Ambassador Chapuys Bedroom

Once Inigo heard about Chapuys's arrival at court, he decided to pay him a visit. He will be his successor at Katherine's side. So he reached his chamber and knocked at his door

Mi amigo Eustace...are you there? It's me, Inigo...

Eustace was in his room, writing in his dairy his first impressions of English court. He sighed deeply as he thought of Queen Katherine's fate, shaking his head in aversion of the way a true queen and child of the proud rulers of Spain was treated in the nation she inhabited and served for so many years.

A knock on his door made him look up in surprise and he smiled as he recognized his old friend's voice. He stood up and opened the door.
Mi amigo, Inigo! How are you? So good to see you! Come in, come in, please and take a seat. Do you like to drink with me? I brought a good Spanish wine with me.

Inigo walked into room and hugged his old friend smiling

Eustace! How long time...oh sure, you know how much I appreciate the wine from our land, mi amigo. I came once I heard about your arrival at Palace. When did you arrived?

He asked in his curious english, looking at him

Eustace smiled warmly as he hugged his old friend, gestured him to sit down and opened a jug of wine.

Nothing tastes better than a good native drink, mi amigo! I arrived yesterday, late in the evening so I was led to my rooms immediately after I had a light refreshment. He poured the wine as he was talking, then held the goblet in the air and smiled.

Cheers, to our great country, and to our mission to defend its interests everywhere we go! And cheers to you, Inigo, to your health and wellbeing! He took a sip and looked curiously at him.

Do you regret to go home again? Did you enjoy serving your country here, in England?

Inigo sat on the sofa and raised his goblet to him

Cheers, dear Eustace! Yes, I have to say that english court is not bad. Even if...crowded of strange people. I think I'll stay for few other days. Then...I'll be glad leaving our gracious Queen in your hands, my dear...

He smiled and took a sip of his delicious wine

Eustace smiled and drank, then frowned as his friend spoke about the strange people at court. He nodded slowly.

I feel honored to serve Her Majesty Queen Katherine at this court. However I was a little confused that no one seemed to welcome me. I met the king though... but he confused me even more!

He shrugged.

I am glad to see you my dear Inigo. Perhaps you can tell me what is going on here?

Inigo shrugged a bit after his question

Bueno...I think you surely heard about Cardinal Wolsey. The King sent him away from court, and sir Thomas More is now the new Chancellor. I knew this would have happened. I talked with the Queen...she is still very strong, in spite of her situation. She finally got rid of Wolsey, at least. Rather...what the King said to you, Eustace?

He asked curiously, trying to learn more about Big Matter, in order to help Katherine

Eustace bited his lips as he found out the Cardinal had left. He was prepared to deal with the cunning Lord Chancellor but he preferred sir Thomas More whom he had met several times. This was good news but it didn't explain the strange remarks of the king. Sir More was even more devout as the Cardinal himself.
He frowned.

I am happy for the Queen that Sir More is in charge now. He always supported her and will continue to do so. My meeting with the king was coincidental, he passed me in the corridor. He was very obliging and seemed pleased to see me, but he said some striking statements about Luther, who is right in his eyes in his willing to change the Church. He even told me that the Emperor should encourage Reformation, like he does himself!'

Inigo crossed himself after such words and looked astonished at him

Madre de Dios! I can't believe that. The King lost completely his mind for that...girl. God forbids him to become an heretic. Do you think...he will break with Rome, then?

He asked worriedly

Eustace shook his head slowly.

No! it can' t be, can it? Santa Madre María y todos los santos! At this very same moment, our Emperor is negotiating with the Pope to be crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Church! He has no sympathy at all for the Reformists and if Henry is serious about this, it might mean.... war! his sentence ends in a whisper.

He looks bewildered at his friend.
Who will stop him? And what is the role of sir More in this? As long as the Cardinal was in charge, I never heard such things about the English king. Has he gone that mad, only to achieve this annullment he wants, cueste lo que cueste ?

Inigo opened his eyes wide as he heard the word "War" from Eustace. He sighed

Claro que si, mi amigo. If he already dare acting in such way in public, I think that anyone can stop him. All our hopes are in Sir More's hands, now. He is at our side, and with God's help...he can use his power as Chancellor to prevent the King from doing this. What about...the Boleyn girl? I heard she even has her own ladies...like a Queen!

He asked, rolling his eyes

Eustace frowned deeply and stared into Inigo´s eyes. He expected a hard job, but not this craziness.

I know only one person who can stop him and that is the Emperor himself! But that would mean war indeed!

He shrugged.

Between you and me, however, I don´t think the Emperor will be glad to declare him war. He leaned forward and whispered. All these holy wars caused him an empty treasury. A steady relationship with England has always been important to him, but now... I don´t know what effect this may have. I think I need a word with Sir More about this.

