How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

Turning the time back just a little bit.

"Aaaargh! Th-that damned harlot! I'll k-kill her!"

"Your Majesty! P-please calm yourself!"

"Urgh. I should have killed that person long ago...! Ugh, urgh...!"

"Your Majesty! Y-Your Majesty!"

"His Majesty has collapsed!"

"Call for a doctor immediately!"

King James collapsed with a fury that felt like all the blood in his body was flowing backwards.

It was just a half-day fainting spell, but this too was the result of the queen's dazzling mischief throughout the British Isles.

What angered James most was that all of the queen's actions were "utterly good."

Elizabeth provided relief to the people of Ireland and even fed the starving rebels.

Elizabeth took pity on those struggling with disasters and gave them the opportunity to go to America.

Elizabeth visited and comforted those suffering from rebellion and war, risking her own safety.

All were righteous deeds worthy of praise, whether as a monarch or as a Christian.

And each of those deeds severely eroded James's grip on England.

Naturally, James didn't think the queen had suddenly had a change of heart and was going around saving people.

But the people would think so.

That point made James so furious that he couldn't bear it.

Anyway.

The important point here is that James's grip on England is being eroded.

Even if Elizabeth's popularity rises, she is a person who remains across the Atlantic.

Saying that James's control over England is weakening means that the king's, the government's control over England is weakening.

That is:

"Brothers in faith, the day to cleanse the sins of this land that has betrayed the holy catholic church will soon come! Finally...!"

"Father, please calm down. Let's first check our gunpowder inventory."

"Don't we already have enough gunpowder! Hahaha!"

It meant that rebels within England would have more room to maneuver.

"Quite a few people gathered at the last meeting! How about selecting those who are especially devoted among them?"

"Oh, amen. By recruiting manpower that way, we could match the Protestant mobs nearby for now. But can we secretly move them to other regions for the plan?"

The influence of Catholics trying to collude with Spain was growing. For decades, they had been plotting to purify this corrupted land and remove the Protestant tyrants.

In fact, this was a predicted outcome from when the queen decided to come to England. As Elizabeth extended her reach, James's domain would shrink accordingly.

Of course.

"Her Majesty is coming down! She's coming to Liverpool!"

"Woooooah!"

There, the queen arriving in Liverpool with a meaningful smile couldn't possibly be unaware of this fact.

She had a plan.

==

Liverpool.

This port was just a small fishing harbor until recently, but its size suddenly grew as Atlantic trade developed over the past decade.

The prosperity of this place demonstrated how much England had gained from Virginia over the past ten-plus years.

Elizabeth looked around as she disembarked at Liverpool's pier. Among the many crowds reaching out to her, familiar faces popped up here and there.

As expected.

The queen smiled with satisfaction and pleased the crowd with elegant and dignified steps befitting their cheers.

After exciting the public for quite some time, the queen quickly moved her steps...

"Your Majesty, these are your loyal subjects who have gathered upon hearing the news of your arrival."

She met the "guests" she had invited.

"...Hmm."

She had spread the word in Bristol, Cardiff, and throughout the Midlands.

I shall go to Liverpool. I shall welcome the loyal ones in Liverpool. Liverpool shall be my next destination...

Naturally, England's ambitious nobles and gentlemen didn't simply let those words pass by.

They quickly realized that it was a kind of "invitation."

An earl from somewhere in the Midlands, a wealthy baron from Cornwall, a landowner from near Yorkshire, and so on...

Most of England's influential figures who hadn't participated in the London rebellion and weren't Catholics were gathered here.

The queen slowly descended from her carriage and examined each of the men gathered here. Both their number and status exceeded the queen's expectations.

As the queen stepped down from her carriage, all those gathered here knelt to receive their lord.

"These are loyal subjects gathered for Your Majesty. They..."

"I can see how loyal they are with my own eyes, so no further explanation is needed."

The queen interrupted her attendant and looked down at the kneeling men with her tall stature.

And in a soft tone, as if whispering to children, she said:

"Those who grieve watching each petal fall and wither are truly the ones who love flowers and spring days, more than those who rejoice at the sight of blooming buds."

She ascended to a high platform with the support of her attendants. She smiled as if she felt comfortable there.

"You all are like that."

As if that place, high above, looking down at others, was her home.

"You have gathered here when your country and lord are in the most perilous state, making you more loyal than those who gathered in London when my kingdom was prospering."

At those words, the kneeling men rose, pretending to be moved. The queen held hands with each approaching "loyal subject" until...

Grip.

"...You hold my hand unusually long."

"Upon seeing Your Majesty, who is righteous and beautiful, my heart became excited without my knowledge..."

"Ha!"

She burst into meaningful laughter.

"Looking over there, I see you've brought your son as well?"

"How could I alone enjoy the honor of meeting Your Majesty?"

"..."

And that was it.

"Well, I shall take my leave now. Glory to England."

"G-glory to England! Long live Her Majesty...!"

To those who had waited for her for weeks, the queen simply shook hands and left.

"Long live Her Majesty! Long live Her Majesty!"

"How many people are here? Secure a place nearby immediately!"

Nevertheless, the scene was fervent.

A gentleman who had tightly gripped the queen's hand gazed at that hand in rapture, then quickly withdrew and spoke to his young son standing behind.

"Son, my son Oliver!"

"Father...? What is it?"

"Just now, your father shook hands with Her Majesty the Queen with this hand. Do you know what that means?"

"...Pardon?"

"The people who just shook hands with her..."

Looking at his son Oliver, Robert Cromwell grinned.

And he whispered into his son's ear so that no one else could hear.

"Those who shook hands with Her Majesty will rule England."

"Wh-what does that mean?"

"Watch."

Robert Cromwell took his son Oliver Cromwell and headed toward where people were gathering. From various places, shouting voices could be heard.

"The kingdom is in crisis, so at least the loyal freemen here must gather now!"

Someone climbed onto the platform where the queen had just stood and shouted.

"I agree! Who in this kingdom would not agree!"

Then someone answered with appropriate gestures at the exact time, as if prearranged.

Applause and cheers continued at the precise moment, and stopped at the precise moment.

"We! We loyal people! We can represent the freemen of England! In this storm, we will boldly unfurl our anchor and advance...!"

"I fully agree! At least compared to those traitors in London who claim to be so now, our qualifications are more than sufficient!"

"That's right! Long live England!"

"Long live Her Majesty!"