1
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:13,570
Henry VIII is the most
Infamous monarch in English history.
2
00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:14,681
I, Katherine...
3
00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,327
I, Anne, take thee, Henry, to be my husband.
4
00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:19,088
I do.
5
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,771
Famously, over his
38-year reign he married six times.
6
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,603
Divorced, Beheaded, Died...
7
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,766
Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.
8
00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,450
But the women Henry married
were more than just six wives.
9
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,488
They were the six queens.
10
00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,806
The six queens were formidable individuals.
11
00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:52,563
Some were ambitious, some brave, some ruthless.
All changed history.
12
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:57,367
They shaped the man who became the monster,
and in turn they shaped England itself.
13
00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,451
But who were these women? What drove them?
14
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,211
And what was it really like
to be married to Henry VIII?
15
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:11,004
In this series we'll dissect these marriages from
the rival perspectives of Henry and his Queens.
16
00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:12,965
- I will call you Henry.
17
00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:18,686
We'll uncover the passions that created them,
the obsessions that darkened them
18
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,371
and the betrayals that
brought them to an end.
19
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:30,689
This time Henry's third wife,
Jane Seymour, has often been overlooked
20
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,883
but Henry called her his true love.
21
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,601
She fought to teach Henry
the importance of family.
22
00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,848
But Sire, she is your daughter.
23
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,089
Do you not think she should be restored
to her former position as heir?
24
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,488
I am warning you not to get involved
in matters that do not concern you.
25
00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,610
She battled to reunite him with his daughter
26
00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:58,205
and Jane gave Henry the one thing he desired
above all else - a son and heir.
27
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,170
I have a son.
28
00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:06,442
But Henry's greatest love
was snapped from him in a cruel twist of fate.
29
00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:08,729
I feel myself growing old.
30
00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:18,687
And injury, death and betrayal
transformed the once powerful king
31
00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,247
into a bitter and angry old tyrant.
32
00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,330
Stop this marriage.
33
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,926
And Henry made his most
disastrous marriage yet - to Anne of Cleves.
34
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,045
I take thee to be my wedded wife.
35
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,448
In 1536, Henry VIII was 44 years old.
36
00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:57,970
He'd divorced one wife and his second, Anne Boleyn
was in the Tower of London, awaiting execution.
37
00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,847
Anne had been accused of
sleeping with 5 other men
38
00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,690
including her own brother, George Boleyn.
39
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:06,767
Guilty!
40
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,641
And Henry's best friend, Henry Norris.
41
00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:11,041
Guilty!
42
00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:19,370
Anne's infidelity utterly humiliated Henry
and cast doubt over his sexual prowess.
43
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:26,490
While Anne sat in the Tower, Henry immediately
set about finding her replacement.
44
00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,609
One woman that caught the king's eye
was Jane Seymour.
45
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,691
Jane Seymour was around 24 years old.
46
00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:48,203
She'd come to court to serve first
Katherine of Aragon and then Anne Boleyn.
47
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,961
She was described by many as being
kind and sweet natured
48
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,721
she was virtuous and honest
and above all unassuming.
49
00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,810
In April 1536, Henry had sent Jane a letter.
50
00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,971
We think it contained a summons to the royal bed,
but Jane sent it back unopened.
51
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,210
And told the messenger that she wanted to make
an honourable marriage.
52
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:15,529
Jane's display of virtue had stirred Henry's
chivalrous side and aroused his desire
53
00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:21,090
and his recent years and wives had shown,
once Henry set his mind on having something
54
00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,681
he was prepared to do
absolutely anything to get it.
55
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,530
Henry began to court Jane in earnest.
56
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,889
It seems even before
Anne Boleyn had been executed
57
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,402
Henry had her fined up to be wife number 3.
58
00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:43,683
And King Henry didn't have to wait long
to make her his queen.
59
00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:53,682
On May 19th, 1536,
Anne Boleyn was taken to Tower Green.
60
00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:02,482
As she stood before her executioner.
