I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 61 The King's Marriage is brought up for the second time

The other thing that deserves Louis's attention is England, but not Charles II, the sad cousin still in Flanders, living miserably as a king with no country and no subjects - not that he doesn't want to go back He went to France, but because the current situation in France would not allow him to get more support, he felt that as long as his mother, the Queen Mother Mary and her sister, Princess Henrietta, could stay in Paris peacefully and securely A good thing.

Bishop Mazarin knew that Charles II still had a glimmer of hope, and perhaps this hope would last until the king's marriage was truly confirmed, but Henrietta had always been placed last by him and the Queen Mother, even the Queen Mother. After the Duchess of Montpensier, for no other reason than because... First of all her father lost not only his crown, but also his head, and her brother, who seemed wise, was stupid, and Louis gave him A precious gift for him to be king, but he was expelled from his country by the rebels and thugs; perhaps one day (as Louis is sure) Charles II will be able to return to England and take the Ball and scepter, but no one knows when that will be.

  The marriage of the king should not be delayed.

Speaking of which, there is a rather amusing thing. Bishop Mazarin's quill was slightly on the parchment, and there are still some ministers, he means, those idiots who may accept bribes, actually proposed that the king should be with the English Republic. The marriage of the protector of the country - some people may not know what the "English Republic" is, to put it simply, it is a **** made by a group of lunatic who ignore the royal and theocratic rights, after they executed their king Charles I. , decided to abolish the monarchy and the House of Lords, the House of Commons became the highest legislative body, the executive power was handed over to the MPs elected by the House of Commons, and the biggest, shameful rebel Oliver Cromwell naturally became the Council of State the first chairman.

The funny thing is that, in only three years, Oliver Cromwell instructed his party members to elect him as the Protector of the Kingdom - Protector of the Kingdom, what an ironic term, according to the drafted "Government Contract", Cromwell. He can serve as the protector of the country for life, also command the British Army and Navy, be in charge of taxation, govern the police and the judiciary, be in charge of foreign affairs, and can designate his own successor, and even share the legislative and executive powers with the Parliament and the House of Commons. The military power, no wonder some say that he is more king than a king.

Although at first, Oliver Cromwell behaved like a humble, kind, and single-minded saint, although he did not publicly declare his beliefs, his life did extend infinitely to a Puritan. Approaching, he hated pleasure, disliked luxury, lived a simple life, and cared about the people—at least until 1650, but after being crowned Duke Protector, he moved his residence to the king's palace.

This may be a bit unfair to Cromwell, since in fact he lived in a house behind Whitehall Palace (the main residence of England's monarchs since 1530), which used to be a giant fighting **** It was later converted into a theater and concert hall by James I, and later became the residence of the caretaker of Whitehall Palace. It was also once lived in by princes and princesses. Cromwell may have chosen this place just for the convenience of handling government affairs. , but his political enemies don't care about that.

Maybe Cromwell wouldn't care, even if he didn't actually live in the palace, but the ceremony he held when he took office as the protector was not inferior to a grand coronation ceremony. His generals called him For His Royal Highness, and his advisors call him His Majesty, according to his agreement with the Parliament, he should be questioned by the Parliament every two years, and he should also consult the way, rather than ordering what the Parliament should do, But when this inevitably happened, Cromwell rebuked the MPs like a tyrant, declaring that he was speaking on behalf of God, and that if anyone refused to obey his will, he was blaspheming the Holy Spirit and betraying the faith.

   Bishop Mazarin made a bet with Louis - Bishop Mazarin thought that Cromwell would dissolve the parliament in five years, while the king thought that in three years, Cromwell would not be able to bear others pointing fingers at him and decided to dissolve the parliament.

   Mr. Bishop was very curious about this. Of course, given the current situation in France, he could not help but think of the problems that he and the young king would have to face.

"You know Oliver Cromwell is planning to repartition England," said Louis. "Each of the eleven districts will be ruled by a general he trusts, and his army will watch over everyone." The king sighed and said: "Look, Mr. Bishop, what a luxury! Eleven generals, and an army that can cover the whole country. Like such a man, a man more powerful and powerful than the king, how could he even Will you succumb to those who can only pick up quills and scrolls of parchment, and are better at swinging their tongues than guns and swords?"

   "If you think about it, it is quite possible," said Mr. Bishop, "but why three years and not five years?"

"Because of the biennial parliamentary inquiry," the king folded his hands: "The parliament has executed a king and expelled a king, and they will not want to see another king or someone better than a king, they will try their best to The power to suppress Cromwell is further expanded and extended, so the inquiry every two years is the best time to attack Oliver Cromwell. The last time they were inquired, they broke up. The inquiry will only get more sinister, and by then, if Cromwell still does nothing, it will be the Council's turn to do something, but this man," the king shook his head, "is not a man who will endure. good old man."

   Even if he was originally, the power that has been in control for more than ten years, and being alone is enough to make Oliver Cromwell completely lose the heart of an ordinary person.

   "Well," said Mr. Bishop, "I really want those ministers to come and listen."

"what?"

   "Damn, they're trying to get you to marry Oliver Cromwell's granddaughter."

The    King raised a hand: "Wait, I remember Oliver Cromwell in his prime."

   "It is true, but his only son Richard Cromwell is also twenty-six years old. Your Majesty, he already has a daughter, who is two years old this year."

"Is my marriage going to end with being twelve years old?" Louis couldn't help but say, "either twelve years older, or twelve years younger." He glanced at Mr. Bishop: "And she's the daughter of a Protestant. "

"It does not matter."

   Bishop Mazarin said with a normal face: "It is very common for kings to convert for inheritance or something. I can send a priest and convert her to Catholicism."

  Louis couldn't tell if Mr. Bishop was joking...or serious...

"I will not make Cromwell's granddaughter my wife," he said earnestly. "As I said, Mr. Bishop, I will never admit the legitimacy of Oliver Cromwell, no matter what. Whether it is the protector of the country, or the king, to me, or to any monarch, he can only be a traitor."

   Bishop Mazarin smiled: "This is exactly what I want to say." He said, "Your Majesty, it is a pity that there are always people who can't see clearly."

   "It's normal," Louie said. "He's at the top."

   "You don't seem to like him at all."

   "From anywhere, he has nothing worthy of my optimism." Louis said: "I think you are the most understandable. His laurels are bestowed by the people and will certainly be taken away by the people."

   "I thought you valued the people."

"I value them, but I don't like them, because I know what they are," Louie said. "Nothing can be wiser than them, and nothing can be more foolish than them. They are powerful and loose as sand. Take a carpenter's son to the highest throne and say, This is our God, and betrayed him for thirty silver pieces, and watch him be crucified, and I may love them and teach them, but I Never trust them."

   "What a terrible and correct idea," muttered Bishop Mazarin: "Then it seems I should reject them."

   "Let them dismiss the idea," Louie said. "If you can't, delay it, and we'll see the results soon."

   (end of this chapter)