tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60208409841948144712024-03-14T02:05:05.048-05:00A Lion's Share"I may not be a lion, but I am a lion's cub and I have a lion's heart." --Elizabeth ITudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-17790328057510068062019-07-11T12:27:00.001-05:002019-07-11T12:28:26.829-05:00Anne Boleyn Research Project from 2011<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Writer's Note: I did an in-depth research project on the amazing Anne Boleyn and wanted to share with you. I hope you find it insightful and enjoyable to read!</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne
Boleyn:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Life, Her Death, and Myths
Surrounding Her<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Educated in the finest courts in
Europe, her grace, beauty and intelligence caught the eye of a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She became his queen and their marriage
helped to transform the religious and political landscape of England that still
exists today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave birth to one of
the most extraordinary monarchs ever to rule England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many things come to mind when one hears the
name Anne Boleyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five hundred years
after her death the mysteries surrounding her still pose many questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was the real Anne Boleyn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did she really have to die?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was she a manipulating adulteress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did her ambitions lead to her fall from
grace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is she still such an
intriguing figure five hundred years later?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One cannot have these answers unless you look at the entire life of
Anne, from child, to courtesan, to mistress, to queen and mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne’s Early
Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There has been speculation for years
as to the exact year of Anne Boleyn’s birth, with most historians now in
agreement that she was born in 1501 or 1507.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The actual facts we have about the timeline of her life supports the
year 1501 more so than 1507.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidence
from an early letter Anne had written to her father, Thomas, concludes that it
was written while she was residing at Margaret of Austria’s summer palace in
1513 (Ives 19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had Anne been born in
1507 she would have only been six years of age and would not have been of a
suitable age to be in service abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The standard age for a “demoiselle d honneur” in Margaret’s court was
thirteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There is also a question of the place of
Anne’s birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While most people who
research Anne assume she was born at Hever Castle in Kent, she was in fact born
at Blickling Hall in Norfolk, to Sir Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Ormond and
Wiltshire, and Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey,
later to become the second Duke of Norfolk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne also had two siblings, George Boleyn,
Viscount Rochford, and Lady Mary Boleyn (later to become Lady Mary Carey and
even later, Lady Mary Stafford).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were two boys who were also born to Thomas and Elizabeth, but they did not
survive infancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most historians agree
that Mary was the eldest of the three Boleyn children, however there is much
debate as to the birth order of Anne and George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the many biographical sources of Anne it
is a logical conclusion that she was the middle child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In 1513, Anne began an educational journey
that would shape the rest of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She went abroad for the first time at twelve years of age to “be finished.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was to live at the Habsburg court at
Mechelen in Brabant as a maid of honor to Margaret of Austria (Ives 19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne’s father saw the potential in his
youngest daughter at an early age, prompting his decision to educate her at the
court of the archduchess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret was
quite taken with Anne and was delighted with her sharp mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne’s experience in Margaret of Austria’s
court was to have a great influence on the choices she made about her own court
once she became queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her well
documented love of poetry, music, and fine art began with her time spent under
the archduchess’ tutelage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She trained
under some of the best tutors Europe had to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is estimated that Anne spent about a year
at the court at Mechelen before heading to France around 1514.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Although historians have yet to find evidence
of an exact date of Anne’s arrival in France, she is supposed to have caught up
with the entourage of Mary Tudor in Paris by November 5, 1514.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary’s
reign in France lasted a mere eighty-two days ending with the death of King
Louis XII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Mary returned to
England, it is concluded that Anne was asked to stay in France to attend the
new queen, Claude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She remained with Queen Claude for nearly
seven years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young Boleyn’s time in
France only further enhanced the training she received under Margaret of
Austria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had a great talent for
singing and dancing and could play musical instruments with notable skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also acted as translator for Queen Claude
and English speaking visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Back To England<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Towards the end of 1521, Anne Boleyn’s stay
at the court of Queen Claude came to an abrupt halt and she was summoned back
to England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon her arrival, she was to be married to
James Butler in order to solve a family dispute over titles and land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things did not go as planned because no one
could come to a civil agreement about who would get what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The first evidence we have of Anne at court
is in March 1522.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She participated in a
pageant on Shrove Tuesday, the assault on ‘the Chateau Vert’ (Ives 37) playing
Perserverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne performed and
danced in front of the royal visitors from Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finally had a chance to show off
everything she had learned during her time abroad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a notable success charming everyone
at the English court with her famous sparkling black eyes and quick wit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
span of time between 1522 and 1527 is a bit unclear due to lack of sources of
evidence on Anne Boleyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do have a
few facts which tell us a bit about her as a new courtier in the Tudor court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was first involved with and thought to be
briefly engaged to Henry Percy, heir to the earldom of Northumberland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>King Henry VIII ordered Cardinal Wolsey to
interfere and prevent the marriage providing the excuse that he had another
match for Anne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both she and Percy
beseeched the Cardinal to speak with the king on their behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Percy was married off to a daughter of the
earl of Shrewsbury and Anne held a grudge against Wolsey which was said to help
to bring about his later demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne was also said to be involved with the
poet, Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is great debate as to whether or not she actually shared his bed, and we will
never know for certain, but we do know Anne made quite an impression on Thomas
and was the subject of at least four of his poems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one looks at all the evidence we have of
Anne and Thomas, it suggests that it was a mere courtly dalliance, a
flirtation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no real proof of
them having slept together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She was also at court in attendance on Queen
Katherine of Aragon as a maid of honor, a position she was well familiar with
by this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many historians agree that
is was this close proximity to Henry VIII which allowed Anne to catch his
eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A King’s Interest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The first clear evidence we have of Henry’s
interest in Anne is in August 1527 when the king applied to the pope for
dispensation to allow him to marry again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne is not specifically identified in the dispensation; however, there is
mention that it also covered a woman who was related to the king in the ‘first
degree of affinity… from … forbidden wedlock (Ives 84).’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is also proof of Henry’s efforts to woo Anne in the seventeen love letters
which he wrote to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she was frequently labeled a whore,
there is much evidence that suggests Anne did not sleep with Henry right
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the seventeen letters he
wrote to her, you can see the growing urgency that keeping the king at arm’s
length is creating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His pleading does
not do much to sway Anne from her ultimate goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Here is where we start to come to the real questions
concerning her first intentions towards the English Monarch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Anne really fall in love with Henry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was she following instructions from her
uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and her father, Thomas Boleyn to become close to
the king in order to bring down Cardinal Wolsey?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would lead her to believe that if she
held out she could achieve the crown?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately,
we will never know for sure what her true intentions were at the time that
Henry started courting her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
once again look at the facts from which we can draw conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When we look at the story of Anne Boleyn and
Henry VIII, it is apparent to most that there was indeed a very strong
connection between the two of them, at the very least a strong, consuming
infatuation if not love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can plainly
see Henry’s feelings in the love letters he wrote to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king very much hated to write, so the
fact that he wrote to Anne at all is a testament of his feelings towards
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what were Anne’s feelings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many factors at play here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was indeed ambitious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had very high hopes for an advantageous
marriage as shown when she had planned to marry Henry Percy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had also seen how Henry had carelessly
discarded her sister, Mary after an affair with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne had no intentions of going the way of
Henry’s other mistresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her future
would be ruined. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king was nothing if
not a persuasive and persistent man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Henry VIII was still very attractive and
considered a great catch for a woman at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem was that the king already had a queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne nevertheless insisted that she would not sleep with Henry unless
marriage was in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
obvious by Henry’s response to Anne keeping him at arm’s length using this
tactic that he was only growing more and more infatuated with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is evidence of Anne beginning to soften
towards the king, staying at court more often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It had to be a very heady thing for a young
woman in Tudor times to have a king madly in love with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There had to be a large sense of power in it,
but also there is a belief that Anne couldn’t help but be swept off her feet in
some way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was notoriously jealous of
Katherine of Aragon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was partially
due to her fear of losing her position with Henry, but it was also an emotional
attachment that motivated her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
king offered marriage, Anne most likely began to believe that Henry was really
serious about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">With all of these factors evident, we are
able to conclude that Anne may not have had feelings for Henry at first, but
eventually, he wore her down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
softened towards him once he offered the advantageous marriage she so desperately
wanted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ambition surely played a part
which is evident by the fact that she held out so long, but she at least had a
genuine affection for the king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fans of this tragic romance would love to
believe that Anne was madly in love with Henry, but it’s more likely that they
were infatuated with each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When pondering the question of Anne’s
involvement with Cardinal Wolsey’s downfall, there are many sides to look at
and many political factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
safely assume Anne’s initial intent for getting involved with Henry was to help
her father and uncle bring the powerful cardinal down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her family was very ambitious and Anne’s
father did not hesitate to use his daughters to further his agendas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was much more intelligent than her
sister Mary, and knew how to play Henry in just the correct manner to get the
results she wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was said to have
held a grudge against the cardinal for not coming to her and Henry Percy’s aid
when they wanted to marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her own
personal feelings could have played a large part in assisting his downfall as
well as the pressure from her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
short, although she may have been enticing the king to a degree to elevate her
family and get rid of Wolsey, there is evidence that it was not the only reason
Anne stayed with Henry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What would lead Anne Boleyn to
believe that she could be married to King Henry and be crowned the Queen of
England?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of what fueled her
ambition is very simple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had formed
an emotional connection to Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
also knew that Katherine of Aragon could not provide Henry with a son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was Henry’s match in many ways, not the
least was her intelligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had
Henry convinced that she would give him the long hoped for son and heir to the
throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew Henry would want a
legitimate heir, and therefore would have to be married to the mother of his
son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not only an infatuation
for Henry, but his friend and partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For seven years, they were united as allies against all who opposed them
and she held tight to that connection with Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She really believed she could help him rule
and help to reform religion in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Long
Engagement<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
order to marry Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII first had to divorce his wife, Katherine
of Aragon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not an easy task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This divorce would change the entire face of
religion and politics in England forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne is an important factor in all of this for many reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">While she was not the sole reason Henry had
decided to divorce, she did spur his determination to see it through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times, Anne stood between the King and
“a total loss of nerve” (Ives 98).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The support in favor of Katherine was
overwhelming and it was taking its toll on Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to stiffen the monarch’s resolve,
Anne insisted on moving back to court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It becomes an awkward triangle with the king, the queen and Anne living
under the same roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“The king’s great matter” also proved to help
bring down Cardinal Wolsey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne had
been able to convince Henry that the cardinal was not doing his best to get the
king what he had long desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
grasping cardinal was also found to be “in the pocket” of King Francois I’s
mother, Louise of Savoy and therefore not serving England’s best interests
(Ives 122).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolsey sealed his fate when
he acted against Anne, seeking a “rapprochement with Katherine, Charles V, and
Rome (Ives 131).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was furious,
threatening to leave Henry unless he moved against Wolsey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On November 4<sup>th</sup>, the cardinal was
arrested and was made to go to London where he would await trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died of natural causes on November 29<sup>th</sup>,
at Leicester Abbey before he could be tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There are many who would like to give full
credit to Anne Boleyn for Henry’s decision to break with the Roman Catholic Church,
however, that would not be accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Henry’s thoughts on reform had begun at least a decade before he met
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the facets of becoming the “Supreme
Head of the Church of England” had already been forming in Henry’s mind before
Anne intervened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the face of adversity, the ideas began to
take shape and fuse together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In 1528, Anne acquired a copy of “The
Obedience of the Christian Man and How Christian Rulers Ought to Govern,” by
William Tyndale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She read the book and
had marked passages to show to Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne gave the king the book, pointed out the passages and suggested that
he would find them worth reading (Ives 132).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The book’s main idea is to show ‘the king is the person of God and his
law in God’s law’ (Ives 133).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means
that the ruler is accountable to God alone and the obedience of the subject is
an obedience mandated by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
exactly the sort of validation Henry had been seeking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It resonated deeply with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is true that Anne fed the king with
many ideas, it is also true that they were ideas which confirmed his instincts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The eventual submission of the clergy
revolutionized Anne’s position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had
many friends and relatives filling the vital positions within the royal
household and the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who
had fallen out of favor with her were immediately seeking to regain it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a noticeable shift in things, as
the amount of money which Henry spent on Anne increased greatly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were preparations being made for a
wedding and coronation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne was bestowed with the title of marquis
of Pembroke in her own right on September 1<sup>st</sup>, 1532 at Windsor
Castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an unprecedented move
for a few reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, Anne Boleyn
was the only woman who had ever been bestowed with that title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, the last person to hold that title
was Henry’s great-uncle, Jasper Tudor, so gave the title strong royal
connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the title made
Anne the most prestigious non-royal woman in the realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ambitions Realized–A Pregnancy and a Coronation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">By the Easter season of 1533, Anne was now
recognized as the king’s “most entirely beloved and dear wife, Queen
Anne.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is evidence to show Henry
married her in a private ceremony on January 29, 1533, but no one knew of this
until much later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was crowned in a
grand celebration on Whit Sunday, June 1<sup>st</sup>, 1533.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coronation took place over a period of
four days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne had been given the
‘fullest possible inauguration as queen’ (Ives 181).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event which had been seven years in the
making was finally taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne
was finally Henry’s Queen Consort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">At the time of her coronation, Anne was
nearly six months pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
festivities ended, preparations were made for her confinement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advanced stages of pregnancy were
difficult for Anne, with Henry at his wits’ end, fearful he would lose both the
baby and his queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Anne began her
confinement, Henry eased his worries by planning a grand joust for the arrival
of the “prince.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately for the
excited parents, a prince was not delivered, but a princess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a crushing blow to Henry, who had
risked his entire kingdom to marry Anne and ensure that he would have a son and
heir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the grand jousts were
canceled, the king’s predominant emotion was relief that the child and mother
were healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Elizabeth Tudor was christened on September
10<sup>th</sup>, 1533 in a magnificent ceremony in the Chapel of Observant
Friars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was brought back from the
ceremony that afternoon, ‘escorted by over 500 lighted torches’ (Ives
185).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is believed she was given her
name as a means to deliberately identify her with the royal dynasty, especially
the king’s mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she was not
the long hoped for son, Elizabeth certainly proved later in her life that she
could rule England just as well if not better than any man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne the Queen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In addition to trying mightily to give the king
a son and heir, what did Anne contribute during her reign as queen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the greatest things Anne contributed was
not the son and heir that Henry had hoped for, but their daughter,
Elizabeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although her sex was very
much lamented at the time, Elizabeth was a compliment to both parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As is well known, Elizabeth went on to reign
for forty years and it is often referred to as the “Golden Age of
England.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Anne never lived to
see her daughter become queen, Elizabeth lived up to her mother’s ambitions and
dreams for her and far exceeded any of Henry’s expectations. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Another of Anne’s contributions to the realm was
that she was a very serious advocate of religious reform and was the catalyst
for England’s break with the Roman Catholic Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Henry may have considered the idea on
his own, it wasn’t until Anne showed him William Tyndale’s book that progress
started to be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave the king the
answers he had been seeking and he wasted no time in putting them to good use
to get his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her contributions to
religious reform did not stop there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
influence within the church can be proved by her appointment of evangelical
bishops such as Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Shaxton, and Thomas
Goodrich.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These men were all reformers
with links to Anne Boleyn (Ives).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne also contributed by her careful choice
of reformist scholars, her habit of studying the Bible and providing an English
version for her ladies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She strongly
felt that everyone should be able to read the bible in their own language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne protected the reformist literature and
the illegal trade of Bibles and was known to help rescue religious refugees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these facts point to a woman who was
very involved in religious reform for England and used her power to change
things she felt were unjust within the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The queen also contributed smaller
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She brought a new world of
fashion, fine art, and music to the court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne also made smocks, shirts and flannel garments for the poor, she
washed the feet of the poor, and presented each with a purse of money
thereafter (Fraser 214).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During Anne’s
years of ascendancy, not a single heretic had been burned (Weir 15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne’s Fall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The birth of a girl unraveled much of what
Anne had so carefully put into place for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She once represented the hope of a son, heir,
and ruler to England and to Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
pregnancy represented a promise fulfilled (Ives 186).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of the long anticipated boy, Anne gave
birth to a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a princess born
instead of a prince, the new queen was not in an enviable position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coronation achieved the recognition as
Henry’s consort, but the birth of Elizabeth set her back to having to once
again establish her claim to the throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Had she borne a son, her position would have been cemented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pressure for Anne to have a son was now
even greater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">While we can view Elizabeth’s birth as the
start to her fall from grace, that would not be entirely accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry
had every reason to believe at the time of the princess’s birth that Anne would
become pregnant again and bear him a son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In essence, Anne made a promise to Henry and he expected her to follow
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she did become
pregnant three times, only one child lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her final miscarriage in 1536 was said to be a boy, which could have
only served to crush the king’s hopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has been often quoted that Anne had “miscarried of her savior.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the quote rings true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had she borne Henry a son, her position would
have never been in question again and she would have remained queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Henry’s mind, Anne had broken that vital
