monarch

The carriage carrying the king's coffin is driven on the streets of London under the pull of six black horses, decorated with black veil.The weather was gloomy and terrifying. Snowflakes floated in the air and melted instantly when they fell on the ground, making the road look muddy.

The roads were lined with crowds of onlookers who watched in silence as King Henry passed through the streets of the capital for the last time.Compared with other kings in the previous 100 years, Henry VIII's 30-year rule is really eternal.Kings once rode through cheering crowds and raining rose petals in the bright spring sun; cruised the Thames in decorated barges in the hot summer air; Sitting gloomyly in the carriage, he galloped towards Whitehall Palace.But now he is lying in a black coffin, walking through the cold wind and snowflakes to his final resting place.

The entire court followed the king, as they had been doing for the past thirty years or so.The pale new king rode a black Andalusian horse ten feet behind the king's carriage, wrapped in a thick ornate cloak, with no color on his face.Winter in England was a frozen hell for the animal from warm southern Spain, the steed of the new king was breathing white.

The queen and the king's daughters were sitting in the carriage behind the king. The atmosphere in that carriage was obviously colder than the cold wind outside.Princess Mary and the first queen are like two cold stone statues, they don't even have eye contact with each other.Sitting next to them, Princess Elizabeth was immersed in grief, turning a blind eye to the awkward atmosphere.

The important ministers of the Regency Council followed behind on horseback.They all wore black fur cloaks, the fluff on which had been soaked by snowflakes.There were sad and solemn expressions on the faces of those high and powerful people, but as for what they really thought, I am afraid that only they themselves could say clearly.

Shortly after the whole team left the city of London, the snowflakes falling in the sky began to grow larger.Large chunks of dark clouds piled up in the sky, like a thick curtain, completely covering up the sunlight.The cold wind blowing from Norway sliced ​​through the exposed skin of travelers like a sharp knife, forcing nobles on horseback to abandon their horses and ride in chariots.

In a blink of an eye, snow began to appear on the muddy road, and the wheels of the hearse were deeply sunk in the mud. The horses pulling the cart were panting, struggling to move the heavy carriage forward.Both sides of the road have been covered with a thick layer of white blanket, and there is no difference between the farmland, grassland or pasture.The woods in the distance looked like white walls, and the tightly packed branches were covered with snow.Occasionally, a gray figure appeared in the snow, which seemed to be a rabbit hiding in its own cave, frightened by this huge team, and rushed towards another hiding place it had prepared.

This purgatory journey finally reached its end later in the day.In the dim twilight at dusk, the huge figure of Windsor Castle appeared on the horizon, and everyone from the king to the groom secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The convoy drove slowly into the gate of the castle, and the king's coffin was lifted by ten servants in black livery and moved into the vestibule of St. George's Church.The gorgeous decoration in the church has been completely covered by black veil, the choir sang a requiem in a deep voice, when the coffin passed through the corridor, the priests on both sides of the corridor knelt down and prayed for the king's soul, if If this thing really exists.

The king's coffin was placed securely in front of the church's altar, where it will remain until the next day's funeral, surrounded by praying clergy.As for the other mourners, their day's torment was at last at last, and now they could return to the fire-lit rooms in the castle that had been prepared for them, move their frozen limbs, and let the servants come from the kitchen. Serve them hot soup.

In the royal suite at the castle, Edward drank a glass of mulled wine and felt warmer all over.Feeling drowsy, he leaned back on a divan with a book, turned away the servants, and fell asleep quickly.

After an unknown amount of time, Edward seemed to feel someone touching his forehead in a haze. He opened his eyes and seemed to see Robert Dudley's familiar black hair, so he relaxed and fell asleep again.

When he woke up, the twilight of the morning had already penetrated through the cracks in the curtains.Looking around, he saw that he had been moved from the Turkish divan in the living room to the bedroom, where Robert Dudley lay naked on a small soft couch.He threw back the covers and got out of bed, feeling his feet sink into the warm wool rug.

Startled by the slight noise, Robert Dudley opened his eyes and sat up. "What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

Edward walked to the window and opened the curtain a crack, "You can sleep for a while, the sky has just dawned."

"I'd better go back early." Robert stood up, "I have to go back and change my clothes... Today's ceremony will start soon." He straightened his collar, "How do you feel?"

"Very well, why do you ask that?"

"You had a little fever last night, probably because of the cold wind blowing all day." Robert stepped forward, stretched out his hand, and touched Edward's head, a slight blush appeared on the other's pale face. "It seems to be better now, but I think you'd better pay attention today."

"Today's ceremony is all indoors." Edward turned his face slightly to the side to conceal the abnormal redness on his face.

"Remember to put on your cloak." Robert was fully dressed, holding his hat, and gently pulled Edward's hand, "I really have to go." He lowered his head and kissed the new king's forehead lightly, then turned away Come up and leave the room.

The prince sat quietly by the bed again, he didn't seem to have any expression, only the slightly raised corners of his mouth showed his pleasure.After a few minutes, he reached out and rang the bell, summoning the servants to wash and change his clothes.

……

It snowed heavily all night, and by the time the dim and pale winter sun rose above the horizon, the entire courtyard of the castle was covered in snow.The pale sun hangs in the sky, trying to dispel the haze covering the sky with its feeble light, but with little effect.The hundred-year-old oaks in the garden were covered with snow, and from time to time there was a crackling sound of broken branches, and the dull sound of the broken branches and the snow on them fell on the same snow-covered ground. sound.

In St. George's Church, all the fireplaces are burning, making the room as warm as spring, and the air is filled with the aroma of pine wood, making the guests feel like they have come to the scene of a grand ceremony.In fact, the funeral of a monarch can be regarded as one of the most grand ceremonies in the entire kingdom. In the remaining months, every detail of this funeral will be discussed with great enthusiasm, whether in the social circles or in the streets and alleys. Until three months later, the coronation of the new king attracted everyone's attention.

