living in 16th century england

Chapter 15

As England's last territory in continental Europe, it is directly under the king's territory.Calais has a castle and an army, and the port is patrolled by soldiers.That's right, mercenaries.

The generals and officers are of course the line of kings, and there are many low-level nobles and knights.Although the knights are down and out, they still have combat effectiveness. It is better to be a mercenary than to drink the northwest wind.

Henry VII liked to confiscate those feudal aristocratic territories.It is recorded that he tried more than 300 nobles of all sizes for treason.Later, the number of nobles in Britain was relatively small, and the gold content was higher.Maybe it started with the Tudors.

And Elizabeth I.After ruling England for decades, there are only a handful of nobles who canonize, much more stingy than her father Henry VIII.

Captain Mike is very familiar with Northern Europe and often stops here, with familiar faces and unimpeded traffic.

All went well.The smooth supply, the smooth reception of the family, the smooth can not be smoother.When he was about to leave, he was stopped by someone.

"Everyone stop, don't untie the cable... We need to check."

Mike was a little surprised, but he didn't panic: "...Of course, but can I ask what you want to check?"

Seeing Mike's cooperation, the officer was not so strict: "Are you going to the other side? In order to prevent someone from smuggling guns. You must be inspected."

Matthew was speechless.There must be no muskets, but does artillery count?However, these days, countries do not have any concept of coastal defense, let alone patrolling warships, which can sail anywhere.Who the hell would smuggle muskets in the port?

I guess it's still for money.

Mike didn't know that there were cannons on board, so he was ignorant and fearless. He smiled calmly and said, "Since I entered the port, I haven't loaded any cargo. I only supplied some food and fodder. Just look at it."

The officer was a little confused: "Forage?"

Immediately he saw several horses and a donkey on the deck, happily chewing.

The officer was suspicious: "Are you a horse dealer?"

Matthew came over: "Hello, Mr. Officer. These livestock are my private property."

The officer saw that Matthew was well-dressed, and the strange people behind him were also quite bluffing.Immediately said politely: "May I ask who you are?"

Matthew sighed, thinking that it would be better to kill them all.To cover up small holes, big holes appear.It's not easy to be a good person in this day and age.

The captain is a local and cannot use a pseudonym.Naturally, his ship did not change its name.If the Church finds this place by the name of the ship, the officer will know that he is also on the ship.Naturally, he could not escape suspicion.

However, the officer and his soldiers cannot be killed.Those who killed the church will definitely be able to turn things around in the future.Whoever kills the king is finished.

The Tudors.It is a rare period of strong royal power in British history.

He already guessed what was going on with this inspection musket smuggling.Henry VIII, in his first year on the throne last year, decreed that muskets should only be used by "armies" with royal permission.Plymouth was of course also informed.

Henry and his son are particularly concerned about the development of the navy, but they restrict the army everywhere.England has no regular army, and the king himself has armed a direct army of 300 men.

But locally, there are militias.Plymouth has it, and its usual role is to obey the order of the magistrate and patrol the night.In the eyes of the king, any local armed forces that are out of control may be potential enemies.The so-called inspection of musket smuggling is entirely because muskets are used by the army.The purpose is to limit local military power.

Get rid of the private army of the feudal nobles, will the local gentry be allowed to replace them?impossible.There are three generations of Tudor dynasty, and there is no faint king.

This caused a strange phenomenon. In the middle and late 16th century, British naval artillery was king.The advanced artillery, the large number of equipment, and the fierce firepower are the best in the world.

However, the long-range attack method of the ground troops is still dominated by the longbow.As a comparison, in continental Europe at the same time, matchlock guns have already begun to be equipped on a large scale.

Elizabeth I, the virgin queen, even demanded that the price of the longbow be suppressed to ensure that every British family could afford it.And when Henry VIII hired German Musketeers to fight for him.

What does it mean?You can easily draw inferences ~ first, the whole people are armed, and the Tibetan army is in the people's consciousness.It can be called the vast ocean of people's war.Second, the Tudor monarchs had long recognized that muskets were more advanced than longbows.But the people at the bottom cannot afford muskets.So it is clear at a glance what class it is targeting.

Matthew only made cannons, but he didn't touch muskets, which were easier to produce gold coins.

One is that the matchlock gun is really not easy to use.If you approach musketeers with a torch, even friendly troops, there is a high probability that they will kill you with one shot first.

The second is that it is not easy to sell after making it, so sell it to the local?It's no wonder the royal family didn't kill him.Sell ​​to the king?He has 300 people.Is it to smuggle?This is not wool.

He didn't want to engage in flintlock guns.Only on the premise of being able to protect his own wealth, Matthew will consider getting something epoch-making.In fact, give him a hammer and he can knock out a revolver.

Cast iron artillery is different, just change the material.Increase the point pressure, increase the point range and power.Not a decisive change.Iron is much cheaper than copper.As long as the king wants to buy, gold coins are also available.

Matthew smiled and said: "I am Matthew Hawkins, and my father is a member of the Plymouth Council. It is precisely because I am going to London to meet the king that the captain made this trip."