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was to be a key factor in
spurring the king to be rid of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There were other factors, which also contributed
to her eventual fall out of power and consequently her death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the evidence that Henry grew very
tired of Anne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew how to be
charming, witty, intelligent, and outspoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While it served her well as Henry’s mistress, she soon found that he did
not appreciate these qualities in his queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Henry grew weary of the constant arguments and emotional outbursts from
Anne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidence shows that with his later
wives, the king did not tolerate arguing or outspokenness of any kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jane Seymour was smart enough to acknowledge
this and use it to her advantage when she became queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The English subjects’ growing animosity
toward their new queen proved to be a factor in the queen’s demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reached a climax upon the death of Bishop
Fisher and Sir Thomas More.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
many would like to blame Anne fully for their deaths, it would not be accurate
when we look at other elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More and
Fisher held tightly to their faith and refused to acknowledge Henry as the
Supreme Head of the Church of England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one would have ever been able to steer them from that particular course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry felt betrayed by More’s refusal to
acknowledge him and his new queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
set out to make an example of More and Fisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After refusing to swear their allegiance to the Act of Succession, an
act which would establish a new line of succession through King Henry and Anne
Boleyn, Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher were executed for treason two weeks
apart in the summer of 1535.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Anne
did help to spark the reformation and had Henry’s ear, it is safe to say the
deaths of More and Fisher are more the work of the mercurial king than his
queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One simply did not cross the king
when he wanted something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Two very important people who had a great
deal to do with Anne’s fall if not directly ensuring it were Thomas Cromwell
and Jane Seymour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thomas Cromwell and
Anne Boleyn had started out as allies, only to become bitter enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He led the investigation against the queen
and “found evidence” to support claims that she had committed incest and adultery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many historians believe that in Cromwell’s
point of view it could have been a case of “her head or mine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is evidence that Anne and Cromwell had
a falling out because they had differing ideas about the religious reform and
where to properly distribute the revenue from the dissolution of the
monasteries in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also
evidence that the queen had threatened Cromwell with a beheading; a threat he
took very seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He quickly changed his allegiance and aided
Jane Seymour and her family to supplant the queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jane Seymour’s family was slowly rising
within the Tudor court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her brother,
Edward, was gaining more favor after his help with the meeting with Francis I
in Calais in 1532.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Seymours were
growing more ambitious by the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne
herself had shown others in court that to gain the king’s favor you had to be
quite close to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had created a
clear path for others of equal or more ambition to who wanted to become close
to Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Seymours used this
information to their advantage and to the queen’s destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Seymour faction came together with supporters of Katherine of Aragon’s
daughter, Mary to bring Anne and her family down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jane was more intelligent than some
historians would like to give her credit for and played her part well. It was
clear that she, as Anne had before her, would not accept anything less than
marriage to the king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She used her
virtue as bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jane also took great
care in being the exact opposite of Anne in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was meek, mild, agreeable and never
argued with Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His will was her will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This alone made her a valuable asset to the
king.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Once Cromwell had suitable allies in place,
he set about plotting a coup for Anne Boleyn’s downfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it took a mere month to bring
down England’s most controversial queen consort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne’s Arrest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The day of Anne’s arrest started out like any
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent part of her morning on
May 2, 1536 watching a game of tennis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her champion won the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
gentleman messenger appeared at her side and told her, “by order of the king,”
she must present herself before the Privy Council at once (Weir 136).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne Boleyn was a notably intelligent woman,
and it is likely she knew something was gravely amiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tension at court had been building for
weeks and Henry’s abrupt departure at a May Day joust the day before was a
large indicator that something was terribly wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not knowing what exactly would happen and
having few allies left, it must have been a frightening situation for the
queen. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Upon her arrival in the council chamber, Anne
was informed without preamble that she was accused of “evil behavior,” and was
formally charged with committing adultery with Sir Henry Norris, Mark Smeaton
and one other they would not name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
also informed her that Norris and Smeaton had already admitted to their
guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, she would discover that
Sir Thomas Wyatt, William Brereton, Sir Francis Weston, and her brother, George
Boleyn, Earl of Rochford were also arrested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne quickly defended herself and proclaimed her innocence but to no
avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After being charged, she was escorted back to
her apartments where she was served dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At two o’clock her uncle, Duke of Norfolk, along with Thomas Cromwell,
and several other lords of the council entered her apartments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Duke of Norfolk read from a scroll
informing her that “they came by the King’s command to conduct her to the Tower,
there to abide during his Highness’s pleasure” (Weir 137).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne calmly replied, “If it be His Majesty’s
pleasure, I am ready to obey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Investigations
by historians show that after nearly five hundred years, three quarters of the
allegations against Anne Boleyn can be disproved (Ives 344).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the past actions of Henry VIII
show how quickly he could be rid of someone that was no longer of use to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne HAD broken her promise, after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The take-down of England’s most controversial
queen consort was “one of the most astonishing and brutal coups in English
history” (Weir 5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Tragic End<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anne
Boleyn made the journey to the Tower of London in “full daylight” by barge under
guard accompanied by several men, among them Cromwell and Norfolk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
she arrived at the Tower, she quickly lost her composure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality of the situation had set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is much evidence to show how this
reality affected her as she went frequently from inconsolable, to laughing to
quietly dignified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was escorted to
the Queen’s apartments in the Tower, which she proclaimed to be “too good for
her,” and awaited her trial (Weir 141).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">At Anne’s trial, there were many
inconsistencies and her intelligence once again reigned supreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she had defended herself quite well,
the verdict was never in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Guilty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a unanimous
vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The once entirely beloved wife and
queen of King Henry VIII was sentenced to death either by burning or
beheading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was forced to give up her
crown in a most humiliating display for everyone to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was quickly escorted back to the Tower to
await her fate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But was she really
guilty of adultery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was she guilty of
plotting Henry’s death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Anne really
have to die?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The evidence is clear that Anne was not
guilty of adultery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the
documents that were drawn up to include times and places of the alleged
infidelities were inaccurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
times, Norris and Smeaton had been confirmed to be in another location
altogether when the alleged activities occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She is also not guilty of plotting Henry’s
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king was the only thing
standing between Anne and a long list of people who wanted to replace her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lady Mary had a growing number of
supporters by the day that were willing to help her regain her rightful place
in the succession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne was living in
constant fear of being supplanted, and it grew more intense with the knowledge
of the king’s amorous affections for Jane Seymour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything happened to Henry, she would be
quickly overthrown and could have met death at the hands of those who opposed
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would have never wanted that
for her daughter, Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The evidence is also clear that in order for
Henry to have the son that he so desperately needed, Anne had to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no other way out for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king showed himself to be that of an
angry, humiliated, and hurt husband, but there were also actions he had taken
that shows that he in no uncertain terms wanted to be rid of Anne once and for
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had to have a clear path to
marry Jane, have legitimate son and heir, and to once again be on good terms
with the Holy Roman Emperor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katherine
of Aragon had passed away and the threat of war with Spain was no longer
imminent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry had almost sacrificed
his entire kingdom for Anne and had been bitterly disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt duped and felt validated in charging
her for treason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted a new start;
a clean slate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When it came down to making a final choice,
Henry VIII chose a swordsman from Calais to behead her in the French
fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many bittersweet
questions we are left with in reference to this one choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was Henry paying a final tribute to his
former queen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was he showing mercy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he agree to a personal request Anne had
made of him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The facts were that Anne
was the first English queen ever to be executed at that time, she was the
mother of his daughter, she had been his consort, and he may have felt she
still deserved a somewhat honorable death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The traditional burning at the stake for a woman found guilty of treason
was a very demeaning way to die; it was slow and agonizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it helped to assuage the guilt he may
have been feeling towards the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sadly, there is a more logical
explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is evidence among
letters between Master Kingston of the Tower of London to Thomas Cromwell
regarding the execution of Anne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
timeline shows us that in order for the swordsman from Calais to arrive when he
did to perform the execution; Henry had to have ordered it at least a week
before her trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had intended for
Anne to be beheaded all along, cruelly letting her suffer while she awaited her
fate (Weir).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There are many stories surrounding Anne’s
final moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made her confessions,
sought solace in prayer, and prepared herself to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were several delays which proved to be
torture for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pleaded, ‘Master
Kingston, I hear say I shall not die afore noon, and I am very sorry therefore,
for I thought then to be dead and past my pain.’ Master Kingston told her,
‘there shall be no pain, it was so subtle;’ and then she said, ‘I have heard
say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those immortal words have been repeated in
most portrayals of Anne Boleyn in the media for years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shows the small thread of fragility which
she was hanging by while in the Tower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The execution of Anne Boleyn took place on
May 19, 1536, at nine o’clock in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After weeks of humiliation, emotional strain, loss of family, and
friends, it would soon be over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are many accounts of her dignity and bravery on this day as she walked to the
scaffold and addressed the crowd as regally as if she had never been stripped
of her crown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a testament to her
sheer strength, as she must have been exhausted, that she kept herself so well
composed to the very end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is said to
have made the following speech before her execution:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Christian people, I am come hither to die,
according to law, for by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak
nothing against it. I come here only to die, and thus to yield myself humbly to
the will of the King, my lord. And if, in my life, I did ever offend the King’s
Grace, surely with my death I do now atone. I come hither to accuse no man, nor
to speak anything of that whereof I am accused, as I know full well that aught
I say in my defense doth not appertain to you. I pray and beseech you all, good
friends, 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 that better could not be, wherefore I submit to death with good will,
humbly asking pardon of all the world. If any person will meddle with my cause,
I require them to judge the best. Thus I take my leave of the world, and of
you, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. Oh Lord, have mercy on me!
To God I commend my soul” (Weir 289).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The executioner begged the fallen queen’s
pardon for what he was about to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
quickly pardoned him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked her to
kneel and to say her prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many knelt
in silent prayer as she prayed, waiting for the blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The executioner struck suddenly as she was
distracted and not expecting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne
Boleyn was beheaded with a single stroke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cannon along the Tower Wharf were fired signaling her death to the
world (Weir 286).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne Boleyn, “the Most Happy,” marquis of
Pembroke, Queen Consort of England, mother of Elizabeth I, was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was buried at the royal chapel of St.
Peter ad Vinicula at the Tower of London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Devastated by her death, Sir Thomas Wyatt
wrote a poem about his lost love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
expressed poignantly the horror of the tragedy of the late queen:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Freely wooed, so dearly bought, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">So soon a queen, so soon low brought, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hath not been seen, could not be thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">O! What is Fortune? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As slipper as ice, as fading as snow, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Like unto dice that a man doth throw, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Until it arises he shall not know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She was England’s most controversial Queen
Consort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave birth to one of the
longest reigning monarchs in England’s history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was a catalyst for religious reform in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne Boleyn has left a legacy of mystery and
scandal that still intrigues people five hundred years after her death and will
for many more years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-21748980472106615652015-05-19T02:20:00.000-05:002015-05-19T07:13:03.999-05:00Anne Boleyn's Swift and Bloody Fall: Justice or Tragedy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5iQzJI04VI/VVrbcWigw4I/AAAAAAAABjA/3GZynCWjiSg/s1600/GW210H282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b5iQzJI04VI/VVrbcWigw4I/AAAAAAAABjA/3GZynCWjiSg/s1600/GW210H282.jpg" /></a></div>
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I found myself lying awake tonight, unable to sleep as I pondered over one of history's most notorious Queen Consorts, Anne Boleyn. I have been what you might call obsessed over the history of this woman for many years. I have been intrigued with her life as a whole: her childhood, her education at the Austrian and French courts, her grand entrance into the Tudor court, her love affair and marriage to King Henry VIII, and most of all, her swift downfall, disgrace, and death.</div>
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The anniversary of her death is soon approaching, and by that I mean merely hours. I think about how she must have felt on her very last night here on this earth. Did she look out her window thinking back on everything on her life? Did she fear for her daughter, Elizabeth's future? Did she remain on her knees praying through the night? Did she still wonder how it all came down to this? Her impending death must still have been an extreme shock to her, I would think.</div>
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In all I have read of Anne Boleyn from Eric Ives to David Starkey, Antonia Frasier to Allison Weir, and hundreds of interesting and educational writings of Claire Ridgeway, in my heart of hearts and intellect, I strongly feel Anne was not guilty of what she was charged with and accused of.</div>
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I can say for certain that she was a strong willed woman with a viscious temper, and she unleashed it at the most unfortunate times. I can also say for certain that once Henry married Anne, expected certain things: a son, a woman who would bend to his will, a quiet companion who would leave him to rule. That was not what he found in her, and I believe he grew to resent those things, especially when she continued to fail in her promise to provide him a son and heir for the throne.</div>
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Was this cause to have her executed? In my opinion, no. I feel that ultimately, in Henry's obsession to have a son, he decided to be rid of her in the swiftest and most calculated way possible and wanted nothing to do with another tedious divorce trial. After all, if Anne was dead, no one could dispute another child's legitimacy if one was to be born.</div>
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What is so intriguing about this woman that I am sitting here at an ungodly late hour writing furiously about her?</div>
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In one sentence: She is a woman I greatly admire, her faults, foibles, wrongdoings and all. One can simply look at the negative qualities that make up what is some of Anne Boleyn, or they can look at the entire woman. Who she is is quite remarkable even by today's standards. She was educated in the highest, most luxurious courts in the world, she was intellegent and witty, always fashionable, an accomplished dancer and musician, a loving mother, and passionate about her faith. </div>
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I think now about how difficult it would have been to be sitting in a tower that was once lavish with her coronation and being "the most happy," and waiting to walk to the scaffold to be executed in front of friends and enemies alike. It took great grace and courage to stand there and give a speech, completely composed and wait for the sword to slice her lovely neck.</div>
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How heartwrenching and sad it must have been for her to see her brother's execution, to be abandoned by family and friends, but most of all to have her husband, the one she loved beyond all others to order her death as if he were ordering tea. As she sat at the window in the tower, he was arranging plans to marry another woman as if she no longer existed before the execution began. That kind of betrayal is unspeakable and I can't quite find the words to describe what must have been going through her mind at a time like that.</div>
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This cold, early morning of May 19th, I mourn the loss of Anne Boleyn's life, what she was and what she could have been. I mourn the loss of a little girl's mother, a daughter to Elizabeth Howard, and I mourn the cruel injustices dealt to her. It is a tragedy, in my opinion. A senseless and heartless one, and I choose to remember the light that she once was in this world.</div>
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Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-54703170754708019442011-12-16T17:32:00.000-06:002011-12-16T17:32:05.058-06:00Research Project: Sir Thomas WyattThis past Fall, I enrolled in a British Literature course at school and enjoyed it immensely. Part of our semester grade was a documented research paper. I chose to do my paper on Sir Thomas Wyatt. I am posting the entire contents of the research paper I wrote, as I think it has a lot of great insight to his work. Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">"A hand, that taught what might be said in rhyme;<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">That reft Chaucer the glory of his wit.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A mark, the which (unperfected for time)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some may approach, but never none shall hit."<br />
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—Henry Howard, Earl
of Surrey wrote of Sir Thomas Wyatt (Luminarium)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Often
referred to as the “Father of the English Sonnet,” Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder
was an amazing poet and writer who brought many innovative changes and ideas to
poetry in England during the sixteenth century Renaissance period (Wikipedia). He created the English sonnet and it is still
widely recognized and used in today’s literature. Wyatt composed
thirty-one sonnets, ten of which are direct translations of the works of
Italian Renaissance poet, Petrarch (1911 Classic Encyclopedia). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
experiences Thomas Wyatt had as a member of the Tudor court helped to shape his
work tremendously. Wyatt’s frank nature
and choice of words in his poetry show a harsh, bitter view of a Tudor era courtier’s
life at times; at other times a spurned, disillusioned lover. They also give one a sense of the bitter
injustices he experienced during the years he spent abroad as a diplomat serving
in various royal courts. His primary
preference was the sonnet, a form which he was the first English writer to make
use of. He would pave the way for
writers such as Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and William Shakespeare (The
Norton Anthology of English Literature).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Perhaps
the poem that most brilliantly captures Wyatt’s blend of passion, anger, cynicism,
longing, and pain is “They flee from me (The Norton Anthology of English
Literature).”” In this particular
sonnet, Wyatt uses an almost dream-like quality to describe his affair with a
woman, who in her fickleness forgets the kindness he has shown her. He feels forsaken by her, but the sonnet gives
no final conclusion for the reader. In
the last two lines (or couplet) of this piece, Wyatt ponders bitterly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“But since that I so kindly am served,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> I fain would know what she hath deserved.”
(20-21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He sarcastically uses the word,
“kindly” to convey his feeling of mistreatment by his lover. This is not the only sonnet which carries
this theme of being wronged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Another
poem written by Sir Thomas, “Who list his wealth and ease retain,” is thought
to have been written at the time of his imprisonment in the Tower of London,
during which he witnessed Anne Boleyn’s execution (Weir). In the third stanza, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“These bloody days have broken
my heart,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My lust, my youth did then
depart,” (11-12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wyatt describes the gut
wrenching sadness he is experiencing. It
is as though the last of his youth and innocence are now gone with the
execution of his friends and all that is left of him is a hollow shell of a person. The last three words in the last line of every
stanza, “circa regna tonat,” translate to “He thunders around thrones (Norton
Anthology of English Literature).” One
can assume he refers to Henry VIII in this instance, as he was the king of
England during that time. The
difference in this sonnet, however, is the feeling Sir Thomas gives of
political danger and disgrace. He not
only feels he lost his youth and innocence, but he also feels stripped of his
wealth and safety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">There
is also a bit of a cautionary tale in “Who list his wealth and ease
retain.” It advises that when one climbs too high within the Tudor court, one cannot see where the danger of falling
lies. A person is blind to everything but
wealth and ambition in an effort to climb even higher. Wyatt seems to have learned a valuable lesson
in his ordeal at the Tower and it is quite evident throughout the theme of this
poem (Anne Boleyn Files). This same
lesson is a common theme in present day as we see many people rise to fame and
fortune, only to throw it all away because they are blinded by their determination
and greed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In one
of his freest translations of Petrarchan sonnets, “Whoso list to hunt,” Wyatt
writes about his enchantment with a woman; the pursuit of her causing him to
grow weary. He decides to give up
pursuing her and even goes so far as to warn others of the futility of the
“hunt.” It has been rumored for
centuries that the muse of this poem was none other than the infamous Anne
Boleyn (Ives). The cynical poet comes
close to causing the ire of the mercurial King Henry VIII with his love for
Anne, if the rumors are to be believed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Perhaps
the most telling evidence that this poem may have indeed been inspired by Anne
Boleyn is the final four lines:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> “And graven
with diamonds in letters plain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> There is written, her fair neck round about,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> “<i>Noli me tangere,</i> for Caesar’s I am,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.””
