Episode 2.10

"EPISODE10"

Synopsis

• Endings and beginnings. As Anne Boleyn awaits her death, 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. Henry begins this momentous event with a magnificent breakfast at which is served a dish reserved for the English King alone: an exquisite swan pie.
  

Unanswered Questions

Best Moments

• Anne's final confession to Cranmer as Master Kingston sits in as witness.
• Anne's speech before the moment of her death.
• The executioner revealing how he will make Anne's execution painless and swift and Kingston's reaction to his plan.
• Cranmer's obvious pain and discomfort at hearing Anne proclaim her innocence before God.
• Henry admiring the two beautiful swans throughout the episode (they mate for life), only to devour one in a gluttonous manner.
  

Best Quotes

• "My Lady, I can now tell you that the King has decreed that you will not be burned but suffer a quicker death by decapitation. In his mercy, the King has also acceded to your plea to use the services of the executioner of Calais who is even now on his way here from Dover."
• Cranmer: My Lady, I am obliged to tell you that your marriage to the King has been declared null and void. Anne: On what grounds? Cranmer: On the grounds of your close, and forbidden, degree of affinity to another woman known carnally by the King. Anne: My sister.
• " Elizabeth is to be declared a bastard."
• " I confess my innocence before God. I solemnly swear, on the damnation of my soul, that I have never been unfaithful to my Lord and husband, nor ever offended with my body against him. I do not say that I have always borne towards him the humility which I owed him, considering his kindness and the great honour he showed me and the great respect he always paid me. I admit, too, that I have often taken it into my head to be jealous of him. But God knows, and is my witness, I have not sinned against him in any other way. Think not I say this in the hope to prolong my life. God has taught me how to die and He will strengthen my faith. As for my brother and those others who were unjustly condemned, I would willingly have suffered many deaths to deliver them. But since it pleases the King, I will willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance: that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace."
• " Is it done? Is the harlot dead?"
• " Yes Princess, the brat is now a bastard."
• "The world is a slippery place, my Lady. If you would take my advice, for what it's worth, find a rich man to marry who is too stupid to know anything about politics. Then, perhaps, unless you die in childbirth, which is likely, or the plague, which is almost inevitable, then you'll be happy." Lady Bryan with Elizabeth watching.
• "Did you watch your son die? What about your daughter? Will you watch her suffer? Will you watch her die? Tell me, Boleyn, was it all worth it?" Brandon to Thomas Boleyn
• "I would like to talk about your daughter, Mary. When I am Queen, I should hope to see her reinstated as heir apparent."
• John Seymour: "Everything will change for her. That kiss is her destiny and her fortune."
• Edward Seymour: "....And ours."
• "Good Christian People, I have come here to die according to the law, and thus yield myself to the will of the king, my lord. And if in my life I ever did offend the king’s grace, then surely with my death, I do now atone. I pray and beseech you all to pray for the life of the king, my sovereign lord and yours, who is one of the best princes on the face of the earth, who has always treated me so well. Wherefore, I submit to death with a good will, humbly asking pardon of all the world. If anyone should take up my case, I ask them only to judge it kindly. Thus I take my leave of the world, and of you. And I heartily desire you all to pray for me." -Anne Boleyn, speech before death
  

Trivia