monarch

The day after the drama at Bath, His Majesty and his party left Bath and continued north-west, reaching Bristol at the end of June and crossing the border between England and Wales.

As the stronghold of the Tudor family, the countrymen in the rolling hills of Wales are obviously more loyal to the dynasty than their English neighbors.His majesty's royal reception was warmly received everywhere. Although it was difficult to compare with the welcome ceremonies held in the rich English cities in scale, this welcome was indeed sincere, which made the atmosphere that has permeated since leaving London. The tension over the royal parade eased a lot.

His Majesty and his party headed west along the coastline of southern Wales, where the main cities of Wales are concentrated.The king and his party passed through Cardiff and Swansea along the way, and arrived at Pembroke Castle in the westernmost part of Wales in early July.After more than half a month of bumpy journey, the whole parade team is exhausted. According to the plan, they will rest here for a week, and then return to England through the inland mountains of Wales.

The broad Keletao River made a sharp turn outside Pembroke City, and this majestic fortress is located on the headland formed by the bend.Founded in the thirteenth century, the castle has been renovated and expanded over the centuries and is now a magnificent fortress protected by walls over fifty feet high and protected by seven colossal towers.As the birthplace of the Tudor dynasty, the castle has witnessed many important moments in the history of the dynasty. The founder of the dynasty, King Henry VII, was born here in 1457, and in September 1532, the mother of the current king, Anne Pauline was named Marquess of Pembroke by King Henry VIII, and King Henry VIII secretly married her only two months later.It can be seen that this castle is a blessed place for both the dynasty and the current king.

His Majesty arrived at Pembroke City on the night of July [-]th, and the whole procession passed through the city to the castle on the other side of Pembroke City.Although the sky has darkened, the enthusiasm of the citizens has not diminished in the slightest.Almost every window in the city was opened, and the light of the lamps streamed from the house like pairs of eyes widened with curiosity.

The streets were filled with a hustle and bustle of common people, farmers from neighboring villages crowded together with excited chattering shop boys, and the barber who lived three blocks away was flanked by the cook in the hotel.At such a moment, it seems that all class and status gaps have temporarily disappeared, and people without exception are watching the direction where the king will appear with curiosity and excitement.

At about eight o'clock in the evening there was a loud sound of horns from the other side of the city, followed by a droning noise and the approaching hooves of horses.

"The King! It's His Majesty the King!" Excited shouts came from the crowd.

The king's procession appeared in the street lit by countless lamps in the street and in the windows. In the front came a musketeer and a cavalry in shining breastplates, and behind them a group of The bustling aristocrats, their gorgeous and fashionable dresses opened the eyes of the common people watching on the street.

His Majesty rode a tall bay Andalusian horse, and his young squire walked in front of him, holding torches that illuminated His Majesty's handsome face.There were overwhelming cheers from the sidewalks on both sides of the road and from the windows. His Majesty smiled and greeted the cheering crowd continuously.

Riding two steps behind the king is the commander of the Guards, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and behind them, including the Chief Minister, the Duke of Northumberland, the Earl of Kent, Sir Walsingham, etc. Twenty or so courtiers rode tall horses in the rear, and their subordinates and carriages carrying luggage followed closely behind.

The sound of horns, military music, and the cheers of the crowd mixed into a sea of ​​noise, which caused everyone in it to feel dazzled. They stared at His Majesty with fanatical eyes as if possessed by a demon. one line.Even after this glorious team had left for a long time, some people still shouted "Long live the king" intermittently with a hoarse voice.

His Majesty King Edward VI, who was welcomed like a statue, came to the porch of the castle surrounded by nobles and soldiers.The castle is usually lifeless and deserted, but tonight all the windows are brightly lit and crowded with local nobles and rich people who are peeking out.

Amidst the sound of horns and cheers, the young king took the lead and stepped into the gate of the castle. 97 years ago, his grandfather was born in this castle as the eldest son and heir of the Earl of Richmond. Who would have thought that it was the grandson of this Welsh nobleman who would become the master of the whole of Britain and Ireland 100 years later.His Majesty's clear blue eyes shone with a soft light, like the sea under a clear sky. This kind of gaze gave many people the illusion that they forgot that the sea can also become terrifying when a storm comes And mysterious, frightening waves are rolled up, tearing apart everything that stands in the way.

The crowd admired King Edward VI's charming and noble demeanor, and after appreciating His Majesty's demeanor, their curious eyes turned to the chief minister who followed the king.

The chief minister, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, had a naturally majestic face, which was even more solemn on such a grand occasion.

In the reception halls of the castle, the king was introduced to local dignitaries whose names, though influential locally, were seldom mentioned at the London court.However, to everyone's surprise, His Majesty the King, with his extraordinary intelligence, knew a thing or two about every person he met for the first time.His Majesty talked to them about their estates, their lineage, or their children, much to the delight of the flattered natives.