Anne still hoped Henry would show her mercy.
61
00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,005
After all, he'd once sworn
his undying love for her.
62
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:12,563
But Anne was out of luck.
63
00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,446
Henry had already switched his affections
to Jane Seymour
64
00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,962
and the two were busy making plans
for their future together.
65
00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,000
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll
66
00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:38,042
Less than 24 hours after
Anne's head hit the cobblestones
67
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,368
Henry and Jane were engaged to be married.
68
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:51,443
We've no record of how Jane reacted to the news
that Anne had been beheaded
69
00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,960
but I don't think it could have
concerned her too much
70
00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:59,245
for she showed no hesitation in stepping over
the body of her rival to get to the throne.
71
00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:06,001
Jane may have looked inoffensive, but I think she had
a far steelier streak than anyone realised.
72
00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:13,204
Just 11 days after Anne's beheading.
Henry and Jane married.
73
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,491
The King was deeply in love... again.
74
00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,084
Not everyone shared
Henry's high opinion of Jane.
75
00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:28,648
The Spanish ambassador, Eustace Chapuys,
was mystified by the King's choice.
76
00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:35,609
He wrote in a letter of May 1536 that Jane
was a woman of middle stature and no great beauty
77
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:42,603
she's over 25 years old, she inclines to be proud
and haughty and she's a woman of no great wit.
78
00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,651
So why did Henry consider Jane
to be good wife material?
79
00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:57,089
Especially after he'd previously been married to two
attractive, extraordinary and intelligent women.
80
00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:04,643
I think Jane suited Henry precisely because
she was the polar opposite of his last two wives.
81
00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,480
He didn't need her to be as experienced
and intelligent as Katherine
82
00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,364
or as sophisticated and witty as Anne.
83
00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,402
He didn't want her to challenge him.
84
00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,843
Instead he saw a woman who'd be
compassionate and loyal
85
00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,965
and above all, who'd do whatever he told her,
without question.
86
00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:33,688
In May 1536, 44-year-old Henry VIII
took Jane Seymour to be his third wife.
87
00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,561
Henry chose Jane because he thought she was
sweet natured, mild mannered
88
00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,889
and above all, she would do
what he told her without question.
89
00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,771
But Henry was in for a surprise.
90
00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,442
Beneath her submissive exterior.
Jane had a core of steel.
91
00:07:53,120 --> 00:08:00,322
There is evidence that Jane planned to use her royal
influence to advance a cause that she held very dear.
92
00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:05,571
She wanted Henry to reinstate Mary,
his daughter by Katherine of Aragon
93
00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,649
back into the court and into his affections.
94
00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,086
Henry had once loved his daughter Mary
95
00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,444
but when she was around 17,
he divorced her mother, Katherine.
96
00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:24,081
He declared Mary illegitimate
and, under the influence of Anne Boleyn
97
00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,169
he stripped her of the title Princess.
98
00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:35,450
Mary was now 20 years old and a
lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn 's daughter, Elizabeth.
99
00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:42,727
Jane Seymour took the risky decision
to fight for Mary to be restored as a princess.
100
00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,204
No, I will not tell you again.
101
00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,242
But Sire, she is your daughter.
102
00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:52,321
Challenging Henry was
an incredibly dangerous thing to do -
103
00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,489
he hated being questioned,
especially by a woman.
104
00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,363
Do you not think she should be restored
to her former position as heir?
105
00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,768
I am warning you not to get involved
in matters that do not concern you.
106
00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,849
But Sire, I speak only what is right...
- Jane, you are a fool.
107
00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,771
You should seek the advancement
the children we'll have together, not the others.
108
00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:15,008
But by asking for your daughter's restoration,
I seek peace and happiness
109
00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,886
for you, for us and for our future children.
110
00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,240
I fear if you don't do this,
you will never be happy.
111
00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,090
Sire, please.
112
00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:27,087
Get up, Jane!
113
00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,169
I beg you, restore Mary.
114
00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,531
Stop this!
