- Now cardinal Wolsey lives in misery as penniless archbishop of and in York, barred from court, hoping in vain Anne Boleyn who broke his hold on the king will reward his efforts as she once wrote, honors and offices are mainly distributed to the Boleyn clan, with Norfolk in charge -Charles Brandon neglects his joint presidency- of the royal council. While the devout, rather ascetic new chancellor Thomas More is determined to crush heresy, personally attending the stake, Thomas Cromwell convinces Henry that under Luther's vision the king is above all earthly laws, even his annulment should merely be treated as a theological matter, so he is commissioned to put the case before European theology faculties, while ambassador Boleyn must approach pope and emperor. Once he tastes the burden of government, Henry reproaches the council less virtue and worse results then the cardinal, especially now the treasury is empty and troubles spread, but when Cromwell learns trough a physician about Wolsey's plot for his own reinstatement with pope and queen, the former master of the game is thrown in the Tower, where he slits his own throat, while More and the Catholic church are doomed now Henry has decided to make his own, almost Lutheran break-up with Rome after most universities and princes sided with Catherine.—KGF Vissers
- With Wolsey now banished to York and Sir Thomas More as the new Chancellor, the King appoints the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk as the presidents of his council, though Suffolk has little interest in matters of State. Wolsey is living in much reduced circumstances. He decides the only way out is to seek the assistance of Anne Boleyn and tries to convince her he is not her enemy. She rejects his appeal and he turns to Queen Catherine. Anne Boleyn begins to flaunt her authority in the palace. Thomas More for his part goes on a campaign of eliminating heretics. He begins to burn them at the stake and even attends their execution. All the while, Anne Boleyn has introduced the King to Lutheran writings and he begins to preach the need to reform the Church. The King's secretary expresses concern over the way the matter of the King's divorce has been dealt with and suggests that a theological rather than a legal solution is the better way forward. The King send Thomas Boleyn to Rome to present a new argument to the Pope.—garykmcd
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