Autumn 1526 Summary

The king is in a dark mood, struggling to determine whether the Bible says it is the will of God for a man to marry his brother's widow, or whether it is considered sinful. The ambiguity requires a college full of theologians.

Although Mary reasons in her mind that it makes sense to marry one's brother's widow to make a good home for her and her children, she would not dare to speak her opinion, because the last thing the scholars and church fathers wanted was "a bit of common sense from an immensely ordinary young woman"(238). Mary explains to George that the king must find a way to have God on his side in order to leave the queen; he must make the decision under a higher authority than his own. He wants to think well of himself, and pores over the...