Episode 3

The third episode has just ended, and what an episode it was. A failed assassination, an illegal wedding, new acts waiting to be passed; where to begin?

After loosing patience with the Catholic Church, King Henry decides to take the handling of his Great Matter into his own hands. He suggests the appointment of Thomas Crammer, to the office of Archbishop of Cantebury, and with that, has the new archbishop declare his marriage to Katherine null and void. Crammer is a Lutheran and was once the Boleyn family Chaplain.

Katherine of Argon is now directed to relinquish her title as Queen of England and must accept the style of Princess Dowager of Wales, in addition to which, she is allowed to keep only her property but the king will no longer pay the wages of her servants and as such, the queen must cut her expenses. Furthermore she is forbidden to see her daughter Princess Mary now referred to as Lady Mary.

But you might ask, why he has done all of this? Well the fun is yet to come, the Queen has been accused of having an affair. Also it turns out that not only is La Belle Anne pregnant but Henry has now become so fed-up with the Catholic Church that he marries her in secret.

At the coronation however, there is a failed assassination attempt made by a devout Roman Catholic, though the circumstances surrounding the event do suggest that it was upon a direct order from the See of Rome. But no the Catholics would never promote violence - atleast not openly!

But no worries good news soon follows, born unto the kingdom, is the Queen's new bouncing baby. There is only one problem though. the baby born is not the promised son to carry on the Tudor lineage. No Edward, No Henry, but a princess, Princess Elizabeth. An adept at the history knows that this is not a bad thing for England but a tremendous blessing in disguise, but lets stick to the series, shall we.

The future of the kingdom is not yet secured, but the king reassures all with the fact that he and his new bride are young, and that god will bless them with a son soon enough. There is another problem looming at this point; the Catholic Church has passed its final verdict. It recognizes the King's original marriage to Katherineof Argon as valid, and the new marriage to Lady Anne, as null and void.

Furthermore, Princess Elizabeth is seen as a illegitimate. To end the episode, the Pope gives Henry until September to take Katherine back as his wife or he will be excommunicated.

Where will the King go from here. Only time will tell. I guess we can only wait to see...
^R.O.M^