It is a great irony that a Catholic woman from the north and a family head with a very powerful family in the southwest coast are trading power for money in the presence of Jesus Christ in the sacred church where the hearts of people are cleansed and purified, and where Christians gather.

Captain William Hawkins, who is nearly 50 years old, also has no interest in gold and silver treasures. For him, if he can show his talents in the political arena of the kingdom, this is the ultimate goal of his life. As for the Catholic from the north, a female nobleman of prominent status and status, who assisted him in fulfilling his greatest wish, he was required to give thanks with the same devotion as he participated in the Thanksgiving Sacrifice and received the sacraments.

Envisioning a bright future and a family that the world will remember forever, Captain Hawkins stroked his beard and cast a grateful look at the female noblewoman and said, "Your Excellency, I didn't have the privilege of knowing you on the first day, so I know you don't value money. ”

Isabel glanced at the French clockwork clock (which Captain Hawkins had sent to the church from his own family for her use) on the cabinet opposite, "Captain, why don't we take a walk around your courtyard?" ”

The two then left the church and went to the back of the church courtyard, and from the courtyard to the path under the stone wall south of the Hawkins family estate. As the two walked slowly down the path, in the lush old woods east of the family courtyard, Captain Hawkins lit a bucket of Native American tobacco.

When the smell of tobacco lifted Captain Hawkins' spirits, he smiled politely at the female noblewoman and said, "Your Excellency, I hope you will forgive me for my rudeness. With that, he raised the pipe in his hand in the air.

Isabel smiled and shook her head, "Captain, what you said in the church just now... What is the meaning? ”

"Your Excellency, I would like to say that whether or not you can admit me to the Ocean Affairs Committee, I will thank you with the best gift of all that you have done. Although I know that you are a nobleman who is not very fond of money. Captain Hawkins said slowly as he puffed out a puff of cigarette.

"Gifts? Captain, I can accept your gift. However, you must understand that the creation of the Ocean Affairs Committee will never be a whim-of-the-moment idea, and His Majesty attaches great importance to the maritime affairs that the Committee oversees. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, I understand what you mean." Captain Hawkins paused, smiled and whispered, "Your Excellency, after your 5 armed merchant ships are completed, I will build 14 more of the same merchant ships for you. In your opinion, such a gift will satisfy you? ”

"Build 14 more armed merchant ships??" Isabel looked a little surprised, she thought the gift was too valuable. Shaking his head with a light smile, he said, "Together with my 'Nemesis', there are a total of 20 armed merchant ships. Well, 20 armed merchant ships, you can do a lot. ”

"Although I do not know what other nobles, gentlemen or merchants will give you, I am sure that this gift of mine will make you very happy."

"Even if a 300-ton armed merchant ship is worth £2,000-2,500, it costs a lot of money to build 14 armed merchant ships." Isabel thought as she walked slowly. Then, he whispered to Captain Hawkins, "Captain, this gift will cost you a lot of money, have you thought about it?" ”

Captain Hawkins laughed, "Your Excellency, you only need to do one more slave trade to earn it back." ”

Isabel nodded with relief, "Captain, your family will still go to sea to do some trade this year, right?" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency. I'm going to make another trip to the Caribbean in the summer, to do a few slave trades with the Spaniards or to plunder a few Portuguese slave ships. ”

"Well, I agree with you. However, you have to tell your family members that it is not yet possible to plunder the Spaniards' merchant ships or slave ships. ”

Actually, Captain Hawkins' words were not finished. The second half of his sentence was to say that the other families of Plymouth, having heard about Isabel and his overseas voyage last year, had already set off for the Caribbean in the spring to try to do a few slave trades with the Spaniards or plunder a few merchant ships carrying valuable goods.

Captain Hawkins, a member of the city council and mayor-elect, was also well aware of his kingdom's relationship with the Spaniards. However, he wondered why Isabel, who was ruthless at sea, would be so cautious about the Spaniards. Thinking about the reason, he asked the other party, "Your Excellency, what will happen if my family or other families in Plymouth plundered the merchant ships of the Spaniards?" ”

Isabel vaguely remembered mentioning something to Captain Hawkins, and now she had to reiterate, "At present, the Spanish Empire is the largest empire in Europe, and our kingdom needs to rely on an alliance with the Spaniards in many ways. Therefore, we still need to be friendly to our Spanish allies. ”

Captain Hawkins could understand what she meant, but the other maritime families in Plymouth wouldn't necessarily do what she wanted. A few months later, an incident in the Caribbean Sea caused irreparably significant losses directly to England's overseas trade with the European continent.

A meeting between a local official and wealthy merchant and a female noblewoman soon turned to the current king, queen, and court. When Captain Hawkins thinks of a big gift for Isabel, he can't help but think of a gift for Her Majesty's own brother. As the two strolled, Captain Hawkins cautiously inquired about William Parr's influence and position in the court, "Your Excellency, I am honored to meet Her Majesty's brother. If it weren't for you, perhaps I would never have met this venerable Lord Essex. ”

"Captain, now I can't make the slightest comment about His Majesty's poor health. Therefore, you should still do your own various things. ”

Isabel's words go around in two circles, the first of which refers to the fact that Henry VIII was already sick and dying. And the second circle is that after the death of Henry VIII, Queen Catherine will leave the court sooner or later. The influence and status of the queen's younger brother in the court will be greatly reduced.

Rather than the Earl of Essex, it is better to turn to Viscount Lyle and two male members of the Seymour family, whose influence and status are gradually rising. However, Viscount Lyle and an earl and a knight of the Seymour family were her political enemies, and she would not give her pawns to them.