Part 2, The 'Great Matter': Chapter 10 continued Summary and Analysis

In 1535, the author writes, several changes took place in the royal court and in England itself. At court, the author writes, Anne took the matter of Henry's infidelity into her own hands and personally decided who his next mistress should be—someone loyal to her. The affair continued for a while, but Henry tired of this mistress as he had all the others and moved on—to the woman who would eventually become his next queen, Jane Seymour. The author describes both Jane's family background and her personal history in some detail, suggesting that she served as a lady in waiting to both Katherine and Anne, but had decided that her true allegiance lay with Katherine and left Anne's service. Jane is described as being just as ambitious as...