(dramatic music) - This is possibly one of the most turbulent parts of Henry VIII's reign.

- [Henry VIII] I have no heir.

My subjects are in rebellion.

My coffers are empty and my cradle empty too.

- Henry was under great pressure politically from the Roman Catholic Church who were still trying to excommunicate him.

- It's a clash of the two worlds, the old world order and the new world order.

- You've spoken with the emperor's man Chapuys and assured him that England's ready to rise against its king.

Don't interrupt me.

Common law has ways to protect the realm from traitors, Madam.

- This is the Tudor version of watching people breathing, living and being human beings, but having the most terrible appalling consequences if it goes wrong.

- Oh, your title is still a novelty in their view.

(dramatic music) You'll be dead before they have to use it.

- It's very rare that characters in that situation would step back in the way an audience would and see the overview.

And of course, none of them know what tomorrow will bring, particularly when you are working for a capricious king like Henry VIII.

- Draw up a charge of treason against him.

I want it recorded in the indictment that he was inspired by the devil.

- It's a very nasty, backstabbing world, the world of politics.

You risk getting your head chopped off.

- Well, there's a very noticeable, tragic arc.

a very satisfying, I would say though, tragic arc, certainly for Cromwell.

- It's not far from being a gangster film.

You are reaping great benefits, great wealth, but you are dealing with a lot of people who are trying to put the knife in your back.

- The age of persuasion has ended, I think.

We've entered an age of coercion.

- Hmm.

- What I hope people get from this is you look at a cult, you look at people who are living in a milieu of intrigue, of easy death, of revenge, of switching allegiances- - So why has he not delivered up (indistinct)?

- [Timothy] All this amazing power.

- Henry is a fiercesome character, so I think Rafe is quite nervous.

He's biding his time so that he can get to know him and get to understand how Henry's mind works so that he can essentially do what Cromwell does so wonderfully, which is slightly tweak and in some ways, manipulate Henry to do what Cromwell really intends him to do.

And I think Rafe is aware that that is a very, very dangerous game to play.

(dramatic music)