Sunday with the Tudors: April 13, 2008

Last week's synopsis: The church was broken and Christmas came and went without much cheer at court. The catholic Chancellor of the king quits and he prepares for his own demise at the hands of the Lutherans. The Queen's jewels are finally collected from The Moor while in the process one of the Queen's virgin ladies in waiting was deflowered by Ann's supposed ex-lover/poet Thomas Wyatt. Ann was given the official title of the Markess of Penbrook and a lifetime allowance in preparation for her wedding. Everyone took a trip to English occupied France to celebrate and Ann finally went all the way with Henry. It is undetermined who may be trying to scare and kill off Ann.

What I think: The french are portrayed as self-serving and greedy, but so is Henry.

This week: Catherine of Aragon stripped of her title as well as any money and servants previously paid for by Henry and their daughter Mary was also reduced from princess to lady; both were forbidden from contacting each other or previous spanish alliances. Cramden is installed as Archbishop and provides the divorce Henry has saught for so long. He also moved his possessions including smuggling his wife in a box into England while his presence stirs the the catholics. A papal dictate by Pope Paul II to condemn the secret marriage of a pregnant Ann and Henry or fear excommunication by the catholic church was rejected by Henry. The Duke of Suffolk gets some wise words from his wife instructing him not to act by himself against Ann while an assination attempt by the Soldiers of Christ which was sanctioned by the Pope at the coronation parade is executed without the desired result. Ann gives her younger sister a role as one of her house servants. Henry is on the prowl since Ann refuses sex with him during the later stage of pregnancy. Ann later gives birth to a daughter while Henry takes another Lady of his court as a mistress. Catherine goes into a deep depression.

What I think: Everything Henry did was for Ann until she displeased him and gave him a daughter. He said they have time to have other children, but it's not a convincing speech. Now it's a whole new ball game just had Catherine predicted (She earlier said, "The King will tire of you...").