115
00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:33,841
Look, I'm warning you
116
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,406
the last queen that interfered in matters that were
none of her business died as a consequence.
117
00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,044
Get up! Get up! Get up!
118
00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:49,200
I will hear no more.
119
00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:56,446
Jane knew how risky
voicing her opinions could be.
120
00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:03,370
She 'd seen first hand how ruthlessly
Henry had dealt with his previous wives.
121
00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:11,642
So why was Jane putting herself in such jeopardy
for a child that wash 't even hers?
122
00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:21,126
We may never know why Jane did such a selfless act,
but I think he shows her true character.
123
00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:27,361
Jane was kind, good natured, and compassionate
and she'd been a supporter of Katherine of Aragon
124
00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,450
so she deeply cared about how cruelly
Mary had been treated.
125
00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:38,167
Even though the risks involved were enormous,
Jane believed that she was doing the right thing.
126
00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:09,202
On the 6th of July 1536,
Henry finally did as Jane had asked.
127
00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,481
He agreed to meet Mary.
128
00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,086
My daughter.
129
00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,167
This was the first time
Henry had seen Mary in 5 years.
130
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,567
She who caused you so much harm
131
00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,963
and prevented me from seeing you
for so long has paid the penalty.
132
00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,764
Jane also welcomed Mary into the family
with open arms.
133
00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,963
She treated her as if she
were her own daughter.
134
00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,124
Jane had brought Henry
the greatest gift of all -
135
00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,283
he had never been so happy.
136
00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,921
But Henry's good fortune was not to last.
137
00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:20,921
He'd gained a daughter, but in less than a month.
He lost his only son.
138
00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,447
The illegitimate Henry Fitzroy.
139
00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,563
Fitzroy's death was a terrible blow.
140
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:39,289
Although he was illegitimate, the king had begun
to think of him as a possible successor
141
00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:41,850
but not any more.
142
00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:52,721
27 years and 3 wives into his reign
and still Henry had no male heir.
143
00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,683
He began to lose hope.
144
00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,489
Henry had only been married
to Jane for 2 months
145
00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:03,730
but he was already convinced
his dynasty was doomed to fail.
146
00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:09,043
We know that the depths of Henry's despair
because he confided his anxiety
147
00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:13,483
to his close friend and most trusted adviser.
Thomas Cromwell.
148
00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,400
These are his exact words.
149
00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,488
I feel myself growing old.
150
00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,131
I doubt if Jane and myself
will ever have children.
151
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,087
Cromwell may have
caught Henry at a low point
152
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,886
but it tell us just how fragile the King
was starting to feel.
153
00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:42,682
His health was failing.
His masculinity was increasingly discredited.
154
00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:49,285
In his darkest moments, Henry was starting
to sound like a bitter, angry old man.
155
00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,280
For Henry all seemed lost.
156
00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,489
But 7 months later,
the king's fortunes changed.
157
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:12,009
this was the news Henry had been waiting for.
158
00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:23,880
In September 1537, Jane was moved
to Hampton Court Palace to have her baby.
159
00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,043
The room were she was brought
is in the centre of the Palace.
160
00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:44,001
It's now closed to the public, but I've been given
special permission to have a look around.
161
00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:54,811
This is the room in Hampton Court
where Jane was confined in late September 1537.
162
00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,446
It's now romantically known as apartment 33
163
00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:02,610
and it looks very different to how
it must have looked in the 1530s.
164
00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:09,808
But imagine; the walls were hung with precious
tapestries, the floors were covered with thick carpets.
165
00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,890
One window was probably left partially uncovered
to allow in a little light
166
00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,810
but it would have been dark and suffocating.
167
00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,405
Fresh air was considered unnecessary,
even dangerous.
168
00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:30,729
Inside the room, Jane had a small army
of people to serve her.
169
00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,807
Henry made sure she had the best care
money could buy.
170
00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,882
He would do anything to protect
his wife and their unborn child.
