, he looked at the king with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, I know that Lady Isabel cannot be awarded a noble title. However, I think she can be awarded a Knight of the Order of the Garter. ”

"My son, you want me to break the conventions left by my father?" Henry VIII asked in a deep voice.

The Duke of Richmond looked at Henry VIII, whose face was uncertain, hesitated and began to lower his voice, and said softly, "Your Majesty, Lady Isabel led the sergeant into Scotland... News of Queen Mary. I don't think there is a knight in the kingdom who is as brave and fearless as she is. ”

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