The entire reception ceremony lasted nearly an hour, followed by a grand dinner.After the dinner there was a ball, but His Majesty had obviously exhausted his interest, and he danced with the mayor's daughter at the beginning of the ball, before returning to his seat.

He looked at Robert beside him with tired and melancholy eyes, and the other party understood what His Majesty meant almost immediately.He nodded to the Praetorian Bannerman at the other end of the room, and the door opened and a contingent of Praetorian soldiers entered the hall.

The king saluted and bid farewell to the crowd. Under the eyes of everyone, His Majesty passed through the dense crowd and left the hall.Ten soldiers of the Imperial Guard walked in front, struggling to push away the crowd in the corridor to clear the way for His Majesty, while the remaining ten soldiers of the Imperial Guard formed a circle, surrounding His Majesty and Robert.

Leaving the rowdy crowd behind, they walked through a maze of narrow passages to the king's bedchamber, where King Henry VII was born 97 years ago.

Through the door of the bedroom was a boxy drawing room with a simple but respectable oak floor.A few candles are inserted in the chandelier on the ceiling, dyeing the soft golden yellow of the setting sun on the snow-white walls of this living room.

The guards stayed outside the door, and only Robert and His Majesty's personal servant followed into the living room.

The servants took off the long coat of the king's dress and the complicated lavender collar wrapped around the neck, leaving only the short jacket with the open neckline.Wearing intricate gowns for a full day in July is torture for anyone, even for heaven-appointed kings.

The servants who finished their work left the room one after another. When the door of the room was finally closed, the king let out a long breath. He walked to the window and pushed the shutters. Floating all the way through the brightly lit windows on the other side.The king took a deep breath of satisfaction and closed his eyes.

"That hall is really hot as hell." After enjoying a moment of coolness, Edward walked back to a coffee table in the corner of the living room, and opened a silver box, which was filled with crystal clear crushed ice cubes.He picked up the spoon that was set aside, scooped a large spoonful of ice cubes into each of the two glasses, and filled the glasses with fruit wine.He picked up the glass, walked up to Robert who was sitting on the sofa, and handed him a glass.

"I don't know why, this year is much hotter than previous years." Robert took the glass of fruit wine with ice, took a sip, and frowned, "Your Majesty added so many ice cubes?"

"You also said that this year is much hotter than previous years." Edward shrugged his shoulders and drank the liquid in the glass.

"Your Majesty must be very tired after traveling all the way." Robert looked at Edward's face with some concern. The already pale face had become much thinner now, "You didn't eat much at noon."

"I don't have much appetite, this is a nasty weather." Edward walked back to the tea table and added a glass of iced fruit wine to himself, "Plus, I'm really tired."

"Your Majesty, go to bed early." Robert said as he drank the wine in his glass, walked up to the king, opened his arms, and hugged Edward in his arms, "You have been getting thinner and thinner recently."

Edward nodded, "What about you?"

"I'm going to see the guards outside the door." Robert let go and straightened his collar.

"Seriously, don't you think this kind of security is a bit excessive?" Edward raised his chin towards the door, "I feel like I've been surrounded by guards every day since I went out. "

"It's an eventful time now. In my opinion, this kind of defense is far from enough." Robert lowered his head and looked into the king's eyes. After about half a minute, Edward finally backed down.

"Okay, if you think it's necessary." He curled his lips slightly.

Robert laughed. He leaned his head up and pecked the corner of the king's mouth lightly, "Good night, Your Majesty."

The King snorted, made a face at him, and ran back to his chamber.

Robert smiled and shook his head, walked out of the room, and assigned positions to the twenty guards waiting outside the door.He scanned all the entrances and exits and corners with sharp eyes. The whole process took nearly 10 minutes, and he didn't return to the bedroom until everyone was in their positions.

Connected to the living room of the bedroom is His Majesty's bedroom, and the unique feature of this bedroom is that it is divided into an inner room and an outer room by a thin wooden partition. His Majesty naturally sleeps in the inner room, and Robert also logically sleeps in the inner room. Occupied the bed in the outer room in the name of a guard.

Robert took off his boots and walked into the bedroom wearing only socks. He gently opened the small door leading to the inner room. Through the crack of the door, he saw that His Majesty was already fast asleep on the bed, obviously very tired.

He gently closed the small door, took off his saber, lay down on the small bed outside, and fell asleep not long after.

As Robert closed his eyes on the bed, a tall knight was urging his weary horse on spurs through the portico outside the castle, from the gates of the castle into the courtyard, and on to the door that led to the still brightly lit hall. The reins were reined in just before the landing.

A sentry at the gate came forward, "What do you want, sir?"

"I want to see Sir Walsingham." The knight rolled off his horse. He wore a black coat and a hat with a long plume on his head. He looked like a lawyer, but his feet were covered with He was wearing a pair of officer's high boots.

The sentry sized him up, "Are you from the Ministry of the Interior?"

The knight took out the badge hanging on his waist and shook it slightly at the other party.