(11-14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Latin phrase, “<i>Noli me tangere,”</i> translates to “touch
me not.” It is easy to then surmise that
“Caesar” in this case would be Henry VIII, hence the warning, “King’s property,
do not touch” (Fraser). Even in the present time we still see men or
women having to give up pursuit of someone they love due to reasons of politics,
money, etc. It is no less a frustrating
experience now then it was in the sixteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wyatt
never published any of his poems, and very little of his work appeared in print
during his lifetime (Norton Anthology of English Literature). In 1557, Richard Tottel included 97 poems in
his book, <i>Songs and Sonnets </i>which he
credited to Sir Thomas<i>.</i> Although Wyatt’s poetry had been previously
criticized for being poorly crafted and having a rough meter, critics are now
regarding his style as more complex, innovative and experimental (Encyclopedia
Britannica). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">While
Sir Thomas Wyatt is widely known as the first person to write the English
sonnet, his work also helped to illuminate the scandal, danger, trials and
tribulations of court life in the sixteenth century. His common themes of searching for truth,
feelings of injustice, betrayal of a lover, and searching for the “quietness of
the mind,” are all themes we still find common in literature and music
today. His writing still has the power
to touch the reader in a way that they can relate to on any level. He was brave enough to plainly illustrate for
his audience the treachery of what many viewed as a coveted and glamorous life
and was one of the few who didn’t lose his head for his efforts!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -48px;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -48px;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Sources</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -48px;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The 1911 Classic Encyclopedia. “Sir Thomas Wyatt
(Poet).” <i>The 1911 Classic Encyclopedia</i>. Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct.
2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Encyclopedia Britannica. “Sir Thomas Wyatt.” <i>Encyclopedia
Britannica Online</i>. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fraser, Antonia. <i>The Wives of Henry VIII</i>.
Great Britain: George Weidenfield and Nicholson , 1994. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ives, Eric. <i>The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn</i>.
Oxford: Blackwell , 2005. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Logan, George M, et al. <i>The Norton Anthology
of English Literature</i>. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Luminarium Encyclopedia Project, and Anniina
Jokinen. “Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder.” <i>Luminarium Encyclopedia</i>. Curtis
Clark, 1 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ridgeway, Claire. <i>The Anne Boleyn Files</i>.
MadeGlobal.com, 2011. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Weir, Alison. <i>The Lady in the Tower: The Fall
of Anne Boleyn</i>. New York: Ballantine, 2010. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wikipedia. “Thomas Wyatt (Poet).” <i>Wikipedia</i>.
Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-37779634951398437022011-03-28T09:48:00.000-05:002011-03-28T09:48:16.423-05:00Unexpected hiatus... OVER!To my followers:<br />
<br />
Sorry for the unexpected hiatus, but I will be back and posting more Tudors Episodes run downs, Tudors biographies, etc VERY soon! <br />
<br />
Hope everyone has survived the crazy Winter without going too crazy!Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-23316104966213180102011-01-25T13:20:00.003-06:002011-01-25T14:26:43.078-06:00The Tudors, Season 1, Episode 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8BnnE_gGI/AAAAAAAAADQ/kh8d1u69IUs/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2yuu.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Simply Henry"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Episode Two opens with a beautiful view of <i>Val d' Or, </i>which at that time was English Occupied France. There is a spectacular picture of grand tents and a magnificent "castle" in which the celebrations will occur.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">King Henry arrives with his best friends, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Brandon%2C_1st_Duke_of_Suffolk" rel="wikipedia" title="Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk">Charles Brandon</a>, William Compton, and Anthony Knivert. At the top of the hill overlooking all of the bustling activity below, the men wonder whether or not the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchs" rel="wikipedia" title="List of French monarchs">King of France</a> is really being truthful or if it's merely a trap to get rid of Henry. The King doesn't second guess it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">King Francis of France appears with his men and Henry decides to ride alone to meet with him. He orders his men "on pain of death" to stay where they are while he rides down the hill to meet his frenemy. (Yes, I said frenemy, lol!) It's a tense moment before they finally greet eachother and ride into the "castle" together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8FO2MkxfI/AAAAAAAAADU/jWAVgj16h3E/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2bv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8FO2MkxfI/AAAAAAAAADU/jWAVgj16h3E/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2bv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A royal page starts an announcement, calling Henry King of England, Ireland and France. Henry stops him, stating that he cannot be called King of France while Francis is there. He explains that for this summit, he is "simply Henry, King of England." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8F9qAt4YI/AAAAAAAAADY/LaYJ3gmVAF0/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2vbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8F9qAt4YI/AAAAAAAAADY/LaYJ3gmVAF0/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2vbb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can feel the tension in the air, the French and English generally disliking eachother immensely. Both Kings put their hands on the bible and swear to be true, virtuous, and loving to eachother. They both swear.... gee we shall see how long that lasts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8GbC0pDaI/AAAAAAAAADc/nhDyDYGfWzY/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pipw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8GbC0pDaI/AAAAAAAAADc/nhDyDYGfWzY/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pipw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8G5hGDu6I/AAAAAAAAADg/pG7SDryocXA/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qwez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8G5hGDu6I/AAAAAAAAADg/pG7SDryocXA/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qwez.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Princess Mary and the Dauphin of France are introduced to eachother, as they are to be betrothed at this summit to further bind the agreements between England and France. It's a rather funny moment, because Mary tries to kiss the young prince and he gets all bent out of shape, as boys at that age think kissing is "gross." When she doesn't get the response she had hoped for, Mary pushes the Dauphin down. Henry admonishes her, but not too strongly, and you can tell he is mostly amused by this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the more "official business" of the day is over, people celebrate, drink, mingle. King Henry chats with <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Moore" rel="wikipedia" title="Thomas Moore">Thomas Moore</a>, asking him what he thinks of the "Palace of Illusions." Of course, Thomas tells him he thinks it's incredible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8IE8nRxKI/AAAAAAAAADk/i-XktoK_B4g/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8IE8nRxKI/AAAAAAAAADk/i-XktoK_B4g/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8IP-OKH5I/AAAAAAAAADo/OdwrUy74oAc/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qweq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8IP-OKH5I/AAAAAAAAADo/OdwrUy74oAc/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qweq.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back inside the "Palace of Illusions," there is much entertainment and feasting going on. King Francis stands up and the room quiets down, offering Henry a gift of jewels. Henry graciously thanks Francis. Henry humbly gives the King of France a "pastry." But, when Francis starts to cut into it, a few birds come flying "magically" out of the pastry and everyone is delighted, thinking it a great trick. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Compton sees Brandon eyeing up the women of the French court and asks him what he is thinking of. Charles replies, "I'm thinking, that while I'm here, I should behave like the King of France." LOVE IT! Naughty rogue! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8JZbeY-jI/AAAAAAAAADs/USeybN92aow/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2cvx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8JZbeY-jI/AAAAAAAAADs/USeybN92aow/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2cvx.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Francis leans over to speak with Henry, pointing out Lady Mary Boleyn. He tells the young King of England that he "calls her his 'English Mare' he rides her so often." I'm not sure if he's recommending her "services" or trying to insult Henry because she's from England, or if he's just being a piggish competitive male, LOL! Whatever the case, Henry is intrigued enough to summon Mary to his bedchamber.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8KQuRfnTI/AAAAAAAAADw/_U0woeqGuV4/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ppu7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8KQuRfnTI/AAAAAAAAADw/_U0woeqGuV4/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ppu7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, predictably, of course, in the next scene we see Thomas Boleyn, hauling ass to find his daughter, Mary. Once he finds her, he explains what she is to do. She excitedly rushes over to find her sister, Anne to tell her of the King's interest. Anne gives what we will soon find to be a her gorgeous trademark smirk, and Mary flits off to do the King's bidding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8LK_bmeBI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1u6QQUB68ys/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyuty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8LK_bmeBI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1u6QQUB68ys/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyuty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry finally shaves his beard, while Thomas Tallis sings for him. He has a very unusual but beautiful voice and Henry likes it too. He ask him his name and tells him he has a good voice. He gives Thomas a "sovereign for his song." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thomas Boleyn meets with Cardinal Wolsey amongst the outer fringes of the celebrations. He tells Wolsey what Buckingham is planning to assassinate King Henry. Wolsey tells him to speak of it to no one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8MPnoY43I/AAAAAAAAAD4/d7XafVxT0qI/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8MPnoY43I/AAAAAAAAAD4/d7XafVxT0qI/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8MYzJEY4I/AAAAAAAAAD8/G_E6dcP0HF0/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8MYzJEY4I/AAAAAAAAAD8/G_E6dcP0HF0/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is where it starts to become very unpeaceful at this summit for Perpetual Peace. While watching several wrestling matches, Francis becomes cocky and starts to regale Henry of the talents of the French, basically starting a pissing match with his so-called brother from England. Henry at first tries to blow off his conceited claims. Finally, the King of England has had enough and challenges the King of France to a wrestling match. Francis does not accept until Henry calls him a coward. Both queens watch helplessly as their husbands start to disrobe in order to wrestle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8NiBoF2PI/AAAAAAAAAEA/A1BSV41XMag/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2po.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8NiBoF2PI/AAAAAAAAAEA/A1BSV41XMag/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2po.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8Np5ux9JI/AAAAAAAAAEE/shU_y1Zom3U/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2gh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8Np5ux9JI/AAAAAAAAAEE/shU_y1Zom3U/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2gh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thomas Moore tries to dissuade Henry, but he is insistent. The two Kings engage in the wrestling match. People are placing bets and cheering for their respective sides. Unfortunately for Henry, he is defeated and VERY humiliated. He does NOT like to be shown up by anyone, especially the King of France! He demands a rematch, and gets extremely angry, saying he will NOT sign the treaty. He tells Thomas Moore to go inform Francis that he will not sign it. Thomas becomes very passionate when he counsels Henry, telling him, "Alright! If you want the world to know that the King of England is easily changeable, shallow, intemperate, incapable of keeping his word, then of course, I will go tell them. I am merely your Majesty's humble servant." Henry grudgingly changes his mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8O668uy6I/AAAAAAAAAEI/KBhk1_O5aEQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8O668uy6I/AAAAAAAAAEI/KBhk1_O5aEQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8PDZCG2UI/AAAAAAAAAEM/bDwf_cRMtU8/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyrt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8PDZCG2UI/AAAAAAAAAEM/bDwf_cRMtU8/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2tyrt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry pulls himself together as Charles Brandon brings him a visitor. It is Mary Boleyn. Of course, Henry sleeps with her after telling her, "Tell me, what French graces have you learned?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8P8U0YwFI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/vTFzEOaliQ8/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2vbv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8P8U0YwFI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/vTFzEOaliQ8/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2vbv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "Treaty of Universal and Perpetual Peace" is signed by a very simmering Henry. He promply takes his anger out on his bedchamber after the signing, destroying furniture, screaming, etc. France never kept their word, so he should not have been worried, lol!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back at Whitehall, Henry has quickly lost interest in Mary Boleyn, telling her to leave his chambers. She is NOT invited back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8RCdgyWcI/AAAAAAAAAEU/tiLbWpsO8m8/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2xzc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8RCdgyWcI/AAAAAAAAAEU/tiLbWpsO8m8/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2xzc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On top of everything else, Henry finds out the his wife's nephew Charles, has now become Charles V of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor. He wants to forget about France altogether, much to Wolsey's discomfort. Henry demands that Wolsey make arrangements to visit Charles. He now wants to do business with Spain instead of France. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thomas Boleyn pays a visit to the Duke of Buckingham, who is now more determined than ever to usurp the throne from Henry. Boleyn pretends to be following along with what Buckingham's plans, even though we all know he's already betrayed the Duke. Buckingham tells Boleyn in no uncertain terms, "You betray me, Boleyn... I'll feed your body to me dogs." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry grills Wolsey on any information about the goings-on at court and Wolsey happily informs the King about Buckingham's plans. Henry tells Wolsey to invite him to court for the new year, but warns him not to say anything to alarm the Duke. Wolsey his happy to do the King's bidding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The King and Thomas Moore have a chat. Henry asks him about his children. He explains they are all well and he even educates his children. The King calls Thomas an idealist. Henry goes on to talk about a book he was sent from Urbino, Italy, called "The Prince," by Machiavelli. He discusses the virtues of what Machiavelli discusses with regard to ruling. Henry ponders a passage in the book, wondering if it's better to be a loved ruler, or a "feared" one. Thomas doesn't have an answer for him. Henry confesses that Buckingham is going to try to kill him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lady Blount pays Cardinal Wolsey a visit. As she promised, she has come to him when she can no longer hide her condition. She asks if he has a message from the King. He does not. He does inform her, however, that her husband is reconciled to her "condition," as he has been made an Earl for his "inconvenience." He does not make any promises as to whether or not Henry will recognize the child as his. It's clear Lady Blount was hoping the King would feel something for her and ask for her. Not going to happen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At Buckingham's Estate in Penshurst, he is building an army and men are pledging their allegiance to him in the fight against the King. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cardinal Wolsey tells Thomas Moore that the King has demanded he write up a treaty uniting them with the Spanish. Thomas, of course, is heartily disappointed. He also confesses to Wolsey, he feels the King no longer cares for him or trusts him as he once did. The Cardinal bluntly informs him that in order to keep the love of any king, you must be prepared to give up what you hold most dear. Thomas confesses it's his intregity that he holds most dear. He also refuses that he would give it up for anyone. Foreshadowing, are we???? That will soon be Thomas Moore's theme!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8W2ItwPgI/AAAAAAAAAEY/IvmlyBAR9z4/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2bn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8W2ItwPgI/AAAAAAAAAEY/IvmlyBAR9z4/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2bn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8W9WkBPAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/HLCdr1KTh9w/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2cv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8W9WkBPAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/HLCdr1KTh9w/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2cv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At New Year's celebrations, Henry receives gifts and greetings from people of his court. Of course, the Duke of Buckingham presents himself. He reluctantly kisses the King's ring, and you almost wonder if he's going to be ballsy enough to just kill Henry right there. Everyone has their eye on the pair, and it's intense. The Duke presents Henry with a gift of a clock with words engraved on it. It says, "With humble true heart." What a joke, as the Duke clearly means NONE of those words! Henry pretends that he is touched by the gift. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While all this is going on at Hampton Court, Lady Blount give birth to a baby boy. I bet she can't wait for the King to find out! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day, Compton and Knivert arrest the Duke of Buckingham. He goes along peaceably so that his men are not implicated or arrested as well. He is confident that no one will judge against him in this case. Little does he realize Henry is much more devious than he ever gave him credit for. Henry institutes a court of high steward to judge the Duke's case. Twenty peers of the court, with Norfolk first in line. The Cardinal tries to council against finding Buckingham guilty, for fear that it would incite people to rise against the King. Henry appears to agree with the Cardinal. Even Wolsey is not aware of what's really going to happen. The King shares with his closest friend, Charles Brandon, his true intentions, with instructions for him as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the King and Brandon play tennis, Thomas Boleyn, watching the game from the sidelines, questions his daughter Mary about whether or not the King calls for her at night. She sadly confesses that he does not. Boleyn is not pleased to hear this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8ZibyoXII/AAAAAAAAAEg/55EUTPtd-BU/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2fd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8ZibyoXII/AAAAAAAAAEg/55EUTPtd-BU/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2fd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8ZoTajpDI/AAAAAAAAAEk/wfEefCQFJTI/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8ZoTajpDI/AAAAAAAAAEk/wfEefCQFJTI/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Under orders from the King, Charles locates the Duke of Norfolk and "encourages" him to judge the Duke of Buckingham based upon His Majesty's wishes. It's clear the two have a general distaste for eachother and this situation only serves to make it that much more tenuous. To further encourage Norfolk, Brandon presents him with a ring, which is revealed once belonged to Norfolk's father, who was executed by King Henry VII. It's very obvious that having this ring returned to Norfolk is very meaningful. Brandon also admonishes the Duke to have a care for his inheritance. There's an obvious threat in there, of course. The King wants what he wants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8a-mLwRnI/AAAAAAAAAEo/NxH04nXMldo/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8a-mLwRnI/AAAAAAAAAEo/NxH04nXMldo/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2pi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8bN0ItziI/AAAAAAAAAEs/bf4QmiOP8O4/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2erq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8bN0ItziI/AAAAAAAAAEs/bf4QmiOP8O4/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2erq.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At Buckingham's "trial," he is brought in, looking very confident and sure that he will be released. Unfortunately, this is not to be the case. Norfolk reads his verdict. They find him guilty of all charges and sentences him to death. Buckingham is incredulous and angry and blames Wolsey. Ironically, for once, it's not really Wolsey's fault. Buckingham is thrown into his cell, where he finds the gift he had previously given the King. Nice touch, Henry, nice touch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While out riding, Henry receives the news that Lady Blount has borne him a son and he is elated. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Buckingham is being brought to the block, where he is to be executed. He is struggling the entire way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8cdPUc-II/AAAAAAAAAE0/oVLGBSBT1ew/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8cdPUc-II/AAAAAAAAAE0/oVLGBSBT1ew/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2ert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry arrives at the place where Lady Blount gave birth, and bursts into her bedchamber, impatient to see his new son. He immediately strides over and picks him up, having to see the child for himself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Buckingham, struggling every bit of the way, so that he had to be forced down, is executed while his daughter watches. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Henry thanks God for his son, holding the baby close. It's obvious he is choosing to recognize the child as his own. He rides off yelling, "I have a son, God, can you hear me? I have a son!