monarch

As soon as the chief minister's words fell, all the audience's eyes focused on the door through which the defendant was about to walk in.

Like the curtain of a stage, the black oak door finally opened, and Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of Somerset, entered the room surrounded by a group of soldiers with spears.He wore a simple but very respectable black coat, which, from its fit and impeccable cut, must have been the work of a famous tailor.Obviously, the king and the Privy Council did not intend to humiliate the loser in the power struggle.

When the dust settles on a political battle, the winners are often wise to treat the losers with at least an appearance of magnanimity.One is that due to the turn of feng shui, today's winner is tomorrow's loser, which can be seen from the fate of the powerful officials in these two dynasties.The road to the top of the power pyramid is a one-way street. As long as you reach the top, the only ending is to be squeezed off the cliff by the latecomers; The sympathy of the loser, thereby turning him or her into a martyr.When the people sitting on the stage fall, they will be accused of "persecuting Zhongliang" again.Therefore, instead of killing them all and leaving no face, it is better to let everyone live in face.

Completely different from the defendant who usually walked into this hall, the expression on the Duke Protector's face was very calm, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.Holding his hat in one hand, with the other gracefully inserted in the buttonhole, he looks as if he is walking on a deserted country road.

The situation of Sir Thomas, who was behind him and was carried into the room by two guards, was quite different.It was not so much Sir Thomas himself that entered the room as a body of him.His eyes looked dull, his mouth was slightly open, and the soul inside had been sucked out of his body.His limbs slumped comically, reminiscent of the rubber dolls used as toys by children, no doubt an obvious hangover from Bishop Gardiner's torture rack.

From the audience there was a horrified gasp from under Miss Jane Gray's veil. Horrified look.

Princess Elizabeth didn't seem to be moving, not even the veil on her face waved much.In stark contrast to her, the ladies behind her turned pale from the horror of the scene, and the male companions around them also looked a little shocked.

"If Bishop Gardiner wants someone to speak up, he'd better confess as soon as the bishop wants." Princess Elizabeth snorted, but a trace of forced calm could still be heard from her tone.

Like the main character on stage, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Duke Protector stepped onto the dock and stood still.He saluted in the direction of the king, then straightened his waist, glanced at the former colleagues sitting on the judge's bench, then at the rows of full auditoriums, and finally fixed on Garde on the opposite side Bishop Na.

The guards carried Sir Thomas on a chair beside the Lord Protector, and he was handled like a doll.

"Next, I invite the Chairman of the Special Investigation Committee of the Privy Council, His Excellency Bishop Gardner, to read the indictment." The chief minister said.

Bishop Gardiner stood up, first saluted the king, then bowed to the judges, and even bowed to the audience.He looked flushed, like a best man at a wedding.

"Your Majesty, my lords." He cleared his throat and said, "According to the order of His Majesty the Supreme King Edward VI, the Special Investigation Committee of the Privy Council was formally established on February [-]. After nearly three months of intensive investigation, we The findings were given to the Privy Council Tribunal three days ago."

"The Special Commission of Inquiry believes that the former Lord Protector, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset; and his brother, Sir Thomas Seymour, should be deprived of all titles for a total of 150 crimes including treason, murder, and offence. , property, honor and civil rights. In view of the heinous crimes committed by them, the Commission of Inquiry recommends that they be sentenced to death."

The bishop unfolded a long indictment and began to read it to the court and the audience.For Bishop Gardiner, as a nobleman in robes, his pen was the sharp sword he held in his hand. The tip of the pen looked black with ink, but it was more dangerous than the sharpest blade.

The bishop described this shocking crime vividly and vividly with his vivid and old-fashioned style of writing.In the bishop's pen, Lord Protector Edward Seymour is defined as the greatest careerist since God created the world.From the rise of Lord Protector to gaining trust, commanding the army, and being in the Privy Council, he gained the trust of His Majesty the late king step by step, and used this trust for his own personal gain.

However, after Scotland's attempted rebellion, His Majesty the late king saw clearly the true face of this monstrous traitor.In order not to be stripped of his hypocrisy and at the same time to seek the position of regent, this careerist committed this heinous crime at all costs.

