Three days later, Isabel Walton, the Lady of Ripley, and the Duke of Richmond, who had been in London for a short time, received the startling news that the most honorable monarch, Henry VIII, had allowed Isabelle's proposed battle plan to attack the French fleet assembled in the port town of Le Havre. Another suggestion she made to Henry VIII, the use of the royal fleet to surprise the enemy, was to fight against the invasion at Portsmouth and the Solent Strait near the Isle of Wight.

The Solent Strait is a small channel in the English Channel, located between the Hampshire coast and the Isle of Wight, England, from Nieders Island (a small annex island west of the Isle of Wight) to the Southampton Waterway in the east. On the other side of Nieders Island stands Hearst Castle, which was ordered by Henry VIII, while Falkarchott Castle and several defensive forts were also built at the exit of the Southampton waterway.

The choice of the Solent Strait for the anti-invasion battle was the result of discussions between Henry VIII and Lady Ripley, Admiral Viscount Lyle, Admiral the Duke of Richmond, and several members of the Maritime Affairs Committee. After all, there were too many uncertainties in the second plan proposed by Baroness Ripley. such as unpredictable weather at sea; whether the large French fleet would disperse its attacks on ports or towns along the English coastline after crossing the sea; or concentrate the fleet's firepower to attack the Portsmouth military port with all its might; Or a landing on the Isle of Wight, establishing the first line of defense, and so on.

On the contrary, there are many benefits to fighting an anti-invasion in the Solent Strait on your doorstep. The royal fleet, which has only 1/4 of the number of ships in the French fleet, only needs to make all preparations in the channel and wait for the rabbit. This could not only block the invasion of the French army, but also hold the incomparably important military port of Portsmouth. In addition, you can also use the castles and fortresses on the east and west sides of the northern Solent Strait to fight back against the French army. Even if the French succeeded in forcing their landing on the Isle of Wight south of the Channel, they would not be able to get close to Hampshire, where the military port of Portsmouth was located across the Channel.

On the morning of the third Saturday in April, Queen Catherine's brother, the Earl of Essex, led a group of 30 young attendants dressed in uniforms, high riding boots and swords to an old Gothic-style building that housed the Maritime Affairs Commission (Navy Bureau), less than half a mile from Whitehall.

At this time, in the meeting room of the Maritime Affairs Committee, Isabel was discussing some details of the anti-invasion battle with the head of the committee, Viscount Lyle, and the members. When a manservant led the two attendants to her, she just glanced at the two attendants calmly, "Lord Essex asked you to come, is there anything wrong?" ”

A taller attendant immediately nodded respectfully to her, "Your Excellency, my lord said that I would take you to a place today. ”

Isabel felt that William Parr wanted to go on a date with her, and by the way, talk about the aristocracy's life, relationships, and marriage. After whispering a few words to Viscount Lyle, he led the two attendants to the corridor outside the meeting room. Dressed in a viscountess-level bodysuit, Isabel stood reservedly in the hallway, examining the two squires, "Tell me, where does Lord Essex want to take me?" ”

It was still the taller attendant who spoke first and replied, "Your Excellency, uh, your Excellency didn't say anything. ”

"This William still wants to play mystery with me." Isabel ventriloqued twice, and said with a serious expression, "Now, where is Lord Essex?" ”

"Your Excellency, right outside the gates of the Committee."

"Take me there."

Later, two attendants led Isabel outside the committee's gates. As soon as she stepped out of the door, Isabel saw William Parr smiling and staring at her on the side of her riding horse. So, he walked towards Will, who was one level higher than his knighthood, and then bowed and greeted William.

When William smiled and nodded back to her, the 30 attendants behind him bowed to her in unison and greeted her aloud, "Good day, Lady Ripley." ”

Isabel had long been accustomed to this aristocratic etiquette as if she were eating lunch and drinking wine, and still glanced at William calmly, "Your Excellency, if you don't want to say it now, you can talk about it after I have discussed the war with the members of the committee." ”

Perhaps it was the impending naval battle between England and France that affected her mood and made her feel a little disgusted by William's smile at this moment. After speaking, he was about to turn around and walk into the door of the committee, William hurriedly caught up with her and whispered beside her, "Isabel, I came to the Ocean Affairs Committee today just to give you a gift. ”

As soon as she heard the word gift, Isabel stopped and looked sideways at the other party, "William, we are about to start a war with the French, don't you think it's a little inappropriate to give me a gift at this time?" ”

William hurriedly put away his smile and his tone became a little heavier, "Isabel, I know that the French are about to attack the kingdom. Only, I don't want you to get hurt. ”

"What do you mean?"

"I want to give you a pair of armor."

"Armor? That's a satisfying answer. Isabel muttered as she looked at each other. Blinked, pondered, and said, "After lunch, come to His Highness's residence to find me." ”

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After lunch, the Earl of Essex took the ferry to the embankment of the gate of the house in Dalem as promised. After informing the valet in the foyer, Isabelle, dressed in a man's garb, walked out of the gate with a handguard and sword at her waist. When she boarded the ferry, she looked coldly at the empty-handed Earl, "William, where is the armor given to me?" ”

"Sail the boat." The Earl of Essex, after giving a word to his attendants, invited Isabel to the bow of the ferry. Pointing to the southeast of the River Thames, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, you'll see your armor when we arrive in Greenwich." ”

"Greenwich?" Isabel held the hilt of the sword in her left hand and crossed her waist with her right hand and said with a smile, "William, tell me, you want the Italian craftsmen of the Greenwich Royal Workshop to make a set of armor for me?" ”

"Of course. Did you know that Isabel, you are the second aristocratic woman to be awarded a title of nobility after Anne Boleyn. Therefore, only the armor made in the royal workshop is suitable for you, the noble lady Ripley. ”

Henry VIII and his kingdom were already in debt, and the local nobles who owed their allegiance to him had surplus money to make extravagant gifts for their beloved noble women. Isabel couldn't help but shake her head and said to the earl, "William, you can exchange the gift you gave me for a cannon for your majesty." Perhaps, Your Majesty will change his attitude towards your marriage. ”