Although John de Witt looked helpless in front of Bruce Van Diemen, the representative of the East India Company, in fact the Grand Speaker of the Federal Republic of the Netherlands was resourceful and was particularly good at using diplomatic means to deal with Europe. Problems on the continent.
On the same day that John de Witt was talking to Bruce Van Diemen, his brother Conlus de Witt was in Brussels, Spanish Netherlands, with the exiled King Charles II of Scotland - that is Charles II, who took advantage of Cromwell's mistakes in history and successfully restored the Stuart dynasty in England. He was not very lucky this time, because the old Cromwell had been the "Supreme Protector" for more than a year, and then asked the younger Cromwell to take over early, and then asked him to serve in the Battle of Dunkirk. To establish prestige in the country, Britain is still a republic. Moreover, after the end of the "Anglo-Spanish War" (referring to the Anglo-Spanish War in Cromwell's era), England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland were recognized by major European countries.
Therefore, no one recognized Charles II's title of "Crown Prince of England", but his title of King of Scotland could not be erased, because he was crowned King of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 5, 1649. In September 1651, he had to leave Scotland and go into exile in France because of Cromwell's northern expedition.
Therefore, King of Scotland became the official title of Charles II, but the Speaker of the Netherlands, John de Wit, prepared another crown for the King of Scotland - King of the Kingdom of America!
"What? The King of America? Mr. Werther, are you kidding me?" Charles II, who is 36 years old, has a very big nose and looks very majestic, looked at Conles De, who came from The Hague, in surprise. .Witt. Because the latter made a suggestion that seemed to him simply unbelievable - let him, His Majesty Charles II, King of Scotland and legitimate heir to the throne of England and Ireland, lead his followers to North America. Then wait for the opportunity to seize Britain's ten self-governing colonies on the east coast of North America to establish the Kingdom of America.
"No, no, of course it's not a joke!" Conlez de Wit shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know that you have many supporters in the ten British autonomous colonies in North America!"
"What? I have many supporters in America?" Charles II was stunned. "Who are they?"
"They are all devout Catholics!" said Conles de Wit. "Since those crazy Protestants took control of England, Scotland and Ireland, the Catholics there have become the targets of persecution. Some of them must not Instead of converting to Puritanism, some particularly staunch Catholics left England and went to the colonies across the ocean to find a way out.”
Historically, the thirteen states in North America were once the paradise of the persecuted British Puritans, so the early United States had a strong Puritan tradition.
Now that the Puritans are in power in England, they will naturally not persecute their own people, but they persecute Catholics no less vigorously than others persecute them.
And the ideal of the Cromwell family is to turn England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales into a unified republic based on Puritan Christianity!
Therefore, many Irish and Scots who wanted to maintain their own national independence also joined the ranks of those who fled to the United States.
And all these exiles had a favorable impression of the Stuart dynasty.
Conlez de Wit added: "According to our New Amsterdam Colony (New York) report, only after Cromwell came to power, the British Catholics arrived in New Amsterdam, and then transferred from there to the ten British colonies. There are no less than 50,000 disciples!
If you include the British Catholics who landed in other North American ports, the total number of Catholics who went to the ten British colonies in North America in recent years is probably more than 150,000. Adding in the people who have settled there before, these ten The total population of the colony should have exceeded 250,000. The vast majority of them hate the Puritans and the Cromwell family, and support you and the Roman Catholic faith that you firmly defend! "
Charles II was a little moved. Although North America is a remote and poor place, it is better than nothing... Now Charles II is leading a group of British royalists to attach themselves to the poor Spanish in the Spanish Netherlands. , life is almost as good as a beggar!
And the days of begging for food are precarious!
Because after the death of Philip IV, the Spanish Netherlands was already in danger. The Kingdom of Spain's own strength was simply not enough to defend the Spanish Netherlands, so it could only try to piece together an anti-French alliance. To fight against France, Britain is indispensable, but Britain is under the rule of Cromwell. If Charles II's royal party was still in the Spanish Netherlands, how could little Cromwell join the anti-French alliance?
Should the New Model Army and the Wang Army be allowed to fight side by side? impossible!
So after Philip IV's death, Spain's attitude toward Charles II was rapidly growing cold. Since November 1665, Madrid has not paid any subsidy to Charles II... Charles II's army was also hired and had to disperse if there was no money!
However, even if he had money, Charles II would not dare to stay in the Spanish Netherlands.
Because Louis XIV has prepared an army of 150,000, and he is about to kill him! How could Charles II's few royal troops reach his 150,000-strong army? By then they will all be beaten to death, and there will be no hope of being restored as king.
"But North America is very desolate!" Of course Charles II could not let go easily. "And...Little Cromwell has the second most powerful navy in the world! If he knew that I went to America, he would definitely send me there." Send in the troops!”
Conlus de Wit laughed: "The issue you are thinking of has already been considered by us and the Duke of Florida!"
"Duke of Florida?" Charles II narrowed his eyes.
"Yes," Conles de Wit nodded, "He looks forward to working with you to guard the New World of America, a land under the blessing of God!"
The Duke of Florida was Don Juan José, now regent of the Kingdom of New Spain.
According to Philip IV's will, the world empire he left behind will have two regents. Don Juan Jose will serve as regent of New Spain, responsible for ruling the Kingdom of New Spain until Carlos II can govern the country.
Maria Anna, the mother of Carlos II, served as regent of the Kingdom of Spain.
Conlus de Wit added: "If you are willing to lead the British Royal Party to the New World, the United Provinces of the Netherlands will provide you with a one-time subsidy of 10 million guilders.
Once you are crowned king of the Kingdom of America, the Kingdom of New Spain under the leadership of the Duke of Florida will conclude an alliance treaty with you.
In this way, if little Cromwell wanted to expedition to the New World, he would have to go to war with the two New World powers, the Kingdom of America and the Kingdom of New Spain, at the same time. With Cromwell's caution, he would not easily provoke such an uncertain war.
Of course, you also need to show your willingness for peace...for example, renounce your claim to the throne of England, the throne of Ireland, and the throne of Scotland. "
The ten British states in North America today are simply wastelands, worse than the conditions during the American Revolution more than 100 years later!
Therefore, little Cromwell may not fight to the death with the British royal party for this territory. If Charles II is willing to give up the throne and settle down as the king of the United States, then little Cromwell may let this new American kingdom go. .....
For this reason, Charles II would be a fool if he didn't understand what Conlez de Wit said - Cromwell Jr., de Wit and Don Juan Jose have probably reached an agreement, and now Just waiting for the exiled king to nod, he and the British royal party can be packed up and sent to the New World!
If he doesn't agree, he will be fined for not eating the toast!
