On the second Sunday in May, without warning, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, at his Earl's estate in Winkefield, Windsortown, approached Isabel Walton about the overthrow of the Earl of Essex, First Secretary of State.

The reason for the inquiry, perhaps because Isabel had given him and his good companion, the Duke of Richmond, a lot of good advice during the Northern rebellion that had broken out a few years earlier.

Although the Earl of Essex, whom the Duke of Norfolk III and his conservatives sought to overthrow, was the first of all over the man, the Earl was a wealthy, educated, and master of the art of multi-Chinese and politics.

This constructive master helped Henry VIII escape from his first marriage to Queen Catherine, and helped him marry the former queen's lady-in-waiting, giving Anne Boleyn, a member of the Norfolk family, to the throne.

Moreover, the numerous and enduring administrative reforms of the Master provided a set of effective state institutions for the governance of the new state he had created. However, the leader of the era, marked by new capital, made a fatal mistake in his search for a fourth queen for Henry VIII.

Faced with the advice of the eldest son of the conservative leader, Isabel did not know what advice she could offer. In the first place, it is obviously impossible to ease and eliminate the contradictions between the conservatives and the Count of Essex, who is inclined to Protestantism. Secondly, if he tried his best to save the life of the Earl of Essex, he made a major mistake in the selection of the queen.

On the other hand, if Catherine, the second niece of the Duke of Norfolk III, had not been pushed to the forefront, then Catherine Neville, the Lady of Latimer, would not have become the sixth queen. And the lady's younger brother, William Parr, did not become a nobleman.

It seems that no matter how you envisage the fate of the first minister, this new nobleman will inevitably die after all. After thinking about it repeatedly, Isabel glanced at the Earl of Surrey and said cautiously, "Your Excellency, your father, what does the Duke of Norfolk think of the king's fourth queen?" ”

The Earl of Surrey looked at his seated wife, Frances, and smiled as a husband treated his wife, "Madame, I think you can take our eldest son for a walk in the garden, okay?" ”

"All right, sir." Frances turned her head to look at her eldest son's godmother again, "Isabel, stay and have dinner with us today." ”

After Mrs. Surrey left with her valet, Madame's husband sat across from Isabel, "Miss, you know that Anne Boleyn is a member of the Norfolk family, but... But she made the family lose face in the court. My father has been trying to save the family's face. ”

"Someone, bring Isabel a glass of wine." Henry Howard commanded the valet standing at the door of the parlor, and then turned his face to the other man, "My father thinks that His Majesty will definitely cancel his engagement to Queen Anne of Cleves. ”

Isabel leaned back in her chair nonchalantly and looked at the Earl of Surrey, who was looking at her again, "Your Excellency, is your cousin Catherine the lady-in-waiting of Queen Anne?" ”

"Yes, this is the position that my father got for Catherine in the first place."

"So, did the King, while disappointed in Queen Anne, notice your cousin's presence? I mean, the king always seemed interested in every lady-in-waiting around the queen, except Queen Anne from Cleves. ”

Isabel keenly captured Henry VIII's habit of choosing a new queen, and Anne Boleyn was the lady-in-chamberlain of Catherine of Aragon and became the second queen. Jane Seymour was Anne Boleyn's lady-in-waiting, and she also successfully sat on the throne of the third queen.

Now, the fifth queen, Catherine Howard, who is about to surface, happens to be Queen Anne's lady-in-waiting again. It must be said that Henry VIII's selection of unmarried, young women who suited the atmosphere of the court to the position of lady-in-waiting was a legitimate means of finding a mistress for himself.

When the valet brought Isabel a glass of red wine, the Earl of Surrey expressed his doubts after deep thought, "Catherine is still very young, and I am afraid that she will not be able to assume the duties of being the mistress of His Majesty. ”

"Young unmarried women were the most popular type of court member that the king saw at court. Your doubts, Your Excellency, probably do not prevent the King from seeking a new love. ”

The Earl of Surrey stared at Isabel who took a sip of the wine glass, and nodded subconsciously, "Miss, your idea is right. But even if Catherine could be His Majesty's mistress, it does not seem to have completely overthrown Lord Essex's position within the court. ”

Isabel adjusted her sitting position as she put down her glass, and when she sat more comfortably, she glanced at the Earl of Surrey, "Your Excellency, you must remember the 'Bill of Appeal' passed under the auspices of Lord Essex a few years ago, and also contributed to the legal publication of the English Bible in the Kingdom, and the transfer of the power to read the Bible to the common people. Therefore, the King's enactment of the 'Six Articles of Faith' was bound to be strongly opposed by the Lord of Essex. ”

"And because Queen Anne of Cleves made the king exceedingly angry...... Your Excellency, it now appears that your father has taken the fate of Lord Essex into his hands. ”

"Well, Miss Isabel, your opinion is very good, I will pass it on to my father."

"Your Excellency, you need not mention me when you convey your opinion to the Duke of Norfolk."

Before the conversation, the Earl of Surrey had asked his wife, Frances, to take her eldest son to play in the garden. At this moment, Isabel came out of the parlor and quickly found the mother and son and their respective maids in the garden.

"Lady Surrey, please wait." A voice came from behind Frances.

Frances Howard looked back, smiled happily and beckoned. After Isabel caught up with the mother and son by the fishpond, Frances complained to her, "The letter you sent said that you came to visit me, why did you talk to Henry as soon as you came?" ”

At this time, Isabel just smiled faintly and said, "Your Excellency is asking me if Catherine can save face for the Norfolk family in the court. ”

"Thomas, don't go near the fishpond." Frances solemnly warned the eldest son who was walking ahead, and then glanced at Isabel again, "Henry and you are talking about the duke's second niece?" ”

"yes, time flies, Catherine has been in the court for 6 months, right?" As Isabel spoke, Catherine's face longing for love came to mind.