Chapter 15

Well that was an interesting encounter with the future Queen Mary I. It also highlights some very real-world issues with people of a certain ideological ilk, who play off victimization. I will warn everyone right now, I am going to make sure Mary I earns the title of Bloody Mary that historical epithets have honored her with. Her purges were bad in history, but imagine them several times worse and far more encompassing with modern techniques of propaganda.

For a moment though, I do want to give some credence to the complaints of the devil: Mary's life was turned upside down after her father King Henry VIII divorced her mother, then declared her a bastard. She was forced to become a servant to Elizabeth as Anne Boleyn was the new Queen, until Anne Boleyn was executed and Elizabeth also cast out as a bastard. Then, over the years, she was manipulated by various Protestant ministers using her as a bargaining chip for Catholic nations to seek alliances through marriages and material support, essentially she was whored out by England. Chief amongst her enemies would be the Church of England (Anglican Church) and their noble backers, who made her what she was. I want people to remember that angle of her personal grievances and anger, which she tries to mingle with the populist anger over Anglican reforms that removed freedom to use lands and unfair labor practices by Protestant nobility. She wants vengeance and blood, so do a lot of English peasants, who have been oppressed by greedy Protestants and the corrupt Church of England.

As for my new character, Frances Howard has a different backstory than her historical counterpart, plus I changed her age. For one thing, GA guidelines forbids 40-year age gap relationships, even if they did exist in history. Frances Howard, Countess of Kildare was born in 1573, and Elizabeth Tudor was born in 1533, they were very close in the 1580s-90s and she was among Elizabeth's Female favorites, including exchanging ornate gifts. Elizabeth I was rumored to have lesbian relationships, so it wouldn't be out of place for her to fall for a teenage girl. Changing her to 12, while Eli is 17 reduces the age gap and makes any potential relationship less problematic in the future. She's also currently in a dubious position between Eli and Mary, likely a spy for Mary in Eli's camp.

One more thing I do have to point out: Japanese Manga do sometimes stray into the uncomfortable realm of mentor/student love stories, where there's a slight bit of grooming. I pointed it out in the story with a popular heterosexual manga example, so I want folks to know I do know my subject matter issue.

Eli isn't just a gay or bi protagonist, Eli is intersex. While Eli prefers males and so does Robert, it wouldn't be a problem to introduce the "right" girl in. There's a sexual commentary portion here about heterosexual girls, who want to be involved in gay relationships, but they aren't willing to share or offer anything to the males involved. It's an anecdote of something I learned through friends about the difference between hetero and bi girls, there's a willingness to reciprocate and share.

My favorite part is introducing the famous English Composer and Musical Renaissance guy, Thomas Tallis. He is famous for his choir and musical compositions, being among the best during the 16th-century Northern Renaissance. He is also a member of the Coven with an innate skill to use various musical scores from around the world and across time. Music theory is a science in itself and mastery of music should not be discounted.

This week's law of power is the 3rd law, "Conceal Your Intentions", Frances acting as an obvious plant is one example of the inability to conceal intentions from Mary's point. However, the presence of Thomas Tallis acting as an informant for the fair folk and subversive secret agent with good intentions in London plays off a lot of intent. 

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Note:

1. Thomas Howard, the father of my fictional Frances Howard, will be released by Mary to lead her military forces against various threats to her reign in history. I am going to play up this fact in the story  

2. I love Christmas Carols, but a lot of our modern Christmas songs were not played in the 16th century like the Hymn for Christmas Day is an 18th-century creation. 

3. Stephen Gardiner is not seen, but you should probably think of him as Mary's top aide and papal agent, who orchestrated the reconciliation with the Catholic Church and England during her reign. Historically he presided over the trials and executions of several notable Protestants, including Thomas Crammer, who I've mentioned before. He represented the forefront of the Counter-Reformation movement in England.