[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

William III never thought that he would eat melons on his own head, but Henry II chose to marry the Duchy of Lorraine, which is not unexpected.

After all, in terms of identity and bloodlines, a princess of a powerful principality is also a good choice on the premise that a princess of a great country cannot be found.

Although the niece of William III was excluded from the list of heirs by the Salic Code, this does not mean that her son cannot swear his right to inherit the Duchy of Lorraine.

If the eldest son of Franz de Lorraine dies young, and he and Princess Marie have no other children, the Dauphin of France who marries the Princess of Lorraine has the right to claim the Duchy of Lorraine in the name of his son. , into the royal fief of France.

Even though the Duchy of Lorraine at that time would choose a collateral male heir to inherit the title, relying on the strength of France, even if the Duchy of Lorraine could not be completely annexed, it could still eat a piece of fat.

Therefore, from this perspective, the value of Princess Lorraine is no less than that of any princess of a great country.Not only Henry II, but also the Duke of Guise and the Duke of Vendome were even thinking about marriage.

As an offshoot of Lorraine, the Duke of Guise is one of the leading nobles in France, so he naturally had the same idea as Henry II.

As for the Duke of Vendome, he is actually an "old acquaintance" of William III.Because Queen Juana married Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme in history, and gave birth to Henry IV with him.

However, in this world, because Princess Marie married the Duke of Lorraine, and William III married Queen Juana, the Duke of Vendôme married the niece of Charles V, the widowed Duchess of Milan Princess Christina , she is also the real wife of the Duke of Lorraine in history.

"Kathy (Princess Lorraine's nickname) has just been born, and someone misses her?" In fact, William III can understand these people's thoughts, because he also thought whether the Princess of Lorraine is mainly his niece, or Richmond The Duke was not engaged to Mary of Scotland, but it would have been a good choice for Alexander to marry Princess Lorraine.

And regardless of the inheritance rights of the Principality of Lorraine, Princess Mary and the Duke of Lorraine are unlikely to let Princess Lorraine marry empty-handed, at least they will give her a dowry no less than 15 pounds.

"In fact, Princess Mary has rejected Henry II's marriage proposal." Richard Cromwell replied: "Both she and the Duke of Lorraine think that Princess Lorraine is too young, far from Engagement age, and the royal family of France...is not a good place."

Although Richard Cromwell said it very euphemistically, William III could imagine Princess Mary's wholehearted rejection of the marriage.

After all, the environment in which Princess Mary grew up meant that she would not have the slightest liking for the French royal family, which is keen on raising mistresses.

William III also felt that France was not a good place to marry his daughter.

Of course, if he could marry a French princess, he would not refuse.

"Then Charles V gave up his marriage with France just like that?" William III continued to ask, returning to the key point: "My cousin is not a person who gives up easily."

"The Spanish emperor also proposed the second marriage method, which is to let his niece, Johanna, the youngest daughter of Ferdinand I, be engaged to the French crown prince."

"Did Henry II agree?"

"No, because he feels that it is too inappropriate for his heir to match the daughter of a grand duke who is not high in the ranking. Besides, the grand duke of Austria is not rich, so he cannot provide a dowry that satisfies Henry II." Before Richard Cromwell entered the court, he never thought that members of the noble royal family would also be sad to marry.

But the reality is that everyone wants to gain enough advantage in the marriage market, so some members of the royal family who can't find a marriage partner and don't want to lower their status can only be single nobles, or go to the church to dedicate their lives .

After listening to Richard Cromwell's answer, William III finally felt relieved to deal with domestic affairs.

The parade of the royal family was scheduled for November, which happened to be the beginning of winter, so the commoners began to prepare food for the winter.

The king's parade was not long, and because William III omitted the steps of traveling on the Thames by boat, Sir Cecil cut down the cost of building a luxury ship with peace of mind, and instead William III and Queen Juana took Open carriages travel through the City of London before changing into private carriages with greater secrecy before leaving the city.

"Have you prepared the tips for the people?" Queen Juana adjusted her skirt before departure, and asked Johanna to change into a crown that must be smaller: "That shell-carved crown is too heavy. If you add more Putting on the matching jewelry will probably exhaust me to death."

"The tip is the responsibility of Mr. Richard Cromwell. Besides, Your Majesty, today is an important occasion for you to face the people of London, and you don't have to wear it all day, so it doesn't matter if you are a little tired." If it were an ordinary maid, she might have replaced the hostess with a lighter crown according to Queen Juana's request, but Johanna would never give up her idea easily because of Queen Juana's request.

Especially on such an important occasion.

Johanna felt that Queen Juana should work harder to ensure that the first parade of the king and his wife would leave a better impression on the citizens.

