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

This section of the book begins with descriptions of the intensely negative response Anne received from both the people and Henry's court when she was crowned queen. "Cranmer performed the ceremony of anointing", the author says, "then he placed the crown of St. Edward upon [Anne's] head, a scepter of gold in her right hand, and a rod of ivory in her left, thus effectively crowning her as queen regnant, as no other queen consort has been before or since". This show of faith and respect from Henry was, it seems, intended as a kind of command for his subjects to respect his new wife. For the most part, however, throughout the first years of their marriage, Anne was repeatedly and consistently disparaged by the public and by the court. Such was Henry's...