The English word viscount comes from the old French visconte (modern French vicomte). The word comes from the medieval Latin vicecomitem, which originally meant "vice-servant", and "comes" also developed into a count in the Middle Ages.

This title did not appear until the 14th-15th centuries and was generally the title of the county magistrate. However, another theory is that when the county earl went on a campaign with the monarch (40 days for a superior lord was the basic obligation of a military vassal), he left his eldest son in the realm as an agent. Thus, the viscount was the assistant to the county count.

From this point of view, Henry VIII's bestowal on Isabelle Walton the title of Baroness Ripley, was well thought out. Because she was a noble woman, and because she had long served as a deputy to the Duke of Richmond, it was only reasonable to make her a viscount (the only viscount of the nobles of the House of Lords had the least seniority). Of course, among the five levels of titles, only the viscount title matches her position, status, and status.

During her stay in the City of London, Isabel not only obtained the title of nobility, the decree of the title of land and the letter of appointment drawn up and issued by the Lord Chancellor, and stamped with the seal, but also received the coat of arms and coat of arms drawn for herself from the York Heraldic Officer of the House of Arms. However, she did not receive the noble attire of the viscount from the heraldic officer. Because the aristocracy has always been dominated by men, the aristocratic dress of the heraldic court is only male clothing. Isabel had no choice but to borrow some money from the Duke of Richmond and go to the French dressers in the city of London to order two sets of viscountess-level bodysuits.

By now, Isabel Walton had reached the pinnacle of her career in the 16th-century Kingdom of England, and had acquired many spiritual and material riches that she could never have dreamed of. According to the thinking and life pattern of ordinary nobles, as long as she does not act and think of treason, her Viscount Ripley's family can remain until the day the kingdom falls.

However, in order for her family to continue in the kingdom, she must find a noble husband suitable for herself. Having children, managing the affairs of the territory, and giving children and grandchildren a better education, so that they can get higher titles, more power, and wealth. However, fate has decided that she will not stop there.

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In mid-April 1545, Isabel was again invited to the Earl of Essex's Winchester residence before returning to Yorkshire with the Duke of Richmond. With no hostess and children, the unusually sprawling former Bishop of Winchester's residence appears lifeless. While it brings divine tranquility to everyone who walks into this abode, it also makes people feel an atmosphere of loneliness and loneliness.

Dressed in a viscountess-level bodysuit and a crescent hat, Isabel stood up from the benches in the hall and glanced at William Parr, Earl of Essex, who was sitting beside her, "William, take me for a walk along the Thames." ”

William, dressed in an earl's attire, looked at her affectionately and nodded with a smile, "Isabel, we can go to the Thames from that underpass." ”

Originally, the lobby of the Winchester house had an ornately decorated vaulted underground passageway. This underground passage leads directly to the pier on the River Thames, where the Bishop of Winchester is summoned by the king at any time. Now, the Earl of Essex, the new owner of this magnificent bishop's residence, is of course aware of the underpass. It's just that for the earl, the younger brother of Her Majesty the Queen, this passage is not very practical.

At this moment, his favorite aristocratic woman, who should be Isabel of Lady Ripley, offered to take a walk on the Thames, and it was a good time to use this underground passage to add some interest to the atmosphere of the conversation between the two. William glanced at the valet a few paces behind him, "Go and open the door to that underground road, from where Lady Ripley and I will go to the Thames." ”

The valet hurriedly agreed, and called a few manservants from outside the hall to light the oil lamps on both sides of the underground passage. A short time later, William led Isabel into an inconspicuous wooden door to the north of the hall. As the two walked slowly through the underground passage, Isabel looked sideways at the Earl of Essex beside her, "I'm sorry, William, I can't enter the court and become Her Majesty's lady-in-waiting. ”

William also felt a sense of helplessness about what happened to Isabelle. He believed that if there was only one person who was willing to give up the life they loved, then he and Isabel would eventually go into church and say the sacred marriage vows in the presence of the Lord Jesus. However, he knew very well that he would not give up court life, and Isabel would not leave the north easily.

William looked at the straight passage in front of him and the small door at the end of the road with a white light peeking out, and said slowly, "Isabel, I know that you love such a respectable position as a Privy Counsellor. If I wanted you to be my deputy, would you still leave me and go back to the North? ”

Isabel probably knew he would say that, and said with a faint smile, "William, the position of privy counsellor in the Duke's Court is not the only reason for me to live in the north. ”

"Perhaps. I think we all know very well what kind of society the North is. Poverty, plunder, vendettas, allegiance to the lord, everything remained in a time of ignorance and obsession with trusting religion. William spoke of the dark side of northern society as if venting his anger.

"William, you're saying it well. But can you understand what I'm thinking? ”

"Thoughts? Isabel, do you remember the first time we met? At that time, you wanted to kill me with a sword. ”

Isabel glanced at William's face that seemed to be angry, and smiled slightly, "William, that's a kind of life-and-death verdict where either you die or I die." Of course, you think you can beat me or kill me. ”

William Parr did not answer her, for he knew that his knightly skills were not perfect, and he did not even have the qualifications of a knight's squire. Then, he simply said, "Isabel, I have never understood why the Duke would let you take the position of his Privy Counsellor. Doesn't the Duke consider you a noble woman? ”

Isabel never told William about her past, so William's doubts were understandable. Isabel thought to herself, and came up with an excuse, "William, this may be the result of my education. ”

William admits that she was right, and that more educated aristocratic women did become the lieutenants of male nobles in court affairs, such as Queen Anne Boleyn and her sister Her Majesty Queen Catherine.