Although William Parr said he would deal with the complexities of the two religions as his father had intended, Isabel had to admit that his claims were as clever or helpless as she had imagined. On the premise of serving Henry VIII, he should protect the king's measures to the greatest extent and retain his own dissenting opinions in order to live longer.

Shamefully, neither could compare with the Marquis of Exeter, who dared to challenge the measures of the King and the Chief Minister of State. However, Henry Courtney, the cousin of Henry VIII, who owned two titles and a large domain, did not have such pure and admirable intentions. It was because of his shared Roman Catholicism with his second wife that he developed great compassion for the expelled religious people in his territory.

What if the Marquess of Exeter, with his royal blood, became interested in Protestantism? This seems to be a completely impossible thing to happen. In an era when divine power was above royal power, the marquis was of course to defy the authority of King Henry VIII for the sake of the common religious beliefs of his family members. The Marquis only saw his cousin's desire to rebel against God's will, but he did not see the effects of the Reformation.

For example, it politically attacked the theocracy of the Catholic Church; Economically, it contributed to the development of European capitalism; Culturally, it emancipated people's minds, developed humanism, promoted the development of national culture and education in Western European countries, and provided ideological weapons for the early bourgeois revolution; This led to the awakening of national consciousness and the formation of an independent nation-state.

It is true that no nobleman in the world today could have known the true purpose of Henry VIII's Reformation. When Henry VIII, who was quite chivalrous and imposing, tore his face with the Pope and the Holy See in order to get a son, it was impossible to see the consequences of his bravery.

It should be said that the death of the Marquis of Exeter is very tragic. As a noble marquis and count, the king's cousin, he did not know the purpose of his king's cousin's reformation. And in his correspondence with the Pope, the Pope did not mention to the Marquis the deeper reasons for his eventual rejection of Henry VIII's divorce request.

Therefore, the devout and blind Catholic Marquis of Exeter was put to death by beheading, and did not deserve the pity and sympathy of the people. He cannot understand God, who seems to be omnipresent and omnipotent, but who has in fact done nothing concrete

In a secular society, it is still necessary to rely on strength to establish authority, let alone understand the fundamental role played by the authority of the king in chaos. From this point of view, he should indeed be thrown into the dustbin of history with the political system of divine monarchy.

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Lady Ripley did not discuss the complex and acute religious question with the Earl of Essex, and the conversation between the two men on the subject of the Duke of Cornwall, Prince Edward, was unusually relaxed. In the ancient forest in the sacred tranquility, the bonfires raised by the attendants in the camp make people feel warm and friendly.

Then he smiled lightly at William Parr, Earl of Essex, "William, I heard a title about you in the court. ”

The Earl, who was standing beside her with his hands behind his back, looked at her and whispered, "You want to talk about Prince Edward calling me 'beloved uncle,' aren't you?" ”

Isabel leaned against an ancient tree with her hands folded over her chest, looking at the Count in the light of the fire, "William, I believe this is the result of a good friendship between Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Edward. Only, have you ever wondered about the day when Prince Edward will inherit the throne? ”

"Inherit the throne?!" William glanced at Isabel in some surprise. However, he knew very well what the other party meant, and he could also see the incomprehensible actions of the terminally ill supreme king in the court. He was more convinced that Prince Edward's succession to the throne was an established fact.

It's just that at present, he has not thought of what good luck or bad luck Prince Edward will bring to him after succeeding to the throne. Thinking deeply about the words of her beloved Lady Ripley, she said with some hesitation, "Isabel, what do you want to tell me?" ”

Isabel looked up at the night sky where the moonlight could be faintly seen, and said softly, "Since you are willing to give up other lives for the sake of court life, why can't you make good use of this good title?" ”

William nodded slightly, "Well, you're right, I really should use the prince's affection for me to secure my position in the court. ”

"That's right, rising status means gaining more power." Isabel withdrew her chin and glanced at the Count, "But you must know that you are not the only nobleman in the court who loves power. ”

William nodded, focusing his gaze on the campfire and said, "Isabel, I know that. However, you also know that your good companion, my sister, is the most honorable of all Majesty the Queen. So, I believe that I can gain His Majesty's trust more easily than other nobles with royal blood. ”

Isabel straightened up and walked slowly towards the other side behind William, saying, "Your Majesty is more willing to trust the 'generals' who have won for him in the war over the years than those nobles who have royal blood. ”

The news of the successful attack on the French fleet spread almost throughout England and Ireland, and every nobleman, knight, and squire knew who the two "generals" Henry VIII called him honorific. The Earl of Essex, near the center of royal power, could not have been unaware of the two generals. At this point, he wanted to know what Lady Ripley wanted to say next.

"Isabel, you mean Lord Lyle and His Royal Highness the Duke of Richmond. Well, I wouldn't mind. William said lightly, but muttered inwardly, "What does she want to tell me?" Lord Lyle is a good friend of mine, and perhaps he will rely on my position in the court to elevate his status. As for the Duke of Richmond...... Just an illegitimate child. ”

Isabel looked at the other party's thoughtful face and nodded, "Well, I know Lord Lyle is your good partner. However, Lord Lyle will be more and more trusted by His Majesty. ”

"It's... It's unlikely, right? William blurted out. In his opinion, Viscount Lyle, who had no power in the court, would eventually need his assistance in order to gain influence and important status.

"Of course, you know the rights that His Majesty has given to Lord Lyle and me, and Lord Lyle will always be at His Majesty's side. Who do you think will be more loved and trusted by His Majesty? ”