171
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:49,167
The royal doctors and astrologers
confidently predicted the child would be a boy
172
00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:54,964
but the royal birth was a long way off
and there was plenty of danger still to come.
173
00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:05,529
On October 9th 1537.
Jane went into labour...
174
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,648
but things did not run smoothly.
175
00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,361
After 2 days, there was
still no sign of a baby.
176
00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,206
Henry grew more
and more anxious as the days passed.
177
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:28,609
He and the whole kingdom prayed for Queen Jane
and their future monarch.
178
00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:39,809
Henry feared that history was repeating itself.
And once again his child would not survive the birth.
179
00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:59,687
Then on the third day of labour.
At 2 o'clock in the morning, Jane finally gave birth.
180
00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,530
And just as the royal doctors predicted.
It was a boy.
181
00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,971
Jane must have been elated -
she had finally given Henry what he wanted
182
00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:23,966
and in return the birth had given her security.
Safety and power.
183
00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:30,203
She could do anything, ask for anything
and Henry would almost certainly give it to her.
184
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,124
Henry VIII finally had
a legitimate son and heir.
185
00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:43,010
He called Jane his true
love and his true wife.
186
00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,362
This was what all the upheaval, the trouble,
the misery and the slaughter
187
00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,370
of the last 10 years had been leading up to.
188
00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,564
Now at last, he was a King with a male heir.
189
00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:05,486
And if Jane could have one son.
There was no reason why she couldn't have more.
190
00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,889
It looked like Henry's Tudor dynasty
was finally secure.
191
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,161
Plans were drawn up for Queen Jane
to return to London
192
00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,966
the triumphant mother of a
future King of England.
193
00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,011
But those plans would have to wait.
194
00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:40,923
On Monday October 15th.
3 days after giving birth, Jane fell seriously iii.
195
00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:47,484
She had caught an infection during labour,
probably caused by poor hygiene.
196
00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:55,210
For the next 9 days, Jane
fought for her life.
197
00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,970
It was a fight she would not win.
198
00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:19,762
Around midnight on October 24th 1537.
Jane Seymour died.
199
00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,646
Jane's reign lasted just 17 months.
200
00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:35,004
It was short-lived but incredibly successful.
201
00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:43,169
She proved herself to be a compassionate queen
and a loving wife.
202
00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:56,090
The Tudor court underestimated Jane,
but she was the queen who gave Henry a son
203
00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,208
and helped reunite him with his daughter.
204
00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,005
Over the course of his reign,
Henry had done some terrible things
205
00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,487
but he'd also had to endure
some pretty rotten luck:
206
00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:12,684
the deaths of his children,
the perceived betrayals of his last wife
207
00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,645
and now in what should have been his moment
of greatest triumph
208
00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,287
he had to endure another of
fate's stabs to the heart.
209
00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:25,486
It's impossible not to feel at least
a pang of sympathy for him.
210
00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,809
Henry was inconsolable after Jane's death.
211
00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,042
He locked himself away
from court and mourned.
212
00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:49,925
For 2 years, he did little exercise, he ate, drank
and buried himself in religious texts and prayers.
213
00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,248
We are by the sufferance of God
214
00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:55,966
King of England
215
00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,281
and Kings of England in time past
216
00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,481
have never had any superior but God.
217
00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:10,483
For the first time, Henry was alone
without a future wife waiting in the wings.
218
00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:15,250
In fact, Henry was reluctant
to ever marry again.
219
00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:25,846
Henry's unwillingness to take a new bride
was a matter of real concern to his ministers.
220
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,767
His Privy Council had advised him to marry again
days after Jane's death
221
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:36,250
but it wasn't just about producing new heirs,
England needed an ally.
222
00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,603
Marriage was now a political necessity.
223
00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:47,646
When Henry broke Eng/and from Catholic rule,
the Pope made him public enemy number one.
224
00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:49,041
Your Majesty...
225
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,563
And commanded that his kingdom
should be invaded.