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dYKBWPyI/AAAAAAAAAE4/G0dpLuUmuKQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2er.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dYKBWPyI/AAAAAAAAAE4/G0dpLuUmuKQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2er.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dpA5n3KI/AAAAAAAAAFA/4VT__DZwWaQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dpA5n3KI/AAAAAAAAAFA/4VT__DZwWaQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2t.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dwrcGZKI/AAAAAAAAAFE/7uHfen3KOYQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8dwrcGZKI/AAAAAAAAAFE/7uHfen3KOYQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2qa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back at court, there are fireworks, cheering, feasting and much celebration over the King's new son. Henry callously, yet gleefully tells Charles, "I knew it wasn't my fault." The Cardinal informs the Lady Blount that her son will be recognized by the King, that he will be a Duke, and have his own establishment befitting his station. The lady is clearly sad that the King is offering nothing to her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Queen Katherine enters and a hush falls over the room. With much dignity, she raises a glass to toast her husband's new son. What a classy woman. She had all the right moves. It's sad it never did her any good. :( After she leaves, Henry toasts loudly, "To my son!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The old Pope dies and it is revealed that there is no way Cardinal Wolsey will be elected to be the next Pope. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Queen, in her sadness, immediately retreats to the chapel in bare feet, revealing her utmost piety. She prays fervently for a son, but alas, it's too late for her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8fvrrYdYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/vwPbQprhubQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2as.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8fvrrYdYI/AAAAAAAAAFI/vwPbQprhubQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2as.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8f6EPaaKI/AAAAAAAAAFM/MiH8VwmZ-kA/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8f6EPaaKI/AAAAAAAAAFM/MiH8VwmZ-kA/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anne Boleyn is summoned by her father Thomas, back to England. She is curious as to why she has been sent back home. Thomas informs her that the King is no longer interested in her sister. He also goes on to explain that in order for her family to rise in the King's favor, Anne should gain Henry's interest. Her father is confident in her abilities to keep in intrigued far longer than Mary could. He tells her there is something "deep and dangerous" in her, that her eyes are like "dark hooks for the soul." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8hK187juI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/gyGv1mSMq_s/s1600/GW430season1ep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TT8hK187juI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/gyGv1mSMq_s/s320/GW430season1ep2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Her father's flattery works... she concedes to do his bidding, although, I'm sure she really didn't have much of a choice in the matter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The King rides along in his coach with Cardinal Wolsey. He questions Wolsey about his meeting with Charles V. It is revealed that the Emperor wants an alliance with England against the French. It pleases Henry greatly. The King then goes on to lament that he does not have such a great palace as Hampton Court... I believe hinting that he wanted it. Wolsey, realizing this and wanting to stay in the King's favor gives it to him, even though you can tell it almost kills him to do so. Henry jokes, "With the furnishings?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep your eyes open for Episode 3!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">****All images courtesy of the AWESOME Tudors site, Tudor Wiki: <a href="http://tudorswiki.sho.com/">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=65cd19dd-2afc-4f61-8647-b71d6e9aa4a0" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-50893342855779418322011-01-17T16:07:00.003-06:002011-01-18T22:09:14.075-06:00The Tudors, Season 1, Episode 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTR-Tbs1TtI/AAAAAAAAABE/jkhDa4Wfu-0/s1600/Tudors+Season+1+Promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTR-Tbs1TtI/AAAAAAAAABE/jkhDa4Wfu-0/s320/Tudors+Season+1+Promo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"In Cold Blood"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To get to the heart of the story, you have to go back to the beginning."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the beginning of the first episode of Showtime's "The Tudors," we start out at the Ducal Palace in Urbino, Italy. What we see here from the very first scene is how <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hirst_%28writer%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Michael Hirst (writer)">Michael Hirst</a> manipulates history to create a great show. Mind you, I'm definitely not complaining about it, I just like my readers to know the facts along with the fiction. An English Ambassador is hurriedly walking through the palace halls, having been awakened most urgently by the Duke, who "called an early meeting of the council." The Ambassador is indignant at having being summoned in such a way. Despite his indignation, however, he does notice that there are quite a few Frenchmen about the palace.. a thing which does not seem to please him. He asks, "Why are the French here?" He is very wisely suspicious. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As the Ambassador and his companions walk through the palace halls, he notices he is being followed and braces him self. One of the Frenchmen hails him, "Excellence," right before he is brutally stabbed. It appears the unfortunate Ambassador has been set up to be assasinated. This is how Michael Hirst created the first little manipulation... Henry VIII had no uncle that I have been able to find... his father, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England" rel="wikipedia" title="Henry VII of England">Henry VII</a> was an only child, his mother, Elizabeth's brothers had all died or disappeared before Henry's birth. It could have been his uncle by some distant means, but we never find out who the actual "uncle" is supposed to be. But, as usual, when Michael Hirst writes something it's because he wants to make a smoother transition for the viewer without getting to heavy into the real politics of the situation. After all, it's supposed to be a steamy drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat, whether historically based or not. :) In this case, he is going to use the "uncle's" death to plant the seed for war against the French as we see in the next scene.......</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSDgbfsN5I/AAAAAAAAABI/vRKN06xy3ww/s1600/GW430+%25284%25294565season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSDgbfsN5I/AAAAAAAAABI/vRKN06xy3ww/s320/GW430+%25284%25294565season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next, we come to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Whitehall" rel="wikipedia" title="Palace of Whitehall">Whitehall Palace</a> in London. I love how they recreated it so we could see what it was supposed to look like! I imagine it was once spectacular! The King's secretary is walking briskly with <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Moore" rel="wikipedia" title="Thomas Moore">Thomas Moore</a> (played by Jeremy Northam), a very devout Catholic, a lawyer, humanist, and a dear friend of Henry's. Thomas is concerned about how the King is handling his grief with regard to his uncle's murder. Thomas is trying to find out if the King is wanting to wage war against France. Being a humanist, he is quite alarmed at the thought of England at war. Mr. Pace confesses that the King is "mad with grief," but trying to counsel patience with regards to war.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Enter <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England" rel="wikipedia" title="Henry VIII of England">King Henry VIII</a>, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (YUM).... he is holding council to discuss the recent events that have occurred. He states that they murdered his uncle "in cold blood." He feels that the murder, among other things, are just causes for war. The King asks his men what their thoughts are about a war with France. Buckingham (played by Steve Waddington) is the first to speak up, agreeing wholeheartedly with war, while getting in a jab or two at Henry reminding him that they should have gone to war with France long ago. The Duke of Norfolk (played by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Czerny" rel="wikipedia" title="Henry Czerny">Henry Czerny</a>) also agrees with going to war. Henry then asks <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wolsey" rel="wikipedia" title="Thomas Wolsey">Cardinal Wolsey</a> (played by Sam Neill), his most trusted advisor. Wolsey concedes that England has just cause for war. Henry concludes the meeting saying, "We are to war with France." He seems happy to have the political business contended with so he can "go play." He races off to do just that!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thomas Moore questions Wolsey on whether or not he really thinks England should go to war. Wolsey tells him they should do "what the King wants us to do." Thomas' response, "But the King doesn't know what's in the King's best interests!" Wolsey replies, "Then... we should help him decide." We already see what kinds of characters the King is surrounded by at court... but wait, it's sure to get better!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Henry is "playing" with his current mistress, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Blount" rel="wikipedia" title="Elizabeth Blount">Elizabeth Blount</a> (played by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruta_Gedmintas" rel="wikipedia" title="Ruta Gedmintas">Ruta Gedmintas</a>)</span></span>. It's clear he has fun with her, but it's nothing deeper than that. She seems to adore him, which I'm sure will be to her detriment later on, lol! We find that although Miss Blount is married, she has no qualms about being the King's mistress, even to the extreme jealousy of her husband. She and the King joke about it after having a romp. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSID3i2L_I/AAAAAAAAABM/5bA-OKrstnA/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529fgfseason1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSID3i2L_I/AAAAAAAAABM/5bA-OKrstnA/s320/GW430+%25284%2529fgfseason1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Later, at Hampton Court in Surrey, home to Cardinal Wolsey, a French Ambassador and French Bishop pay him a visit. The first thing Cardinal Wolsey does is get right down to business... he questions the gentlemen about what happened in Urbino. He reveals/confirms his sympathies with the French, and that he has labored long and consistently for harmony between England and France. The French, of course claim that it was not done on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Tudors_characters" rel="wikipedia" title="List of The Tudors characters">King Francis</a>' orders. Wolsey tells them, words will not suffice in this instance, that King Henry will need more than words to be diverted from waging war on France. The French Ambassador's reaction is to just go to war. The Cardinal insists that he's bluffing. The Bishop rushes to smooth things over between the two men and get them to come to some kind of agreement. He asks the Cardinal to find a way to "pacify the young lion."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSJ2FoteYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/cAYhDLAfyfc/s1600/GW430+%25284%252909823season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSJ2FoteYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/cAYhDLAfyfc/s320/GW430+%25284%252909823season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now we see the young King Henry at play.... he's playing tennis with his closest friends, Charles Brandon (played by Henry Cavill), Anthony Knivert (played by Calum Blue), and William Compton (played by Kris Holden-Reid). The men razz eachother playfully while playing hard. It's very clear how close Henry is with Charles, almost like brothers. As they are playing, Charles reveals he "has to try" this girl with an exquisite face. Henry asks who the girl is and Brandon confesses the girl is the Duke of Buckingham's daughter. Henry bets him 100 crowns that he won't succeed. Brandon cheekily accepts the bet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSK2asSMLI/AAAAAAAAABU/WKUO5aEdhlE/s1600/GW430+%25284%25292342season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSK2asSMLI/AAAAAAAAABU/WKUO5aEdhlE/s320/GW430+%25284%25292342season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For the first time we see Queen Katherine of Aragon (played by Maria Doyle Kennedy), dining with the King. He asks the Queen about their daughter, Mary. The Queen does not hesitate to fill Henry in on how exceptional her talents are for music and in all of her other studies. Henry states that he's proud of Mary and that she is the "pearl of his world." The Queen asks him about his intentions in his dealings with her nephew, King Charles. She also mentions that she does not trust Wolsey in those matters, due to his affection for the French. The King seems displeased that his wife is questioning his political decisions. He chides her that she is not his Diplomat or Chancellor, but his wife. He says it rather vehemently and it's clear Katherine was not prepared for this kind of reaction, but with her usual grace and dignity changes the subject and comes at Henry a bit softer, more tender, telling him she would like to be his wife in EVERY way again, asking him to visit her bedchamber. It works... a bit. Henry, caught off guard softens a little and doesn't answer, merely telling her to eat. He's clearly no longer comfortable sleeping with his wife. Sad for Katherine. :(</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSNV6QTV9I/AAAAAAAAABY/ukJzCd7dLJU/s1600/GW430+%25284%25292342342season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSNV6QTV9I/AAAAAAAAABY/ukJzCd7dLJU/s320/GW430+%25284%25292342342season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The King, obviously having given his wife's plea some thought....starts preparing for what I'm guessing he hopes to be a successful attempt at a son. He kisses a cross, which I'm thinking is more like a fervent prayer at this point, he eats a pomegranate (in a most YUMMY looking way), which in those days symbolized fertility, and prepares himself for a visit to his wife. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSN89LUexI/AAAAAAAAABc/uNP9JdDH-7I/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529453season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSN89LUexI/AAAAAAAAABc/uNP9JdDH-7I/s320/GW430+%25284%2529453season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">He hurries along the castle halls, to Katherine's bedchamber, looking pretty determined. However, when he arrives at her chamber, he finds she is not there... she has gone to prayer. He conveys a message to one of Katherine's maids telling her to tell the Queen he came to "offer his love and devotion as her true husband." He then signals to one of his men to speak with this same maid on his behalf. Gee, one guess as to what he wants with the lady, lol! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We see Katherine in the chapel, praying so devoutly and with such feeling..... meanwhile the maid from the Queen's chamber enters Henry's chamber. Of course, he then proceeds to have his way with the maid. Not surprised, although historically Henry was not quite as sexually active, even in his younger days as they seem to want to insist on portraying in this series. Sex DOES indeed sell, so I'm sure that's a big part of it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSQgwxUACI/AAAAAAAAABg/oxA_GNy0HgQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529j567season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSQgwxUACI/AAAAAAAAABg/oxA_GNy0HgQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529j567season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">What would "The Tudors" be without jousting? Of course, as a young man, King Henry VIII loved to participate in jousts, and we get to see a glimpse into that in this scene. His friends Charles, William and Anthony are there to joust as well. Charles is the first to enter the lists and makes a point of asking the Lady Buckingham if he could wear her favor on the jousting field. She happily tieds her delicate lace on his lance. The Duke of Buckingham is not pleased to see this little display. Charles of course wins and knocks his opponent off of his horse. The Duke of Buckingham jousts nexts and also unseats his opponent. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSR7OD6mxI/AAAAAAAAABs/rmD4fdKhPQI/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSR7OD6mxI/AAAAAAAAABs/rmD4fdKhPQI/s320/GW430+%25284%2529season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cardinal Wolsey is at it again... and I'm sure his conniving won't be stopping any time soon. He decides to construct a peace treaty between England and France and shares his intentions with the Ambassador and Bishop from France. In return for his diplomatic machinations.... he wants to be elevated to Pope when the current one passes on. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSS4Mor4zI/AAAAAAAAABw/MhsbmyOKOuM/s1600/GW430+%25284%252976season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSS4Mor4zI/AAAAAAAAABw/MhsbmyOKOuM/s320/GW430+%25284%252976season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back at the joust, King Henry has entered the lists. He is to joust the Duke of Buckingham. This is going to be a bitter joust of rivals. It's clear that the Duke and the King butt heads quite frequently. Katherine comes forward to tie her favor onto Henry's lance, but you can see concern in her eyes. It's clear she does not like to watch Henry joust. The King brutally knocks the Duke off of his horse, much to his own delight. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSTrnRBCoI/AAAAAAAAAB0/lmUPy0MKKrc/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529907season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSTrnRBCoI/AAAAAAAAAB0/lmUPy0MKKrc/s320/GW430+%25284%2529907season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">King Henry pays a visit to Thomas Moore and meets his family. He asks Thomas why he doesn't come to live at court, and Thomas promptly responds without hesitation that he doesn't come to court because he despises it. In those days, the Tudor court was such a Machiavellian web of intrigue at all times. There was always someone looking to step on another in order to promote their own interests and gain more favor from the King. It's not a wonder to me why Thomas despised it. The King asks him why he didn't say much at the council about going to war with France. Moore replies that he has an abhorrence of war as a humanist. Henry agrees on the humanist level, but tells Thomas in his role as King, he has to disagree. We find out that Thomas Moore has taught Henry quite a bit in the years that they have known eachother. He urges Henry not to go to war... to spend the money on the welfare of the people instead. Henry is determined to be remembered for great battles. He wants to be remembered eternally, to be "immortal" as Henry V was. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSbtIxyZNI/AAAAAAAAAB4/292kfRZKMDg/s1600/GW430+%25284%25295675season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSbtIxyZNI/AAAAAAAAAB4/292kfRZKMDg/s320/GW430+%25284%25295675season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">Back at court, the Duke of Buckingham is pacing, angry..... ranting about the fact that the crown should be his and not Henry's. Unfortunately for the Duke... he does have a valid point. Even more unfortunately for him...Norfolk, the one he is ranting to, seems rather indifferent. He does, however, remind His Grace that what he is saying against the King is treason. The Duke is not fearful of this, indeed, he feels something must be done to change things.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSciBWvRZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/5NYwxViG4MQ/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529456season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSciBWvRZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/5NYwxViG4MQ/s320/GW430+%25284%2529456season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Poor Buckingham... his evening is about to get worse. He enters his lodgings within the palace to find his daughter having sex with Charles Brandon. Wow, talk about adding insult to injury, as Charles at this time has not yet been made a Duke himself. Charles is very smug about the whole thing, insisting there was no "honor" left in the girl to besmirch and the Duke threatens to kill him, holding his sword to his throat. He lets Charles leave and then promptly backhands his daughter for disgracing him in such a way. Ah... fatherly love.... not so much!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Elizabeth Blount, Henry's now not so current mistress, pays a visit to Cardinal Wolsey and reveals she is pregnant with Henry's child. It's clear that she was hoping for something more than Wolsey's tepid response. He advises her to tell no one of her condition on pain of death and that when she is no longer able to hide her condition, she will be removed to a place for her "lying in." He very coldly dismisses her.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Cardinal then makes his way back to court.... it's very clear that he is highly revered at court and people rush to try to have an audience or blessing from him. He meets with the King's secretary, Mr. Pace, to make sure he is looking after his interests while he is away. The secretary replies, "Like an eagle." Wolsey tells him, "I don't want an eagle, Mr. Pace. They soar too high. Be a pigeon and shit on everything." LOVE that line! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Pace notices a dirty, rather obscure young fellow, kind of waiting around on the fringes of the people. He quickly goes over to question the lad. Pace finds out his name is Thomas Tallis (played by Joe Van Moyland), a musician who was sent with letters of introduction from the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. Pace asks him why he did not present himself. We do not get an immediate answer. He is then delivered to the choir director, who looks over his qualifications. He is very musically educated, and admits to enjoying composing music as well. The choir director, however is skeptical and basically tells Tallis he'll believe it when he sees it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSgls-rZAI/AAAAAAAAACA/lAllo0kak_A/s1600/GW430+%25284%252923season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSgls-rZAI/AAAAAAAAACA/lAllo0kak_A/s320/GW430+%25284%252923season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The King meets with Thomas Moore and Cardinal Wolsey after hunting. He asks them about the preparations being made for war with France. He is happy to hear they can go to war within a matter of weeks. The Cardinal clearly has more to say. He cautions the King that wars are expensive and that they would have to raise taxes, which would be unpopular. The King sort of brushes this off at first, but Wolsey is nothing if not convincing. He proposes to deal with France in a more peaceful, less expensive way. He admits to working on something to help the King gain more power and prestige. He confesses to speaking with other Ambassadors and notables through out Europe in order to create a "Treaty of Universal and Perpetual Peace." This treaty would also include betrothing Princess Mary to the Dauphin of France, making it an even stronger tie with France. Henry initially laughs at the idea, but is intrigued. They explain to him more about how it is enforced and the King considers it. The humanist in him agrees with this proposition. He congratulates the Cardinal on his innovativeness and then agrees to the treaty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSi3ncdMsI/AAAAAAAAACE/XL1huXKJmAY/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529143season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSi3ncdMsI/AAAAAAAAACE/XL1huXKJmAY/s320/GW430+%25284%2529143season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After Henry dismisses the Cardinal and Thomas Moore, he is told that the Duke of Buckingham requests an audience with him. UH OH!!!!!! The Duke promptly and without and preamble tells the King that he found his daughter in compromising positions with Charles Brandon. He demands that Brandon is banished for bringing disgrace to his family. The King is outraged and tells the Duke there will be no punishment forthcoming. He tells the Duke that unless his daughter is claiming rape there is no punishment to be had for Mr. Brandon. The Duke is furious and barely controls his anger when the King dismisses him. Thomas Moore cautions Henry on his manner of dealing with Buckingham, telling him that not even his father, King Henry VII crossed him. <br />
