From the birth of Jesus Christ in 1310 to Baron Clifford I, and the Clifford family continued in 1540 when Henry Clifford, Earl II of Cumberland, was 23 years old, from the patriarch of the first person in the family to the most humble lord, the tenant farmers, all of them were faithful Catholics.

During the Northern Rebellion of 1536, the Earl's father, the Earl of Cumberland, managed to escape the first rebellion of the Northern Society with great difficulty, thanks to his close friendship with Henry VIII. However, the eldest son of Earl I of Cumberland was not so lucky to make friends with Prince Edward, the only son of Henry VIII. If he had become a close friend of the later Edward VI, the young Earl of Cumberland II would not have ended up in a tragic separation 29 years later.

Therefore, Isabel, who is a Protestant at heart, has no intention of talking or interacting with such a stubborn traditional Catholic family. And because Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, the mother of the wife of Earl Cumberland II, had always had a rigid relationship with Henry VIII, it was even less likely that she would have some contact with the Cumberland family as Henry VIII's illegitimate son.

However, judging by the curiosity that the Earl of Cumberland II had developed about her, the traditional Catholic wanted to take the initiative to establish a deeper connection with her. Either way, it's a good thing to get to know a knight's daughter. As for what the benefits were, Henry didn't dare to jump to conclusions at this time.

At the moment, Isabel did not want to stay any longer, and she planned to leave Skipton Castle as soon as possible after meeting with the Earl of Cumberland. Henry Clifford smiled and nodded, "Miss Isabel, I can see the respect you have for my father from the heart. However, my father is currently too ill to meet the guests, so we should follow God's wishes and let him rest a little longer. ”

This is a good thing that Isabel could not ask for. However, the two Cumberland ladies in the castle still had to pay a visit. Among them, Eleanor Clifford, Henry Clifford's wife, is an important figure.

According to the third Law of Succession to the Throne, Eleanor's biological mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, has the 7th right to the throne of England. After her mother's death, Eleanor was the 8th in line of succession. Of course, if Eleanor could become Queen of England, unless, all of the following heirs to the throne died.

The order of succession to the throne is as follows:

Prince Edward, Duke of Cornwall, her cousin.

Miss Mary Tudor, her cousin.

Miss Elizabeth Tudor, her cousin.

Miss Frances Brandon (mother of Jane Grey, Queen of the Nine), Marquess of Dorset, her sister.

Miss Jane Grey, her eldest niece.

Miss Catherine Grey, her second niece.

Miss Mary Grey, her third niece.

Out of aristocratic etiquette and admiration for the Tudor royal family, Isabel met Eleanor, the aunt of the "Queen of the Nine," in Lady Cumberland's room. At this time, Eleanor was still recuperating after giving birth to a daughter for the Cumberland family, Miss Margaret Clifford.

Presumably for the sake of her cousin, the Duke of Richmond, Mrs. Cumberland asked Isabel to stay in the room a little longer. When there were only two people left in the room and Margaret, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Cumberland II, who was lying in a crib, Eleanor, who was half-leaning on the head of the bed, smiled and invited her to sit down and talk.

"Miss Isabel, Henry said you came to Skipton Castle as a gift for Your Highness?" Eleanor, who had long hair and a shawl and was wearing a white nightgown, although the blood on her face had not yet returned to her normal state, she still had more energy to speak.

Isabel sat two or three paces away from Mrs. Cumberland's queen gothic bed, smiled and nodded, "Yes, ma'am. ”

"Miss, I can see the figure of the former queen from your eyes, smile, expression, and clothing on your body. Can you believe it? ”

"The Queen? Madame, what do you mean..."

"I'm sorry, but the queen I'm talking about is Queen Catherine of Aragon."

Isabel looked at Mrs. Cumberland's benevolent, serene face and resolute eyes, and thought to herself, "It seems that Eleanor's mother instilled in her many stories of Henry VIII's first queen. Nodding slightly, "It's all right, ma'am, for Catherine of Aragon is indeed a queen who is embraced and loved by the subjects of the kingdom in every way. ”

Eleanor smiled but shook her head and sighed, "Miss, you're right. However, His Majesty abandoned Anne Boleyn for the sake of her watery poplar woman. Not only did he abandon her, but he also resolutely turned away from the teachings of the Pope and the love of God. ”

In what year is it, Henry VIII has already married his first queens, and the daughter of Her Royal Highness seems to remember the long gone. If it weren't for the fact that she was the cousin of the Duke of Richmond, Isabel would have gotten up long ago and left the room, which was enveloped in a negative mood of grief, sorrow, and indignation.

Isabel sat there helplessly, and spoke in a gentle tone to Mrs. Cumberland, who was weakened after giving birth, "Madame, I think it would be very sad if the Queen, who is by God's side at this moment, hears such words from you. ”

Eleanor shifted a somewhat blank look to her face, and asked curiously, "Miss, why do you think the queen is sad?" ”

Isabel stood up and walked to the window and looked at the sky that had already sunset, "Madam, you said you saw the queen in me, did you?" ”

"Yes, it does."

"As far as I know, the Queen is a brave and healthy queen who is not conservative in thought and in action." Isabel glanced at the other party after speaking, and when she saw the other party nodding frequently, she said with a serious expression: "Your Majesty's cancellation of the marriage contract with the Queen and breaking away from the shackles of the Holy See are two different matters, ma'am, what do you think?" ”

Isabel asked a question that Eleanor probably never thought of. Perhaps, she was just looking at the divorce case between Henry VIII and her mother's close friend from the perspective of her mother and Queen Catherine. She looked at each other in disbelief, and after staring at each other for a long time, she said slowly, "Miss, I don't understand. I'd love to hear you continue, though. ”

Isabel crossed her arms and paced slowly in front of the window, "Actually, His Majesty's cancellation of his engagement to the Queen is just an excuse to leave the Pope and the Holy See. ”