You Have My Permission - Recap

With Catherine beheaded and all the others involved taken care of as well, we move on to happier times. “The Tudors” this week continues in Hundson House where Mary tells Elizabeth and they are restored to the throne again. To anyone this would be wonderful news and to the look on Mary’s face the happiest she has ever heard. But, to this news Elizabeth vows that she will never marry because of what happened to Catherine Howard. Back at the castle, the newly single King Henry meets with The Spanish Ambassador Chapuis and they talk about how the Emperor is offering the hand of friendship towards King Henry and that they go together against the French. Of course the whole “Quid Pro Quo” goes on and Henry is offered that he would gain back all of his lost properties and the whole of Aquitaine. To this the King seems in better spirits and calls the French Ambassador in. He informs that the French King has defaulted on his pension to England for two years and now has to pay one million crowns to him. The French Ambassador warns that the alliances between France and England have kept balance for years and that it would be foolish to break such an alliance. But King Henry has other plans with that. He speaks to his Lords that the King of Scotland must stop the fighting and sign a treaty. John Seymour is instructed to take Lord Surrey with him to Scotland to see how King James takes the news.


In the next scene we see Lord Surrey is playing cards with a Mr. John Lee. The game seems to go on peacefully until Lee tells that they are both related to the late queen Catherine and that the Howards turned a blind eye to the queen’s despicable wantonness. To this Surrey is outraged and hits John Lee in the face with the water jug and beats him up pretty bad before being restrained by the King’s guards. Thomas Seymour meets an old friend John Neville, the Baron of Latimer, and Catherine Parr is introduced to Thomas. They talk of his treason and how he is utterly loyal to the King. But because of his failing health, he falls asleep before saying more into it. But we also see that Thomas and Catherine have a fling together behind her husband’s back and that she is in love with Thomas Seymour. (It seems that Thomas is a ladies man. First he has a baby with his brother’s wife and now, this?) Bishop Gardiner tells the King that Lord Surrey was arrested for fighting and says that it was because of honor was put into question. King Henry laughs about the incident, releases him, and sends him to Scotland.

The next we see Lord Surrey is on the battle field where the now bloody Lord Surrey tells the Nobles of Scotland that they will be treated nicely and to drop their weapons. The King meets to discuss the process of the war and tells that King James died two years ago and gave the crown to his only daughter, Mary who is now Queen of the Scots. The King scolds Thomas Seymour of his attitude towards Lord Surrey and that he was premature to think that he couldn’t get the job done.

It is Christmas and there is a party, of course. During a party, Catherine Parr visits and the French Ambassador tries to persuade the Lady Mary that the Duke of Orleans would make a perfect match for her. Edward, Elizabeth, John Seymour and Lady Hartford enter and the Lords of Scotland talk with John Seymour about the betrothal of Prince Edward and Princess Mary of Scotland. This seems to be the only option for the Scottish now. Charles Brandon arrives and tells that his wife does what she wants and talks to Mary about the King’s behavior. The Lady Mary admits that he has been melancholy but informs Charles that he is in better spirits as of late. The King enters finally and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. After an acrobatic act, Tomas Seymour introduces Catherine Parr to the King and tells that she wants to have the acts of treason lifted from John Neville the Baron of Latimer. The King recognizes the other means to why Thomas Seymour is telling him this and not Catherine and Thomas falters a bit. Upon seeing a talkative Charles Brandon, the King calls him over and chastises him that he is still angry but not for him to forget his place with the right people. Charles visits Chapuis, under the King’s orders, which is in bed with gout. He brings the treaty and tells that the King will invade France with the army of the Emperor. Catherine Parr visits the King in private and Henry tells that there is no suspicion of treason and tells her that he is sorry for what has happened to her and her family in the hand of Robert Aske. The Bishop Gardiner tells of his plans to get all the Lutherans and round them up because of the Kings recent alliance to the Emperor. His sick sinister plan starts to form. John Neville is with Catherine Parr and sees parcels from King Henry. It turns out to be dresses for Catherine. We see that the King has an interest in her. Neville feels that he is dead already with the gifts and interest the King has taken to his wife.

The treaty between King Charles and King Henry commences and the rules are set including going to go to war against France. Henry signs the historical treaty and the Lords exit. Chapuis gloats to the French Ambassador and Charles gives the formal declaration of war to him against France. Thomas Seymour and Catherine Parr meet and Catherine admits the dress was a gift from the King. Upset that the King is sending her gifts, and quickly forgets it and forgives the fact calling the King “a lonely man who has thrown his cap” at her. Catherine is afraid at the thought to be queen at the recent past of how the King treats his wives.

Henry meets with the other Lords and Bishop Gardiner and they talk of the marriage betrothal between Prince Edward and Mary of Scotland. The King doesn’t want the opportunity to pass and tells that it needs to be expedited. Bishop Gardiner tells the King that there are “heretics” in the king’s household and tells that the musicians need to be arrested and “examined” Including a Mr. Tesswood. You see right away that John Seymour is very upset with the news. We can pretty much guess where this is going to go. The King gives his permission. During choir practice, Tesswood runs from the guards to John Seymour and begs that he protect him. To this request John declines saying that it would hurt his position. Upon leaving, the wife of John Seymour warns Tesswood not to mention her husband’s name in fear of hurting his family. The Lady Mary and Chapuis talk about King Henry and talks about the fear that many women of court have towards the King because of the fact that his wives have been either banished or executed and that it is going to be hard for him to remarry.

However, in the dungeon things are not so merry when Bishop Gardiner is determined to get Tesswood to talk about the names of people who are with him. He informs Tesswood that by saying the Earl of Hartford (John Seymour as we know him best) being one of the heritics, then the Bishop would give Tesswood his life. However, this man is not talking.



Henry, at dinner, admits that he gave gifts to Catherine Parr to make her smile because of her recent sadness. Mary and Chapuis recognize that the King is interested in Catherine Parr as they are playing cards together. Thomas Seymour is watching the King very jealously. The King gives Catherine Parr a ring for winning a card game. She tries to deny the gift but Henry insists. Thomas is obvious and the King recognizes it too that he wants to be with Catherine, but the king sends Thomas to Brussels on a permanent stay. (That is one way to get rid of the competition) Charles Brandon and the King talk about his thoughts of another marriage. The King is upset that Charles is not with him on this and asks whether or not he has the right to have more children and to take a wife. Catherine Parr’s husband is dying and the last words out of his mouth when Catherine is trying to tell him something are “Go to Hell.” Perhaps he already knew of her affair with Thomas Seymour eh? The now mourning Catherine Parr is sitting in a room donned in black when the servants of the King enter.They tell Catherine that the King is offering his hand in marriage. Thus, we are introduced to Catherine Parr, the 6th and final wife of Henry VIII.


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