“What can you mean?” Henry demanded. “This is a heretical book. A banned book, worthy of the flames. It must surely damn me, not save me.”
“My lord, I humbly believe that we have been mistaken in this book’s potential.”
“I, mistaken? Who ruled against it on the advice of my bishops? Do you know better than they, madam?”
Anne came back fighting. “I have read this book.” She nodded. “I know. You are right to have banned the heresy in it, but there is something more: there is a lurking pearl amid the swine. It contains ideas greater that the heresies, if we overlook those for the moment. Listen, my lord: it offers the view that the king, not the Pope, should be head of their own Church, in their own country.”
Henry looked at her as if she had gone mad, but he did not interrupt.
“It is the king, my lord, you, who should be ruling about your marriage, separate from Rome, with all its corruptions and vices. Who best knows how to steer your people towards the light, my lord? I have done us a great service in reading this book. I imperilled my soul in order to bring these findings to you: that it is your divine right to rule the Church of England, and yours alone. This book can be your salvation!”
It was a turning point. Everyone in the chamber knew it. Henry could either embrace this radical new idea or cast Anne out.
“Where is the young man who left it in the chapel?”
George Zouche shuffled forwards. “It was I, my lord. I was persuaded by Mistress Boleyn that this book was set to change everything.”
“And yet you left it in the chapel?”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. I must have been distracted, my lord.”
“How came it into your hands?”
“From the Lady Gainsford, who had it from her mistress.”
Henry turned back to Anne. “So this book has passed through your circle? You have been spreading heresy under my roof, under my nose?”
“I obtained it not to spread heresy but to share its one truth, my lord, to show others that it is for the king to rule over his own marriage, as head of the Church in England.”
“So you say,” Henry snapped, “so you say.”
“It is all there, the logic, the arguments, the criticisms of the corruptions and abuses of Rome. Who but a king knows best how to save his subjects? Better a king than some distant bishop with mistresses and bastards, who has forgotten the word of God!”
There was a shocked silence in the hall. Thomasin was convinced that this time, Anne had gone too far. She noticed that Thomas Boleyn had appeared in the doorway and was looking on.
“It is no great secret, my lord,” Anne continued. “I have been content to speak on it to any who ask. I have shared it with friends and family, spoken openly at dinner to any who were present, to inform and educate them. To my father, my sister, my brother, my friends, have I not?”
Those around her nodded and confirmed her words.
“To anyone,” added Anne, “have I not, Mistress Marwood?” She gestured towards Thomasin. “We spoke of it at table, did we not?”
Thomasin froze, spinning into panic at being thus singled out. “You may have spoken of it,” she replied stiffly, “but I took as little notice as the table and the cloth.”
“Excellent, Thomasin,” whispered her father.
Anne frowned and turned back to Henry. “My point is that had it been a secret, I would have kept it thus. Instead I preached its message widely, as I saw our salvation in it. Please, my lord, let me speak to you further about this. Let me read you the passages, or better still, read this book for yourself. As a learned man, you will quickly dismiss the heresy and find the merit in it for our case. It is a book for all kings to read.”
Henry looked back down at the book in his hands. The seconds passed slowly. Then he rose to his feet. “I will be the judge of this. I will read this work and make up my own mind. Untilthen, you must all leave me!” He waved his hand to dismiss the crowds, then turned and headed for his inner chamber. Anne jumped up to follow, but the door was closed upon her.
The Marwoods stood in shock, processing what had transpired before them. Anne recovered quickly, gathering her company and marching out of the chamber. She did not look at Thomasin.
“Well, I think our matter is well and truly forgotten now,” said Sir Richard.
“We have done all we can,” said Sir Matthew. “We should withdraw.”
Leaving the king’s chamber, they passed through corridors buzzing with voices. The news was spreading fast as the court anticipated all scenarios, from Anne’s fall from grace to her imminent marriage to the king.
“All we can do now is wait,” said Sir Richard, approaching their chamber and laying his hand upon the door. “Let us all drink wine and digest what has occurred. Thomasin, will you join us?”
