The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 90

90. Jesus’s Little Disciple (2)

“Your Highness, I would like to hear more about the concept of Sunday school…”

“Sunday school is, as the name suggests, a place to provide teachings for young children…”

Thus, I briefly channeled Robert Raikes, a future Evangelical Anglican and an English version of 방정환 [a Korean children’s literature pioneer], explaining the necessity of Sunday school.

Then, Bishop Rothaire, who had been listening attentively to my words, said,

“Was the Infant High Sanctuary controversy that Your Highness created a shock *because* of this Sunday school?”

Any controversial topic eventually loses its heat. The Infant High Sanctuary issue was no different.

However, the Infant High Sanctuary issue at least had some impact on the concept of ‘human rights’ for children, which was a benefit.

“That’s right.”

“…Arithmetic and improved French… and Sunday school… and the Infant High Sanctuary. It all connects.”

“Jesus loved children the most. I want to create this Sunday school to let children know the love of the Lord.”

“But that’s not all, is it?”

Ireland.

My territory that made my name known to the world.

In the end, the people who will become most accustomed to my ‘rule’ are the young.

People who are ‘young’ in age, or people who are ‘young’ at heart who have suffered the world’s irrationality.

My true purpose is to create a ‘safe’ nation for my brother Richard, who has a confusion of ‘identity’.

But someone as smart as Rothaire would know this, so I changed the subject.

“Is Sunday school burdensome?”

“No… rather, isn’t serving children the *very* meaning of being a servant of the Lord?”

“I know very well how much the Lord’s servants suffer. I acknowledge it. I’m not wary of your power, but isn’t it *through* you that the people are served?”

At my question, Rothaire smiled bitterly and said.

“Does Your Highness trust me?”

“I trust your abilities.”

“I see.”

At my words, Bishop Rothaire touched his crucifix necklace, but did not make the sign of the cross. This was a secular story.

A young and ambitious clergyman like me left.

Even though it’s the Dark Ages.

It is now the 12th century, which is said to be much more peaceful compared to the past when Vikings used to plunder at will. It was a peaceful medieval era with no Islamic tyranny due to the complete victory of the Third Crusade.

But is it really peaceful?

* * *

A week has passed since I explained ‘Sunday school’ to Bishop Rothaire.

I carefully read the report on Sunday school that Peter had compiled.

Looking closely at the words, I could feel how desperately he had been thinking about it.

Not a priest, but a half-brother and vassal who is so precious to me, who has friendships with priests and is also close to administrators, Peter.

‘Originally, Pierre (Peter) was one of the bastard parties who would have stabbed the stupid John to death. But here, he is my top administrator!’

The original John didn’t recognize such a valuable talent and was beaten like a dog, but I am different. I know how to use the talents around me.

Bastards were denied by the Catholic Church in terms of doctrine, but on the contrary, they were the people who compromised best with the Catholic Church in European history, and therefore useful talents to cooperate with as my power base.

And thanks to them, the ‘Three Estates’ [a representative assembly] are running properly. Because there are quite a few bastards with roots.

Anyway, after reading Peter’s report, I said.

“Now… is the next step to apply it to the Irish Church?”

Now it was time to look at the report that Bishop Rothaire had written with all his heart.

—Creak.

At that moment, the door opened. The baby angels came!

“Daddy, play with Charles!”

“Move, Daddy will play with me!”

“You’re so mean, Elizabeth!”

Three years old in English age. Four years old in Korean age.

The twin siblings, who had grown up so much, were pulling my arms from both sides.

Unlike James, who has become more mature and now plays with friends from peer noble families, these children still need their father’s attention.

“Kids, Daddy is tired~”

“We’re bored!”

“Plaaaaaaay wiiiiiiith uuuuuuus!”

The two children are pulling on both of my cheeks.

Of course, it didn’t stretch out that long because it wasn’t cheese.

Yes, they are my lovely and pretty babies, and I know how important happy memories are in childhood, but you can’t come in like this when I’m working.

Fortunately.

“Can’t you see… your father is working?”

My wife Mary intervened at the right time.

“Heeing.”

“Mommy, I’m scared.”

“John, I’m sorry. The nanny must have missed them while I was taking care of some work.”

“I’m grateful that you came even now.”

“Then I’ll take the children. Get to work, John.”

That’s how my children left with their mother.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I thought of the children puffing out their cheeks because they were twins.

“Cute things.”

Yes, these tiny children are treasures of this world and gifts from God.

Of course, that goes for James, Elizabeth, and Charles, who are next to me now. And the children of farming families who are busy with crop rotation.

But in this medieval Europe, there are pitiful laborers who farm with small, fern-like hands. This is the fate of the children born to the lower classes in the Middle Ages.

That doesn’t mean I can just trust my position as a great lord and say, ‘Hey! How dare you make children work? I’m going to report you for child abuse.’

In pre-modern times, the families of the lower classes were optimized for farming, and children were also excellent auxiliary labor, weren’t they?

Crop rotation has now become a common farming method in my territory and the Angevin family’s territory. But rather, the more production increases, the more labor is needed.

Thinking about the children of farming families who can barely rest only when there is mass [Catholic church service], I became more determined once again.

That’s why Sunday school is needed in Ireland now.

* * *

—St. Patrick’s Cathedral—

A cathedral that upholds the legacy of St. Patrick, whom John wants to emulate so much.

In this place, Rothaire, a young and handsome but emerging power in Catholicism, was alone.

“My lord is truly benevolent.”

Bishop Rothaire smiled. It was a smile he wouldn’t normally show to anyone.

John Anjou Plantagenet. His employer, who wants to be called Safe John and is now being called that, was a very interesting person.

At first, he came to this territory half voluntarily, half involuntarily, as a trick by the young King Henry.