226
00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,887
It fell to Henry's
close friend, Thomas Cromwell
227
00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,969
to convince the king to marry again.
228
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,287
England needed an ally.
229
00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,967
My Lord, time is not on our side.
230
00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:13,530
We are vulnerable to our enemies overseas;
a marriage could strengthen our position.
231
00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,923
With your permission,
I can instruct my people to make enquiries.
232
00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:22,282
I am sure I can find a suitable match.
233
00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:26,684
Must it be done?
234
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,530
I think so, Sire.
235
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,847
Henry reluctantly agreed to Cromwell's request
236
00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:39,330
but finding the old king a new queen
wasn't going to be an easy task.
237
00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,890
3 years earlier, Henry had
a horrific Jousting accident.
238
00:22:54,360 --> 00:23:00,083
The fall nearly killed him and had left him with
a deep, open wound on his leg...
239
00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:06,322
which was now riddled
with infection, and stank.
240
00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,166
Henry was no longer
the great catch he once was.
241
00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:19,008
Henry was 48, he was fat, he was lame
and he had a notoriously bad temper
242
00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:23,204
and his wives didn't exactly have a great record
when it came to staying alive.
243
00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,804
But after scouring Europe for possible brides
244
00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:31,721
Cromwell settled on the small,
but potentially influential Duchy of Cleves
245
00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:33,683
in what's now Northern Germany.
246
00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,770
The Duke of Cleves had a
24-year-old sister called Anne.
247
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:45,331
Cromwell believed a marriage to Anne
would give England the strong ally it needed
248
00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,926
but what Henry cared about most
was how Anne looked.
249
00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:56,931
If Cromwell was to make a match, he needed to
convince Henry that Anne was attractive.
250
00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:02,806
In August 1539, Cromwell wrote to Henry
singing Anne's praises.
251
00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,884
He described her as beautiful,
both the face and body.
252
00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:16,282
Cromwell 's description
aroused Henry's interest.
253
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:22,409
He ordered Court painter, Hans Holbein,
to travel to Cleves to paint her portrait.
254
00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:33,206
This is a copy of the painting Holbein made;
the original hangs in the Louvre in Paris.
255
00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,881
Now, to the modern eye,
Anne looks perfectly pleasant.
256
00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,322
There were rumours that Holbein chose
to paint her from the front
257
00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:42,442
because she had rather a large nose
258
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,529
but to be honest we have no idea
how true that is
259
00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,929
or what Henry's first reaction was
when he saw this.
260
00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:55,569
What we do know is that this painting and
the compliments passed by Cromwell to the king
261
00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,525
convinced Henry that Anne
would make a fine bride.
262
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,888
He agreed to marry her.
263
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:11,925
On October 4th 1539, Cromwell 's agents
negotiated Henry's marriage contract.
264
00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:21,171
On New Year's Eve 1539.
Henry VIII 's bride to be, Anne of Cleves
265
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,363
arrived here at Rochester Castle in Kent.
266
00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:32,402
The plan was for her to rest for a few days
before entering London and marrying Henry.
267
00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:40,610
But Henry was desperate to see his future wife,
especially after hearing Cromwell's glowing reports.
268
00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:46,087
So in a fit of passion, he decided
to ride to Rochester and surprise her.
269
00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:50,522
It was to be a big mistake.
270
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,766
On New Year's Day,
the castle was bustling with life.
271
00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,049
Anne stood on her own
looking out of the window.
272
00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:11,449
Henry was a die-hard romantic
and he planned to surprise Anne
273
00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,529
by appearing before her in disguise.
274
00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,970
Henry lived and breathed chivalry.
275
00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,971
Tales and games involving knights,
maidens and daring do
276
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,129
were incredibly popular entertainment
as his Court.
277
00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:35,409
Henry believed if Anne was his true love,
then she would see straight through his disguise
278
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:39,525
and a kiss from his lips
would make her fall into his arms.
279
00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:47,202
My Lady.
280
00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,800
Anne had no clue that the man
who stood before her was King Henry VIII.
