How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 273: To Ireland (2)

Raleigh could only shake his head.

No, that’s impossible.

No matter how eccentric and peculiar the Queen might be, she’s not an unreasonable person. Rather, she appears eccentric and peculiar precisely because she thinks and acts so thoroughly strategically.

That was the Queen I knew. But if such a Queen acted this way, there must be a reason somewhere...

"Ah... come to think of it, she did say something rather meaningful."

"Something meaningful?"

"Yes, roughly these words. Ahem. ’...I must go to keep my promise with the angel,’ she said."

Pro...mise? What promise? I don’t recall making any promise with the Queen...

I pondered for a moment and then shook my head.

"I have... no idea."

Still incomprehensible. Raleigh tilted his head in confusion just like me.

Well, anyway... dwelling on an unsolvable problem is a waste of time. I decided to ask about other important matters first.

"So, what’s the situation in Ireland?"

I needed to know how the situation in Ireland was unfolding that made the Queen decide to go there. The answer might lie there.

"It’s fair to say that about 80 to 90 percent of Ireland is under the control of the Catholic coalition forces."

...Is that not it?

"The English army has suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the Irish coalition, and Hugh O’Neill... that is, their commander-in-chief Aodh Mór Ó Néill, has built his authority through an undefeated streak."

"..."

"However, due to Ireland’s decentralized nature, other lords are keeping him in check, and amid this, several famines have coincided, creating a volatile public sentiment."

"I see."

"The withdrawal of many Spanish troops, who were acting as a balancing force between them, is accelerating the division among the Irish forces. The English army attempted a counterattack targeting this division, but unfortunately was defeated again."

"So in summary, the English side keeps losing and losing, with no hope in sight?"

"Yes."

"But the Irish forces, despite gaining the upper hand, are divided?"

"Correct."

"And the Spanish forces supporting the Irish returned after being thoroughly defeated in Florida?"

"That’s right."

What a mess.

Wow, I understand even less now.

The English forces are too busy everywhere to do anything effectively, and at the same time, the Irish forces are too busy fighting amongst themselves to consolidate their victory after driving out the English army.

In that situation, the Spanish forces simply deserted.

To Florida.

And got crushed.

"..."

"..."

A battlefield where everyone is miserable.

I don’t understand what she intends to do by going to such a chaotic place. Boost morale? She wouldn’t cross the Atlantic at the age of 80 just for that, would she?

After deep contemplation by both Raleigh and myself, about a month or two passed.

A letter from the Queen was delivered via the clipper that traveled between England and Virginia.

’Operation successful. Returning soon.’

Below this brief note... the detailed circumstances were written... and I couldn’t help but be astonished.

==

"...What did you say?"

The Irish commander Aodh Mór Ó Néill could not believe what the Queen had just said.

At first, when he heard that the Queen was personally proposing a summit meeting, he couldn’t contain his joy. The Queen who had been staying across the Atlantic was coming in person!

If their victory wasn’t on the threshold, why would she move her heavy feet and come all the way here to beg for a meeting? Yes, they too must have reached the point where they could no longer endure this war.

Now, true freedom of faith and the restoration of Irish sovereignty were within reach. The long history of humiliation and oppression was finally coming to an end!

With these thoughts, the Earl of Tyrone, Ó Néill, led his most elite guard unit to the midpoint where they were confronting the English army.

They stood there as proud victors, firmly believing this would be the signing ceremony for England’s humiliating surrender document.

But...

"You heard correctly."

"Ah, no, I don’t think I heard properly, Your Majesty, Queen of England. Could you please say it once more?"

What is this situation...?

O’Neill was not the only one flustered and agitated.

Robert Cecil, who had followed all the way to this place, trembled, not knowing how to handle the aftermath, and Margaret, who was watching the meeting scene right next to him, was also in shock, thinking, ’Why, why am I in such a place...?’

The Irish soldiers brought by O’Neill and the English soldiers brought by the Queen were also wide-eyed and stirring. The sound of their stirring quickly made this place as noisy as a marketplace.

"Just as you heard."

And the Queen, regardless of the surrounding gazes, opened her mouth again.

"Let’s end the war."

Up to that point, O’Neill had anticipated it. Hadn’t he expected this place to be where England would essentially declare surrender? But...

"Now you shall be King of Ireland."

"...What?"

"You will ascend as joint monarch with me and James."

"...Huh, what?"

This is different from what was expected.

What is this person babbling about? Is what I heard really what I heard?

"Congratulations."

In an instant, O’Neill’s mind was turned upside down.

==

"...She did it all."

"Uh... what?"

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth proceeded to Ireland and pushed for reconciliation. The price was the joint throne of Ireland..."

"Haha, that, that can’t be..."

"..."

"...Damn it all, that cursed witch has sold off the throne ’again’! How many pieces does she intend to cut this country into! I’ll chew on her entrails... cough hack..."

"Your Majesty? Quickly... Your Majesty! Call the physicians at once!"

Similarly, James of Scotland, upon hearing the news, fainted.

==

"...Then, our army remaining in Ireland?"

"Communication has been cut off."

"..."

"..."

"You’re telling me that 3,000 elite troops have simply lost contact? Are you serious...!"

Soon after, the Spanish court was also thrown into turmoil.

==

"Spain suffered a great defeat in Ireland and retreated...?"

"Stadhouder. For our republic, this is an opportunity we must seize. Since Habsburg influence is weakening, I beseech you to consider supporting the Protestant princes..."

"...Send a letter to the Elector Palatine. France will also move to support him."

The Netherlands, the Palatinate, France, and Protestant countries began to move.

Almost every country that heard the news took action.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)𝒆bnov(𝒆)l