But as the days went by, he thought it was a good experience.

Although Duke John, who proved that luck is also a skill, is great, it is true that his abilities are inferior compared to other talented people.

However, he was not disappointed. Duke John has a perspective that no one expected, and he is patient. He had several unique backgrounds, so it seemed that there was no need to go elsewhere.

“There’s no need to refuse.”

He had already informed the Papal States of this fact, sought the consent of the old clergymen, and received permission.

In the end, the most important thing is that Duke John’s plan does not violate ‘church power.’ Of course, there are parts where priests are being used appropriately.

Broadly speaking, Duke John knows the true value of a clergyman as a protector of the people, and he was gauging how much ‘good’ the Pope and cardinals had.

At times like this, he felt that he was a very capable lord, and a young priest’s friend came in.

“Damn priest. You’re not serving the believers according to the Word, but you’re playing around.”

“I’m just… taking a break. By the way, Peter, you must have heard the story from the lord, right?”

“Of course. Aren’t Godfrey and I Duke John’s most capable vassals? Sunday school… really.”

‘They’re even on comfortable terms with each other.’

Rothaire didn’t say that because he was worried about his pride.

Peter was proud. The vassal relationship was like a brotherhood to Peter.

“Peter, is Sunday school an extension of the arithmetic that Duke John mentioned last time?”

“That’s right. The territorial people have a headache with efficient language… but he keeps creating work. Still, isn’t it a fun thing? Which lord would think of the territorial people like this?”

“Yes, our lord is a merciful person. So Peter, as a servant of the Lord who thinks of the people, and you as an administrator, yes, we… we just have to do our work.”

—Creak.

At that time, the door of the cathedral opened, and 악불회 [Akbulhoe, likely a transliterated name], who had now become a member of the Irish family, came in with a sigh.

With a very tired face.

“I came… to confess… Rothaire. Ah, Peter, you’re here too.”

“Did you come to curse the lord again?”

“…Yes.”

The person who is most exploited in Ireland these days is not Peter or Godfrey, but 악불회. Because he is an Easterner.

Peter, who saw this scene, or rather, the vassal Peter, who could guess how much Duke John had used 악불회, muttered.

“The peace of the Lord.”

Then he left the cathedral for 악불회’s confession time. Anyway, he would be busy again in the future, and there were not many days to rest like this.

* * *

—1189, Ireland Assembly Hall—

“Your Highness, all preparations are complete.”

“I understand.”

Today, according to the order of ‘me,’ Safe John, the Great Lord of Ireland, the Three Estates were held again.

‘It’s something I have to do, of course.’

Basic orders can be given to vassals, but matters that require the overall ‘consent’ of each class must be carried out on a large scale like this.

“……”

There were faces that wondered why I was doing such a troublesome thing again, but now there were faces that were curious in many ways.

In the original history, the Three Estates was an extension of the French king’s exclusive ‘give me money,’ but I am not a gangster leader like Philip IV, so the vassals’ faces were filled with curiosity rather than shock.

I calmly said to the people standing there.

“As the lord of Ireland who exercises the sacred rights received from God, I will start the Three Estates again. I hope all the delegates will be seated.”

As the delegates of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes were seated, I said with an expression that was no longer playful.

“I want the children in my territory to become Jesus’s little disciples. To do so, I want to implement Sunday school in all the cathedrals in our Ireland, and I want to hear your opinions.”

“……”

At my words, people looked at the clergymen in the 1st class (clergy) seat.

It was probably to examine the atmosphere of those most related to this matter.

Of course, Rothaire, the de facto head of Irish Catholicism, was sparing his words, and the other clergymen also had indifferent expressions.

“Your Highness, I have a question as a delegate of the 1st class.”

The first to step forward was Liam, a priest born in Ireland and a devout servant of the Lord.

Of course, I didn’t know that Liam would step forward first. All of Ireland’s 1st class is under Bishop Rothaire. He must have planned everything.

‘An Irish priest… opened the door first…….’

This is the key.

It was not a priest who came to Ireland with me, but a faithful Catholic who was born and raised in ‘Ireland’ who came out first and asked a question.

“Tell me.”

“I would like to know about the Sunday school that Your Majesty has planned.”

It is difficult to decide on ‘Sunday school’ without talking to the church in advance. This is a time for me to ‘explain’ to the people here, and everyone seemed to know that fact, and their eyes and ears were focused on me.

“Sunday school is an educational department that teaches children the Bible and morals for educational purposes……”

Thus, I diligently explained the medieval Sunday school that I was thinking of. Of course, as this era is the era of Catholicism, all processes must be done in cooperation with the Vatican.

Then a new question came out.

“Your Highness, I also have a question from the 2nd class.”

Earl Iliam of Scotland paused for a moment as if he was nervous, and then opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Speak, Earl.”

“Is Sunday school a right that ‘all’ children of all races can receive?”

“……”

The words of the monarch of the ruined country, the Kingdom of Scotland, which was properly educated by our England and even had its country ‘territorialized,’ contained sadness.

And even in the midst of that.

“That’s strange.”

“Yes?”

“My territorial people are not particularly distinguished. Because.”

I smiled at the Scottish Earl, who asked back with wrinkled eyes.

“……”

Smart people had heavy expressions as if they had predicted what I was going to say.

But I have to say these words now.

At least, standing in the middle of a territory that can be controlled at the ‘lord’s’ will, as a prince of the honorable Anjou Plantagenet royal family, I want to say it.

“England is for Anjou, Anjou is for England. In these two territories of Safe John, Mortain and Ireland, the residents of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and Western France are all one. In the end, aren’t they all Anjou people?”

Sunday school will be the true cradle for creating *a* limited Anjou people.