Episode 2

Tensions continue to rise on both sides of the Atlantic in the new historical drama series. In Massachusetts, Ned's (Joe Dempsie) father, John Hawkins (Michael McElhatton), dispatches him to England to avoid the King's agents. Ned asks his father to give Hope (Alice Englert) a letter, but he destroys it and insists Hope marry recent widower Henry Cresswell (Geoffrey Streatfeild): she cannot remain a woman alone in their strict Puritan community. Back in Oxfordshire and undercover in Wightham Woods, Abe (Jamie Dornan) and Beth's (Freya Mavor) love is growing. Together they blow up the clay pits where the landowner George Hardwick (Michael Maloney) is forcing men, women and children to work like slaves. Meanwhile, Judge Jeffreys (Pip Carter) is tightening the screws on Will Blood (James McArdle) to produce evidence against Angelica (Eve Best) and her Papist husband, John Francis (Patrick Malahide). Ned arrives in England to warn Angelica that she and her family are at risk as William Goffe's papers have been discovered. Hardwick provokes John Francis into denying the Popish plot and John Francis is arrested. Abe attempts to assassinate the King, but fails and, after Beth and Angelica hide him, they are also arrested and sentenced to death. Angelica bargains with Judge Jeffreys and Beth's sentence is reduced to exile in the New World. And as Charles II (Jeremy Northam) dissolves parliament, Beth is carried off to the New World.