281
00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,127
I have a gift from the king.
282
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:01,606
My Lady.
283
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:16,284
All the women of Henry's court would have known
instantly how to react to Henry's romantic gesture
284
00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,083
but Anne wasn't educated
in this world of romance.
285
00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:25,491
She was a simple girl who'd led a relatively
sheltered life in a parochial court.
286
00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:33,003
Anne had failed
Henry's love test and he was furious.
287
00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:38,524
He instantly rejected his bride to be,
claiming she was fat and ugly.
288
00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,243
He believed he'd been duped
into the marriage contract.
289
00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,324
He turned on the man he felt responsible -
290
00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,806
his close friend and
advisor, Thomas Cromwell.
291
00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:05,731
Your Majesty.
292
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:16,566
My Lord.
293
00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:19,609
What did you make of Lady Anne?
294
00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:25,288
She is not as well as she was spoken of
295
00:28:26,120 --> 00:28:29,044
or as fair as you reported.
296
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:36,081
Majesty.
297
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:44,284
My faith Sire, I told the truth,
I thought the Lady Anne had queenly manner.
298
00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:45,287
Well, you were wrong!
299
00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:52,170
I am shocked that a wise man like yourself
would make such claims.
300
00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,281
Find me a remedy.
301
00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,209
I don't care how you do it -
302
00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,891
by all means necessary
303
00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,486
stop this marriage!
304
00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:13,887
Leave me.
305
00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:15,402
Sire.
306
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,081
Leave me!
307
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,805
With the royal wedding
scheduled to take place in less than a week
308
00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,207
Cromwell needed to act quickly.
309
00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:37,609
It wasn't going to be easy.
310
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:43,361
The contract to be married that Cromwell
had arranged was a legally binding agreement.
311
00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:50,046
Henry's lawyer would have to use all his cunning
to avoid offending Anne's brother.
312
00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,524
England didn't need any more enemies.
313
00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:05,885
While Cromwell plotted in private,
Anne had no idea how Henry felt about her.
314
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:15,201
But the kings court loved nothing more
than juicy scandal and rumours soon spread.
315
00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:22,205
It wasn't long before the whole court
was gossiping about the royal farce.
316
00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,442
The only person who wasn't in on the joke
was Anne herself.
317
00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:33,688
She didn't speak a word of English,
so she was spared the humiliating truth.
318
00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:40,170
While many laughed,
one man didn't see the funny side...
319
00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:43,771
Thomas Cromwell.
320
00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,849
He could find no legitimate reason
to break the marriage contract.
321
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,805
His master would have to marry Anne,
like it or not.
322
00:30:56,160 --> 00:31:01,246
Is there no other remedy other than
I just against my will put my neck in the yolk?
323
00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,329
I am sorry, Sire, there are no legal grounds.
324
00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,006
If it were not for the fear
of making a ruffle in the world
325
00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,771
and driving Anne's brother
into the hands of my enemies
326
00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:13,482
I would not do what I must.
327
00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:15,490
I am sorry, Sire.
328
00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:22,404
Cromwell had failed.
329
00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,765
He probably hoped against hope
that Henry would change his mind
330
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,802
and that the marriage would work out.
331
00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:42,606
On Tuesday January 6th 1540, King Henry stood
in a small, private chapel in Greenwich Palace
332
00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,120
waiting to marry Anne of Cleves.
333
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:53,724
To add insult to injury, his bride was
2 hours late for the ceremony.
334
00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,490
I take thee to be my wedded wife
335
00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:13,409
to have and to hold from this day forward...
336
00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,081
As Henry said his vows,
his blood must have boiled,
337
00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,522
for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health...
338
00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,004
But the King didn't let on.
- Till death do us part.
339
00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,890
And thereto I plight thee my troth.
340
00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:30,321
Anne still didn't have a clue.
341
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,603
I, Anne, take thee, Henry,
to be my wedded husband
342
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:37,481
to have and to hold...
