Episode 2.06 |

Synopsis

• 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 royal is disappointed when the French King refuses to recognise that the infant Princess is of legitimate birth.
  
  

Unanswered Questions

Best Moments

• Pope Paul III addressing the multitudes.
• Anne and Henry's reaction to King Francis not accepting the betrothal of Princess Elizabeth to Francis' youngest son Charles.
• George Boleyn's amazement when first seeing the printing press.
• Chapuys' facial expression while hearing Brereton talk of Anne's "deformities".
• Anne confronting Henry about his suspected affairs.
• Henry making it clear to Anne how he "can drag her down."
• Henry admitting his regrets over Thomas More's execution.
  

Best Quotes

• " To the faithful people of England, your Holy father offers you the hand of condolence, his tears of grief and his anger at the martyrdom of Sir Thomas More and Cardinal Fisher. Their murder has shocked the whole of Christendom. It was an unpardonable sin against God and our Holy Church, in whose name these two great and noble men died. We pray for those in England who must continue to live under tyranny and in fear for their lives and for their souls. We pray the King ceases to listen to evil counsel and returns to obedience and the true faith before it is too late. We pray to Mary, mother of God, that England may be redeemed from heresy and all its evil ways and from the clutches of the heretics, who even now are leading her towards destruction and damnation."
• " Plays are an ideal way of setting forth before peoples eyes the abomination and wickedness of the Bishop of Rome. They're also a means to demonstrate to people the obedience, as subjects, they owe by God's and man's laws to Your Majesty."
• "Fortunately we have a new weapon to promote our ideas. It's called the printing press, my lord, and it will change the world."
• "You know I think our family never did anything better than to facilitate and encourage your own rise, Mr. Secretary; and I trust you never forget that we did so."
• " The harlot holds a secret. She is deformed Chapuys. An extra finger nail on her left hand, she's always at great pains to conceal. As well her body, it's covered with moles which is sometimes called the devil's teats, as you know."
• "But does it never concern you that the King has taken to himself an absolute power without any constraint to remake the law?"
• "We used to call it humanism. Wolsey, More and me, we were all humanists. Most people think I've changed, but I haven't. At heart, I'm still a humanist. Chapuys, I promise you that I'm going to make such a reform in this Kingdom That I should be remembered eternally throughout Christendom."
• " You must shut your eyes and endure, like your betters have done before you!"
• "And don't you know, I can drag you down as quickly as I have raised you!"
• Tis lucky you have your bed already madam, because if you did not, I would not give it to you again."
  

Trivia

• Henry states that himself, Wolsey, and More were all humanists. His first wife, Catherine, was also a humanist. She was eager to secrue the fellow humanist, Erasmus as her tutor, until her confessor voiced his concerns, Catherine headed them and then asked a friend of Erasmus at court if he presumed to be wiser than Jerome, as he presumed to correct the Saint's works. Erasmus was distressed at this as he had one more than one occasion expressed his deep admiration for her intelligance, but ultimatley he blamed Catherine's confessor rather than herself for the slight, and continued to be on good terms with her.