When the Duke of Richmond had completely calmed down, Robert Althorp, a lawyer in London, said mildly: "Your Highness, please rest assured that as a lawyer, I am still very confident in how to protect my life." But allow me to apologize once again from the bottom of my heart. ”

Henry asked him coldly, "Sir, why do you apologize to me again?" ”

"Your Highness, because I didn't keep the promise I made to you yesterday. When it was time to see you, I was called by the priest. ”

"Well, I accept your apology. Now, can you talk to me about that urgent matter of yours? ”

After Robert gathered his thoughts, he slowly stated: "Yes, Your Highness. Do you know what the Catholic faith means to the devout people of the North, Your Highness? ”。

Henry said unhurriedly: "Sir, you mean that the King's Reformation destroyed the cornerstone of the life of the people of the North?" ”

"Yes, Your Highness. It is the cornerstone of life not only for the people of the North, but also for the Eastern, Southern, South-Western and Welsh parts of the Kingdom. What the king did to the Pope and to the Holy See was an irreversible disaster for the entire kingdom. This catastrophe can almost be seen as the brutal invasion of the kingdom by barbarians from Scandinavia in the 8th century. ”

Hearing this, Isabel had a feeling of wanting to laugh. This lawyer from London, who was a sophist, was able to forcibly link the Reformation of Henry VIII with the ancient history of the Danish invasion of England centuries earlier.

Henry's face was still very calm, and he just said, "Sir, you can continue." ”

Robert added: "Your Highness, Catholicism has a long history of nearly a thousand years in the Kingdom, and when did the state religion of England or the Anglicans turn their rebellion against the innocent Pope and the Holy See? ”

"Your Highness, remember August 1529. In the heat of August, His Majesty appealed the divorce case to the Pope in order to divorce his queen Catherine. Naturally, the Pope would not approve such a ridiculous act. ”

"Soon Kranmer, the Protestant-inclined 'Little Germany,' arrogantly proposed to the king that the king should have royal power to settle the divorce without begging for the papa's consent."

"At this point, a king who insists on going his own way will completely destroy the Catholic Church and the ancient traditions of faith in the kingdom."

In order to be able to convince the young royal duke to join the "Grace Tour" movement, Robert made a lot of preparations during his break yesterday evening. At this time, when he finished talking in one breath about the foreshadowing of today's conversation with the duke, he only felt that his mouth was dry and his throat was itchy.

Glancing at the glass of wine on the small table beside him, he licked his chapped lips and swallowed hard a mouthful of saliva to moisten his itchy throat. In fact, what Robert desperately wanted at this time was a large glass of ale. What a refreshing feeling it was to hold the glass and drink the ale with a painful neck.

After listening to Robert's statement, Henry turned his gaze to Isabel beside him. Isabel bent down slightly and put her ear close to Henry's small mouth, only to hear Henry say, "What nonsense are you talking about this gentleman lawyer?!" This is exactly the tone of upholding the supreme authority of the Holy See! ”

Isabel squirmed her lips and said, "Relax, and hear what he has to say next." ”

Henry looked coldly at the restless London lawyer, and said lightly: "Sir, you must be thirsty, right?" Please, even though this glass of wine should have been served to you beforehand. ”

Robert looked at the Duke gratefully and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness, God will surely bless you." ”

Next, the lawyer from London told the Duke as much as he could about the "evil deeds" he had heard and seen about the king and the Reformation. For example, the Act of Deprivation of Judicial Privileges of the Clergy, passed by the Diet at the end of 1529, henceforth treated the holy clergy on an equal footing with the common people. As a result, the "sacred rank" of the clergy was dealt a heavy blow and became a religious professional group.

Then, from the Acts of Contempt of the Crown, passed by the Diet in 1530, we talk about the humiliating counterattack of the Catholic clergy. Robert boasted that he had also been invited by the clergy, declaring that Parliament had no de jure authority to authorize the Archbishop of Canterbury to disobey the Pope's orders.

Finally, when Robert spoke of the Act of Supremacy, passed by Parliament in 1534, accusing Henry VIII of not only being the supreme ruler of the world, but also of making himself the supreme ruler of religion, and that all the churches in England no longer obeyed the dictates of the Pope, Henry was tired of wandering alone again.

Isabel, who was standing on the sidelines, also felt that she was about to lose her listening. While Robert was drinking to moisten his throat, he coughed lightly, looked at Henry and said, "Your Highness, do you have anything to say?" ”

Henry came back to his senses and looked at the adviser who blinked his right eye twice in a row, and hurriedly said to Robert, "Yes, the gentleman said it very well. I now authorize my Privy Counsellor to express my views. ”

Robert shifted his butt from side to side, trying to sit more comfortably, and replied cheerfully, "Thank you very much, Your Highness." Your Highness, I will make myself a very serious listener. ”

After thinking about it, Isabel whispered, "Sir, according to your understanding, what do you think is the real purpose of the king's initiation of the Reformation?" ”

Robert thought quickly, guessing what the other meant, and replied, "The King has broken his oath to God in order to achieve the ugly purpose of divorcing Queen Catherine, who is from the Spanish royal family, and whom God has recognized. ”

"Sir, you are right. You may be aware of the fact that in the 18 years that the queen was married to the king, not a single healthy baby boy survived. So, what do you think the king would have chosen between male heirs and Catholic doctrine? ”

"The marriage of the king and the queen was not without heirs, they had a surviving daughter. The Pope had already issued a charter allowing them to marry. I think this marriage is reasonable and legitimate, and there are no problems. ”

"Sir, if you still don't admit that the king's present marriage is not legitimate, I don't think there is any need for us to discuss it any further."

"Why, Your Excellency?"

"Sir, according to the Treason Act of 1534, your denial of the legitimacy of the king's marriage shall be punishable by treason, punishable by death!"

Robert was stunned for a moment, then laughed aloud and said, "As a devout Catholic, I believe God will bless me." I don't have to worry about getting hurt by any of the demons. ”

For such a man who was bent on submission to Catholicism and the Holy See, Isabel had no interest in even debating. Glancing at the French clock on the fireplace, he said to Henry, "Your Highness, it's almost lunchtime." ”

Henry snapped open his eyes, which had closed at some point, looked at the advisor and said, "You mean... Lunch? Amazing, finally able to have lunch. ”

"Your Highness, you have one more guest here." Isabel said deliberately.

"Guests? I remember. Uh, Mr. Althorp, it's my lunch time. If you wish, we can continue the meeting after lunch. Henry stood up and said as he walked towards the door of the study.