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Wolsey again meets with the Bishop from France... but this time it's to ensure he's getting what he wants out of aiding the King of France. The Bishop plays coy and it angers Wolsey. He roughs the Bishop up a bit to bring home his point... it's clear now that the Bishop and Wolsey are on the same page.<br />
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In Buckingham's lodgings, it's clear his daughter has definitely NOT learned her lesson. She is paid another visit by Charles Brandon who silkily weaves his way back under her skirts. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSlutLK8ZI/AAAAAAAAACI/eRM7_23tLmI/s1600/GW430+%25284%252957season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSlutLK8ZI/AAAAAAAAACI/eRM7_23tLmI/s320/GW430+%25284%252957season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thomas Moore, back at home with his family, is at the dinner table with his children. He asks them if they had all done their reading. They tell him obediently that they have completed it. They all bow their heads to pray. Thomas says a prayer and bids them all goodnight. He removes most of his clothing upon entering what looks like a tiny little chapel room in his home. He prays passionately while wearing a sad looking tattered shirt. Not sure what that is supposed to mean other than that he's willing to suffer for his beliefs. Maybe it's Hirst's way of doing some foreshadowing?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The King sits and enjoys a shave while he dictates a letter to King Francis. In the letter, Henry decides that in a show of true brotherhood, he will not shave until they meet. His beard will be a token of universal friendship. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wolsey gets news from the Bishop from France that the current Pope is gravely ill. He assures the Cardinal that he has the full support of the French in being elected as the next Pope. The Cardinal is more than pleased to hear this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSocIomYSI/AAAAAAAAACM/-SHWSmJH_Js/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529dsfseason1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSocIomYSI/AAAAAAAAACM/-SHWSmJH_Js/s320/GW430+%25284%2529dsfseason1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As Lady Blount attends Queen Katherine, she sort of doubles over, as if feeling a bit weak. The Queen is concerned, having no idea of Lady Blount's condition, or the her husband is partly to blame for it. Lady Blount assures the Queen that she is okay. The Queen asks her to stay for a while to talk. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSpBK17OZI/AAAAAAAAACQ/uyFbNqlojds/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529567season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSpBK17OZI/AAAAAAAAACQ/uyFbNqlojds/s320/GW430+%25284%2529567season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Queen goes on to confide to her maid that Wolsey has taken away anyone she feels she can trust and she misses talking to someone. Lady Blount assures the Queen that she can trust her, which we all know is a lie right there! The poor Queen confesses that she is sad.....sad that she cannot give the King a living son. She talks of the boy she gave birth to who passed away after only living for four weeks. She feels the King blames her for their son's death and through painful tears she tells Lady Blount that she suffers greatly and prays for things to change.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As Katherine bares her soul, Henry is also doing his own version of it. He's in confession, weeping about not having a son.....telling the priest that he feels Katherine's marriage to his brother Arthur was consummated, that his marriage to the Queen is a lie and that's why they have no sons. The priest tries to assure the King that this is not so, however it's clear the King does not want to see reason. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Duke of Buckinham summons Thomas Boleyn for a secret meeting. He tries to gauge what Boleyn's position is within the court, hoping for an ally. He finds that Boleyn is more than happy with the present King and that he will not aid him in his quest to usurp the crown. They do, however agree about someone close to the King... Wolsey. They discover a mutual hatred for the pompous Cardinal and agree to discuss it more later. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSrobbGxPI/AAAAAAAAACU/34CJLdEl-Hw/s1600/GW430+%25284%252956756season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSrobbGxPI/AAAAAAAAACU/34CJLdEl-Hw/s320/GW430+%25284%252956756season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thomas Boleyn has an audience with the King and they are playing Chess. Henry is eager to find out everything he can about King Francis. Of course, Boleyn tells the King exactly what he wants to hear.... that Henry is far more superior in ever way. Henry tells him to return immediately to Paris so that he can handle all of the diplomatic negotiations for the summit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSsfEWrMSI/AAAAAAAAACY/h-oUXUDQAlc/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529098season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSsfEWrMSI/AAAAAAAAACY/h-oUXUDQAlc/s320/GW430+%25284%2529098season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As Henry marches along through the palace, he runs into his daughter Mary. He is a loving a doting father to her, scooping her up and holding her tightly, telling her she is the most beautiful girl in the whole world. It's very sweet and a bit sad, because you know this will not always be the case for this father and daughter. :( Katherine politely asks to speak with him before he saunters off. He agrees and follows her into a room so they may speak privately. The Queen starts off by telling him she does NOT like his beard and what it represents. She is hurt and alarmed that Henry is betrothing their daughter to the Dauphin of France, as France is an enemy of her family. She appeals to him softly to reconsider what he's doing saying that she cannot disguise her distress. He tells her she's "going to have to." Such a loving guy, that Henry...*snorts*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSuLr2CEyI/AAAAAAAAACc/kpenIMflEqw/s1600/GW430+%25284%25293454season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSuLr2CEyI/AAAAAAAAACc/kpenIMflEqw/s320/GW430+%25284%25293454season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now we find Thomas Boleyn in Paris, and he is walking through the house shouting for his daughters. He finds them quickly and we finally get our first glimpse of Anne and Mary Boleyn! He tells them he has wonderful news and goes on to explain what is about to happen in Calais. He also tells his beautiful daughters that they will have a chance to meet the King of England, whom back then was basically like a rock star. The girls are, of course, thrilled at this prospect and they all toast to their futures.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSu9mJkumI/AAAAAAAAACg/PNuK5tT_MoY/s1600/GW430+%25284%2529123season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSu9mJkumI/AAAAAAAAACg/PNuK5tT_MoY/s320/GW430+%25284%2529123season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in England, King Henry summons Wolsey to get his opinion on the clothing he is having made for the summit in Calais. The decide to dine together so they can talk. The Buckingham decides to be a bit of a rebel and when Cardinal Wolsey steps in front of him to wash his hands in the urn the Duke is holding, Buckingham purposely spills the water all over the Cardinal's shoes. The King is outraged and demands that the Duke apologize to the Cardinal. He apologizes to the King but does not apologize to Wolsey. Henry dismisses Buckingham. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSwRVbLdFI/AAAAAAAAACk/GmwPrHpyfKI/s1600/GW430season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSwRVbLdFI/AAAAAAAAACk/GmwPrHpyfKI/s320/GW430season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Buckingham is furious, stomping back to his lodgings like a bear on fire, yelling for his servant. He goes into another room to find Norfolk and Boleyn waiting for him. He tells them, "it's time."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wolsey continues to reveal all of the wonderful progresses that have been made in preparation for the summit as he dines with the King....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Buckingham is going full throttle now, giving instructions to his servants in preparation to usurp the crown from Henry......</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wolsey tells the King that Lady Blount is with child. The King kind of rolls his eyes at this news....he's not sure what he wants to do about that yet.....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Duke of Buckingham then reveals how he could assassinate the King... by keeping a dagger hidden off to the side when bowing to him. He's determined to get what he deems rightfully his.......</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The King is excited for the summit and what it could mean saying, "Nothing will ever be the same, Your Eminence. You and I will be immortal." FANTASTIC and fortelling last words for the first episode!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSyc335WUI/AAAAAAAAACo/zfjweIX2TWI/s1600/GW430+%25284%252912season1ep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zSbcbw-3rUE/TTSyc335WUI/AAAAAAAAACo/zfjweIX2TWI/s320/GW430+%25284%252912season1ep1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Episode 2.. coming soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***All images found at the Showtime Tudors Wiki site found here: <a href="http://tudorswiki.sho.com/">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=f3a3eaf0-6c9e-4f6f-8657-4423503c2bf5" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-38519547745050073392011-01-04T17:32:00.000-06:002011-01-04T17:32:17.861-06:00New Weekly Feature!<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/?action=view&current=TudorsSeason1Promo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/TudorsSeason1Promo.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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Well, my readers, fellow Tudors fans... here it is... if you are interested in re-living the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.sho.com" title="Showtime" rel="homepage">Showtime</a> Series "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758790/" title="The Tudors" rel="imdb">The Tudors</a>," this will be the place to do it! In my blog, "A Leonine Voice," I gave a very detailed synopsis/review of every episode of the final season of the show that has become so beloved to me. So, I have decided... why not do it with ALL of the episodes? People really seem to enjoy reading them, enjoy perusing the pictures I use to illustrate some of what I am writing about, and I figured it would be something fun for me as well, as I have been missing the show a GREAT deal, probably even more so now than ever before, knowing there won't be a new season this Spring. I will be starting from the beginning.... Season One, Episode One. <br />
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I do hope you will all check it out and give your input. I'm very excited to get this project started! <br />
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Hope everyone has had a fantatasic New Year so far!!!!! <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=113315b5-f07e-4fa1-b4c5-58802deda737" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-86187536555418618652010-12-09T10:15:00.000-06:002010-12-09T10:15:35.387-06:00Henry's Nonsuch Palace<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=_50323358_010555614-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/_50323358_010555614-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Nonsuch Palace"></a><br />
(Image of watercolor painting of Nonsuch courtesy of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news" title="BBC News" rel="homepage">BBC News</a>)<br />
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I will admit rather sheepishly that when I first saw Henry talk about his <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsuch_Palace" title="Nonsuch Palace" rel="wikipedia">Nonsuch Palace</a> with his "Fool" in an episode of Season 3 of The Tudors on Showtime, I thought this was something Michael Hirst was merely adding for entertainment. I was still learning, reading, researching things on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England" title="Henry VIII of England" rel="wikipedia">King Henry VIII</a>, and had not gotten that far yet. I was thrilled to learn that I was wrong!<br />
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Henry named his great palace Nonsuch because no other palace could equal it. He built it to celebrate the birth of his son, Edward. He also wanted to outshine the beautiful Chambord, built by his rival, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_I_of_France" title="Francis I of France" rel="wikipedia">King Francis I of France</a>. The King began construction on the site in 1538, in Cuddington, near Epsom, Surrey, and was still incomplete when he died in 1547. Sadly, it fell into disrepair in the 17th century, and now nothing remains of King Henry's great vision.<br />
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One thing that does remain of Nonsuch is a beautiful and rare watercolor depicting the palace. Here is the information I read in BBC News:<br />
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"The 1568 watercolour is said by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christie%27s" title="Christie's" rel="wikipedia">Christie's</a> to be the earliest and most detailed depiction of the palace.<br />
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Benjamin Peronnet, head of Old Master and 19th Century drawings at Christie's, said it was the most important depiction of the palace.<br />
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"Not only is it one of the earliest British watercolours and a work of art of immense beauty, but it is also the most exact pictorial record of Henry VIII's great commission," he said.<br />
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"Nonsuch Palace stood for less than 150 years and there are only four contemporary depictions that are known to survive.<br />
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"Of these, the watercolour is the earliest, and the only one to show a true impression of the 'lost' palace.""<br />
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It's such a shame to me that so many great palaces built centuries before our time are now faded away and only pictures or historical accounts remain. I would really have loved to see what Nonsuch looked like, especially since this was solely Henry's fanciful creation.<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;margin:1em 0 0 0;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332027/Only-realistic-painting-King-Henry-VIIIs-Nonsuch-Palace-goes-sale-1million.html?ITO=1490">Only realistic painting of King Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace goes on sale for £1million</a> (dailymail.co.uk)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/08/in-praise-of-nonsuch-palace&a=27969214&rid=1976ccc8-1f39-44a8-b179-83f591fc151e&e=de9b87e47576b186f16ab893e8575b61">In praise of ... Nonsuch Palace | Editorial</a> (guardian.co.uk)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=1976ccc8-1f39-44a8-b179-83f591fc151e" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-34451256409641123962010-11-29T13:55:00.001-06:002010-11-29T13:57:01.378-06:00A Royal Wedding Remembered<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=HenryVIIandElizabethofYorkWeddingbyJosephKronheim.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/HenryVIIandElizabethofYorkWeddingbyJosephKronheim.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry VII and Elizabeth of York"></a><br />
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All the of the buzz surrounding the impending royal wedding of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_William_of_Wales" title="Prince William of Wales" rel="wikipedia">Prince William of Wales</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Middleton" title="Kate Middleton" rel="wikipedia">Kate Middleton</a> is so exciting, that I thought I would write about a Tudor wedding that stands out to me as a very important one.<br />
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The wedding of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England" title="Henry VII of England" rel="wikipedia">Henry VII</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_York" title="Elizabeth of York" rel="wikipedia">Elizabeth of York</a> effectively ended the "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_the_Roses" title="Wars of the Roses" rel="wikipedia">War of the Roses</a>," uniting the houses of Lancaster and York, and marked the beginning of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_dynasty" title="Tudor dynasty" rel="wikipedia">Tudor Dynasty</a>. So, how did this pairing come about? It was an interesting read, which is quite the norm for the Tudors, as we all know.<br />
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It all started with the death of Elizabeth's father, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_IV_of_England" title="Edward IV of England" rel="wikipedia">Edward IV</a>. It caused a great upheaval in her life and caused much grief to her family. Her brother Edward was next in line to the throne, however, her uncle Richard had plans of his own. Richard locked away Elizabeth's brothers in the Tower of London and usurped the throne, becoming Richard III. Elizabeth would never see her brothers again and her family would be torn apart by her scheming uncle. <br />
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Out of desperation and survival, Elizabeth's mother, Elizabeth Woodville, and Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufort made an alliance to join their children in marriage, uniting the two rival houses. But, first, Henry Tudor, of Richmond, had to overthrow Richard III. <br />
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Against some incredible odds, Henry's Lancastrian forces defeated Richard III's at the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.5911111111,-1.41027777778&spn=0.05,0.05&q=52.5911111111,-1.41027777778 (Battle%20of%20Bosworth%20Field)&t=h" title="Battle of Bosworth Field" rel="geolocation">Battle of Bosworth Field</a> on August 22nd, 1485. It was at first feared by some that Henry would not keep his promise to marry Elizabeth. Henry wanted to ensure that he ruled in his own right. Elizabeth had a greater claim to the throne, being the direct descendant of Edward IV, but Henry did not want to have Elizabeth ruling beside him. He wanted total power. He chose to be crowned on October 30, 1485, before marrying, so as to ensure there would be no question of his claim to the throne by "right of conquest."<br />
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After receiving papal dispensation to do so, Henry VII finally honored his promise on January 18th, 1486 and married Elizabeth of York. They, of course celebrated in grand style at Westminster Abbey. Above is a picture I found online of the wedding of King Henry VII and his queen. <br />
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As we all know, Elizabeth was the mother of King Henry VIII, grandmother of Elizabeth I. Although the Tudors ruled for a relatively short period of time, I am always amazed at how much they managed to do during their reign. <br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=7ef7e800-3439-4887-95ba-283eb894e39d" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-18810146825401895922010-11-05T12:28:00.000-05:002010-11-05T12:28:36.236-05:00My version of Anne......Being that Halloween is my most favorite holiday, I decided to try out something I have always wanted to do.... dress up as <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn" title="Anne Boleyn" rel="wikipedia">Anne Boleyn</a>!!!!! Alas, I found myself not being able to fit a new costume in my budget, so I sort of "created" one using some things I already had! I thought I would share the results of this with my dear readers. :) Please keep in mind, for those of you who are purists, I was NOT going for super authentic here, it's a bit of a glammed up version, especially since I'm wearing so much makeup, lol! Hope you like!<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Miscellaneous%20Pics%20for%20Profiles/?action=view&current=Halloween2010011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Miscellaneous%20Pics%20for%20Profiles/Halloween2010011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Miscellaneous%20Pics%20for%20Profiles/?action=view&current=Halloween2010007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Miscellaneous%20Pics%20for%20Profiles/Halloween2010007.jpg" border="0" alt="Halloween Costume - Anne"></a> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=c5c1d85f-3e84-4533-a4c4-85723397f9e7" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-75846434391032418222010-09-01T19:16:00.001-05:002010-09-01T19:16:52.310-05:00And..... another one....I have to confess, this is much more video posting than I usually do on a blog, however, I am just REALLY, REALLY missing the series!!!! <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1754059/" title="Natalie Dormer" rel="imdb">Natalie Dormer</a>'s portrayal of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn_in_popular_culture" title="Anne Boleyn in popular culture" rel="wikipedia">Anne Boleyn</a> was BY FAR my favorite performance of Anne Boleyn EVER, and this is one of my favorite montages of Natalie's work thus far.<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7OZ0wfxmRIU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7OZ0wfxmRIU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> <div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;margin:1em 0 0 0;">Related articles by Zemanta</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7870311/Madonna-casts-Natalie-Dormer-to-portray-the-game-playing-Queen-Mother.html&a=20372743&rid=c4856a39-c081-4d20-83cb-c7ef5b8fd44f&e=5389030db7886905d21d37839d170de3">Madonna casts Natalie Dormer to portray the 'game-playing' Queen Mother</a> (telegraph.co.uk)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=c4856a39-c081-4d20-83cb-c7ef5b8fd44f" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-7446254813730009672010-08-29T12:58:00.000-05:002010-08-29T12:58:09.297-05:00A reader's video!This video was made by one of my readers, "Just Brittany", and I LOVE it!!!!! I thought I would share this on my blog. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/73g0Nm4Bd4w?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/73g0Nm4Bd4w?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-43687807208560614762010-08-29T12:52:00.002-05:002010-08-29T12:52:51.976-05:00A new video I HAD to share!!!!Normally, I don't care for these sort of "parody" type videos, but this was hilarious! I thought I would share! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!<br />
<br />
