A number of clerics and government officials refuse to accept such an order-among them More and Bishop Fisher, who are charged with treason and imprisoned. In response, the king commands his subjects to swear an oath of 'allegiance and recognition of the king's supremacy' to both church and state. When word reaches the pope, he condemns Henry's behavior and threatens him with excommunication. Tired of waiting for a determination on his marital status, the king weds a pregnant Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) in a secret ceremony. With More gone, Henry appoints lawyer Thomas Cromwell (James Frain) the new chancellor. Even Sir Thomas More (Jeremy Northam), whose fealty was unquestionable, sees the need to resign his post as chancellor and withdraw from public life. At home, Henry selects an obscure cleric (Hans Matheson) to be his personal chaplain, and an attempt is made on the life of Bishop Fisher (Bosco Hogan).Īmid all this religious turmoil, a royally peeved Henry demands to know if his clergymen are loyal to him or whether their allegiances lie with the pope in Rome. As the Catholic church and Pope Paul III (Peter O'Toole) strive to take charge of the 'great matter' of the king's annulment from Katherine of Aragon (Maria Doyle Kennedy), Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) succeeds in having himself declared s upreme head of the church and clergy of England. But that doesn't make it any less interesting to watch. Savvy students of English history, especially the Tudor-period reign of Henry VIII, know exactly where this saga is headed in its second season.

Tudors Season 2 Episode 1 Torrent