Next, the bishop described the specific process of this crime: Under the coercion and lure of the Lord Protector, Catherine Parr, the late queen, added strychnine to the diet of the late king, which poisoned the nerves and cerebral blood vessels of the late king. It produced a huge stimulus, and eventually caused His Majesty the late king to have a stroke.

And after the death of His Majesty the King, Duke Protector arranged for his younger brother to marry Catherine Parr as his wife, so as to tie up this secret insider.However, it is not as good as God's fortune, and the relationship between Sir Thomas Seymour and the first queen soon broke down completely (the bishop wisely did not mention the reason for the breakup), and the first queen even threatened to make this terrible secret public.In view of the fact that the first queen has become a time bomb, the Seymour brothers are determined to act first, and completely let this secret be buried forever with the first queen. However, God is always fair, and this move became their reminder. symbol.

"Here now stands the mastermind of these crimes, and he and his accomplices will not only be judged by the law in life, but, it seems to me as a clergyman, by the eternal God after their death. "

"The king is the father of all peoples. To kill the king is to kill the father of 560 million subjects. Such a heinous crime deserves the most severe punishment." The bishop ended his accusation with this. When he sat down, he looked Like a famous swordsman, having just delivered a graceful and deadly blow.

"Defendant, the former Lord Protector, Lord Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, just now the Chief Investigator has read out the findings of the investigation committee and filed corresponding charges against you. Do you fully understand the content of the allegations? Is there anything you feel is unclear?"

"No." The Lord Protector finally said the first sentence when he entered the court. His voice sounded a little hoarse, as if he had caught a cold, but he still didn't have any emotional fluctuations.

"Do you admit to these charges?"

The Duke Protector's expressionless face finally had the first reaction, his lips slightly curled up, revealing a disdainful and mocking smile.The smile seemed to be nothing more than a contraction of the skin, while the muscles under the skin seemed to be motionless, which also made the smile look a bit yin and yang.

"The content contained in this document, I originally planned to denounce it as a lie. However, after listening to it, I suddenly changed my mind." The Duke Protector paused for a while, when everyone's eyes were drawn to him At that time, he continued, "I can't imagine how Bishop Gardiner has the face to put it in front of the committee for such a illogical story. Doesn't he have any shame?" Bishop Dana, it looks as if he is the prosecutor and the bishop is the defendant.

When Bishop Gardner read out the indictment just now, the Lord Protector asked the guards around him for a charcoal pencil and two pieces of paper, and wrote down a few paragraphs of text on them. defense.

"First of all, I will tell the court that until I have the favor of the late king, I am only the eldest son and heir of a country gentleman. I will marry the daughter of a well-matched manor owner, and take over the family estate after my father, Maybe I'll be elected to a council after middle age, and that will be the only intersection between me and politics."

"However, fate made me and my family win the favor of the late king. My sister was fortunate to marry the late king, and I was also appreciated by the late king. Your Majesty's Ron, that makes the accusations all the more vicious."

"This whole ridiculous investigation is due to the so-called confession of the first queen before her death. However, with all due respect, she had just lost her child at that time, and she herself was exhausted. In this state, she How credible are the words? With such flimsy testimony, it is a bit untenable to accuse a minister who has served two kings loyally for half his life? If this is the wishful thinking of the investigation committee If so, then I would say that the person who presides over this investigation is either mentally handicapped, or has no moral bottom line at all!"

Bishop Gardner's complexion had already turned a liver-colored, and now he finally couldn't bear it anymore, he slapped the table and stood up. "The defendant has been accusing the committee's accusation of lacking evidence support. However, I would like to draw the defendant's attention. His so-called self-defense is just talking here. Can he produce any evidence to prove that what he said is true? The truth? It's nothing but empty words, nothing but the desperate struggle of a criminal!"

"The bishop wants me to provide evidence to prove my innocence." The Lord Protector laughed loudly, "Then I will show him the evidence." He tore off his coat, unfastened the ruff collar around his neck vigorously, and threw it out, and landed in front of Bishop Gardner.

Under the surprised and even horrified eyes of everyone, he unbuttoned his tights, revealing his still quite capable upper body.