"I understand." The sentinel bowed to him, walked up to an officer on the stairs, and said a few words. The officer glanced at the knight who was still waiting at the bottom of the steps, turned around, and walked away. Into the hall.

After about 5 minutes, Sir Walsingham came out of the hall. He saw the person waiting at the door at a glance, and walked over quickly.

"What do you want?" He walked up to the guest.

"A report from London, my lord." The messenger took out a sealed cylinder from his bosom, and thrust it into Sir Walsingham's hand,

Sir Walsingham hastily tore off the sealing wax on the cylinder and took out the report.He turned around and began to read by the light from the hall.

When Sir Walsingham read the last line he looked pale, and though he was trying to control himself, any one who looked closely could see that the secret agent was in a state of exasperation.

"Go to the castle's steward and let him settle you down." He waved his hand, sent the messenger away, and walked towards the tower where the king lived without saying a word.

At the entrance of the stairs leading to the king's chambers, one of the twenty guards was standing guard, and upon seeing Sir Walsingham approaching, he greeted the minister hastily.

"Good evening, sir!" he said respectfully, "what can you do?"

"I request to see His Majesty immediately."

"With all due respect, this is impossible. His Majesty has already gone to bed."

"Then I wish to speak to your commander, the Earl of Leicester. I believe he will wake His Majesty for me."

The guard hesitated for a moment, "In that case, please go up."

Sir Walsingham nodded, bypassed the sentinel, and went up the stairs.At the same time, one by one, the sentinels embraced the news of Sir Walsingham's visit to the Earl of Leicester towards their colleagues upstairs, so the news had been passed on to the Earl of Leicester before Sir Walsingham's arrival. At the sentry at the king's gate.

The last sentinel hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the door of the bedroom, walked through the living room as lightly as possible, walked to the door leading to the bedroom, and knocked lightly.

After a while, the door opened from the inside, and the Earl of Leicester looked at the sentinel standing outside the door with a stern look, which not only made the other party shudder.

Robert made a gesture to signal the other party to go out and talk.

The two walked out of the room one after the other, and Robert carefully closed the door of the bedroom behind him.

"Sir Walsingham is here to see Your Excellency." Before Robert could ask, the sentinel gave an explanation first.

As soon as the words fell, Sir Walsingham had already appeared in the corridor.

Robert yawned and took a few steps towards the other party, "I heard that you want to see me. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I must speak to His Majesty now."

Robert glanced at the other party, he clearly saw the anxious and affectionate face of Sir Walsingham and his slightly trembling body, "What's the matter?" His voice became much more serious, "Your Majesty is already asleep. gone."

"It's a report from London, and the content is very important." Sir Walsingham leaned into Robert's ear and said softly.

Robert hesitated for a few seconds, and finally nodded, "Please come with me."

The two walked into the living room together, and the door closed behind them.

"Please sit here for a while." Robert pointed to the sofa, and he walked into the bedroom. After about 5 minutes, the sleepy king came out of the bedroom. He was only wearing a thin silk sleeping bag. robe.Robert followed the king, holding a lighted candle in his hand.

Sir Walsingham stood up from the sofa and saluted the king. Edward waved to him and sat on the sofa opposite.

"I heard the Earl of Leicester say, do you need to see me urgently?" The king skipped the greetings and went directly to the topic.

"Yes, sire," said Sir Walsingham, drawing the report from the cylinder, and handing it to the king.

"Five days ago, our agents in Antwerp noticed that a Spanish army was embarking. The soldiers were from the Spaniards' Legion of Flanders. They were all the best battle-hardened soldiers. According to rumors, some people on those troop carriers Speaks English and looks English too. The news was five days ago, and the troop carriers may have left port by now, or they may still be in Antwerp."

"In addition, I got news from the people who monitored Princess Mary. The number of messengers sent by the princess has doubled recently, and most of them are in contact with those Catholic nobles who support her. There is a similar situation with Princess Elizabeth. She seems I am writing letters to many people from Hatfield Palace. At the same time, the Ministry of the Interior has noticed that more than fifty nobles have begun to secretly recruit soldiers and build armaments in their own territories, and their actions have not been approved by His Majesty."

The king read the report carefully, pinching the paper with his fingers so hard that even his knuckles turned white.

"From this information, I must draw a regrettable conclusion: a rebellion is imminent." Sir Walsingham observed the king's expression and saw that the king showed no signs of anger. It could happen anytime."

There was a louder commotion outside the window than before, and the king handed the papers to Robert, went to the window, and looked out.

It turned out that the chief minister was leaving the stage. Accompanied by a large group of nobles and ladies, the duke walked out of the hall. In front of him was an attendant holding a torch to guide him, and behind him was a dignitary. People formed two columns, and the lights were like a raging fire, illuminating the entire courtyard.If someone who didn't know was present at this moment, he would definitely think that this tall man who was full of stars was the real king.

The lines on Edward's face became a little stiff, he stretched out his hand, and closed the shutter heavily.