Henry is proud of Catherine, his beautiful, vivacious seventeen year old wife, who buys silence from an old friend by making her a member of the court.

Joan Bulmer confides the Queen's sexual history to Lady Rochford who tells it to Culpepper and arranges for him to have a liaison with the neglected Catherine.

Catherine's buys the silence of an indiscreet former lover with a position in her chamber as her affair with Culpepper becomes more tempestuous.

Henry allows Bishop Gardner a free rein in rooting out heretics and sets his eyes on the soon-to-be-widowed Catherine Parr.

After leaving wife Catherine as regent, a bellicose Henry invades France and lays siege to Boulogne in an attempt to regain his French provinces.

Although Henry does take Boulogne, his troops are decimated by dysentery while back in England the Queen arranges to give Edward a tutor with Lutheran beliefs.

Surrey plots treason after being relieved of command, and as Bishop Gardiner's inquisition proceeds, it comes closer and closer to the Queen.

As Henry's health deteriorates, he grows introspective as various factions in the court try to position themselves for the seemingly inevitable succession.