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zAGeQs66HZY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zAGeQs66HZY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-46236242362223373822010-08-22T11:09:00.001-05:002010-08-22T11:10:21.239-05:00For Those Who Are Missing "The Tudors"<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/?action=view&current=21004517-21004521-large.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/21004517-21004521-large.jpg" border="0" alt="Your Majesty"></a><br />
<br />
I belong to many <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758790/" title="The Tudors" rel="imdb">Tudors</a> based communities, and I love the random things that are shared by other Tudors fans! Some of the best things that are shared among Tudors fans are fan videos! I have been pretty sad since the series ended in June and these videos are a bit of a consolation. :) I thought I would share some videos that I enjoy! I hope you all enjoy them too!<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vaRJW78QwkM?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vaRJW78QwkM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0SOx5yuOKw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0SOx5yuOKw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
A little background about this video.... it's not a fan video, it is a clip from one of my most favorite scenes in the Tudors series. It's extremely intense and I just LOVE the chemistry between <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001667/" title="Jonathan Rhys Meyers" rel="imdb">Jonathan Rhys Meyers</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1754059/" title="Natalie Dormer" rel="imdb">Natalie Dormer</a> in these scenes!<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p1RV6PQxuIw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p1RV6PQxuIw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/?action=view&current=tnTD09-PT-00.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/tnTD09-PT-00.jpg" border="0" alt="Season 3"></a> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=5e3da22e-77ab-404c-bacb-63801444758c" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-55021330163539259262010-08-10T17:45:00.001-05:002010-08-10T17:47:36.640-05:00A Survey For My Readers.....During my many, many hours of reading other <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tudors-Illustrated-World-Peter-Chrisp/dp/0750226145%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0750226145" title="The Tudors (Illustrated World of)" rel="amazon">Tudors</a> based blogs and perusing Tudors based sites, I have found that there are a lot of posts that are similar and have a lot of the same topics on the same day. I would like to add some variety, touch upon the people and the topics that haven't been done a hundred times and then some....<br />
<br />
Which brings me to my questions for those of you out there who happen to be reading this.... WHAT or WHO would you most like to hear about in reference to the Tudor Dynasty? What questions do you have? Is there something/someone you have always wanted to read about? Is there something/someone that has always puzzled you/troubled you/intrigued you? <br />
<br />
This blog is for the readers, so your opinions and thoughts matter. Please feel free to give me your input! I will strive to listen to all comments and suggestions and implement them into the blog. Fire away!!!! <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=705ede42-71e7-4dba-ad6d-539a0bc32408" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-3064422098091555922010-07-28T10:41:00.001-05:002010-07-28T10:42:41.516-05:00The Execution of Cromwell<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=ThomasCromwell.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/ThomasCromwell.jpg" border="0" alt="Cromwell"></a><br />
<br />
On this day, the 28th of July, in 1540, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Tudors_characters" title="List of The Tudors characters" rel="wikipedia">Thomas Cromwell</a> was executed. While researching Cromwell's actual execution, I found two differing stories. One story says that he was executed "in private on Tower Green," found here: <a href="http://http://englishhistory.net/tudor/citizens/cromwell.html">http://englishhistory.net/tudor/citizens/cromwell.html</a>.<br />
<br />
and another story claims that he was executed publicly on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.5085,-0.0782&spn=0.1,0.1&q=51.5085,-0.0782 (Tower%20Hill)&t=h" title="Tower Hill" rel="geolocation">Tower Hill</a>. I found this story here: <a href="http://http://www.castles.me.uk/executions-beheading-tower-of-london.htm">http://www.castles.me.uk/executions-beheading-tower-of-london.htm</a>.<br />
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Of everything I have read, all can agree that Cromwell's execution was not an easy one, having an inexperienced executioner, a mere teenager doing the job. It is rumored that Henry VIII ordered this boy for the execution on purpose, so as to make Cromwell suffer more than necessary, however this has never been proven. <br />
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There were also rumors, as you can see on Showtime's "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tudors-King-Queen-Mistress/dp/1416947787%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1416947787" title="The Tudors: The King, the Queen, and the Mistress" rel="amazon">The Tudors</a>" that the executioner was extremely hung over or drunk and therefore botched the execution. That is entirely made up and not an historical fact. But, you can't blame Michael Hirst for jazzing things up a bit in the name of entertainment, right?<br />
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So, what exactly happened on this day? How did Cromwell's execution actually take place? Here is what I can gather from my findings:<br />
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Cromwell's fall was swift; his enemies wasted no time ensuring he would never leave the Tower, "finding" additional evidence that he was a treasonous heretic and putting it before the King. It is said that Henry was so enraged, he swore that Cromwell's name would be abolished forever.<br />
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Cromwell wrote two letters to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England" title="Henry VIII of England" rel="wikipedia">King Henry VIII</a>, very desperate and pleading for the King's mercy. Poor Cromwell. Someone should have given him the memo that Henry was fresh out of mercy. *Morbid grin* Only one of these letters survived and I found an excerpt from the one surviving, tattered letter:<br />
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'God is God and knoweth both [my faithfulness] towards your Majesty and your realm.....how dear your person was, is, and ever hath [been]....therefore, most gracious Prince, I humbly submit me to your [Grace] and ask of God mercy for my sins, and of your Highness mercy and pardon for mine offences as to your high wisdom shall seem most convenient. And, Sir, that ever I have deceived you in any of your treasure, surely I have [not], and that God Almighty best knoweth......Sir, upon [my kne]es I most humbly beseech your most gracious Majesty [to be goo]d and gracious lord to my poor son, the good and virtu[ous lady his] wife, and their poor children...'<br />
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(Excerpt found at the AWESOME website, "The Tudors Wiki", found here: <a href="http://http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/Thomas+Cromwell++-+Historical+Profile">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/page/Thomas+Cromwell++-+Historical+Profile</a>.)<br />
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Cromwell's execution was indeed botched, due to the executioner being but a young teenager and inexperienced as well. Cromwell was struck three times before he was finally killed.<br />
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After the execution, his head was boiled and put on a spike on London Bridge facing away from the city of London. <br />
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It wasn't long before Henry was lamenting his trusted servant's death, blaming his council for falsely accusing Cromwell and leading him astray with their accusations. Well, it wouldn't be King Henry if he wasn't blaming someone else for his mistakes, right?<br />
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<br />
My thoughts on Cromwell.... are pretty mixed. I am a very avid <a class="zem_slink" href="http://musicbrainz.org/artist/ffb7d2d7-d687-47f0-9fa3-859fe654b7a1.html" title="Anne Boleyn" rel="musicbrainz">Anne Boleyn</a> fan, so part of me feels like he got exactly what was coming to him. He was reaching too high, his plans for Reform were NOT the same as Henry's, and he was becoming more and more greedy. The only way to go once you reach the top is down, as most people close to Henry VIII soon found out for themselves. Cromwell was no exception. <br />
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I believe he could have saved himself, had he not gotten the King mixed up in the Anne of Cleves "debacle". I know he was trying to bring a powerful ally to England, however I do believe it was mostly selfish reasons that drove him to make the match for Henry. He mislead Henry about quite a few other things, especially during the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage_of_Grace" title="Pilgrimage of Grace" rel="wikipedia">Pilgrimage of Grace</a>, and I think it was his short-sighted hunger for power and wealth that lead him to his ultimate fate.<br />
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I have to hand it to Michael Hirst, when Cromwell was executed on "The Tudors", I actually felt a bit sorry for him and was almost sad to see him go. He always has a way of making you feel sorry for the "villains" at the last moment. <br />
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What do you think? Do you think Thomas Cromwell was merely the King's good servant, or did he get what he deserved? Was he merely doing what he needed to do to survive in Tudor times, or was he being entirely too high handed in matters of government? <br />
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***Image found here: <a href="http://http://englishhistory.net/tudor/citizens/cromwell.htm">http://englishhistory.net/tudor/citizens/cromwell.htm</a><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=5ffbb9d8-a887-4a89-893c-b56b28d37514" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-75085783819285817902010-07-23T12:51:00.000-05:002010-07-23T12:51:36.622-05:00Food in Tudor England<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=TCH_Meeting_Tudor_HallThornburyCastle.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/TCH_Meeting_Tudor_HallThornburyCastle.jpg" border="0" alt="Dining Hall at Thornbury Castle"></a><br />
*Image is the Tudor Dining Hall at Thornbury Castle<br />
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Being the foodie that I am, I could not help but wonder what it must have actually been like to sit down for a meal in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_period" title="Tudor period" rel="wikipedia">Tudor England</a>. I decided to do a bit of research on it, and since I have promised ALL things Tudor on this blog, I thought I would share my findings. <br />
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As we know, there were many, many changes that came about during the reigns of the Tudors, and food was no exception. There were many new things being brought in from the "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World" title="New World" rel="wikipedia">New World</a>," and this helped to change the more <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages" rel="wikipedia">medieval</a> styles of eating and preparing food.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=WealdandDowlandOpenAirMuseum.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/WealdandDowlandOpenAirMuseum.jpg" border="0" alt="Tudor food"></a><br />
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If you were a poor person during Tudor times, your standard fare would be a dark bread of rye, barley or maslin, a broth of some sort, maybe cheese or some curd. Not a very balanced meal, however, the poor people did eat more vegetables than the nobility and that probably helped make up for other things they lacked. It was not known back then the benefit of eating vegetables. <br />
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Servants ate better, having more meat in their diets such as salt herring, dried cod, beef or fowl in addition to cheese, better breads, ales, and puddings.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=023272-12_Mag_TudorWealdandDownlandOpenAirMuseum.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/023272-12_Mag_TudorWealdandDownlandOpenAirMuseum.jpg" border="0" alt="Food prep"></a><br />
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The middle class and minor nobility would have a variety of courses. If you were fortunate enough to be wealthy during the Tudor era, you wouldn't necessarily eat differently from the middle class, however, there would be much more food and on a more grandiose scale. The rich aristocracy also enjoyed having unusual things on their tables, such as figures molded from jelly or pastries.<br />
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Here is an example of a late 14th century Parisian menu that I found on the site: <a href="http://http://www.tudorhistory.org/">http://www.tudorhistory.org/</a><br />
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FIRST COURSE<br />
Miniature pastries filled either with cod liver or beef marrow<br />
A cameline meat "brewet" (pieces of meat in a thin cinnamon sauce)<br />
Beef marrow fritters<br />
Eels in a thick spicy puree<br />
Loach in a cold green sauce flavored with spices and sage<br />
Large cuts of roast or boiled meat<br />
Saltwater fish<br />
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SECOND COURSE<br />
"The best roast that may be had"<br />
Freshwater fish<br />
Broth with bacon<br />
A meat tile (pieces of chicken or veal, simmered, sautéed, served in a spiced sauce of pounded crayfish tails, almonds and toasted bread and garnished with whole crayfish tails)<br />
Capon pasties and crisps<br />
Bream and eel pasties<br />
Blang Mang<br />
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THIRD COURSE<br />
Frumenty<br />
Venison<br />
Lampreys with hot sauce<br />
Fritters<br />
Roast bream and darioles<br />
Sturgeon<br />
Jellies<br />
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Manor houses from the country usually added the local game birds to their menus as well.<br />
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Most people used spoons or knives to eat, but forks were almost nonexistent in Tudor times. A lot of people simply ate with their fingers.... they also used "trenchers," which sometimes were comprised of just a slab of bread, or a slab of wood that had a small depression in the middle.<br />
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There weren't a whole lot of "table manners" type of rules, even for the nobility, but they did observe some basic practices such as washing hands in front of the other diners to ensure clean hands. They did this because of the practice of eating with their hands. It was also asked that people did not touch their heads, blow their nose... the usual kinds of things you would really hope NOT to see at a dinner table, lol!<br />
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About beverages... EVERYONE avoided drinking the water, as it was polluted. People would drink milk, cider, mead, ale, wine or some variations thereof. <br />
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It was very common for the rich to overeat in Tudor times, which we have also seen practiced by the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome" title="Ancient Rome" rel="wikipedia">Ancient Romans</a>. Ironically, this did a lot more harm than good, and directly contributed to the poor health of many of the nobility. <br />
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I found many different recipes and other little facts and tidbits in my research. The most helpful sites I found were:<br />
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<a href="http://http://www.tudorhistory.org/">http://www.tudorhistory.org/</a><br />
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<a href="http://http://www.the-tudors.org.uk/">http://www.the-tudors.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_period">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_period</a><br />
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Please check out these sites, as they have a lot more fun information and some really neat recipes. I might even try a couple of the recipes I found just to see how they turn out! <br />
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***Images found here:<br />
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<a href="http://http://www.wealddown.co.uk/">http://www.wealddown.co.uk/ </a><br />
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and here:<br />
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<a href="http://http://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/">http://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/</a><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=bf333e2e-f8e8-48f1-90a5-6d5ef1d30de8" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-70641830278234542592010-07-20T13:41:00.002-05:002010-07-20T13:43:04.961-05:00Lady Jane Rochford....Looking at all sides of the story....<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=janeboleyn.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/janeboleyn.jpg" border="0" alt="Lady Jane Rochford"></a><br />
<br />
One intriguing figure in Tudor history whom I feel has not had nearly enough research done about her is Lady <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Boleyn%2C_Viscountess_Rochford" title="Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford" rel="wikipedia">Jane Rochford</a> (also known as <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Boleyn-Story-Infamous-Rochford/dp/0739358790%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0739358790" title="Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford" rel="amazon">Jane Boleyn</a>). From almost everything I have read about her, you get a picture of an embittered, spiteful woman who hated her husband, or his sister, or both, with such venom that she helped to bring about their demise. She is also infamous for aiding the fifth wife of King Henry VIII in committing adultery by arranging for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Howard" title="Catherine Howard" rel="wikipedia">Catherine Howard</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Culpeper" title="Thomas Culpeper" rel="wikipedia">Thomas Culpepper</a> to meet secretly. <br />
<br />
But, what if everything is not as it seems? What if the former Lady in Waiting was given a raw deal by historians? This is something I have given quite a bit of thought. It all started when I recently had a conversation about Jane with a friend of mine who is a fellow Tudors fan. She raised some questions that got me thinking, and she also had some very valid points, at least as far as Anne and George Boleyn are concerned. I thought I would share some of these questions and points of interest that came to mind for me.....<br />
<br />
I have read that Jane historically had an unhappy marriage and as a result, she hated George vehemently and was quite happy to testify against him.<br />
<br />
Okay, ladies and gentleman.... in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_period" title="Tudor period" rel="wikipedia">Tudor times</a>... how many marriages were all that happy? For that matter, how many people at that time period had the luxury to marry for love? Especially in the case of nobility, marriages were almost ALWAYS arranged by the parents or relatives for their child/ward. And, it was almost ALWAYS with the intention of benefiting the families involved. There was not a lot of thought or care given to the two that were to be married. This was just reality.<br />
<br />
While it may be perfectly true that Jane's marriage to George was not a happy one, it is not something so out of the ordinary in those days that it could have driven her to want him dead. <br />
<br />
Which also leads me to another thought......Let's say that Jane actually DID have a hand in George and Anne's demise..... what GOOD could that actually have done for her?<br />
<br />
Once Anne and George were executed, the entire family was in disgrace and lost many titles and lands. Jane, not having an heir from George would not have and did not benefit from any of the remaining luxuries left to the Boleyns or Howards. It is said she wrote many times to Cromwell, trying to redeem her name and be allowed back to court. She also spent a lot of time trying to stabilize her finances. The Boleyns finally gave her a modest pension, but she was always working towards more. So, the question presents itself: Why would she willingly put herself through all of that extra misery, financial distress, and disgrace just for revenge? It's not really even a true sort of revenge, since she indeed suffered from George and Anne's fall.<br />
<br />
Julia Fox, an historian who has written about Jane Rochford, gives the sort of perspective I am driving at. She claims that under the pressure and barrage of questioning that must have been fired at her, Jane must have simply buckled and told them whatever they wanted to hear. Cromwell had what he needed by the time he had questioned Jane. I am sure it would have been a most frightening experience, to be taken to the Tower and interrogated in that manner. And, it would not be so far fetched for Cromwell to use intimidation tactics to get the results he wanted. After all, it's perfectly clear that his advancement depended upon getting rid of the Boleyns. Later, when people started to sympathize with Anne and George's plights, Jane emerged as a jealous and spiteful villain. <br />
<br />
Being an Anne Boleyn "obsessor," I was not so quick to see some of these possibilities, that Jane was a pawn, her words twisted and used under pressure to rationalize the murder of the Queen and 5 innocent men. But, I have definitely realized that it has a lot of merit. And is a very real possibility.<br />
<br />
As for Jane's activities concerning Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper..... well.... that could definitely go one way or another. <br />
<br />
We all know that Catherine Howard, although very young, was in no way naive when it came to sexual affairs. Could Lady Jane have been the one to instigate the Queen's affair with Henry's servant? Or was she merely doing as commanded by her Mistress? <br />
<br />
From all appearances, it looks as though Catherine and Culpepper were only too happy to place full blame on Jane for arranging everything, but she could not have MADE them have sex.... that was completely of their own doing, and obviously not the fault of anyone else. I have this impression from the cirucumstances that the beleaguered Lady in Waiting got caught in the middle of the whole charade and was merely doing as she was instructed at Catherine's behest. <br />
<br />
If Jane did in fact suggest Culpepper to Catherine, or "entice" her to begin an affair with him, it is clear to me that it spiraled out of her control as the two lovers seemed to stop caring that what they were engaging in was deadly. Catherine was in love with Culpepper, as the one letter she had written him can testify. That letter is what sealed Catherine's fate.... it was not anything that Jane had done. <br />
<br />
So, why does she continue to get the blame?<br />
<br />
Why does she continue to be an historical scapegoat?<br />
<br />
The only answer I can come up with is that Lady Jane Rochford has not been researched without bias. Usually when a person discovers her, it is because they are researching Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, etc, and when reading their stories, you only get one version of her. I personally plan to do more research on her, as I think it would be very interesting to see what I could uncover. <br />
<br />
<br />