Meet the... king?
The officer immediately became more polite: "Hello, Mr. Hawkins. Please understand...it's just a routine."

Matthew: "Please, but I have prepared some gifts for the king, please don't damage them during the inspection."

A... gift for the king?
Officer: "...don't worry."

The result is hastily.After walking around in the cargo hold, he left without even going to the captain's cabin.

Routine indeed.

With privileges comes freedom.If you are an ordinary person, not only will you be critical, but you will be able to find faults even if you have no faults.In the end, the unlucky ones can only spend money for peace.So was Plymouth, and Matthew knew it.Had no choice but to pull the banner to retreat the little devil.

Finally set off, everyone couldn't help being happy again.

Matthew stroked his chin, it seemed that the clues were endless.I don't know what attitude Henry VIII has towards religion.However, it is quite difficult for the church to accurately question this officer.

At this time, there was no ship registration system.

Let's take a step by step.

Life without change is actually quite boring.Matthew felt that this was not bad, and it was quite exciting.At worst, I will become a pirate.

Matthew never felt he was capable of standing up to the Church.The great power of the church is reflected in its specific power.Such as judicial jurisdiction, religious authority, economic benefits, creed and so on.It is the guarantee for the Holy See to do whatever it wants in Europe.You can think of the European countries as the milk cows of the church.

They are not even counted as countries in the modern sense.

Compared with religion, royal power is obviously much more advanced.But for Matthew, the religious bullshit was even more unbearable.It's unbearable to anyone with a little common sense, even their own people.

In 1521, Martin Luther said: "Please use the truth of the Bible to refute me. If you can't, I will not take back any of my words."

Near Calais, the English Channel is only 30 kilometers wide.When the weather is good, you can even see the opposite land.The future Channel Tunnel is here.

Matthew recalled it and found that the location here is really good.Not to mention guarding the strait, whether it is London, Paris, or the Netherlands, the distance is not far away.

No wonder they beat each other all over the head for this in history.

Mike pointed to the castle in the distance: "Mr. Hawkins, the king used to be the steward here. Do you want to visit the port of Dover?"

Matthew: "No, I don't want to."

This one hasn't reacted yet, their whereabouts have gone wrong.Counter-spy thinking is almost nonexistent in this era.

"Go directly... No, go to a place with a market first. It should not be too close to London or Calais. Anyway, it's just a bad way."

Mike was a little surprised, but he knew this sea area well.The boss has requirements, of course they are satisfied.

There were several pieces of clothing in Matthew's luggage, but not for Robert, Cohen, and the entourage, who had to change into their normal attire.

It's a pity that when we arrived at the place, the market was not open, so we waited for two days.

Um, the bazaar doesn't seem to have mentioned it.

Fairs in remote parts of England in the 16th century were like fairs.No one sets up a stall every day, which is a waste of time, and farmers still have to cultivate the land.So a market is held once a week, which is convenient for exchanging or buying items.It is convenient for management and tax collection.If the market is held twice a week, it is considered a relatively prosperous area.

After such a toss, the original one-day journey became four days.Fortunately, there are many people who need to change their heads, so it is not a waste of time.

But no one dared to sell the stolen goods, the armor and swords of those monks were still there.

In this era of London, the population is not even [-], but it looks very lively.Robert smiled and said, "It's better to take a boat. Matthew...London's customs are also good."

Matthew ignored him.

Cohen: "Mr. Hawkins, why did you give that... Mike... money? They didn't do anything?"

Matthew: "It's just some gold coins. They go to France... they need some money to repair the house when they go back to Plymouth."

Cohen: "...and me?"

Matthew glanced at him: "...you?"

Cohen said solemnly: "I also want to build a house."

Matthew wondered: "...you also want to live in my manor?"

Cohen: "Why not? I've even sold my ancestral armor now, and I have nothing but a few gold coins."

Matthew: "...It's up to you, you can live there if you want."

Robert: "You guy... didn't you say you want to be a mercenary? I remember you only have a one-year contract?"

Cohen: "...mercenaries are underpaid."

Robert rolled his eyes.

Matthew said: "Okay, that hotel looks good. If there is a stable, I will stay here tonight."

The middle-aged follower interjected: "Master, if you live for a long time, I suggest you buy a house. It's more comfortable than staying in a hotel all day. It's also safer."

Matthew was immediately moved.Land prices in London will definitely only rise and not fall in the next few hundred years.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the annual rent for an acre of farmland was only around 6pence.You can buy an acre for only a pound or two.Although this is London, it is not too expensive for Matthew.

Cohen only saw Matthew taking out the money, but he didn't see him picking up a brig and a group of men who could cut people.

When you have the first bucket of gold, the second bucket will be much easier.If there is still a certain social status.Then congratulations, you have finally become one of the players in human society, breaking away from the level of ordinary beings.

The first job Matthew gave Mike was to haul wool beer and tin ore to the Netherlands, and then to Sweden to buy iron ore.This will increase the profits of wool and wine, and improve relations with the Plymouth mining people.And greatly reduce the cost of blacksmithing.

In the age of great navigation, how could there be no fleet of its own?

(End of this chapter)