THE TUDORS SEASON 3, EPISODE 3.2 ■ FUNDAMENTALS
| Tudors episode: 3.2
| First aired: April 12, 2009
| Tudors season: 3
| Prod. code: | | Writer(s): Michael Hirst | Director(s):
Ciarán Donnelly | Name of Episode:
The Northern Uprising | | Guest star(s): | | Mini-synopsis:Episode 2 Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire in the north of England -- 300 of the King's soldiers, as well as local gentry and the Archbishop of York, are under siege from rebels calling themselves 'Pilgrims.' Thomas Cromwell is justifiably disturbed by the news. The rising in Lincolnshire has just been defused by a combination of diplomacy and the threat of the Royal Army, and yet, the rebellion is not yet suppressed. Henry's pain is more immediate - and more personal. A physician has removed a splinter of bone from his ulcerating leg and recommends further treatment. Unsurprisingly, the King has little patience for the continuing insurgence and orders Cromwell to take more extreme action. The young and beautiful Lady Ursula Misseldon attends to the King's wound, which has confined him to bed. When the King proposes comforting of a more intimate nature, she is happy to please his Majesty. Robert Lee (Geoffrey Beevers), The Archbishop of York, Lord Thomas Darcy (Colm Wilkinson) and other nobles held hostage in the castle at Pontefract meet with Robert Aske, John Constable and the Pilgrims. Aske assures the nobles that he and his people have undertaken their pilgrimage for the common good, and wish only to petition the King for the re-instatement of the monasteries and abbeys. Their quarrel lies not with the King but Cromwell and Cranmer - 'heretics' and 'abusers of the commonwealth.' In Rome, Father Reginald Pole is appointed a Papal legate - representative of the Pope - in order to offer support to the 'Pilgrimage of Grace' as the English rebellion is now being called. Pole is instructed to travel to France and elsewhere to raise money and mercenaries in support of the crusade. Charles Brandon travels to the north in compliance with the King's orders to put down the rebellion. His task is not an easy one: the number of Pilgrims grows by the day and he cannot be trustful of even his own men. Additionally, his troops are outnumbered and he has inadequate arms and supplies. Instead of attacking the rebels, he therefore proposes to meet with them and drive a wedge between the nobles and the commoners. When the rebels receive the letter requesting a meeting, Constable suspects that Brandon is playing for time and proposes that with 30,000 men at their back, they march immediately on London. Queen Jane, demonstrating daring as well as tenderness, has arranged for Mary to visit her father at court. Her intuition is proven right: Henry is greatly moved by the sight of his first daughter and swears his undying protection to her. Brandon meets with the leaders of the rebellion: Aske, Constable, Darcy and others. As they did with Darcy, they once again state that they are loyal to the King but demand the restoration of the abbeys and their religious beliefs. They also request that they might address their grievances to the Court. Two rebels - Constable and Ellerker - come to Westminster to declare their grievances at court in front of a large assembly of aristocrats, courtiers and the King. They have brought their quarrel to the cauldron of power and it is not a little intimidating. They are not invited to speak: Henry talks at them, berating their foolishness and dare, undermining the basis of their claims. Though he promises forgiveness, they are left in no doubt that they are expected to lay down their arms. Cunningly, Henry sends them back to their co-conspirators with a hand-written letter promising that their grievances shall be listened to and dealt with fairly. This is the bait to seal surrender. Brandon travels north once again to meet the rebels on the King's behalf, but before he leaves, he makes clear to Henry - as his friend - that the source of the rebellion lies not with the generally loved King but with Cromwell's actions and tactics. A parliament is promised, not in far-off London, but in Yorkshire. The King will listen carefully and attentively to all their grievances and he will grant them a general pardon for the rising. Further destruction of abbeys will cease and others may be restored. The rebellion is over. But who has won? | | | | |
■ BEST QUOTES - Lord Mayor of London - 'Your Grace.'
- Charles Brandon -'My Lord,I was promised artillery when I arrived here,but I don't see any guns!'
- Lord Mayor of London - ' Your Grace,we have guns,but we have not been able to find enough horses or drays to transport them.'
- Charles Brandon - 'Perhaps you don't understand.I'm about the King's most urgent business.And if you cannot commandeer enough horses for his Majesty's use,than how can you call yourself Mayor of London?'
- Lord Mayor of London - 'Your Grace, I did not want to cause panic by forcing people to part with their horses and drays.'
- Charles Brandon - ' IDIOT! I charge you, personally, to find enough horses within two days,and bring the guns on after our army,or God help me,I will hold you to account! With any luck,Mr. Mayor, I will afterwards have the chance to see you DISEMBOWELED AT TYBURN!'
- Sir Francis Bryan - 'Your Majesty's life is far too precious to be put at risk against such a common rebel. Of course, if you choose to go, you'd be like a lion amongst wolves.'
- Henry VIII - 'Sir Francis,I don't require you to flatter me.'
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