Reign

Previously on Reign...

My father cut off my mother's head.

My sister jailed me

as a threat to her rule.

Lord Castleroy. Greer, get back!

You have been named by another suspect in the attempted murder of King Francis.

He's in prison. He'll never be free again.

We have crippling military debts.

France is in debt to her soldiers

who fought on Scotland's behalf.

Your own father executed 13 knights

on the trumped-up charge of heresy.

Simply because you couldn't pay them.

I am under attack

by a rogue group calling themselves

the Red Knights.

I'm going to ask the Vatican for funds

to wage war against John Knox.

He is trying to take my country.

Mother?

Wait, there's been a mistake!

Release the prisoner!

By my order, Anne Boleyn shall be pardoned!

Free her at once!

I said, release the prisoner!

By order of the queen!

Can no one hear me?!

I order this to stop!

Let her go! Mother!

Mother! No.

Highness, it's all right.

It's just that dream again.

No one heard me, did they?

No, Your Highness.

Rest easy.

General Gaghan, I'm sorry to tell you

the threat is very grave.

That is why I traded the English ambassador

for your release.

A small but ruthless group

of anarchists have been staging attacks against the Crown.

And until we know more,

we need the French army to secure the throne.

Well, as soon as my soldiers are fully paid

for their service in Scotland,

I'm sure they will join me and the other generals

in putting down any threat. Which will be soon.

They will receive partial payment right away.

In the interim...

Majesty, there can be no interim or partial payment.

I was godfather to Francis

and would give my life freely, but my soldiers...

and would give my life freely, but my soldiers...

Will desert if they are not paid.

I understand.

How about this?

We show the generals and their men

how deeply we value their service

by holding a feast in their honor.

Majesty, you're very kind,

but know that a wealthy Greek prince

is coming to France in two weeks to raise an army...

With gold in hand.

Meaning our men will desert and join him as mercenaries.

Meaning our men will desert and join him as mercenaries.

Then tell your generals

they will receive the money their men are owed,

at the feast, in two weeks' time.

The generals will be very pleased.

General Gaghan. Majesty.

Good to see you.

I heard what you said.

Why didn't you tell him

those anarchists are the Red Knights?

And remind him we killed

the last group of soldiers we couldn't pay?

No.

First we pay the army, then we crush the Red Knights.

First we pay the army, then we crush the Red Knights.

But we don't have the money.

We will.

If you look hard enough, there is always an answer.

What do you mean, the answer is no?

France needs the Vatican's help, as you well know.

You're punishing me, aren't you?

Not at all. You're angry

that we traded Gideon Blackburn

to Elizabeth for a vital French general.

Rome simply doesn't have the resources to help France.

Nonsense.

You wanted the English ambassador killed

You wanted the English ambassador killed

because he foiled your plot

to put a Catholic king on England's throne

in place of the queen standing before you.

That was never our goal.

Mary, you've always been

the true Queen of Scotland and England

in the eyes of Rome.

Now, if only Rome could give me

a few less words of encouragement

and a few more soldiers,

I might actually be able to take my country back

from rebels like the Protestant John Knox.

Our forces are now in Turkey,

contesting the Holy Land.

But we can help you buy an army.

But we can help you buy an army.

Would 100,000 livres meet your needs?

Thank you.

That would be quite useful.

Meanwhile, the king of France is left to do what?

Light a candle, pray for manna from heaven?

Catherine, I'm more than happy

to share the Vatican's gold if France needs it.

After what you did for Gideon,

I can't help but feel responsible... Thank you,

but I didn't trade Gideon for General Gaghan

out of the goodness of my heart.

Out of the goodness of my heart.

Gentlemen, please.

I need my very best military men around me.

And they cost a lot more

than the mercenaries that you will require.

Speaking of your friend,

the English ambassador, have you heard from him?

No.

He was planning to go to his sister's

to find a secure place for his daughter.

From there, he's probably going to report to Elizabeth.

Where she should thank him for saving her life and her rule.

Which you will need to do for yourself,

by returning home, to Scotland.

By returning home, to Scotland.

What will it be like when I return?

Cold.

Cold like you've never known.

Which is why... you will need these.

Oh, this is too much.

A whole new winter wardrobe must have cost a fortune!

Oh, hardly. Try it on.

Have you tried using your Medici connections yet for funds?

Perhaps, um...

you recall a certain look-a-like cousin

you recall a certain look-a-like cousin

of mine?

The one who hanged herself

after her lover had that... sexual mishap?

Uh, that would be the one.

I wouldn't have thought she'd be missed, but as luck

would have it, she turned out to be

a favorite of my Uncle Alfonso,

keeper of the Medici purse strings.

Mm, so he cut you off.

I'm sorry. Things could be worse.

Better to have your purse strings cut

than your...

How do I look?

Like a queen men would die for.

Thank you.

I only wish I knew where to look for such men.

I only wish I knew where to look for such men.

Why don't you ask Bash?

He recruits the very best

mercenaries for the kingsguard.

I hope I have enough gold to buy what I need.

Yes, you have enough gold.

Just.

Your timing is lucky.

I know of a small private army that's just come back from

some fighting near Spain. What do you know of them?

They're deadly, they're brave and they're looking for work.

Well, we must ride out to meet them as soon as possible.

Mary, they're mercenaries.

I am done leading from a distance, Bash.

I want to be where my people can see me, from now on.

Well, mercenaries are usually

Well, mercenaries are usually

more moved by gold than politics,

but I suppose it can't hurt.

We also might want to

consider... other incentives.

You mean whores.

Yes, I've already thought of that.

I've written to Greer, repeatedly,

to ask if I could hire some of hers.

Repeatedly?

She hasn't responded yet.

To this, or my last several letters.

Nor has she appeared at court lately.

Things have been somewhat awkward

Things have been somewhat awkward

since she told me she'd rather stay in France

than come to Scotland with me.

Half a million livres in two weeks?

And no help from the Vatican or from the Medicis?

Half a million, or our soldiers desert us for Greece.

Well, I can see only one option.

But what I'm proposing might be a little...

unseemly for a young king to authorize