The high-spirited court painter Hans Holbein the Younger and his assistant each left the residence on a riding horse and galloped away in the direction of Windsor. At this time, he could not have predicted the fact that his greatest patron, the Earl of Essex, would be arrested and executed in just over a month.

Since the town of Windsor was located in Berkshire, which borders Surrey to the west of the city of London, the court painter intended to make a detour through the parish of Putney in Surrey and then to Windsortown. There was only one reason to go to the diocese of Putney, and his patron, Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, was born here to a commoner family.

To this day, he still cannot understand why the count's father was an alcoholic, violent, impulsive gentleman. Yes, the Count's father was indeed a gentleman, a gentleman who owned an ale distillery and held shares in a local blacksmith's shop. Whether he is a gentleman or not is no longer important. What is important is that the Earl of Essex has grown from a penniless little man who was often beaten by his father to a famous chief minister of state and keeper of the seals.

As little Hans rode through the streets of the parish of Putney with his young assistants, pointing with his horsewhip to the houses lining the streets, "Lo and behold, we have come to the place where Lord Essex was born. ”

It was not the first time that the assistant had followed his boss to this parish, and looked at his boss with some incomprehension, "My lord, why do you come here every time you go out of town?" ”

Little Hans glanced at the assistant manservant and shook his head, "You won't understand. If I were a writer, I would have written the legendary life of Lord Essex into a book. ”

"My lord, so what you told me before about your Excellency is true?"

"Idiot, of course it's true. I'm a European from Bavaria, do you think I'll be able to make up what happened after your birth? ”

"I'm sorry, sir."

The court painter no longer blamed the valet who had only received some elementary education, but just said, "You know what? Lord Essex left England at the age of 15 to fight in Italy as a mercenary in France. ”

Then, Henry VIII's royal court painter sighed, "Fifteen years old! I was only 3 years old, and my father jokingly told me to pick up a paintbrush and see what I could paint on the canvas. ”

"If my father were like your father, do you think I could still be a court painter to His Majesty?" Little Hans turned his head to the manservant beside him.

At this time, the manservant focused on an adult woman wearing a tight dress with a straight neckline. Two thin eyes were always fixed on the white and very plump breasts of the adult woman, "My God, if I could put my face on these beautiful breasts and sleep for a while, I would rather whip myself with a leather whip every night." ”

"Hey, idiot, what are you looking at?" Little Hans was a little annoyed by the manservant's demeanor.

"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't see anything." The manservant quickly withdrew his eyes. As the two continued to walk forward, the valet heard a hearty female laugh behind him, "Boy, as long as you are willing to pay me, I will make you forget everything." ”

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Mrs. Surrey, Frances Howard, was woken up by her valet and rubbed her eyes to look at the French clockwork on the small table at the head of the bed. Then, with some annoyance, he said, "Beth, why did you wake me up now?" ”

The maid Beth was arranging the dress she was going to change into today, and when she heard her words, she quickly turned around and bowed and replied, "I'm sorry, ma'am, it's 7 a.m., and you asked me to wake you up before 8 a.m." ”

"What, it's only 7 o'clock? Beth, I read it wrong. Frances looked more closely, and the hands of the clockwork had just passed 7 o'clock in the morning.

"Madame, will you get up now or a little later?"

"For now. Well, are the adults up? ”

Beth thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, ma'am, your lord gets up at sunrise. ”

Frances, knowing that today was the day her husband Henry Howard was going to the court, said as she got out of bed: "If you haven't already left, go and tell your lord that I'm up." ”

It was almost 9 o'clock in the morning, Frances, dressed in a countess dress, came to the gate of the manor with Beth and another maid. By this time, a light wagon had been waiting for her for a long time in the open space in front of the manor. As Frances walked slowly toward the carriage, she instructed a maid to follow on her right, "Go and tell them that I won't be going long." If anything happens to the eldest son of your lordship, come to His Highness's manor to find me immediately. ”

The maid nodded in agreement, and the manservant waiting on the side of the carriage saw her approaching and hurriedly opened the door for her. As Frances got into the carriage, Beth walked over to the coachman and looked up at the other and said, "Madame is going to the Duke of Richmond's estate." ”

At the same time, Isabel had already competed with several guards from the north such as Fast for nearly an hour. When she had finished her battle with one of the guards, Fast, who was standing on the sidelines, pondered and said, "Miss, this is what Lord Surrey has given you...... The bayonet, with the branches near the grip removed, was just a one-handed sword, presumably from Europe. ”

Fast wasn't quite sure of what he was saying, and turned his head to look at the other three guards. One of the guards nodded at Isabel and added, "Yes, miss, I have never seen such a slender one-handed sword in the north. I can't think of anywhere else with such a sword except in Europe. ”

Isabel held the sword in her right hand in front of her eyes, looking back and forth at the metal branch gauntlet outside the grip, "Have you seen anyone wearing this kind of sword after you came to His Highness's manor?" ”

Several people present nodded their heads, and Fast smiled softly, "Yes, Miss." Nobles, gentlemen, and yoman loved to wear this sword. I think it's because this bayonet is beautiful and matches the costume. ”

"This proves that this sword will be used by more nobles and people in the future, and perhaps thieves will also love to use this sword."

"Miss, are you saying that we should all wear this kind of sword?"

Isabel grabbed the bayonet sword and swung it down hard, smiling, "At least this bayonet sword is much more beautiful than the half-hand sword." Of course, this sword is only suitable for use in duels or everyday life, and cannot be used on the battlefield. ”

At this moment, the butler walked briskly in the direction of the crowd. After coming to Isabel's side to salute, he reported: "Mademoiselle, Mrs. Surrey has come to the estate in a carriage. ”