There was a sound of breathing in the room, and the Duke Protector's astonishing behavior made them speechless in astonishment.

"The scar on my stomach was left by an arrow shot from a longbow by the rebels during the northern rebellion." He faced the audience and pointed to a long scar on his stomach, which looked like a bird lying on his stomach. Blood-sucking leeches on the skin, "if this arrow had missed by a few more inches, it would have nailed me in the dirt like a grouse in hunting season."

He turned around again and turned his back towards the audience. The broad back was covered with scars, which made people look shocking, "This is when I was the commander of the navy. It was left by the French during the naval battle. A shell hit the mast behind me, and those sharp wood chips scratched my back with blood."

He put on his tights again, "Bishop Gardner asked me for evidence, and this is the evidence I want to give him! I have served His Majesty the King for twenty years, and now such a villain who has climbed up all the way by conspiracy and tricks, but To smear these noble scars with the mud he dug out of the gutter! How ridiculous he accuses others of careerists and schemers! If he really wants to find the greatest schemer in the kingdom, he needn't No trouble, just look in the mirror!"

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd, and the bishop's face became even more annoyed.

"He was so clever that he almost turned the tables," whispered Princess Elizabeth.

"But you said the outcome of the trial was sealed," asked Jane Gray in surprise. "Do you mean that the Lord Protector could still be acquitted? You have confused me."

"The result is doomed, but the process is not." Princess Elizabeth smiled softly again, "He is already dead, and the key to the current problem is what kind of identity he will die with."

"What identity?" Miss Jane Gray was at a loss. "I don't understand at all. What are you talking about?"

"I mean, the crux of the issue now is whether the Lord Protector should die as a heinous regicide or as a victim of a political conspiracy." Princess Elizabeth continued, "If in the eyes of the public If he is a regicide, then he will be infamous for a long time, and his family will not be able to recover in a few generations. But if he is regarded as a martyr or a martyr, then the public hatred for him will become sympathy, And he will also become a banner of the opposition. As we all know, today’s opposition is tomorrow’s power, and when the king is tired of the current power, it’s time for them to take over.” She lightly played with the inlay on her hand Wearing a beautiful bracelet of pearls, "At that time, he will be portrayed as an innocent victim, or even a martyred saint, purely because of the political needs of the time. There is no way to turn around, but his reputation will, and so will his family."

"So why did he show his scars to the audience just now, instead of the adults? It's just to resonate with the audience. This room is full of prominent characters, and their opinions will determine the public's opinion." Opinions, because there are not many people in this world who have their own opinions, and the so-called ideas of traffickers are just a poor imitation of people with higher status than themselves."

The princess pointed to the audience around her, who seemed to be absorbed in the Lord Protector's deafening declaration, "You see, he has succeeded in the first step. In the court of public opinion, the public is the real judge, and those who Sitting on the stage, wearing robes, being scrutinized by the audience sitting below. As I always say, this is no different from the theater."

"In your opinion, the Duke Protector has won this game?" Jane Gray's voice was full of uncertainty and doubt.

"It's too early to draw conclusions." The princess tapped on the armrest of the chair, "Bishop Gardner is not an easy-going lamp, I believe he intends to make this case a solid one...he must save the future." hand, or else it would be foolish."

Sure enough, Bishop Gardner stood up again. He seemed to have recovered from the surprise of the blow just now, and once again put on the elegant and easy-going expression he usually puts on in front of the public, "Your Excellency the Protector Just now he accused the committee, and himself, of intending to use some infamous evidence to confuse the court, and even to frame the accused. Next, he tried to arouse the public's sympathy for him in an indecent and sensational way, but again, Nor did he present any evidence of value."

"However, as a scholar who has studied the law for decades, what I want to say is that the trajectory of the law is as precise as a planet. The law has no thought, no emotion, only cold and ruthless logic and evidence. And now I It is this evidence that will be presented to the committee."

As he spoke, he picked up a roll of documents on the table and unfolded it.

"This is the confession of another defendant in this court, Sir Thomas Seymour." The bishop pointed to Sir Thomas who was also sitting in the dock. The mention of his name did not touch him in any way.

