Hope you enjoyed the first chapter please r&r
20th July 1518
Owen Tudor, the Duke of Richmond, brother of King Henry VII and Uncle of Henry VIII stood at Hampton Court docks waiting for one of his nephew's Prince Edward, the Duke of Bedford to return from his latest trip. Thinking back over 30 years to 1492 when he had first been approached by a Genoan explorer Christopher Columbus who was looking for someone to finance a new voyage, he had just be turned down by Queen Isabella of Castile and around the same time Owen himself had been wondering what to do with his life. His brother was King with sons of his own so it was unlikely he would take the throne, so when Columbus approached him with the idea he jumped at it thinking it was a wonderful idea.
So with financing from England and a fleet of 12 of England's finest ships and sailors, they travelled west and over the course of 20 years Owen had travelled with both Columbus and other explorers and had begun to gather an empire for England. He himself had retired some 10 years ago and his nephews Edward and Edmund had followed in his footsteps and while Edmund had continued exploring the Americas, Edward had just recently returned from helping to secure the spice trade that they had gained from Portugal.
As a fleet of 20 ships pulled into the dock, the gangplank on the largest the White Rose was lowered and a man of 30 got off,
"Uncle" said the Duke of Bedford greeting his Uncle with a bear hug
"Nephew, how were have your travels been" asked Owen
"Excellent, there are so many more lands to explore in the far east" stated Edward "I'm hoping my brother will help continue to support our explorations"
"No doubt he will" said Owen
"So Uncle, fill me in what's the latest gossip" said Edward with a grin
Owen frowned
"Uh oh" said Edward grinning more than ever "What's Harry done now"
"No the King but Queen Katherine" stated his Uncle
At his nephew's questioning glance
"Your brother has been interested in a new woman Lady Anne Boleyn, it looked for a while that she would become his official mistress" began Owen
Edward just nodded
"However then a diary was found, that was written by the Queen when she was about 17 and it seems to suggest that her first marriage was indeed consumated" continued Owen before taking a breath
"Now he planning to divorce Katherine and marry Lady Boleyn" he finished
Edward's eyes widened "Well" he said "I go away for 5 years and come back to quite the mess"
"Indeed" said Owen as they walked towards the waiting carriage.
Henry placed his seal on to the letters that would be going to Rome and to Spain, they contained copies of Katherine's diary and the letter to Rome also contained his request for an annulment. Handing it to the messangers, he couldn't help but scowl darkly as they left.
Katherine for sometime had been pushing for Henry to marry Mary to her nephew Charles - who was soon to become the Holy Roman Emperor as well as King of Spain - and to use some of the new territories that England had gained as her dowry stating it bring their two countries closer together. Henry couldn't resist snorting slightly, unable to believe that he had bought that, as if that was true. Really that should have been a sign that she wasn't nearly as loyal to England as she claimed, then again he had also believed her when she claimed to be a virgin.
He could still remember seeing the diary on his desk and assuming it was a gift from Anne until he had opened it and recognised Katherine's handwriting, he had opened and read it learning the awful truth.
Henry was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by one of his Usher's announcing
"HRH The Duke of Bedford and His Grace the Duke of Richmond"
In walked his brother and uncle who both bowed,
As soon as they were alone Henry and Edward greeted each other with a bear hug
"How are you big brother" said Edward seriously "I heard what happened"
"I'm fine" said Henry "My request for an annulment has been sent, so we shall have a new Queen" he finished
Edward nudged his Uncle grinning "I think our Harry is in love" he said trying to lighten the mood,
It worked a bit as Henry smiled,
"Enough about me" said Henry "How have your travels been"
"Good" stated Edward "We have established a sea-route from Japan-China through to India then back to England, and some of the Japanese and Chinese sailors have informed of lands that lie further to the south, so that is my next stop"
Henry nodded "Good, let's make sure we keep those routes"
"Has Edmund been back" asked Edward
Henry nodded "Yes, although set off again last year back to the new world after refuelling"
Henry couldn't help but smile inwardly as they spoke, yes Charles may soon be the Holy Roman Emperor but England's empire would soon be far greater than any seen before. It would mean his sons by Anne would inherit a golden world.