Lacking a male heir, King Henry VIII is desperate to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon.

As Wolsey retreats north, he urges Cromwell to get close to Anne Boleyn to regain the King's favour.

Cromwell manoeuvres a bill through Parliament that acknowledges Henry rather than the pope as head of the Church of England.

Anne gives birth to a baby girl. Aware that her power in court rests on producing a male heir, she becomes increasingly paranoid.

The Act of Supremacy has declared Henry supreme head of the church in England, but the Holy Roman Emperor has refused to recognise his new title.

Anne divulges to Jane Rochford that Mark Smeaton, Francis Weston and Harry Norris have all declared their love to her, a treasonable offence.