"In his confession, he admitted that at the order of his brother, he established contact with the former queen Catherine Parr as her former lover, and since then he has been serving as a liaison between his brother and the former queen, This crime is threading the needle."

"After murdering the first king, Sir Thomas Seymour married the first queen as he wished. However, after he found that this marriage could not bring him the power and status he wanted, this gentleman abandoned the marriage without hesitation. He vowed to get rid of his wife once and for all, and his brother was also planning to use this to remove this potential hidden danger, so the two brothers hit it off and bought the kitchen maid of the first queen and the mistress of the defendant Sir Thomas Seymour, Poisoning the former queen. However, it is not as good as God’s calculation. The poison originally used to murder the first queen accidentally poisoned her younger sister, Mrs. Herbert. It also made the former queen understand the other party’s plan. Before he died, he repented and let this crime be exposed to the world."

"The defendant has confessed to the above crimes and has signed his signature." The bishop pointed to the bottom of the page, and there really was Sir Thomas' signature and red fingerprints there.

The Lord Protector looked at the bishop triumphantly waving the document in his hand, "The document in Bishop Gardner's hand, I think everyone here understands what's going on. Even if they don't understand now, just look at me My brother’s appearance is fully understood! The punishment in the Tower of London can make the dead speak and sing to the beat of Bishop Gardiner. Wouldn’t it be easy for him to concoct such a confession!”

"Sir Thomas," asked one of the judges seated on it, "what is your response to this? Is what you say in this confession, as the bishop said, the truth you confessed yourself, or are you trying to extract a confession by torture?" What about the helpless means? Please answer us."

However, Sir Thomas' answer was only silence, as if a zombie had been placed in the room, and he had not even moved since he was placed in his chair.

The Chief Minister knocked on the table, "Sir Thomas, please answer the court's question!"

Yet Sir Thomas remained unresponsive.

Seeing that the other party was still silent, the chief minister signaled to the guard standing beside Sir Thomas, who stepped forward and pushed him.

As if someone had turned on a certain switch, Sir Thomas' eyes suddenly widened. He turned his head and stared at the guard with a frenzied expression of fear and despair, which made the guard not only take a step back.

"I don't want to go up...don't go up...put me down!" His two hands danced wildly in front of him, and the dislocated and deformed joints made his movements look ridiculous.His body shrank back, like a wounded beast being cornered, "Don't touch me, don't touch me, stay away from me!" He wailed sharply, and the sound made everyone in the room tremble. I felt my hair stand on end.

"He's crazy!" someone in the audience whispered.

The chief minister glanced at the king's reaction out of the corner of his eye. His majesty's lips were slightly pursed, obviously not very happy with this scene.

He quickly raised the small hammer in front of him and slammed the table for a while, "Silence! Silence! Guards, take him down quickly!"

Through the veil, Princess Elizabeth looked coldly at the soldiers dragging the struggling Sir Thomas away from the court, "What a ridiculous guy." Her voice was full of disdain, "It's really disgusting... I didn't You can see how disgusting he is!"

Miss Jane Gray moved a little away timidly, not daring to answer.

This reaction of Sir Thomas undoubtedly provided the Lord Protector with ammunition, "I think everyone can see that my brother has completely lost his mind under the torture of Bishop Gardner. The confession in the bishop's hand , it’s just a mixture of lunatics’ ravings and vicious plots, it’s just a scrap of paper!”

What he said aroused a wave of echoes, and many people were shocked by Sir Thomas' state, and the balance in their hearts began to gradually favor the Lord Protector.

"What's your response, Your Excellency?" The chief minister turned his inquiry to Bishop Gardner.

The bishop, who was a little embarrassed by the scene just now, replied immediately: "In addition to the testimony of Sir Thomas, the investigation committee has also found two key witnesses who can provide extremely convincing information to the court... Now these two Witnesses are already waiting in the foyer and I hope the court will agree to hear both witnesses."

"The court agrees to summon witnesses." The chief minister looked at the bailiff, "Please bring in the first witness."

The crowd watched curiously as the bailiff disappeared through the gate.

"This play is even more exciting than I imagined." Princess Elizabeth muttered in a low voice.