****Image of Lady Jane Rochford can be found here: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://http://tudorreader.blogspot.com/2010/03/spotlight-jane-rochford.html">http://tudorreader.blogspot.com/2010/03/spotlight-jane-rochford.html</a><br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=a74da1c4-d1c1-4a1c-9f5b-0531b14d67f9" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-85944339977399983202010-07-17T10:33:00.000-05:002010-07-17T10:33:13.015-05:00My friend, the things that do attain.....<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=loadimgcgi.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/loadimgcgi.jpg" border="0" alt="Poetry"></a><br />
<br />
***Author's note: I posted this in my other blog, <a href="http://http://leogirl1975.wordpress.com">http://leogirl1975.wordpress.com</a>, but I love this poem so much that I wanted to post it here as well. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
I first heard this poem recited by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641244/" title="David O'Hara" rel="imdb">David O'Hara</a>, the man who played the Earl of Surrey in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758790/" title="The Tudors" rel="imdb">The Tudors</a>. It moved me for some reason, so I thought I would share it. :)<br />
<br />
"My friend, the things that do attain<br />
The happy life be these, I find:<br />
The riches left, not got with pain;<br />
The fruitful ground; the quiet mind;<br />
The equal friend; no grudge; no strife;<br />
No charge of rule, nor governance;<br />
Without disease, the healthy life;<br />
The household of continuance;<br />
The mean diet, no dainty fare;<br />
Wisdom joined with simpleness;<br />
The night discharged of all care,<br />
Where wine the wit may not oppress:<br />
The faithful wife, without debate;<br />
Such sleeps as may beguile the night;<br />
Content thyself with thine estate,<br />
Neither wish death, nor fear his might."<br />
<br />
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey<br />
<br />
<p class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: left;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Howard_Earl_of_Surrey_1546_detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float:left; clear: left;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Henry_Howard_Earl_of_Surrey_1546_detail.jpg" alt="Henry Howard Earl of Surrey at age 29, 1546" style="font-size:0.8em;border:none;" width="278" height="355"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: left;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Howard_Earl_of_Surrey_1546_detail.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=a792f9b6-a9f5-4641-b9c1-762f63ebc8be" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-66086036285843555042010-07-15T11:02:00.001-05:002010-07-15T11:04:08.427-05:00"They Flee From Me"<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view&current=wyatt.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/wyatt.jpg" border="0" alt="Thomas Wyatt"></a><br />
<br />
I am a very big fan of poetry, and will always jump on an opportunity to share anything that I find resonating or intriguing. There are a few poems written by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wyatt_%28poet%29" title="Thomas Wyatt (poet)" rel="wikipedia">Thomas Wyatt</a> that I enjoy. At least two of them were written about my one of my favorite former Queens of England, Anne Boleyn. I have decided to share my most favorite of Wyatt's poems with you, which I found on a very wonderful Tudor site, <a href="http://http://www.luminarium.org/">http://www.luminarium.org/</a>.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It has a very poignant and sort of ethereal quality to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
They flee from me, <br />
that sometime did me seek,<br />
With naked foot stalking within my chamber:<br />
Once have I seen them gentle, tame, and meek,<br />
That now are wild, <br />
and do not once remember,<br />
That sometime they have put themselves in danger<br />
To take bread at my hand; <br />
and now they range,<br />
Busily seeking in continual change. <br />
Thanked be Fortune, <br />
it hath been otherwise twenty times better; <br />
but once especial,<br />
In thin array, <br />
after a pleasant guise,<br />
When her loose gown did from her shoulders fall,<br />
And she me caught in her arms long and small,<br />
And therewithal sweetly did me kiss,<br />
And softly said, 'Dear heart, how like you this?' <br />
It was no dream; <br />
for I lay broad awaking:<br />
But all is turn'd now through my gentleness,<br />
Into a bitter fashion of forsaking;<br />
And I have leave to go of her goodness;<br />
And she also to use new fangleness.<br />
But since that I unkindly so am served:<br />
How like you this, what hath she now deserved? <br />
<br />
***Image found here: <a href="http://http://tudorhistory.org/">http://tudorhistory.org/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=f04c9951-8cd1-418d-83ad-a346142960c0" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-13891789241276508982010-07-14T15:26:00.005-05:002010-07-14T17:23:46.869-05:00The "Most Happy" Portrayal<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=untitledliu.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/untitledliu.jpg" border="0" alt="Promo"></a><br />
<br />
Of all the fantastic things that have come out of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.sho.com" title="Showtime" rel="homepage">Showtime</a>'s series, "The Tudors," one of the things I love the most is <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1754059/" title="Natalie Dormer" rel="imdb">Natalie Dormer</a>'s portrayal of Anne Boleyn. When she first came on to the screen, I admit, I was a bit disappointed, she didn't look like she had it in her to "be" Anne. I have never been so happy to say I could not have been more wrong!<br />
<br />
I tend to be a purist about some things, preferring for people cast in historical roles to very closely resemble the person they are portraying. I did not feel that Natalie fit the bill. The first couple of episodes you see her in, there is not much that makes her stand out. But, I soon found out why she was chosen for the role.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=GW302H339.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/GW302H339.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
Natalie seemed to have an innate sense of everything Anne went through, from start to finish. From being the mysterious new courtier, to the fascinating jewel Henry HAD to possess, to being the King's controversial Mistress, becoming Queen and a mother, and then losing it all at the height of her success. There was no shortage of range of emotion for the role, and Natalie certainly rose to the occasion and far exceeded my expectations. She gave Anne a heart, soul, grit, determination, vulnerability, and showed us many other facets about the late Queen that most people would not have attributed to her, or seen in her. She really put her heart into her role, with a true understanding of what she was undertaking. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386694/" title="Michael Hirst (writer)" rel="imdb">Michael Hirst</a> really has an uncanny way of finding just the right person for a role, even if you don't agree with him at first.<br />
<br />
Until she was cast as Anne Boleyn, I hadn't heard of Natalie Dormer. She had a small role in the film, "Casanova," in 2005, but I had not seen the movie prior to seeing her on "The Tudors. After seeing her as Anne, I rented the movie so I could see her in other roles, and I am looking forward to seeing her in many more! <br />
<br />
Natalie Dormer hands down gave the best portrayal of Anne Boleyn I have ever seen, nor probably will see for quite some time, if ever. Her on screen chemistry with Jonathan Rhys Meyers was simply amazing! I feel he didn't have as good of chemistry with any of the other women who portrayed his wives or love interests. Here is a small pic spam in tribute to her fantastic work!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=untitledkjhllk.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/untitledkjhllk.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=untitledkjhl.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/untitledkjhl.jpg" border="0" alt="Evil"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/158.jpg" border="0" alt="Queen Anne"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=0051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/0051.jpg" border="0" alt="Mother and Daughter"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=untitled.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/untitled.jpg" border="0" alt="Leaving Wyatt"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/?action=view&current=poi.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Natalie%20Dormer/poi.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<br />
There is a WONDERFUL site where you can find out more about Natalie.... I heartily recommend checking it out if you like her!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://http://natalie-dormer.org/">http://natalie-dormer.org/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
***All images found here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://http://tudorswiki.sho.com/photos">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/photos</a><br />
<br />
and here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://http://natalie-dormer.org/">http://natalie-dormer.org/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;margin:1em 0 0 0;">Related articles by Zemanta</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/madonna/7870311/Madonna-casts-Natalie-Dormer-to-portray-the-game-playing-Queen-Mother.html&a=20372743&rid=daa2434e-c388-499e-9674-25b0dd78c525&e=c90d5d3ceacf1d6aeaad0fc02776009f">Madonna casts Natalie Dormer to portray the 'game-playing' Queen Mother</a> (telegraph.co.uk)</li>
</ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=daa2434e-c388-499e-9674-25b0dd78c525" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-24152273548512762652010-07-13T12:44:00.003-05:002010-07-13T13:06:20.910-05:00A Fantastic Resource!!!!<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/?action=view&current=21004517-21004521-large.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/The%20Tudors%20ST/21004517-21004521-large.jpg" border="0" alt="Your Majesty"></a><br />
<br />
You will often notice that I like to suggest or recommend other fellow Tudors based websites, pages and blogs. I think it's good to help other sites get exposure, and I also love to share information with fellow Tudors fans! Sort of like a public service. :)<br />
<br />
So..... If you haven't found it already, you MUST check out this link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://http://tudorswiki.sho.com/">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/</a><br />
<br />
For anyone who can't get enough of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.sho.com" title="Showtime" rel="homepage">Showtime</a>'s "The Tudors," it's truly one of the best sites EVER!!! <br />
<br />
It goes BEYOND your typical fan site. It is a Wiki, so other fans have contributed and you are welcome to add to it if you like, which is a pretty nice feature. I use it as a resource quite a bit to find images for my posts and a lot of the information is extremely helpful. The site has everything from info on the cast and characters, to a list of every episode, and much, much more!<br />
<br />
The site has so much information, not only about the TV series, but about the Tudor Dynasty in general, which in my opinion, is an added bonus!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=ae6e8758-2305-45a8-b370-3cec38bbfe9a" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" style="border:none;float:right"></a></div>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-75869105897912065712010-07-12T14:52:00.002-05:002010-07-13T13:11:13.485-05:00The Tudors, Season 4, The Final EpisodeDear Readers,<br />
<br />
I recently posted this on my other blog: <a href="http://http://leogirl1975.wordpress.com/">http://leogirl1975.wordpress.com/</a>. <br />
<br />
I really enjoyed writing about the final episode of what became my very favorite TV series to watch. I decided to post it here as well, because it is one of the posts I am most proud of writing thus far. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10ee.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10ee.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry and Holbein"></a><br />
<br />
The final episode. How did it come up so quickly? I will admit, I very much put off writing about this episode, as I did not want it to be over so soon for me. Historically, of course, we all know how it ends. But, Michael Hirst brought these historical figures to such vivid life for us for four years and it makes it all that much more difficult for me to say goodbye to the series.<br />
<br />
Just the promo for this episode alone gave me goosebumps. I found this version of it on YouTube.... it’s not the best sound or picture, but you can get an idea of what I am talking about....<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TBB2toV6KOE&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TBB2toV6KOE&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Writing about Showtime’s “The Tudors” series this past year has been a labor of love for me. I have never before attempted to write about a TV series or movie with such detail as I have done with this one. I hope you have all enjoyed reading my posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them. To be certain, this will NOT be my last post on the Tudor Dynasty or the Showtime series, but it is indeed my last detailed synopsis of an episode. With a heavy heart, I give you my last run down of the Final Episode.....<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10mmm.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10mmm.jpg" border="0" alt="Young Henry"></a><br />
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This episode is aptly titled, “Death of a Monarchy.” It couldn’t get more final than that, right? I love how they brought Maria Doyle Kennedy, Natalie Dormer, and Annabelle Wallis back on the opening credits. You can tell they reworked it to add some of the younger moments in Henry’s life.<br />
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The episode begins with a beautiful scene with a white horse, galloping towards the screen while you hear Henry’s voice. I love what he says....<br />
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“When we compare the present life of man on earth, with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow, through a banqueting hall on a Winter’s day. After a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight, into the Wintery world from which he came. Even so, man appears on earth for a little while. But, of what went before this life, and what will follow, we know nothing.”<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10v.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10v.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry and Charles Philosophical"></a><br />
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King Henry and the Duke of Suffolk are sitting together, chatting. The King is in a very philosophical mood, pondering about time, and the loss of it. He quizzes the Duke about what is the most irrecoverable loss...... and informs him that time is the most irrecuperable of losses, “for it can never be redeemed.”<br />
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As usual, Bishop Gardiner is up to no good. He hands a servant a warrant for the Queen’s arrest to give to Risley.... this is definitely NOT good for the queen!<br />
The Lord High Admirable of France pays a visit to court. Prince Edward greets him in fluent Latin, much to the delight of everyone at court. The Ladies Mary and Elizabeth are also presented to him by Queen Catherine. As they wait for the King to make an appearance, Mary uses the opportunity to speak with Bishop Gardiner, who reiterates to her the “people’s” desire to anoint Mary as queen, should the King die.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10nn.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10nn.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry and Edward at court"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10kkk.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10kkk.jpg" border="0" alt="Father and son"></a><br />
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Henry makes his appearance to the Lord High Admiral of France. I like how Henry walks up to Edward and tousels his hair, and then brings the Prince to sit with him on the throne while he conducts his business with the French Admiral. Henry decides he will make peace with France and will have “no more business” with the Emperor, who he makes sure to advise to Edward has betrayed him at “every turn.” It’s clear that Henry is grooming his son to take over the throne for him. The King proposes that Mass be abolished in both England and France, but this clearly dismays the Admiral. We also learn that the French King is dying of syphilis. Henry makes no bones about using Francis’ condition as a means to gain leverage for his own desires. It’s almost laughable to hear him lecturing about how Francis’ lewd conduct is a lesson to his mortality. Certainly a bit of irony as well!<br />
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The servant that was given the arrest warrant for the Queen (I believe his name is Walter) decides to first take it to one of the Queen’s maids, who in turn secretly gives it to Catherine to warn her. The Queen is both shocked and terrified.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10www.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10www.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry is suspicious"></a><br />
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The King is in his chamber reading and you can hear someone sobbing very loudly in the next room. The King asks who it is, is told it’s the “Queen’s Majesty” and seems a little intrigued and suspicious as to why she is “screaming like that.” He decides to go and see her. He asks her what is wrong and she pulls herself together as best she can. She walks over, most likely terrified that now on top of everything else, the King has caught her crying. Henry asks her what is wrong. You can tell the Queen is choosing her words VERY carefully. She tells him that she fears he is displeased with her. Henry plays ignorant. He asks her what has caused her to think so and whyever would he be displeased with her??? He asks her very firmly if there is any reason he SHOULD be displeased with her. It’s a very tense moment as you wait for her to answer him. Of course, she replies that no, there is no reason for him to be displeased with her. Much to her relief, he bids her a good day and leaves the room. The way Catherine practically falls to the floor, you get a sense that her knees were probably ready to buckle at any moment and it took all she had to answer him with any composure. I will admit, I was not crazy about Joley Richardson playing Catherine Parr, as I really did not like her on “Nip/Tuck,” but I am being forced to reassess that opinion, as she has so far done a superb job.<br />
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As soon as Henry is far enough away from the room, Catherine immediately sets her ladies to work, getting rid of any books or literature whether they think it may be forbidden or not, so as to keep from incriminating herself further. She is frantic to absolve herself of guilt and she is intelligent enough to pull it off, as we will soon see....<br />
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The Earl of Hertford pays the Duke of Suffolk a visit. Brigitte informs him that the Duke is ill, however, Charles gets out of bed to see the Earl anyways. He agrees to have a chat with him. There is a moment of concern from Brigitte about him being out of bed, and I must say, hearing Henry Cavill speak French is utterly DIVINE!!!! The Earl and the Duke quickly start discussing the unrest and unease at court about the succession. The Earl is asking for the Duke’s support for the Reformation, and in going up against Bishop Gardiner. He incorrectly assumes that since the Duchess of Suffolk supports the Reform, that Brandon does as well. He is quickly informed otherwise and hastily apologizes for his assumptions. Talk about sticking your foot in your mouth, eh? The Duke ends the conversation by telling the Earl he will not take sides in this matter and that he does not share Hertford’s beliefs in the Reform. Charles says that he would rather things were as in times past. Sad. He is very obviously tired of all of the politics.<br />
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This next scene had me actually cheering for Lady Hertford, even though she has not been a favorite character of mine. Historically, she was quite an abominable woman to deal with, and it’s very evident in this series as well. I really admired her unfailing spunk in this particular part of the episode. Lady Hertford is summoned to see Bishop Gardiner. She is perfectly aware of why he wants to see her and it does not ruffle her one bit. Gardiner, of course, questions her in regards to her affiliations with Anne Askew. She counters with the fact that Anne was illegally tortured, to which the Bishop decides to tell her that she is “guilty by association,” and shows her a warrant for her arrest. Anne stands up, reviews the warrant and hands it back to Gardiner, telling him he will never serve the warrant. She boldy informs him that she knows things about him....things others do not. She knows he has been stealing property and money from the King and threatens to expose him if he does not tear up the warrant and forget about arresting her. She leaves him sitting there, quite deflated and I cackled in delight... serves the wank right!<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10aaaaa.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10aaaaa.jpg" border="0" alt="Catherine is submissive"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10bbbb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10bbbb.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry's Test"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10cccc.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10cccc.jpg" border="0" alt="Perfect friends again"></a><br />
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Now we come to a pivotal part in this episode, not to mention confusing. It’s fairly historically accurate, for this is truly how things transgressed, even though it seems crazy. But, that was par for the course when dealing with Henry VIII. Catherine Parr is summoned to have an audience with the King. The King is entertaining some nobles, sitting in a very luxurious room, drinking and chatting. The Queen is announced and Henry has her sent in. The room grows very quiet and you just know this is some sort of test. She dutifully kneels before him. He tells her he wishes her to clear his mind of some “doubts.” In front of the entire room of nobles, the King questions Catherine’s beliefs on what can be gained from reading the Gospels and other religious books. Like I mentioned before, Catherine was no idiot. She knew she was being tested, knew that her life depended on this one conversation and knew she had to make sure to please Henry. She quickly defers to him as Supreme Head of the Church, telling him that it is only through his knowledge and understanding of faith that she hopes to learn. He is not quick to believe her at first, telling her she has “become a doctor to instruct us all” and she did not seem to want to BE instructed. The Queen quickly assures Henry that he has misunderstood her, that she defers all things to him, her Lord and King. She begs his forgiveness, explaining that such discussions were merely meant as a distraction to his infirmities. Wow, that woman knew how to play the game. She quickly showed herself as a docile, and obedient wife, which is something Henry ultimately wanted from her. Strict obedience. He assures her they are perfect friends again and tells her he will never doubt her again. The Queen leaves, feeling reassured that she is once again in the King’s favor. Here is the really confusing part.... Henry’s servant asks him if he should rescind His Majesty’s orders to arrest the Queen. The King looks at him, surprised and indignant and asks, “Why?” Crazy.....just crazy!<br />