343
00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:41,081
For Anne,
this was a moment of great triumph.
344
00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:46,686
Henry may have been fat and old,
but he was still one the greatest kings in Europe
345
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:52,087
and Anne would now be queen
in one of the most sophisticated courts around
346
00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,441
a far cry from the provincial court
she had left behind.
347
00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:02,523
With this ring, I thee wed.
348
00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:09,483
With my body I thee worship,
and with all my worldly goods I thee endow
349
00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:15,129
in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.
350
00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,042
I now pronounce you man and wife.
351
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:27,523
Those whom God has joined,
let no man put asunder.
352
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:33,331
Cromwell must have prayed
that now Henry and Anne were married
353
00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,603
the king would change his mind
about his new bride.
354
00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:56,246
Good morning, Your Majesty.
355
00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,446
How did you like the queen, Your Majesty?
356
00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:03,280
Soberly.
357
00:34:09,720 --> 00:34:14,089
I didn't like it much before
and now I like it even less.
358
00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,566
Judging by her belly and her breasts,
she is no virgin.
359
00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:22,246
After I felt them I had neither the will
nor the courage to continue.
360
00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:25,529
I have left her as good
a maid as I found her.
361
00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:35,808
Clearly, this marriage
was not going to work.
362
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,767
Anne of Cleves had to go.
363
00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,565
The question was how to do it.
364
00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:57,446
Just 6 months into his marriage to Anne,
a rumour started to circulate court
365
00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,881
that Henry had recovered his vigour
366
00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:03,642
but it wasn't in his wife's bed...
367
00:35:05,640 --> 00:35:07,324
...it was in her maid 's.
368
00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:13,889
Henry had fallen for the beautiful Catherine Howard,
Anne's teenage Lady-in-Waiting
369
00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:20,926
And now the old king was planning
to make Catherine wife number 5.
370
00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:31,931
Henry refused to allow the farce of his marriage
to continue a moment longer.
371
00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:40,927
Fortunately, he found a way to end it
with the law, rather than the sword.
372
00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:49,566
When Anne of Cleves was 12, she'd been
betrothed to the son of the Duke of Lorraine.
373
00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,888
Now the wedding had never happened
and the agreement had been cancelled
374
00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,207
but the papers proving it had gone missing
375
00:35:55,240 --> 00:36:00,406
so Henry's lawyers were able to argue
that his marriage to Anne was invalid
376
00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,762
and any future children they might have
would be illegitimate.
377
00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:11,530
What is the meaning of this?
378
00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,326
So far Anne was oblivious to Henry's scheme
379
00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,125
but that changed in July 1540.
380
00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:21,281
What is this?
381
00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:26,808
Anne was informed that Henry was
concerned about her previous marriage contract
382
00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:28,808
to the son of the Duke of Lorraine
383
00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:34,090
and for that reason, he intended to have
their marriage annulled.
384
00:36:37,720 --> 00:36:38,687
What?
385
00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:41,005
What contract?
386
00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:49,004
Anne argued that there was no deception
and that she had been free to marry Henry
387
00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,003
but there was little she could do.
388
00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:58,288
At first Anne refused
to agree to the annulment
389
00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,930
but then Henry offered her
a very attractive deal.
390
00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:06,724
She would stop being Henry's wife
but she would be honoured as his sister.
391
00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:10,970
Being the King's sister meant that she would have
precedence over all the ladies of the court
392
00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,650
except any future queen.
393
00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:16,446
He also gave her a lucrative sum
and a clutch of houses.
394
00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:21,168
Importantly this meant that Anne was spared
the utter humiliation
395
00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:26,001
of returning home the poor
rejected wife of a king.
396
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:31,283
Anne also knew that
being the king's sister was a far better fate
397
00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:35,689
than that which befell both
Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn.
398
00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:40,969
On Sunday 11th of July,
Anne wrote to the King
399
00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:43,844
"your most Excellent Majesty
400
00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:52,121
I've been informed by certain others of
Your Grace's council of the doubts and questions
401
00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:55,687
which have been moved
and found in our marriage."
