Ever since the London lawyer left Richmondshire, Isabel Walton has been in a state of nervousness, excitement, speculation and waiting. She hoped that Robert would quickly light the fuse of the rebellion, but she did not want the rebellion to explode in close proximity and injure the Duke of Richmond, herself, and the others.

For a whole month, from the fourth week of August to the fourth week of September, she did not wait for news of the outbreak of the rebellion. On the afternoon of October 1, 1536, Francis Swift, Governor of the Security Army, sent an urgent letter to the Duke of Richmond and his Privy Counsellor in Nottingham Castle.

When a cavalryman from the security army handed the letter into Isabel's hands, the Duke of Richmond, who was sitting behind his desk, stood up and walked up to her and asked, "Isabel, is it a letter sent by the magistrate?" ”

Isabel handed him the letter: "Henry, it was sent by Governor Swift. ”

When Henry heard this, he hurriedly walked back to his desk, cut open the fire paint seal on the outside of the letter with a paper cutting knife, and unfolded the letter and read it. After a few hurried glances, he looked at Isabel with a slightly frightened look and said, "There are many large armies passing through here on their way to Yorkshire to the south. ”

"The rebellion has finally broken out!" Isabel said to herself, taking the letter from Henry's hand and reading it carefully. Then, looking up at the Duke in contemplation, he said, "Henry, the Governor's cavalry has probed in different directions of the county boundaries to hear that these troops are coming from the direction of Lancashire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, Northumberland, and Durham. ”

"What do the Northern Counties want to do when they send troops to Yorkshire??"

"Henry, I think they should be preparing for a rebellion to break out."

"Is there really a rebellion???

"That's right, Henry. The Governor also said that his cavalry saw the sergeants who were at the front of the line wearing crosses on their chests, and that the sergeants were carrying flags with the coat of arms of the county governor and the crucifix. In almost every army, there were ordinary peasants, priests, squires, knights and sergeants in armor and weapons. ”

The Duke sat back behind his desk without saying a word, and after a moment of silence, said, "Isabel, could it be that the London lawyer started all these people?" ”

"I'm afraid so."

"But until now I have received no letter from His Majesty, let alone told me that a rebellion had broken out."

"Henry, even if a rebellion breaks out now, we can't know about it right away in the castle."

"Isabel, what should I do now?"

Isabel knew in her heart that a rebellion had broken out on a large scale somewhere in Yorkshire. It's just that the means of communication at this time were no technology at all, primitive and backward post stations and horseback to transmit letters. Therefore, it was impossible for the Duke of Richmond and his retainers to know about the rebellion for a while.

The northern counties sent their armies to Yorkshire at this time to assemble, which should have been pre-communicated operations. When Isabel thought of this, she said calmly: "Henry, even if I don't know if there is really a rebellion now, I suggest that you still have to be prepared in all aspects. ”

Henry stood up again and walked to her side, and asked her with some urgency, "What preparations?" ”

"Maintain the safety of the county against the recurrence of uncontrollable riots, violence, robberies, and homicides."

"Well, and then what?"

"Gather your retainers and the captain of the guard, and have my father come and calm the people. If anyone wants to join the rebellion, they can be imprisoned first. ”

"Imprisoned? Why? ”

"In order that your subjects may not be put to death by His Majesty the King for rebellion."

"Alright, let's go to the parlor and gather everyone to discuss this urgent matter."

Soon, the retainers, the captain of the guard, Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been disturbed by the rebels from all walks of life, were invited into the drawing room. Henry, who was sitting on the throne, looked restlessly at the retainers who were talking to each other, and hurriedly said to Sir Alex Ferguson, who was standing in front of him on the right: "Sir, let them be quiet!" ”

Sir Alex Ferguson turned back to him and saluted, and then said aloud to his retainers: "Silence! Now, Your Highness has something to say! ”

While everyone had quieted down to look at their young lord, a somewhat nervous Henry turned his gaze back to the Privy Counsellor standing on his left. Isabel smiled softly, encouraged him with her eyes and whispered, "Don't be nervous, relax." ”

Henry nodded, leaned back on the right side of the long-backed chair, crossed his right leg, looked at the retainers, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you are all aware of the urgent matter that has taken place in the vicinity of this county today. Do any of you know what the armies of the northern counties are doing in the south? ”

Herbert's father, the gentleman William Frederick, stepped forward, saluted Henry, and said, "Your Highness, I have sent a few servants to inquire that these northern troops will be stationed near Lincoln Cathedral. ”

Joorman Beard Smith also stepped forward, saluted, and said, "Your Highness, I think something must have happened in Yorkshire. However, I wonder how the nobles of the north knew what was happening in Yorkshire. And, to send tens of thousands of troops? ”

"Do you remember the Southern lawyer who came in the summer?" Henry asked unhurriedly.

The retainers immediately recalled what had happened in June of this year, and old Beard suddenly said, "The nobles of the north have sent their troops to Yorkshire for this purpose!" ”

The Duke of Richmond's retainers were not aware of the rebellion until now, all thanks to Isabel's efforts to conceal and keep it under control. One day in June, after a heated debate in this hall, she had the Duke give an order to all the subjects of the county: not to discuss on any occasion the purpose of the London lawyer's visit to Richmondshire, and all matters relating thereto.

And because the Duke did not respond to the persuasion and seduction of the London lawyer according to her strategy, Robert Althorpe eventually gave up his encouragement to him and his retainers. As for Father Thomas, who was fully supportive of the rebellion, Robert's instructions to the priest were: "Set aside the Duke and his retainers, and do your best to encourage the lower tenant farmers, bookkeepers, artisans, merchants, and hired laborers to join the petition campaign which began in October." ”

Henry looked at the silent retainers and said calmly, "I know that many of you support the opinion of the London lawyer and the money he intends to make to His Majesty. But, I would say that if you want to join these northern armies and go to Yorkshire, you will become a rebel! ”

The gentleman, William Frederick, pondered, and said to Henry: "Your Highness, I think this is a request to His Majesty the King to restore the Catholic faith that has been accustomed to the people for thousands of years, how can this be a rebellion?" ”

Henry sneered and said, "Sir, you are also in favor of stopping the Reformation and re-establishing the authority of the Pope of Rome?" ”