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Poor Charles Brandon. He is getting steadily more sick. Brigitte is taking such good care of him, and it’s clear he is relieved she is there for him. He tells her he hates the night because it makes him think of “perpetual night.” It’s so sad. He knows he does not have long to live.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10c.jpg" border="0" alt="Outdoor picnic"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10x.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10x.jpg" border="0" alt="Laughing Outdoors"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10z.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10z.jpg" border="0" alt="Knave"></a><br />
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Let’s add some more confusion to all of this, shall we? We really get a good glimpse of how crazy Henry really was in his late years during this scene. Remember, he seemed indignant when asked if he would rescind the order to arrest Catherine?<br />
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As King Henry and Queen Catherine enjoy an outdoor luncheon, you see Lord Risley coming their way with a good number of guards. The Queen, VERY shaken and terrified, quietly asks the King what is going on. Henry, again, plays the ignorant role, pretending not to know exactly why Risley had come. Of course, he is there to arrest the Queen, under HENRY’S orders. See how this gets puzzling? What’s even more puzzling, is how the King reacts to Risley. The crazy Monarch gets out of his seat, calling Risley a knave, screaming at him to get out and take his “bastards” with him. He looks outraged and leaves everyone completely befuddled. He tells Catherine that Lord Risley was not her friend. Ummm.... I should say not!<br />
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Bishop Gardiner, ever the epitome of wankness, grills Risley about the events that occured, insisting that they should still try to serve the warrant to the Queen. Risley is obviously souring on the idea of arresting the Queen at this point.<br />
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Parliament convenes, and much to Lord Hertford’s irritation, Risley introduces a discussion in reference to Prince Edward’s care, education, and to whom the title of Lord Protector should fall to in the event of the King’s death. Seymour questions Risley as to why the discussion is taking place since arrangements have already been made. Risley and Gardiner staunchly defend their right to debate the arrangements already made, which angers the Earl. The Bishop goes even further to add that Seymour’s “intentions” toward the Prince and the Crown must be put before the King.” An outraged Seymour quickly punches Bishop Gardiner in the mouth. I am not a fan of violence, but that was fantastic!!!!<br />
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Following that awesome display, we come to Henry, sitting before the fire, reading again. His servant announces that the Bishop Gardiner requests an audience with him. Henry refuses his request. WOO HOO!!!!!! FINALLY!!!! The King tells his servant that the Bishop is one of a troublesome nature and that he no longer wishes to see him at court ever again. Gardiner is banished. I think he should have had a bit more come his way, but it was done in a most humiliating manner, so that is satisfactory enough for me!<br />
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The slimy Risley immediately seeks to rid himself of association with Gardiner, proclaiming his loyalty to Edward Seymour on the spot. Dastardly man. Edward accepts his loyalty and they become allies.<br />
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King Henry commissions Hans Holbein to paint a portrait of him. This will turn out to be the last painting ever done of Henry VIII and it is famous around the world. The actual portrait no longer survives, however, there are several copies done by other artists of the portrait on display throughout the UK that you can still view today.<br />
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The Duke of Suffolk is gravely ill. This part was so difficult to watch. Brigitte tells him a messenger from the King has arrived. The messenger tells the Duke that the King has heard of his illness and has asked to see him. Brigitte is incredulous (and rightly so!) and tells the messenger no. But, Charles, being the ever loyal friend and servant to Henry insists on going despite the fact that he is so weak he can barely stand on his own two feet. It’s so sad to see how pale and sickly he is. I was more than a little irritated at Henry for summoning Brandon that way when he was so sick. I know they probably were both thinking it would be the last time they would ever see eachother, but it’s so awful of the King to put Charles through that.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10ff.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10ff.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry's Shock"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10hh.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10hh.jpg" border="0" alt="Seen a ghost"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10gg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10gg.jpg" border="0" alt="Mother's Love"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10j.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10j.jpg" border="0" alt="Catherine and Mary"></a><br />
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As Holbein is creating the sketches for his portrait of the King, it almost looks as if something walks into Henry’s peripheral view. And then you see Catherine of Aragon. Exciting!!!! The King rightfully looks as though he has seen a ghost, and asks Catherine what she is doing there. She replies that has come to see her daughter. She tells Henry he has been unkind to Mary, and she has wept often to see his treatment of her. ”Is that why you have come back, to chide me? For all that I am not?” Jonathan Rhys Meyers does a very good job of making Henry look embittered and a bit tortured by his own demons. He begs her to go away. I love how she tells him very calmly, “You sent me away before, though I loved you. But I was still your wife in God’s eyes, and still am.” You can see that the King is getting delusional and becomes more “haunted” as the episode continues. I really, truly LOVE that Michael Hirst chose to bring back the first three wives!!!!! I cannot tell you how much I was bouncing in my seat to see Anne Boleyn with Elizabeth! But, I am getting ahead of myself.....<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10ll.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10ll.jpg" border="0" alt="Charles and Henry last visit"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10kk.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10kk.jpg" border="0" alt="Goodbye friend"></a><br />
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This next scene just had me shaking my head in exasperation at Henry’s insanity. Charles Brandon has finally made it to his audience with the King. Of course, it wouldn’t be Henry VIII if he wasn’t always thinking first and last about himself, right? The two best friends reminisce and Charles mentions remembering Margaret, the Battle of the Spurs, when the King made him a Duke, “God knows why.” I started crying at this point. It was so bittersweet. Henry asks Charles to trust him, literally trying to “forbid” the Duke not to die. He is confident that once again, the Duke will follow orders..... this shows Henry’s growing insanity, to be sure. He is clearly so full of himself, that he commands the ailing Duke to kneel before him, places his hands on Charles’ head and commands him to be healed. I don’t know if it is all delusion, or some wishful thinking as well on Henry’s part that it will work. I think the King was a bit in denial about being on the verge of losing his most loyal and trusted friend. It really tears at your heart as you see the glorious white horse running again....<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10t.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10t.jpg" border="0" alt="Charles dies"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10s.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10s.jpg" border="0" alt="Charles laid to rest"></a><br />
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And then, he’s gone. Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk dies at home, with Brigitte at his side. It was gut wrenching to watch this part of the show. To the very end, he was loyal to Henry alone.... not even his wife, whom he once loved deeply could persuade him to defy the King. They had grown up together as children.... and he was one of the few closest to Henry to live out his life in its entirety. Not many could claim that, as a couple of the King’s wives could attest to!<br />
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It’s even more tragic how we see Brigitte at Charles’ side, along with his son, Henry, however, when the Henry attends the formal funeral, he completely ignores her. Both him and the Duchess of Suffolk completely snub her. I am sure it was not expected otherwise in those times. After all, she was merely his Mistress. However, that had to feel like two knives in the gut rather than just the one.<br />
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The King commands that the Duke of Suffolk is to be buried at St. George’s chapel at his expense. I feel it is the very least he can do, after everything the Duke was to him....<br />
Holbein requests an audience with the King, to show him his progress on the portrait. Henry is heartily disappointed, even indignant as to how his portrait “should” look. He orders Holbein to “do it again.”<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10qq.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10qq.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry's Concoctions"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10q.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10q.jpg" border="0" alt="Anne and Elizabeth"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10uu.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10uu.jpg" border="0" alt="She reminds me of you"></a><br />
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As he is alone, mixing his “potions” to help ease his pain, Henry is confronted with the “ghost” of Anne Boleyn. I admit, since this woman is a personal passion of mine, I gobbled this scene up like a person starving. It was so well written and it’s sooooo good for Anne Boleyn fans to see her recognizing how wonderful Elizabeth has grown to be. She tells the King that although Elizabeth is like her, she is not as “intemperate” as she once was. Henry admits to Anne that he is very proud of their daughter, that he sees the wonderful qualities in her as well. He states that he wishes he could love her more, but that from time to time, she reminds him of Anne, and what she “did to him.”<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10n.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10n.jpg" border="0" alt="Anne and Elizabeth 2"></a><br />
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Anne tells Henry that she did nothing to him, that all of the accusations against her were false. I love how she looks at him and says, “I thought you knew?” It tears the avid Anne fan apart to hear that, since we all heartily believe she was innocent. She also goes on to mention how poor Catherine Howard lies in the cold ground next to her.... how they were both like two moths drawn to the flame… and burned. And what makes it so tragic, is that it is all so very true.....<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10m.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10m.jpg" border="0" alt="Anne"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10rr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10rr.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry's bitterness"></a><br />
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Henry starts weeping, and you almost get a sense that he doesn’t quite want her to leave him when he turns and says, “Anne please dont!” But, “Anne, please dont....” what? What did he not want her to do? Please don’t leave? Please don’t torment me? What did he really mean when he said that? That is a question that has stayed in my mind while watching this.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10bbb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10bbb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10e.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10e.png" border="0" alt="Farewell between Henry and Mary"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10eee.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10eee.jpg" border="0" alt="Farewell between Henry and Elizabeth"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10d.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10d.png" border="0" alt="Farewell between Catherine and Henry"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10fff.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10fff.jpg" border="0" alt="A kiss goodbye"></a><br />
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Now the time has come for King Henry VIII to bid farwell to his family. He is announced by his servant, and all whom are closest to him are in attendance. Henry bids Catherine, Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth to come closer to him. He tells them he has decided that he will send them away to Greenwich. He will not spend this Christmastide with them or any thereafter. Everyone seems a bit bewildered by the King’s decision, but they accept his command. He asks Mary to be a kind and loving mother to her brother. She begs the King not to leave her an orphan so soon. He touches her face but says nothing more. To Elizabeth, he says that she is so very young, but asks her too to look after her brother. He tells her, “Bless you, child, bless you.” He comes to Catherine Parr. He says, “Cate, the time has come for us to bid farwell. It is God’s will. When I die, I order these gentlemen to treat you as if I were living still. And, if it is your pleasure to remarry, I order that you should have 7,000 pounds a year for your service, as well as your jewels and ornaments.” He then leaves a very grieving court as he walks away for the last time, ordering them all to go......<br />
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When he is gone from the room, Elizabeth immediately departs on her own leaving us to wonder what made her do that? Was it grief and a need to be alone? Was it fear of what was to come?<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10dddd.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10dddd.jpg" border="0" alt="Sweet Jane"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10hhh.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10hhh.jpg" border="0" alt="Sweet Jane 2"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10iii.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10iii.jpg" border="0" alt="Anger and denial"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10jjj.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10jjj.jpg" border="0" alt="My poor boy"></a><br />
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You hear Jane’s voice….”How’s my son?” You see Henry visibly relax. ”Jane..... ” he says breathlessly......”he is well. I have taken all care of him, sweet Jane and soon he will be King.” Jane keeps saying, “my poor boy.....my poor child,” but Henry insists that is not true, that he is the MOST beloved boy. Jane tells Henry that their son will die young and Henry denies this telling her, “NO, NO!” Jane tells Henry that in essence, due to the way he has raised their son, the way his father raised him..... it will kill Prince Edward. Henry breaks down, seeing his Tudor Dynasty possibly dying before his very eyes.<br />
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In council, Henry appoints Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, Lord Protector of Prince Edward during his minority, upon the event of his death, with the support of Chancellor Risley and Arch Bishop Cramner. He commands that a tomb be built and he be buried alongside his true and beloved wife, Jane Seymour at Windsor.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10nnn.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10nnn.jpg" border="0" alt="Youthful Henry"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10ooo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10ooo.jpg" border="0" alt="Dreamlike"></a><br />
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You see this dream like sequence of a young King Henry, staring off into space, as the white horse with comes closer and closer to him. Just as the horse reaches the young Henry.....<br />
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Henry’s servant wakes him.....he explains that Master Holbein is in the chapel waiting for him. The King slowly makes his way to the chapel.<br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10rrr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10rrr.jpg" border="0" alt="Unveiling the portrait"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10sss.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10sss.jpg" border="0" alt="Surreal painting"></a><br />
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=Episode10ttt.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/Episode10ttt.jpg" border="0" alt="Well done"></a><br />
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The portrait is unveiled and immediately you get this rush of what Henry is seeing in the picture...... in essence, his life flashing before his eyes..... the good, the bad, the love, the hate, the friendships and the enemies..... it all comes together right here, right now. It encompassed, in that moment, everything we have loved and hated about The Tudors in the last four years. It couldn’t have ended better when Henry turns to Holbein and tells him “it is well done.” And it was. It was extremely well done and I don’t think many of us will forget this series and what it brought to us any time soon.<br />
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The last parts of music at the end were the very last bars of the theme song as the episode draws to a close. Four years of telling a story.....ended. I have to say.....I am grateful that Michael Hirst didn’t actually kill Henry in the end, leaving him as sort of this indestructible myth in a way. It was all very, very well done.<br />
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Thank you, Michael Hirst. For giving us this gift that most of us shan’t soon forget. You are an inspiration to those of us who continue to enjoy the history of the Tudor Dynasty and want to learn even more from it.<br />
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****All pictures for this post were found on the site - Showtime’s Tudors Wiki (which has been SUPER helpful to me!) <br />
<a href="http://http://tudorswiki.sho.com/photos">http://tudorswiki.sho.com/photos</a> . <br />
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Other pictures also found at <br />
<a href="http://http://jrhysmeyers.com/wordpress/">http://jrhysmeyers.com/wordpress/</a>Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-22310706532836590932010-07-09T12:56:00.002-05:002010-07-13T13:15:12.472-05:00"Mine eyes desire you above all things....."<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=fanpopcom.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/fanpopcom.jpg" border="0" alt="Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon"></a><br />
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July seems to be one of the more monumental months if you follow Tudor history. Some wonderful things occured, some not so wonderful.<br />
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On July 11th, 1531, Henry made a move that would sever his relationship with Catherine of Aragon permanently.... at least in his eyes. <br />
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In the wee hours of the morning, King Henry had the court packed up in all haste and headed to Woodstock for a hunting trip. He left Catherine and their daughter, Mary, all alone at the now empty apartments at Windsor. Even by today's more jaded standards, that is a very devastating blow. <br />
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It truly makes me marvel at the sheer strength and dignity with which Catherine carried herself, even in the face of the most cruel treatment of Henry. Upon the realization that he had left her, she wrote him a letter expressing her regret to him that she hadn't been able to say goodbye. <br />
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It was the last time that Catherine ever saw Henry. When she died, she wrote him a most poignant letter, which can be found here:<br />
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<a href="http://http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter5.html">http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter5.html</a><br />
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Sad but true.....Catherine loved Henry until the very end.<br />
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****Image found via Google Image search****Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020840984194814471.post-3388960721353136812010-07-06T14:00:00.005-05:002010-07-13T13:13:16.073-05:00Tudor Dynasty in Upheaval<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=edward-vi-holbein.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/edward-vi-holbein.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />
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Four hundred and fifty-seven years ago on this day in July, England lost the last male heir of the Tudor Dynasty. <br />
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Edward VI, son of King Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour, led a very sheltered childhood. However, by all accounts, he was always regarded as having a sweet temperament and a great deal of intelligence. At the age of nine, he was crowned King of England, with his uncle, Edward Seymour appointed as his Lord Protector. <br />
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Edward's short life was a turbulent one. His reign saw many economic issues, social unrest, riot and rebellion, and withdrawl of forces from both Boulogne and Scotland. He was very strongly Protestant, something that shaped how he ruled the country. It was a very difficult point of contention between the young king and his older sister, Mary Tudor. <br />
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Edward's death was also turbulent. Unfortunately for Mary, upon his death at a mere fifteen, he left the throne not to her, but to his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, preferring a Protestant queen over a Catholic one. After nine days, Mary rallied her forces at Framlingham castle and was declared the true queen of England by the Privy Council. <br />
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I find myself asking a lot of "what ifs" in reference to this young King. One wonders what sort of king he would have been had he actually lived out his life to an old age? Would he have turned into a tyrant like his father, ever changing and untrusting? Or would he have been a more fair and just ruler? <br />
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We do know for certain, there would have been a lot less lives lost, as Mary burned quite a few Protestants during her reign. Which begs another question.... would Elizabeth have reigned at all? And, what would have happened had she not? Would Edward have been as victorious in battle and politics as his older sister? <br />
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What sorts of questions would you have about Edward had he lived? I am curious to know other's thoughts on this topic. <br />
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<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/?action=view¤t=ScrotsEdwardVImain.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n34/leogirl1975/Tudors%20Dynasty/ScrotsEdwardVImain.jpg" border="0" alt="Edward VI older"></a><br />
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***Top image found on the site The Anne Boleyn Files at: <br />
<a href="http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com">www.theanneboleynfiles.com</a>, <br />
and the bottom image found via Google image search.*****Tudorgirl75http://www.blogger.com/profile/03686683695249892116noreply@blogger.com4