Episode 5 Season 3 – The Tudors Episode Summary 3.5

Synopsis: King Henry VIII mourns the death of his wife, Jane Seymour, and puts himself in seclusion speaking to no one but the court fool, Will Somers.  With the King incommunicado, violence abounds with the murder of Richard Pakington and Sir Gawain. To make matters worse, their assassins were not brought to justice.  After a long period of grieving, King Henry finally emerges from seclusion, and deals with the matter of the articles of faith that will form the basis of the Church of England.  Thomas Cromwell sees the end of reformation in England upon hearing the articles of faith that the King had formulated, approved, and ordered everyone to abide for refusing so leads to death.

Episode Summary: Lord Privy Seal Thomas Cromwell believes that his enemies had ordered the assassination of Robert Pakington as a threat to him.  Although Bishop Gardiner and Lord Suffolk are his top suspects, the Lord Privy Seal is careful to make an accusation, and to act against them until he has ascertained their motives.  He instead busies himself with finding a new bride to the King with the intention of producing another heir, and securing the Tudor succession.Continue reading...

King Henry VIII continues to grieve the death of Jane Seymour.  He has locked himself up from the world including his only son and heir, Edward.  Lady Mary, however, has made it her mission for the boy to know of his kind and gentle mother through her, and has asked Lady Bryan to do the same.  King Henry has instructed the establishment of a new household in Hampton Court where his heir is to be nourished and cared for by Lady Bryan and her staff.  Lady Mary, meanwhile, is to return to Hunsdon House bringing with her Elizabeth, her half-sister.

Sir Francis Bryan still has not yet returned to England after receiving orders to capture Cardinal Pole.  He and Thomas Seymour find their way to Caserta, Italy where they believe Cardinal Pole has been hiding.  True enough, they find him there, but Cardinal Pole manages to escape Sir Francis’ murderous hands.  Sir Francis returns to England and finds his mother overseeing the establishment of Hampton Court for the prince.  Lady Bryan received instructions that ensure the safety and good health of Prince Edward.  In fact, the heir’s safety brought Sir Francis back to England knowing that the King desires that no harm will come to his son.  However, Edward Seymour claims responsibility on the safety of the prince.  Being the prince’s uncle, he vows to provide utmost security to the heir.  Edward Seymour orders Sir Francis to keep away from his nephew, and his wife whom he learned has taken up an affair with him.

Catherine Willoughby still has not gotten over the guilt of knowing that her husband has carried out the massacre of innocent people including children that she finds herself not wanting the child in her womb.  She finds that her child will only be a painful reminder of that horrific event.  Meanwhile, King Henry VIII still overcome with grief for the death of Jane Seymour spends his time locked in a room with Will Somers, the court fool.  He spends his days sketching a palace that will rival Francis I’s Chateau de Chambord, and plans to call it Nonsuch.  He is unaware of the happenings in his court and is ignorant of Sir Gawain’s murder in its premises.  Lord Privy Seal attends to the murder, and is unconvinced of the motive he was given.  According to one of the guards, Sir Gawain was killed over a gambling debt.  The murders and the knowledge that the assassins have not been apprehended worry Cromwell.

The Lord Privy Seal receives the sketches of Nonsuch, and His Majesty’s orders to build it.  He shares it with Sir Richard Rich who advises that such fantasies will cost a huge fortune to build.  Having full knowledge of the grandiose request, and in spite of it, Cromwell chooses not to argue with the King.  He would not be able to dispute his request anyway for the King would not speak to anyone but his fool.  Despite many laughs with the fool, King Henry still could not forget and get over the sadness of having lost Jane Seymour.  Cromwell hopes that His Majesty would come out of mourning for his court, in his absence, has been in disarray.  A fight has broken out in court, and the sergeant at arms was slain.  Lord Privy Seal has called upon a congregation of the King’s council who are angered that a man beneath them has sent them orders in the absence of the King.  Cromwell insinuates that Lord Suffolk is one of those who had instigated some of the violence they had witnessed.  Lord Suffolk insulted at the accusation and having been summoned by Cromwell berates the Lord Privy Seal for doing so, and orders him never to call upon him of his own volition.   Lord Suffolk leaves, and the other council members follow him.

Edward Seymour informs his wife of having instructed Sir Francis to stay away from the prince and her.  He finds Sir Francis dangerous for the King listens to him, and vows to destroy him if he becomes a threat to him.  Anne Stanhope finds her husband’s decision a pity.  She was bold enough to tell him not to expect her fidelity so long as she plays a secondary role to his other interests.

King Henry VIII finally comes out of mourning and sends the court fool to summon Cromwell.  After delivering some chosen news on the events that happened in his absence, Cromwell moves to advising the King in finding the desire to marry again in order to ensure the preservation of his lineage.  The King although not exhibiting a yearning to marry again acknowledges the need to remarry, and allows Cromwell to speak to him of the fruits of his search for his new bride.  Ambassador Chapuys apprises Lady Mary of her father’s coming out of seclusion, and his agreement to marry again.  This reminds Lady Mary of her own marriage, and brings up the matter of Don Louis, but learns that there has not been any news.

With the household of the late Jane Seymour dissolved, Lady Misseldon has decided to return home to her mother.  King Henry learns of this, and Sir Tavestock’s decision to break his engagement with her.  He suggests of providing Sir Tavestock a peerage and one of the dissolved abbeys if he consents to marry Lady Misseldon, but the woman declares that she would reject him more if the man agrees to the arrangement.  King Henry is delighted to hear this from Lady Misseldon, and his mistress once again enchants him.  He asks that she spend one more night with him.  Lady Misseldon spends a licentious night in the King’s chambers.

Cardinal Pole is now safe in Rome speaking with Cardinal Von Waldburg, and shares with him the letter he received from Lord Montagu, his brother.  He writes of the threat set upon his family; the result of Reginald’s campaign against King Henry.  With the safety of his family bearing on his conscience, Cardinal Pole looks to Cardinal Von Waldburg for advice, and his was to put aside his family.  Cardinal Von Waldburg burns the letter from Lord Montagu claiming that Cromwell was behind the letter, which is why he is not to believe it.

King Henry VIII resumes ruling his kingdom, and summons Bishop Gardiner to reproach him for his committee’s failure to determine the doctrine of the Church of England due to theological differences between members of the committee.  Having grown impatient with the committee, King Henry formulated six fundamental doctrinal questions whose answers will form the basis of their faith.  Moreover, no discussion needs to be made as to the six questions King Henry has put forth, and His Majesty has expressly ordered that the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer need not be apprised.  The answers to the six doctrinal questions King Henry formulated established the articles of faith for the Church of England.  Anyone who disputes the articles of faith will be considered a heretic, and they are to be executed.  In addition, those who try to flee England to avoid abiding the articles of faith will be tried for treason.  King Henry VIII approves the six articles of faith with his signature, and declares a final amendment in the Lord’s Prayer.  King Henry orders the addition of the doxology on the prayer.  With the articles of faith determined, King Henry VIII orders the persecution of those who stand against them.  Cromwell and Rich, both advocates of the reformation, are against the new articles of faith that follow closely the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  Cromwell believes the King to be a true Catholic in his heart with the exception that he refuses to acknowledge any other superior in matters of faith except for God.

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