How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

It was like an exaggerated play. Everyone knew the beginning and end, the process and result of this affair.

Robert Cromwell jumped onto that stage full of cheers with his son and shouted.

"Long live England! Long live Her Majesty... the Queen!"

That was the finale.

The birth of a new power.

The queen only shook hands and left, but that handshake was enough.

That handshake became the mark that distinguished England's true rulers.

Now those "loyal subjects" who were "certified" by the queen, free from responsibility and guilt for rebellion, would become the center of England.

Those cheering here now would hold authority exceeding the "fake" parliament set up by those rebels in London.

These people would fill the power vacuum in England created when the queen fled, rebels seized London and parliament, and the crown passed to Scotland.

They would become England's real rulers.

Knowing this fact, they were so excited.

"Your Majesty? Y-Your Majesty!"

"Urgh... my head still hurts, so keep it moderate. Don't report anything unless it's urgent news related to 'that woman'."

"..."

"...Ah."

"Elizabeth has gathered influential figures of England in Liverpool for a meeting..."

"Aaaaargh!"

James of Scotland fainted again.

Damn it, the right that I should have seized...

My rightful... right over England...

"I have a proposal, James."

This isn't... right...

"From now on, I intend to make you the co-king of England. I will also divide the resources coming from the New World in half."

The co-kingship I had in mind... wasn't like this...

Just before fainting, with his eyes firmly focused, James told his son Charles:

My son.

You must never...

Never trust the English...

...Study hard.

==

Elizabeth personally authorized the rightful rulers of England.

That is:

The possibility of Scotland's (and England's co-) King James swallowing up the entirety of England, where the queen had fled and the parliament was shattered, plummeted.

England, except for London and its surroundings which were controlled by rebels, was now theirs.

James wasn't the only one who foamed at the mouth in response to this news.

The foundation was laid for a new power to enter England, which had been unoccupied land.

Order and authority returned to England, which had been terrified and split like a flock of sheep without a shepherd. England's political situation regained stability.

"A new parliament has risen near Chester? This... is nonsense!"

"Who was it that suggested delaying our action! Wasn't it you? Take responsibility!"

"H-how is it my fault! Who could have known that greedy queen would go that far, even setting aside her own authority?"

Radical Catholics who were planning to act amidst England's chaos also fell into confusion immediately.

Public actions were dispersed instantly across various places.

Secret meetings happening here and there were discovered.

Plans to kidnap or assassinate the king that were proceeding secretly also had to undergo major revisions. In fact, they were virtually canceled.

They panicked, all rising from their seats, pointing fingers at each other and shouting loudly. From prominent gentlemen to nobles of some standing, all lost their dignity and scrambled.

In such a situation...

"Everyone, stop!"

At a young man's shout, briefly, the commotion ceased, but after they glanced at the young man, it returned to its original state.

Who do you think you are? Just fortunately included here where people of high status are gathered. Just the son of some lawyer trying to get attention by making a fuss...

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Crack!

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Now, it's quiet."

When the conspirators looked to the side, the young man had... smashed his chair with a mace from the wall.

The young man who destroyed the chair finally managed to attract the attention of this meeting of young and awkward conspirators.

He climbed onto the table. Looking down at all the people gathered here somewhat arrogantly, he said:

"Everyone, what's wrong? How can you cause such commotion after hearing such good news?"

"Ar-are you m-mad? That's 'good news'? How can it be good news that Protestant minions have gathered under the queen's direction!"

At someone's words, the young man raises one corner of his mouth and taps his head.

"...It seems you've misinterpreted this joyful news because of your foolishness."

"..."

"A new order has risen in England. The new Protestant power holders left by the queen, whatever you call them, parliament! Those fellows! Those fellows will soon dominate England and try to crush us!"

"How is that good news..."

"Because when they dominate England, there's one more person who will dislike it."

"..."

"..."

"...James! James of Scotland!"

When someone with quick wit shouted, the young man smiled and murmured.

"That's right. Now the authorities of two kingdoms, the authority of the king and the queen, the authority of the monarch and the parliament will clash! In between them tearing at each other, fighting and scratching... would our gains really be small?"

England will now go through labor pains as new power holders continue to agree and struggle with each other.

Scotland is in a state where James has just managed to rein in the local lords by distributing furs and various resources coming from Virginia.

Ireland continues to be in chaos due to famine caused by successive wars, even as the Catholic coalition solidifies its victory.

Thus, the British Isles, which until recently were under Elizabeth's firm royal authority, are instantly being divided.

And division and chaos were always opportunities for the ambitious.

"We must hurry to find another ambitious person from the House of Stuart. Before they think it's better to contact that so-called 'new parliament' than to contact us!"

Thump!

The young man stomps on the table and says:

"Also, we must find and recruit those who are abandoned and pushed aside in that disintegration! It's an opportunity to expand our influence more than ever!"

Thump!

"Yet... what are you all doing, not stockpiling more gunpowder, not preparing more able-bodied men and blades?"

"..."

"..."

"We are at a watershed moment. And."

The young man lightly jumps down next to the chair he just destroyed and adjusts his hat.

"I will do anything to restore this England, full of Satan's prestige, back to a land of holy gospel. I will do anything."

The young man, Guy Fawkes, holding the mace, said so.

==

Back to Liverpool.

Nothing special happened.

Except for several assassination threats, Catholic riots, and enthusiastic public gatherings.

Thanks to filling all escorts and attendants with only Americans and those whom the queen knew by face, they could easily overcome a couple of assassination threats.

The foolish Catholics who flocked to this not-so-large port city were also trampled by the surrounding crowd and tattered, so there was no problem.

The public was also skillfully controlled by the queen, who was able to calm them without many injuries.

However.

"The events this city has experienced... seem to show me the turmoil of kingdoms."

"..."

"..."

When it was time to leave, the queen suddenly speaks at the dock as if she just remembered. The crowd gathered around and the self-proclaimed provisional members of parliament all close their mouths and focus on her words.

"How has this land, where the Lord once walked, become so filled with noisy sounds? How have the blood and tears of people turned the soil into mud?"

The queen's voice was heartfelt, and those nearby could see a few drops of tears falling from her eyes.

They sobbed at the thought of sending off the queen, in the midst of excitement and immersion in the dramatic situation. For a moment, the queen shared the sadness of farewell with them and...

"However, I swear to the Lord, I believe!"

She suddenly exclaimed.

The crowd here, the members of parliament, and... Robert Cromwell and his young child Oliver Cromwell also raised their heads while calming their pounding hearts. They listen to the queen's voice.

"Someday there will be someone who will subdue this chaos in this land! As Catholics and Protestants fight each other and various kingdoms split apart and suffer tribulation! Someone will break these waves, someone will quell this storm! ...Someday! At his feet, these kingdoms will become one again! Wait until then!"

"...Wooooah!"

"Long live Her Majesty!"

Most of the crowd simply responded to the queen's beautiful and brief speech with cheers, without much thought.

But Robert Cromwell felt a thrill.

Suddenly, the queen spoke like someone who had been to the end of the world.

"..."

As if... like someone who had hidden a treasure at that end.

As if she was saying:

If you want the British Isles, I will give them to you.

Whoever... whoever can subdue this chaos shall become its master...!

Besides Cromwell, several other ambitious people also watched the queen with wide eyes.

They watched the queen leave.

She...

Planted a grand dream in them and left.

"Someday... at my feet..."

While Robert Cromwell murmured quietly.

Young Oliver's eyes shone toward the departing clipper.