How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

The princes were divided into two factions due to the previous emperor's incompetence and dogmatism.

The Protestant Union (Protestantische Union) organized against Rudolf II's Catholic oppression.

The Catholic League (Katholische Liga) formed in opposition to it.

The Protestant Union had rebelled against Rudolf II and crowned Matthias, but they wanted too much.

They wanted to restructure the Imperial Diet.

They wanted the right to freely establish Protestant churches and worship in Austria and Hungary.

The price was an oath of allegiance.

Matthias was angered by their attitude of using the oath of allegiance as a bargaining chip, and the Protestant Union prepared its army.

As the crisis of war approached... Matthias stepped back and accepted their conditions.

Yet they demanded even more.

Just last year, 1613, when an Ottoman invasion seemed imminent, the Protestant Union demanded a ban on the persecution of Protestants within Catholic princes' territories and a restructuring of the imperial judicial system in exchange for participation.

Indicating that they would not provide any support for the war against the Ottomans if these weren't accepted.

This time, the Catholic League fully supported Matthias.

Although the war with the Ottomans never materialized, Matthias now owed a debt to the Catholic League.

Thus, while Matthias constantly stressed religious reconciliation and appeasement to prevent conflict between the two forces, it was merely a stopgap measure. He himself knew this.

Just when peace seemed to have arrived, war broke out again.

Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg, and John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, both Lutherans, fought over the ownership of the Jülich-Cleves-Berg territory.

This time, Wolfgang Wilhelm converted to Catholicism to gain support from the Catholic League and Spain, while John Sigismund relied on the Protestant Union and the Netherlands.

Another large-scale war was about to unfold.

"...Good. Aachen has fallen, and both are forward-looking in negotiations..."

Once again, it's barely being patched together.

Matthias puts down the documents, feeling extreme exhaustion.

...Endless wars breaking out, being patched up, breaking out again, being patched up again.

It's tiresome.

How long can this continue?

Another report is delivered. News that Frederick V, Elector of the Palatinate, has made radical statements somewhere again.

Then, another report follows. In Bohemia...

...

...

...

Ah, I dozed off.

Where was I?

Memory... isn't coming back easily.

Oh.

The emperor is old. He's growing increasingly senile.

The emperor falls back asleep and wakes repeatedly, caught in waves of drowsiness.

More reports pile up, on top of reports, on top of reports.

Those who want to swallow more struggle desperately.

They rage endlessly, trying to devour the churches, communities, and entire societies within their territories.

They act as if they cannot be satisfied without tearing apart what is above them and devouring what is below them.

What can fill these hungry beasts?

In his dreamlike state, the emperor sees something. He sees fierce beasts that devour everything.

He sees an omen.

That beast was growing from the British Isles.

==

"Finally... supplies from the New World are being received more stably."

James leaned back in his chair with relief.

He knew well that these supplies sent by Virginia... no, the Continental Covenant, were gestures for maintaining the alliance. From a political perspective, each one was a debt.

But at least it was a kind of debt that could be repaid. A debt with a very generous interest rate.

Look at France. How many benefits did that king receive just for checking Spain? The emperor of the New World gave definite compensation to those who benefited him.

He smiled contentedly as he watched servants telling him how much of various grapes, furs, and aluminum had arrived this time.

Of course, that abominable Walter Raleigh would still remain in the emperor's court. The queen's favorite, essentially the queen's male courtesan.

'But if he knows how to separate public and private matters, he will follow the emperor's interests.'

Scotland is already smaller and poorer than England. The land is barren, and the population difference is more than fivefold.

Moreover, due to geographical barriers, political power is more scattered. James is completely fed up with the challenges from various great lords and clan chiefs.

Without the resources sent by the Continental Covenant, he couldn't subdue the unruly Scottish lords.

And if he couldn't subdue those lords...

'Then I cannot claim England.'

He is officially the king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.

However, due to the queen's machinations, he couldn't even set foot in Ireland, and the claim to the French throne is just an ancient legend.

And England...

'...England.'

James's brow furrowed.

England. His teeth grinded whenever he thought of it.

His gaze turned southward.

==

"...How old are you?"

"15 years old."

"15! Just the right age to take responsibility for your destiny."

Robert grinned and patted his son Oliver's cheek. Then he said,

"I'm not sure if this old man will last more than five years."

"..."

"If I last five years, you'll be 20. What will you do then?"

"I... would have finished university by then. I'll marry to take responsibility for the family."

"Yes. Good idea. And if I die before that?"

"..."

Oliver didn't resent his father for the mischievous question. His father was that kind of person, and he himself had become accustomed to such a father.

So Oliver answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I'll quit university or whatever."

"...Why? Because you're sad about my death?"

"No."

"Then?"

"I'll quit to gain experience. Going to Lincoln's Inn might not be bad either."

"Experience... How about cultivating the family fortune?"

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"I also know why you're unwelcome in Liverpool now, Father."

Oliver spoke as if stating that one plus one equals two, as a matter of fact.

"Isn't it because your wealth and reputation are insignificant?"

"...What?"

"Cultivating the family fortune doesn't seem very meaningful. Instead, I'll move around Liverpool and inherit your network."

Oliver knew what kind of person his father was. He waited for a moment, and then...

"...Ha!"

He slightly curled his lips as he felt Robert heartily patting his back. Overall, he maintained a calm, expressionless face.

"Correct answer! Yes, the future is here!"

