Episode 2.08

Synopsis

• As Jane Seymour joins the court as one of her ladies-in-waiting, Queen Anne quickly begins to suspect that the King favors Lady Jane. Her father also notices that just before jousting, the King asks Lady Jane if he may wear her favors in the match. A crushing blow leaves the King dangling between life and death while Secretary Cromwell makes preparations for Elizabeth to take the throne in the event of the King's death. The Boleyns realize the the King's death would lead to more power for them and George expresses this aloud to his father.
• Meanwhile, a pregnant Anne is becoming obsessed with the King's relationship with Lady Jane. Her father tries to calm her, but to no avail. Her fears are confirmed when she walks in on kiss between the King and Lady Jane. This leads to disaster for Queen Anne and her unborn son.
• The Pope decides to go forward with the excommunication of King Henry and calls upon the King of France to go to war with England.
• The Emperor of Spain makes a proposal to King Henry to unite the two kingdoms, provided that Princess Mary is restored her legitimacy.
• Queen Anne miscarries after seeing Jane and Henry kissing. Anne blames Henry for bring on her early labor as he broke her heart. Henry decides he was influenced by Anne's witchcraft and their marriage is invalid. For this reason Henry Feels justified in finding a new wife.

Unanswered Questions

Best Moments

• The King of France boldly tells the Pope that he would gladly lay down his life in the Pope's service. Quite a bold move, but the Pope calls on him to go to war with England and take the throne. The look on the king's face is priceless when he realizes that his bluff was called.
• Henry falls off his horse in a jousting tournament and is knocked unconscious. It is believed he may die. Cromwell plans to have a coronation for Princess Elizabeth naming Thomas Boleyn as Lord Protector in the event of the King's death.
• The pregnant Anne walking in on Lady Jane sitting on King Henry's lap and kissing.
• Henry yelling at Anne (who has just miscarried that moment) that he will never have male issue with her and that they need to talk.
• Henry states his marriage to Anne is invalid as he believes he was seduced by witchcraft. He feels justified in taking a new wife.

Best Quotes

• Henry Norris says to Henry, "I was married before and I rather like the liberty of not being married again." After laughing, Henry says, "That I can understand!"
• Jane Boleyn tells George that his homosexuality is a sin against God and that those who practice it are condemned to live in purgatory. George replies, "Sometimes, my love, I think that with you I am already condemned to live in purgatory."
• " I have decided to carry out the Bull of Excommunication against King Henry. A father must always seek for a way to forgive his children, but Henry's crimes against us and against our faith are too profound to forgive. Moreover he shows no repentance, no contrition."
• " I ask you only one thing: That you allow me to serve and worship you as Lancelot served and worshiped Guinevere."
• "Are you saying that I should be Queen instead of her?"
• "The King has fallen from his horse and has been crushed. They say he is likely to die."
• " I cannot think whether it would be a bad thing or a good thing if he died. For as Lord Protector, you would Ipso Facto, be King of England."
• "She returned the letter unopened and the purse both. She said that she had no better treasure in the world than her honor. If you want to give her money, she prays you might do so when she has made an honorable match."
• "But I see now that God will not grant me any male children."
• "It's not all my fault! You have no one to blame but yourself for this. I was distressed to see you with that wench, Jane Seymour."
• "It's true what they have whispered. I shut my ears to them, but now I know it to be true. I made this marriage seduced by witchcraft and for that reason, I consider it to be null and void and the evidence is God will not permit us male issue. So now I believe with all my heart that I will take another wife."

Trivia