Facing Johanna who was so persistent, Queen Juana only complained a little, and then honestly put on a set of jewelry that put pressure on her neck.

While adjusting the makeup and hair accessories for Queen Juana, Johanna reassured: "You can be satisfied! His Majesty's crown is heavier than your whole set. Besides, in France, you have to wear a ruff collar and Fishbone girdle, that's the real torture."

Queen Juana thought of the fashion in France, and suddenly felt that the shell-carved crown was nothing, at least she didn't have to be hooped all over her body.

Especially after the comparison with William III, Queen Juana suddenly felt that her neck was relaxed a lot, and she even had the strength to show a reserved and reserved smile.

Richard Cromwell handed the king and queen two bulging money bags as they boarded their carriage.

King William III and Queen Juana, driving out of the city of London, waved coins to the townspeople with a sort of tactful sympathy, and then heard the blessings rise and fall.

"God save the king!"

"God save the queen!"

"Long live England, long live William III."

Some enthusiastic London citizens even scattered flowers and fruits on the king's carriage, causing the guarding knights to subconsciously clenched their gun handles at their waists, for fear that someone would mix with the citizens and throw dangerous objects at the king and his wife.

Also nervous was John Dudley, who was in charge of parade security.In order to go out of the city today, he has sent people to check the route of the carriage meeting over and over again, and even let the soldiers under him occupy all the high positions that can assassinate William III. It can be said that the security has reached the level of iron walls. .

Riding alongside John Dudley was Lieutenant Edmund Walsingham, who had been transferred from the Tower of London.

This is the moment when the latter is closest to the king, so there is no slack for a moment.

"Your Excellency, there are still two intersections to the place where the king changes his carriage." Edmund Walsingham licked his lips and breathed a little in his heart: "Sir Paal is already waiting there, do you want to inform me? His Majesty the King?"

John Dudley nodded, then gestured sideways to Richard Cromwell, who was closest to the carriage, who immediately conveyed the news to William III, and at the same time motioned to Johanna and Cavendish Sir, the king and his wife's replacement costumes are to be prepared.

The moment William III got out of the car, Richard Cromwell asked the accompanying royal servants to draw the curtain, blocking the route of the king and his wife.

Johanna, who was the first to get out of the car, wanted to help Queen Juana, but William III did her job when she got off the car, so Johanna could only quickly retract her hand, and then asked the maids to take out Queen Juana Changed clothes, served the hostess to the temporary tent, and changed into a very cumbersome parade uniform.

"Are the stations of the parade ready to respond?" William III replaced the heavy crown in the tent, and Richard Cromwell put him on a lighter hat, and then took off the heavy crown. The mortal crimson cloak.

The king's parade clothes are almost identical to the coronation clothes, so Johanna's words of comfort to Queen Juana are really not exaggerated.

"Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall along the road have already done the reception work, and all of them are under the responsibility of the Marquess of Dorset." William Parr A month ago, the whole country was notified of the king's parade, so the great nobles from all over the country were prepared.

Except for the stubborn Percy family.

It's a pity that Henry VIII had long since supported the Seymour family's rebellion against the Prince of Wales, and wiped out the titles of the Percy family, so the control of Northumberland was handed over to the former Sheriff Cecil Sir, I believe it will not be long before the Chancellor of the Exchequer will receive the title that once belonged to the Percy family.

"The Marchioness of Dorset hopes that you will use their mansion as the first stop of the parade, and also revealed to me their political demands." Richard Cromwell said in a low voice: "They paid for it. A favor fee of three hundred pounds was paid, and I got the money."

"Who else is they going to buy?" William III never worried that Richard Cromwell would lie to him, because the man, like his father, was the most loyal Royalist.

"Sir Dudley, Sir Parr, and Sir Cecil all received the money, but Sir Parr asked me to transfer the money to you, and Sir Cecil donated the money to your Welsh Henry-Catherine Abbey established."

"It's really a smart way." William III turned his head and asked Richard Cromwell to tidy up the lace on his collar: "You don't have to hand over the bribe from the Marchioness of Dorset to me, Just accept it. As for Sir Dudley..."

William III remembered Jane Gray, Queen of the Nine Days in history, and decided to re-examine his Lord of the Admiralty.

"It's better to let William Parr keep an eye on Sir John Dudley. I always feel that he wants to do something behind my back." William III remembered that John Dudley had brought down Lord Protector Edward in history. Seymour, and also took the opportunity to fight for the throne of England.

And after he was beheaded by Queen Mary I, his son Robert Dudley inherited his father's ambition and once wanted to become Queen Elizabeth I's husband.It's a pity that the father and son didn't catch up with the good times. Even the Dudley family became a gust of wind on the Tudor crown. After blowing a few gems, they disappeared.

William III knew that the Marchioness of Dorset was still thinking about the Duke of Suffolk, and was also trying to take away the part inherited by the Countess of Nottingham.

"Changing the first stop to Dorset, I can't disobey the kindness of the Marchioness of Dorset." William III asked Richard Cromwell to inform him, and made a small tour itinerary. change.

Queen Juana was a little surprised by the sudden change of her husband, but after changing trains, she deliberately chatted with William III about the Marchioness of Dorset.

"A few days ago, when I visited Alexander at St. James' Palace, Lady Anne (Anne of Cleves) said that the Marchioness of Dorset intended to betroth Jane Gray to the Duke of York." Queen Juana said bluntly: "It's just After Brother Seymour was imprisoned, the matter fell away, and then the Marquess of Dorset moved closer to John Dudley."

"Are they short of money again?" King William III knew how poor his cousin's family was, so he raised the naive Queen Nine Days, and sold custody of his eldest daughter to John for two thousand pounds. Dudley.

Queen Juana thought that William III was worried that his courtiers and relatives were getting too close, so she took advantage of the situation and said: "Miss Jane Gray was born on the same day as the Duke of York, and it is normal to say relatives now. Besides, England is ranked first." There are only a few nobles here, you don’t want your cousin and niece to marry a squire!”

William III glanced at Queen Juana meaningfully, but did not answer her question.

In fact, he really considered letting his niece marry at a low price, because in this way, their descendants would automatically cancel the right to inherit the throne due to insufficient blood.

Although William III and Queen Juana are in their prime of life and will have many heirs in the future, the order of succession in England is illogical and can be changed many times according to the wishes of those in power.

Although the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of York, the Countess of Nottingham, Princess Mary and her children, and Miss Elizabeth are still lined up in front of the Marchioness of Dorset, from the perspective of William III, the seven Six of the five heirs have obvious factors that cannot inherit the throne.

The Duke of York's mother had never been crowned, and his physical condition, and the fact that he had dedicated himself to the Lord, meant that even being King of England would be a transitional role.

Although the Countess of Nottingham is the granddaughter of Henry VIII, her inheritance comes from her mother, Eleanor Brandon, because her father was an illegitimate child.However, according to the normal inheritance law, Eleanor Brandon should be ranked lower than her sister, the Marchioness of Dorset, so the Countess of Nottingham needs to be ranked in front of her aunt through her status as an adopted daughter of William III.

As for Princess Mary, the two major factors of faith and marrying to another country alone are enough to make the parliament shy away.

And Miss Elizabeth is an illegitimate daughter, so being disinherited is not a big deal.

So to a certain extent, only the Duke of Richmond is really standing in front of the Marquis of Dorset.

William III is not sure whether John Dudley has moved to fight for the throne, but he does not want the Marchioness of Dorset and John Dudley to be his son and daughter.

"After the parade, take Jane Gray with you!" William III made up his mind: "My cousin rarely pays attention to the upbringing of her daughters, so Jane Gray was kept in a bit of a place. Innocent and romantic, this is extremely fatal in a marriage with an aristocrat."

Queen Juana immediately understood what William III was thinking, and said, "Miss Gray is a very pious lady. Maybe she would be happy to have academic exchanges with some Protestants." This is what she meant to say to Jane Gray.

William III looked out the window, feeling that the foggy sky was oppressive.

And when the carriage passed a field path, William III saw some landowners on tall horses beating the tenant farmers in the field with whips. Kneeling in front of the horse's hoof, begging each other bitterly.

"What are they doing?" Queen Juana took out her glasses to watch the movement in the field, and even rang the car bell, ordering: "Stop."

Richard Cromwell in front pulled down the baffle and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Queen Juana pointed out the window with her finger holding glasses, and asked casually: "What is the conflict in the field? Can't the court accept land conflicts?"

Perhaps Queen Juana's tone was a bit harsh, so Richard Cromwell felt a little guilty for a moment: "Perhaps the court has settled the land dispute, but the result did not satisfy the tenant farmers, and that's why this scene happened. "

After all, Richard Cromwell added: "Do you want them to come forward and talk?"

Queen Juana was about to say "yes", but was interrupted by William III: "No, let's continue on our way!"

Richard Cromwell couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and hurriedly let the coachman set off.

Queen Juana couldn't believe her husband's cold-blooded behavior, but she never believed that the latter deliberately ignored the plight of the tenant farmers: "William, do you know something?"

William III nodded, and his tone became serious: "It's the enclosure movement. It seems that we will be busy again after we return to London."