402
00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:02,884
and then she says, "but having been
ascertained by the same clergy
403
00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:06,163
that they have given
their judgement and sentence
404
00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:12,290
I acknowledge myself hereby to accept
and approve the same wholly and entirely...
405
00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:17,971
And what is their sentence?
She states it:
406
00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:23,568
"the pretended matrimony between us
is void and of null effect".
407
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:28,766
So what Anne is saying is that she accepts
this judgement on her fate
408
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:33,089
she accepts that the marriage is invalid
and to make the point really clear
409
00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:41,403
she signs off the letter "Your Majesty's
most humble sister and servant, Anne".
410
00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,201
There's a very sad tone to the letter.
411
00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:55,809
Anne talks of being most sorrowful
and of the great love, which she bears to the King -
412
00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:58,002
she clearly didn't want the marriage to end.
413
00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:02,409
It brought her purpose and prestige,
but Anne was smart enough to figure out
414
00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:06,889
that her best possible future
lay in accepting Henry's demands.
415
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:13,250
On July 21st Anne sent Henry the letter
416
00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,841
along with a small purse
containing her wedding ring.
417
00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:25,122
She asked Henry to break the ring into pieces
as it was a thing of no force or value.
418
00:39:26,720 --> 00:39:31,089
For Henry, Anne's easy submission
must have been a little surprising.
419
00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,771
He probably expected her
to put up more of a fight.
420
00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:39,762
After all it had taken him nearly 7 years
to shake off his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
421
00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,644
He got rid of Anne in less than 3 weeks.
422
00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,882
Before Henry put this chapter
of his life behind him
423
00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:57,563
he sought revenge against the man
he felt responsible for this disastrous marriage.
424
00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:06,131
Henry believed his once trusted friend
Thomas Cromwell, had failed him
425
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:09,243
and now he must suffer the consequences.
426
00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:16,601
Cromwell was arrested on the 10th of June 1540
and thrown into the Tower of London.
427
00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:28,960
He was found guilty of treason,
heresy, taking bribes and appropriating money.
428
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:35,085
He was sentenced to be hanged,
drawn and quartered.
429
00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:40,763
Terrified, Cromwell wrote to Henry
pleading for mercy.
430
00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:46,170
Most gracious
king and most merciful sovereign.
431
00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:50,362
Never in all my life did I
think to displease you.
432
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:56,809
I have meddled in so many matters,
I cannot answer all.
433
00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:06,683
Cromwell begged the man who had been
his close friend for the last 7 years to spare him.
434
00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,728
Most gracious prince
435
00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,166
I cry for mercy.
436
00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:18,526
Mercy.
437
00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:21,040
Mercy.
438
00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:41,290
On July 28th 1540, Cromwell was taken
to the public scaffold at Tower Hill.
439
00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,564
Henry did show Cromwell some mercy.
440
00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:52,968
He commuted his sentence from a stow
and painful disembowelling to beheading.
441
00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:03,563
But according to some reports,
Cromwell 's death was neither quick nor painless.
442
00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,247
It's believed the executioner
botched his first attempt.
443
00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:39,327
He had to take a second
swing to finish the job.
444
00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:47,527
With Cromwell dead
and Anne's settlement paid
445
00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:50,404
Henry's fourth marriage came to an end.
446
00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:59,607
Altogether Henry VIII's marriages
to Jane Seymour and then to Anne of Cleves
447
00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:06,285
had lasted less than 2 years,
but both had a profound effect on the king.
448
00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:12,327
Jane Seymour gave Henry VIII
the son and heir he'd been searching for.
449
00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:16,571
Anne's queenship brought about
the execution of Thomas Cromwell
450
00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,570
one of the most powerful
men in Tudor England.
451
00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:23,685
Henry had gone from utter
joy to total humiliation
452
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:28,760
and his reaction to this fiasco
drove him to make his worst decision yet.
453
00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:35,000
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll