11 "Everything Is Beautiful"
As he seeks the annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon,
King Henry VIII appoints himself the head of the Church of
England. Anne Boleyn insists that Henry remove Queen Katherine
from the picture - and Court. The new Pope Paul III, not wanting
to displease either the king or the queen, practically suggests
that Anne Boleyn be assassinated instead. Thomas Cranmer receives
a promotion as the king's chaplain. The Boleyns bribe a cook to
poison the food of the dissident Bishop of Rochester, John Fisher.
The bishop survives and the cook is boiled alive. King Henry
banishes the Queen from court. At the end of this episode the
Spanish ambassador is seen discussing the assassination of Anne
with an unknown, hooded man.
12 "Tears of Blood"
As the Catholic Church struggles in vain to control Henry VIII's
demands for an annulment, the King appoints himself head of the
Church of England. When Anne Boleyn insists Henry break all
contacts with Katherine, the Queen is banished from court.
The Reformation has begun. Anne is created Marquess of Pembroke
before she and Henry visit France to present Anne as the future
Queen of England and Henry's future wife.
13 "Checkmate"
Henry destroys all ties with authority and the past. After many
failed attempts to have his marriage to Katherine annulled by
the Catholic Church, Henry runs out of patience and marries
a pregnant Anne Boleyn in secret. He appoints the young Lutheran
Thomas Cranmer to succeed the deceased William Warham as Arch-
bishop of Canterbury and strips Queen Katherine of her title and
status, along with Princess Mary; they are hence to be known as
the Princess Dowager of Wales and the Lady Mary, respectively.
Anne Boleyn is crowned Queen of England to a very small and un-
eager crowd and escapes an assassination attempt. Pope Paul III
threatens to excommunicate the king and the church of England
from the Roman Catholic Church if Henry does not return to
Katherine. Henry is also disappointed when Anne Boleyn gives
birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, instead of his desired son, and
soon resumes his philandering with ladies of the court.
14 "The Act of Succession"
Questions of faith dominate the court. As the infant Princess
Elizabeth is baptised, the 'Act of Succession' is unveiled
declaring that only children of Henry and Anne are legitimate
successors to the English throne. A law is passed where every
royal subject must take an oath, on pain of death, recognising
the validity of the King's new marriage and the supremacy of
Henry VIII in all matters. Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More
refuse and are imprisoned in the Tower. Katherine of Aragon
lives now in total seclusion, and Lady Mary is sent to be a maid
to the baby Princess Elizabeth, her half-sister. Pregnant again,
Anne Boleyn, at her father's prompting, tacitly approves of the
king's philandering with ladies of the court, albeit those of
her own choosing and posing no political threat to her.
15 "His Majesty's Pleasure"
Attempts to legitimise the King's marriage and increase his
power hit firm obstacles as Sir Thomas More and Cardinal Fisher
insist that only Christ can be the head of the church. Meanwhile
Henry's wandering eye continues to roam. Anne miscarries a child
and fears that the king has lost his love for her. Anne also
fears the Lady Mary and Katherine of Aragon for she feels that
Henry may still designate Mary as future Queen over their own
daughter, Elizabeth. Also, Anne's relationship with her sister,
Mary Boleyn, deteriorates when she marries a commoner in secret
and is now pregnant with his child without asking her permission.
Imprisoned in the Tower, Cardinal Fisher and Sir Thomas More face
likely execution unless they take the Oath of Allegiance. Both
still refuse, even after More received pleas from his family, and
both are found guilty of high treason, and are beheaded.
16 "The Definition of Love"
As the Reformation gathers pace, Sir Thomas Cromwell becomes ever
more powerful as propagandist-in-chief of a new moral order. Royal
confidence has given way to doubt. Henry is haunted by the memory
of the executed Thomas More while Queen Anne Boleyn's insecurities
border on paranoia. Her husband's affairs continue and an effort
to have her daughter Elizabeth betrothed to a French prince fails
when the French King refuses to recognise that the infant Princess
is of legitimate birth.
17 "Matters of State"
As Thomas Cromwell's increasingly ruthless 'reforms' spread terror
through an ever more vulnerable Catholic Church, Anne Boleyn has
nightmares that her position at the King's side is under threat
from the continued existence of former Queen Katherine and her
daughter Mary. Meanwhile Henry is occupied by the sad news of
Katherine's death and later has a happy encounter with Lady Jane
Seymour. Anne Boleyn announces to her father that she is pregnant
with a son.
18 "Lady in Waiting"
At Henry's command Jane Seymour is made a lady-in-waiting to Anne
Boleyn, much to the discomfort and suspicion of the Queen. Emperor
Charles indicates his interest in renewed relation with England.
However Charles insisted that legitimizing Lady Mary as Henry's heir
be a condition of the renewed relation. When Henry is seriously
injured in a jousting match all thoughts turn to who might succeed
him. Anne finds Henry with Jane and the shock leads to another mis-
carriage. Discouraged by yet another failed pregnancy, the episode
closes with Henry declaring his marriage with Anne null and void,
citing witchcraft.
19 "The Act of Treason"
Anne has lost a son and with it her last chance at a lasting
marriage with Henry. The King's affections are shifting anyway:
the Seymour family are awarded new and more luxurious rooms at
court and soon replace the Boleyns as the new royal favourites.
Several members of the court begin to move against Anne who is
accused of adultery and witchcraft. Arrests are made of suspected
lovers and of Anne herself. All, including the Queen, are sentenced
to death.
20 "Destiny and Fortune"
As Anne Boleyn awaits her death, which is painfully delayed by the
executioner's late arrival, Henry visits Jane Seymour and asks for
her hand in marriage. Declaring his marriage to Anne null and void
means that their daughter Elizabeth becomes illegitimate and is no
longer in line to the throne, clearing the way for a legitimate heir
to come from his marriage with Jane. The season ends with Anne
Boleyn's beheading.
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