The spectators of the play arrive in order of rank.The red-faced squire, wearing a deformed dress that was stretched by his beer belly, rolled into the hall like a ball.The old lady leads the young girls, like a hen spreads her wings and carries her cubs; envoys from various countries wear iconic dresses, and the Turkish ambassador has an onion-like hat Undoubtedly attracted the most attention.Like a wedding or a christening or a birthday party, they huddled in their seats and chattered together, an opportunity that had become rarer and rarer since court feasting had dwindled since the king's serious illness. Precious, and now at last things are back to normal, and the joyous days return to the courts of England with the breeze of death's cloak.From this point of view, King Henry VIII can really be regarded as a worthy death.

When the audience for the play was in place, the actors finally took to the stage.Under the eyes of everyone, the new king who played the leading role entered the room. He was dressed in black mourning clothes and walked silently.The royal family members who followed behind him were covered with black veils, making it difficult to see the expressions on their faces.But wrapped in black veils, the shoulders of both Princess Elizabeth and the Queen were shaking and appeared to be sobbing.

The members of the Regency Council wore exactly the same clothes, just like a batch of porcelain fired in the same kiln.Uniform clothing, uniform solemn expression.Every one of them depended on King Henry to get to where they were, and whatever they thought in their hearts, they had to mourn outwardly, but not too mournfully as Regent, and a look of fortitude was necessary.

The Archbishop of Canterbury solemnly walked to the altar. The supreme leader of the Church of England and the standard-bearer of the Reformation was already an old man with white beard and hair.His fame and power came from the deceased king, as did most of the people in the church at this time.The archbishop was as energetic and full of spirit as usual, but the looming black corners of his eyes were still noticed by people with discerning eyes.Under the promotion of the archbishop himself, his status now depends entirely on the king's enthusiasm for Protestantism, but the new king's attitude towards religious reform seems somewhat ambiguous.In fact, a similar unease hangs over almost all courtiers. Although their new master has exerted a lot of influence on the old king in the past few years, his attitude towards almost all sensitive issues is ambiguous. , like a person who walks in the rain without an umbrella to avoid raindrops, and finally arrives at the destination without even getting his hair wet.Therefore, they can only wait in anxiety for the new king to reveal his true intentions, which will determine their personal and family's fate in the new dynasty.The game of power has been reshuffled, and every player is counting on coming out on top this round.

The archbishop praised the life and reign of the late King Henry VIII with the sonorous voice he had honed in his debates at Cambridge.As he said, the former king ruled as justly as King Arthur, he was as moral as St. Augustine, as military as Caesar, yet more merciful to his people than St. Louis, and as famous as Alfred the Great. Generally prominent.It is obvious that His Majesty Henry VIII, morally and intellectually perfect, has been called by God to ascend to heaven, and condescends to stand side by side with angels and saints who are in no way equal to him .This is undoubtedly a great honor for all of Heaven.Finally, the archbishop did not forget to add that God is still merciful. While calling away the old king, he also left England a new king who is not inferior to his old father in any way.This undoubtedly shows how lucky the people of England are.He asks you to join him in praying that the new king's reign will be as fruitful as his father's.

Undoubtedly, the archbishop's speech was well received by the house.Many people kept this scene secretly in their hearts, hoping that they would one day have the No.1 wrist of the Church of England themselves.

Amid the prayers of the priests, the king's coffin was slowly moved into the tomb.His Majesty's tomb has already been dug, and on both sides of him lie his two queens—Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. They came here more than ten years ago, and now their husbands come to join them reunited.

Edward stepped forward, holding a handful of fresh dirt in his hand, and walked to the side of the grave, looking down at the dark pit.

"Farewell, Father," he said softly.

The new king opened his hand lightly, and after a while, a dull sound came from the bottom of the tomb, that was the sound of soil falling on the coffin lid.

The king's women were wrapped in black veils, and they came forward and sprinkled the soil in their hands in the tomb.The Queen and Princess Elizabeth were sobbing, while Princess Mary was silent behind the black veil, she just silently sprinkled the mud on the king's coffin and walked away silently. Twelve years ago, she buried her mother in the same way, and now her father is also buried in the ground, separated by hundreds of miles.

The regent minister and the kingdom's dignitaries stepped forward one by one, the soil in their hands fell on the coffin or the previous soil, and everyone looked mournful, as if they wished that it was themselves lying three feet below.After this, they walked in turn and bowed before the new king, each doing his best to draw the attention of the most important audience to the look of sadness on their faces.

When the tomb was filled, craftsmen came forward to seal the tomb with marble, and then they would erect a tombstone here, as well as a metal plaque with an inscription praising the king's great achievements.

Outside the church, the heavy snow that had fallen all night was far from stopping. The violent north wind gathered snowflakes and slapped the carved glass windows of the church.From Newcastle to Bath, York to Portsmouth, snow swept across the kingdom, as if mourning the death of the old king.An old era is over, and a new era is upon us.

On the tower of the castle, guards shivering with cold lit the matchlocks of the cannons with torches, and the dull sound of salutes drifted feebly in the wind and snow, and was completely covered by the whistling of the north wind within a short distance.

After the funeral guests dispersed, the church returned to the usual silence, only the occasional sound of candles and the sound of wind slipping in through the window to remind the priests that they are still suffering in this world, not already blessed Enter the eternal sanctuary.And in the silence, three feet below, King Henry VIII lies buried in ornate marble, waiting to be forgotten, like so many mortals and kings before him.

Act III Arena of Power