Robert proudly continued patting his son's back. Then he pulled back the curtain to show his son the view outside.

A rather large official-looking building, unsuitable for a small fishing village, was being constructed.

"This is now the center of England!"

The place where the queen's footsteps had touched, therefore symbolizing the sanctity and greatness of pure England.

The final fortress preventing that foreign king from manipulating this country at will.

The northern parts of England close to Scotland are complying with King James's rule, but the vast majority of the territory is essentially not recognizing James and running autonomously.

This is the center of that autonomy.

London is dead. It's been over 10 years since the queen left. During that time, London's population has plummeted to below 100,000.

James lacks the capacity to intervene in London, and these "Liverpool faction" members are wary of the issue of the English throne arising the moment they reclaim London, resulting in neglect.

As a result, the royal authority symbolized by London has become useless in England.

The queen's grand coronation celebration and elegant banquets at Whitehall Palace have all been forgotten.

Now... their newly crafted "Parliament" governs most of England, roughly, creakingly, but definitely.

De facto.

Having just ended a massive war with Spain, there wasn't much they could do. Neither Scotland's James nor this self-proclaimed "Parliament."

Everyone remembers when Spanish warships raided every coast, turning them into wastelands, and almost all maritime transport not going through Virginia's clippers was cut off.

Now they were all essentially bankrupt. The splendor enjoyed during the queen's era had all dissipated.

...So no one could guarantee.

It remained uncertain who would gain hegemony among the King of Scotland, ambitious gentlemen, and haughty nobles.

Therefore, rather than immediately starting a bloody war to kill "traitors" or "tyrants," they filled their arsenals and prepared for tomorrow's confrontation.

"Yes... The future is here."

The two Cromwells looked up at that temporary parliament building, envisioning tomorrow's victory.

Meanwhile.

"Freedom of faith is coming!"

"Rome's teachings will return to this land again!"

Some whispered, others shouted.

They proclaimed days that would purify England again, which had been corrupted during the queen's long reign.

They were organized.

"Guy Fawkes! Your supporters have gathered!"

"...Excellent."

They gathered to create terror, to make Spain wage war again with this immoral country and support the revival of the Roman Catholic Church.

A conspiracy with the smell of gunpowder, iron, and blood was being plotted.

For the future reign of His Holiness the Pope in this land.

==

Pope Paul V reflected on the past days.

Since 1517, everything seemed like a crisis.

Every step taken by the Holy Church seemed like one of the predetermined stages of doom.

It was obvious that the Mediterranean Sea embracing Italy, once the cradle of wealth and abundance, was gradually becoming the periphery of the world, giving way to the Atlantic. Now the world's wealth came from the western sea.

Also, the heirs of Peter were becoming laughingstocks in England, France, the Empire, and various other lands. No, being laughingstocks would be fortunate compared to the actual situation.

Just decades ago, the flames of heresy rose like wildfire in southern France.

And the whole of Germany surged with the wave of Protestantism. Poland and Hungary, Sweden and Denmark, England and Scotland swayed and fell.

Monarchs who seemed most devout each mounted the wave of apostasy with their own schemes.

The Christian world was torn to shreds.

It had been so for a hundred years, since those northern barbarians began shouting the cursed names of Luther and Calvin. Since those devilish doctrines began to spread.

Rome, where the holy will of the Chief Apostle resided, seemed on the verge of collapse.

...At least until just a few decades ago.

Until parts of France, the Netherlands, and Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland returned to the embrace of the Holy Catholic Church.

Decades.

It took easily decades for the Holy Catholic Church to climb back from the pit of predetermined defeat.

Pope Paul V, successor to the Chief Apostle and Pope of Rome, trembled as he recalled standing atop that holy and majestic journey.

He had endured years of humiliation. Many popes had restored Rome's fallen honor by enduring pious and ascetic lives.

The Lord's saints stood on much more sophisticated doctrine than before.

The Lord's priests were protected within a much more solidly structured organization than before.

He, as the Lord's representative, enjoyed firmer authority than ever.

Decades of tireless reforms and struggles had made the Holy Catholic Church much more pious, upright, and passionate than before.

Rome became more splendid during his reign.

During his reign, France remained a Catholic country at least nominally, and the Empire's bishops still wielded influence.

Rather, aren't those heretics who acted as if they would conquer the world growing more subdued day by day?

"Your Holiness, the Emperor's request..."

"Your Holiness, the envoy who came from Japan is now returning via America..."

Meanwhile, the influence of the Holy Catholic Church was extending day by day to America, Asia, and Africa. They were winning in China, the Philippines, and Congo.

He thought with conviction.

Someday hundreds of millions would bow under the Pope.

All would kneel under the holy name of the Lord.

Only victory remained.

"Britain... seems chaotic. Indeed, such chaos must fill lands dominated by heretical doctrines."

"Truly so. But isn't it fortunate that loyal believers bring us such news?"

Of course, it doesn't matter.

Chaos is opportunity.

Paul V quickly gave several instructions to those around him, then hurriedly went to his designated place when it was time for prayer and knelt before a cross adorned with pearls and gold. And he reminded himself again.

Yes. Chaos is opportunity.

Those who will seize that opportunity are the heirs who have inherited Peter's keys.

In his hand was a letter sent by Guy Fawkes. The Pope smiled as he opened it.

He believed only the Lord of all would triumph.

Not only he, but all the gamblers gathered at the table of the European world with their cards believed so.

They didn't know what catastrophe awaited before that victory.