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Thomas Cromwell's (Mark Rylance) patron, Cardinal Wolsey (Jonathan Pryce), is dismissed as Lord Chancellor and forced to flee his palace at York Place...
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At Anne Boleyn's behest the dying Wolsey is exiled to York whilst Thomas, despite Anne's uncle the Duke of Norfolk and the baleful bishop Gardiner, attempts in vain to restore the cardinal to the good graces of the king - who at least sends Wolsey money. Employing a young man to spy on Gardiner Thomas becomes friends with the new chancellor Thomas More before being summoned by an irate Anne to discover who is lampooning her. Chief suspect is the waiting woman Jane Seymour, who impresses Thomas with her innocence. By making various suggestions to Henry Thomas rises in his favour and, after Wolsey's death, he is made a privy councillor.
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Now in the ascendancy where the king is concerned Thomas - to the horror of Katherine of Aragon - proposes a bill making Henry the head of the English church - which is passed by the privy council. Chancellor Thomas More passionately opposes it and tenders his resignation accusing Thomas of heresy. Thomas learns that Anne Boleyn secretly married Harry Percy - though Anne petulantly denies it - and he colludes with the duke of Norfolk to buy Percy off. Henry rewards him with high office and parades Anne in public but there are protesters including the prophetess Elizabeth Barton, who tells him his reign will be short-lived if he marries Anne. Nonetheless the marriage goes ahead and pregnant Anne declares that the birth of a son will silence her critics. A gift of an admired tapestry is a further reward for Thomas.
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1533:- Having given birth to Elizabeth Anne declares Katherine's daughter Mary a bastard and orders Thomas to arrange a French marriage for her child. Scheming lady-in-waiting Jane Rochford, Anne's sister-in-law, informs Thomas of Anne's indiscretions whilst prophetess Elizabeth Barton continues to denounce the king. Thomas however sees her as part of a group of conspirators seeking to overthrow Henry and rounds them up, sending some to their deaths. A vengeful Anne wants Thomas More to be among them but Thomas successfully persuades Norfolk to beg Henry to spare him. Nonetheless More's resistance to the legitimacy of the royal marriage seals his death warrant.
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1535:- Henry has declared himself head of the English church though he is not recognized by the Holy Roman Emperor or his ambassador Chapuys. Anne is pregnant again and aware of Henry's interest in waiting woman Jane Seymour. Angry that the French king will not arrange a marriage for her daughter Elizabeth she demands Thomas discredits princess Mary though he refuses and visits the dying Katherine of Aragon, later sending Chapuys - to whom he has defended his policy of closing the monasteries - to administer to her. Thomas realizes the extent to which Anne hates him and fears for his safety when the king is erroneously believed to be dead which would give Anne powers as Regent. Thus he listens more intently to Lady Rochford's insinuations as , after Anne has miscarried, factions grow at court between her supporters and those of Jane Seymour.
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1536:- Now seeing Jane Seymour as his hope for a son Henry instructs Thomas to get rid of Anne and a group of Catholic courtiers also want her out of the way. Arrogant and convinced that she still wields power Anne makes the mistake of slapping Jane Rochford, who informs Thomas of the men with whom Anne has cuckolded her husband. Young musician Mark Smeaton, devoted to the flirtatious Anne, quickly crumbles under Thomas's questioning, naming the nobles who have had sex with Anne and Thomas is quietly ruthless in his interrogation of them. As a result Anne and her alleged lovers are put on trial with Thomas as prosecutor. Consequently there are executions - the highest profile being that of Anne herself, watched by Thomas Cromwell.
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