[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

In the spring of 1549, the Duke of Richmond of England and Mary Queen of Scots held an engagement ceremony.

All the kings of Europe showed a tacit and strange silence on this strange phenomenon.

It is true that Mary Stuart and the Duke of Richmond were both religiously and legally underage to be betrothed, yet no one would raise the point in public.Because no matter whether it is Catholicism or Protestantism, under the threat of the king, they will keep a standard silence and smile, and even send people to congratulate this good event of "celestial celebration".

As for the two children involved, they were just marionettes in the hands of adults, being manipulated into Westminster Abbey.

Although six-year-old Mary Stuart is aware that this is her big moment, her attention is still on the beauty of the engagement dress, the style of flowers, and whether she will be able to attend the engagement reception. , eat a small piece of cake and other childish little things.

Although it was the first time for the Duke of Guise to meet his niece, he did not have the slightest affection for Mary Stuart, because Westminster Abbey was full of Protestant atmosphere, and his niece was also in the Protestant Church. Under the ceremony, she became engaged to the Duke of Richmond.

And all of this made the young Duke of Guise, a Catholic believer, feel unbearable, and he didn't even want to hold Mary Stuart's hand and walk on the engagement carpet.

So, at the engagement ceremony of the Queen of Scots, the Earl of Morley, who had just drawn a bar, led his half-sister to the beautifully decorated altar under the gaze of all the guests.

And there, not only the Archbishop of Canterbury was waiting, but also the Duke of Richmond and the Countess of Surrey who accompanied him.

The three-year-old Duke of Richmond tried his best to restrain his playful nature, relying on his aunt's hands and thighs, trying his best to stand like a little adult.

Because of the engagement, the Duke of Richmond, who finally didn't have to wear a small skirt, changed into a mini royal dress and even wore a streamlined little crown.Perhaps because his head and ears were uncomfortable being bound by the crown, the Duke of Richmond couldn't control his hands trying to fiddle with his ears, which made him warned by Queen Juana's cough.

"Don't be so strict!" William III in the front row secretly reminded Queen Juana, but was severely reprimanded by his wife.

"This is an important moment for him. If it was another child, I would never ask him so strictly." Queen Juana touched her abdomen subconsciously, and her tone became a little stiffer: "One day, he will become a child." King of the Netherlands and England, I hope he will not tarnish the names of Henry and Alexander, two great kings."

Because William III spent a lot of energy on state affairs, the division of labor between him and Queen Juana was that his wife and Anne of Cleves were responsible for the education of their children.Seeing that the Duke of Richmond has also reached the age of enlightenment, he will inherit the throne of Prince of Wales that his father once sat in a few years, so Queen Juana, like Henry VIII, is full of riches all over Europe. Duke Manchu was looking for an enlightenment teacher, and even recently wrote many letters to Enrique II, hoping to return to Belgium after receiving envoys from these countries.

William III only said a few words and would not really interfere with Queen Juana's decision.However, in view of Queen Juana's physical condition, William III still tactfully said: "You really decided to go back to Belgium? If it's just to find a teacher for Alexander, don't be so anxious."

"Not only for Alexander, but also for my mother and the stability of the Belgian regime." Queen Juana still stared at the Duke of Richmond, but her attention gradually shifted to the conversation with William III: "My mother's The physical condition has been bad, and her father said that she will be summoned by God soon. Besides, Alexander was born in England, so Belgium and Flanders don't like him very much."

"Belgium and Flanders don't like him, or your father doesn't like him." William III suddenly realized something, so he said intentionally: "He wants a grandson born in Belgium, and then let him be named Enrique. name, to inherit the thrones of Belgium and Flanders?"

Queen Juana didn't look back, but felt numbness in her back, and she couldn't even control her trembling hands: "You know, I won't let this happen."

If the union of England, Belgium, Flanders, Holland, and even Scotland were cancelled, then they would not be able to shape a unified kingdom, and would eventually lead to what could have been a unified kingdom like the former Plantagenet family, or the descendants of William the Conqueror The major territories of the country split into other countries as the inheritance rights were dispersed.

William III knew very well that if William the Conqueror hadn't made his second in line the Duke of Normandy, or if the Plantagenet family hadn't divided Brittany, then England would swallow up the coastline on the left side of France, and it might even be the same as Harry's. The Boothsbergs wrestle.

Of course, from the perspective of Enrique II, what he did is not incomprehensible.

Because an independent king would not be willing to hand over his ancestors to his son-in-law.

"You know, I won't let this kind of thing happen." Queen Juana kept her voice as calm as possible: "Once we separate the ruling power, the Netherlands will fall into the French royal family one day. Like the Low Countries once were."

William III exhaled, and finally let go of his raised heart: "I can appoint my second son as Governor of the Netherlands, but I will never allow him to split the kingdom that should be unified."

Queen Juana felt a burst of pressure in her abdomen, and almost limp on William III's body.

At the same time, Miss Elizabeth in front of the altar asked the Duke of Richmond to hold Mary Stuart's little hand. Under the eyes of everyone, the two children, who were not even close to the adult's chest, knelt on the rose-colored cushion like Like William III and Queen Juana, they declared the marriage and the union of the two countries.

The Archbishop of Canterbury lovingly looked at the two fiancées who were less than ten years old together, and said in the most gentle voice: "Henry Alexander Tudor, Duke of Richmond, as the first heir to the kings of England, Ireland, and the Netherlands, Will the heir apparent, Juana, Crown Prince of Belgium and Flanders, swear before God, and before all, to be betrothed to Mary Stuart of Scotland, and to protect her forever?"

"I am willing." The Duke of Richmond glanced at Miss Elizabeth, and under the gesture of the latter's mouth, he said the sentence he had practiced for a long time.

Mary Stuart on the side wanted to sigh, but she still held her fiancé's hand tightly to prevent him from falling to the ground without support.

The Archbishop of Canterbury who got the answer looked at Mary Stuart again, and found that the latter had a very straight back, as if intending to prove that he was more reliable than the Duke of Richmond: "Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, are you willing Betrothed to the Duke of Richmond in the presence of all, and swear an oath of eternal fidelity to him?"

"I am willing." Mary Stuart's thoughts had already flown to the cake at the engagement banquet, so she couldn't wait to finish saying this sentence, hoping that the ceremony would end soon, and then she could eat the cake and spend more time at the banquet. Dance for a while.

"Then I declare that under the witness of God and all the adults, you will become a fiancé couple, and a formal marriage ceremony will be held when the Duke of Richmond comes of age." The Archbishop of Canterbury added some blessings.

The young Duke of Guise in the auditorium clenched his hands subconsciously, vowing that one day he would take Scotland back from the hands of the English.

On William III's side, William Parr, who was in charge of the smooth progress of the ceremony, asked a servant to come to William III's side and said softly: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Florence has arrived, and Mr. Solomon of the Netherlands is also ready." got what you wanted."

"A total of 20 pounds in cash, ready to depart from the port of the Netherlands at any time."