He took a sip of his wine.

I don´t know her personally, this Boleyn girl. I heard though that she was raised at the Habsburg court of the Emperor´s aunt. She seems to be an intelligent woman, sophisticated... and she was taught how to seduce men to get her way. Her father is a shrewd man, I met him several times since he was the English ambassador. A family to be reckoned, Inigo!

Inigo took a deep breath

A war would mean...a disaster, my friend. Sir More himself is working hardly to restore peace in Europe. And if Emperor would invade England...all his efforts would be vane! Anyway...I talked to Queen about you. She asked...to take care of Princess Mary, if something would happen to her...

He added with a concerned tone

Eustace sighed.

I was sent here with strict orders to do my utmost to keep the good relationship between Spain and England, but also to protect the Queen. I guess it will be a more difficult task than I thought!

Inigo spoke about the Queen and his face softened.

I will do everything within my power to please Her Majesty! You make it sound though as if she is about to give up! that should not happen, Inigo, tell me she has not lost her courage, did she? he looked almost begging at him.

Inigo sighed deeply

Oh...the Queen is stronger than ever, mi amigo! Even if sad, she is supported by her faith. And by the awareness of being King's wife, and true Queen of England. Her strenght is almost...unearthly, I'd dare say. Also, I heard that Cardinal Fisher fought for her during Trial. And I'm sure he won't stop...

He said with quiet voice, looking at his face

Eustace sighed in relief.

I am so glad to hear this, mi amigo! She is the child of the proud Spanish King and Queen, royal by nature and not by marriage! And I am also pleased to find out not everyone has gone crazy in this Kingdom and that she still has people around her who support her. Fisher, you say? I will visit him and thank him on behalf of the Emperor. I do hope that the true faith remains unbroken here....

He shivered and raised his eyes at Inigo's face while he took another sip.

Inigo nodded while listening him carefully

Claro que si, mi amigo...I hope so. But I heard that heretics are spreading around country. Lutherans are everywhere in Europe. Even...here at court. People whom King's trusts completely. Do you think it's true, Eustace?

He asked, looking at his face with astonishment

Even here at court, you think? that would be desastrous, Inigo! Our Emperor acts hard on every possible Lutheran, I dare to say we have no heretics at the Spanish court. In most European countries they burn them, to eradicate root and evil. I understood this doesn't happen in England, so I assumed the Lutheran ideas were not widely supported here.

He bited his lips while thinking about Inigo's words.
Do you know those people yourself, my friend? I guess it explains why the king spoke so fondly about Luther's ideas. I hope he is not affected himself, even though I heard that the Lutheran's think that a king rules his country in secular and spiritual sense... he stared at Inigo's face in horror.

Inigo nodded and sighed deeply

No...I know anyone of them personally. But I heard that too, dear Eustace. They even think that Holy Sacrament is not the body and blood of Christ! And they don't recognize Pope as head of Church. I fear that the King is starting to give them power at court. Rumors says...that secretary Cromwell is one of them himself!

He added leaning a bit on him, almost whispering

Chapuys squinted his eyes and frowned deeply.

Es increíble! I never guessed to learn these things here! Henry and Katherine were such devout Catholics, themselves. And.... secretary Cromwell? Do you really think so? he whispered while shaking his head in disbelief.

He is el protegido of Cardinal Wolsey! How could he allow him in his neighborhood, in the neighborhood of the king? Qué casa de locos, mi amigo!

Inigo listened carefully and took a deep breath

Es increíble, mi amigo! But now that Wolsey is far from court...do you think he will continue his career here at court? I mean...it seems that secretary Cromwell is very well considered by King. And this is not a good thing for our Queen's cause...

He rolled his eyes

Eustace took a huge sip of the wine and shook his head slowly.

I don't know what to think, mi amigo! A heratic so close to the king! A desperate king! he added, looking around the room.

No, I don't think that is a good thing to the queen's cause. I hope Sir More will be able to keep the true faith here and that he still can influence the king. But if not.... I fear the future of this country, as much as the queen's future.

Inigo thought for a while, then nodded while looking at him

I fear for her too. That's why your precence at court is so important. You have to protect the Queen and Princess Mary. And I'm sure you will do that. But...let's change topic, mi amigo. Have you heard that my cousin, Queen Eleanor of Bavaria, will be crowned soon?

He asked with a proud smile

Eustace nodded seriously, frowning deeply. What a task! He never expected to find so much disorder. He bit his lips but then his friend changed the topic and he looked up in surprise.

Is that so, mi amigo? Aww, I am glad to learn there is good news too! He smiled widely.
Congratulations, Inigo! Is there a date announced, yet?