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- His Majesty the King.
- It is settled. We are to war with France.
[Applause] Now... I can go play.
- Sir Thomas More. - Thomas! - Your Majesty.
- You didn't say much in council last night. - About what?
- Going to war with France. - As a humanist, I have an abhorrence of war.
- As a King, I'm forced to disagree.
- No! - Now there is someone I have to try.
A hundred crowns. Are you gonna succeed? - Done.
- I'm making you a duke. Duke of Suffolk! How does that please Your Grace?
Celebrate! [Laughing]
- There's no right to any of this.
I'm a direct descendent of Edward II, this is my crown!
- Hold Your Grace. Your Grace is arrested on suspicion of treason.
- I have no heir. The Tudor dynasty,
all my father's work, finished! And it's my fault!
- Henry, will you not visit my bedchamber as you used to?
Things are not well between us, His Majesty and I.
I think, sometimes, he'll ask me for a divorce.
- A divorce? That's impossible. - Is it?
- His Majesty is tiring of your sister.
When she was his mistress, all her fortunes were made.
- They say that all his liaisons are soon over.
He blows hot, he blows cold...
- Perhaps you could imagine a way to keep his interest more...
prolonged, to play his passions.
- Who are you? - Anne Boleyn.
- Mr. Wyatt, were you in love with Anne Boleyn?
- Of course I loved her, but from a distance.
- Never, if you value your life, speak of me to others. Do you understand?
- You must know I desire you with all my heart.
- It is your duty to use his love to our advantage.
- No, not like this. Seduce me.
- I know what you're doing. But do not think to take the King away.
- When we are married, I will deliver you a son.
- Everything within my power to get to you is yours. Just ask.
I want a divorce, and you will get one for me.
- A divorce? I don't think the English people would ever forgive it.
- As far as I'm concerned, our marriage is at an end. - Ohh!
Soon he will see you for what you really are.
And he will tire of you.
- And what if he does not?
- If she gets her way,
it will set our whole country in a war.
- I have summoned the conclave of the cardinals
to make a final judgment on Your Majesty's annulment.
- Make sure they come to the right decision.
- In this case, Your Eminence, your reach has exceeded your grasp.
- What if someone is deliberately stalling, delaying things,
making excuses? - You've gone cold on this divorce.
Perhaps you never believed in it in the first place.
You lied to me, pretending to be on my side. - Majesty!
If you are not for me now, then you are against me.
- Hold him inside! In the name of the King!
- You're arrested by order of the King and charged
with high treason. - No!
- No, I don't wanna be chancellor. - You will do as I command!
- You think Mr. Cromwell is a great man?
- No, I think he's a coming man. - As Your Majesty well knows,
Kings are set above the law.
They are answerable to God alone, who anointed them. - Thank you, Mr. Cromwell.
I shall denounce the Pope as a heretic and marry whom I please.
- If you want the world to know that the King of England is incapable of keeping his word,
then all right. I am merely Your Majesty's humble servant.
- I swear to you now, everything will be different.
- To Hell!
♪♪♪
- No! You mustn't!
- I'm the King of England!!
- If the lion knows his own strength,
no man could control him.
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
[Prayers]
- Corpus Christi.
[Prayers]
[Prayers]
- Ambassador Chapuys.
- I thought you had abandoned us.
- It's true. I did.
Or tried to.
In all conscience, I could never abandon Her Majesty.
She is the most gracious and wonderful woman in the world.
And the saddest.
- I agree with you. - So does the Emperor.
He has written this letter of encouragement
and support for your efforts on her behalf.
- I beg you not to deliver it to me.
Although I have given more than sufficient proof of my loyalty to the King,
I must do nothing to provoke suspicion...
considering the times we live in.
I don't want to be deprived of the liberty
which allows me to speak boldly, in private,
about those matters which concern your master and the Queen.
- I understand.
You need say no more.
- Thank you, Mr. Cromwell. - Majesty.
- Sir Thomas More.
- Cromwell.
- Sir Thomas. - Majesty.
- I must tell you:
I have received a petition from the members of the House of Commons,
complaining of the cruel behaviour and the abuses of the prelates
and the clergy,
Thomas,
people are asking for freedom from clerical rule.
- Your Majesty knows very well
that I have always condemned the abuses of the clergy,
when they have been brought to light. As your Chancellor,
I have worked hard to eliminate them,
and purify our Holy Church...
- But...?
- You know where I stand.
You have always known.
I cannot condone this
newfangled vision
of private belief and personal grace.
For me, the Church is
the permanent and living sign of God's presence.
It is a visible, palpable
community.
Not just a few brethren gathered in secret rooms.
- Then you'll speak against me?
- My loyalty and love for Your Majesty is so great
that I will never say a word against you in public...
...so help me God.
- All rise for the King!
- My Lords...
your Graces...
We have come here among you to hear your response
to the charges and responsibilities laid against you.
You are generally charged with supporting the authority of the late
Cardinal Wolsey and the Bishop of Rome
against that of your own King and country.
[Murmuring]
Some here among you may suppose
I seek personal advantage.
It is not so.
As your King,
I am commissioned to restore
right order on earth,
and assert the immunities
and princely liberties
of our realm and crown.
This
is my sacred duty,
sealed before God
and by solemn oath at my coronation.
What is your conclusion, Archbishop Warham?
- Your Majesty, before I deliver it,
I give way to His Grace
the Most Reverend Bishop Fisher,
the Bishop of Rochester.
- My Lords,
we are asked to admit His Majesty
as supreme head of the Church in England.
Unfortunately we cannot grant this to the King
without abandoning
our unity with the See of Rome.
[Clamouring]
If we are to renounce the unity of the Christian world,
and leap out of Peter's ship,
then we shall be drowned
in the waves of all heresies,
sects, schisms and divisions...
I say to you,
that the acceptance of regal supremacy
over our Holy Church would represent a tearing asunder
of the seamless coat of Christ.
- Your Grace,
we will hear your judgment.
- I will put
this proposal to Convocation--
that your Majesty has a new title:
"Supreme Head of the Church
and Clergy of England..."
But I add the caveat:
"as far
as the law of Christ allows."
Those in favour?
Very well.
Qui tacet consentire videtur;
whoever remains silent
shall be assumed to agree.
- Thank you, Your Grace.
[Latin prayers]
- Cardinal Campeggio.
- Holy Father.
- Sit down, Cardinal Campeggio.
I know you are a martyr to gout.
And my feet are killing me too.
What do you want to see me about?
- We have received two new letters regarding the King of England's Great Matter.
- Ah, that again.
What do they say?
- The first is from the King himself,
urging the Curia to make a final
and favourable decision on his annulment,
for the sake of peace in England.
He uses some intemperate language, Holiness, complaining
that "Never was there any Prince handled by a Pope
as Your Holiness has treated us."
- He meant my predecessor.
And, frankly, he has a point.
Clement was a terrible procrastinator.
Although it was very wrong for some people to dig up his dead body
and stab it in the street,
I can well understand their feelings.
He was never popular.
Requiescat in pace.
And the second letter?
- From the Emperor. On behalf of his aunt,
Katherine, "the Unhappy Queen", urging you to prevent
the annulment
and excommunicate the King.
- It is true we must come to a judgment.
On the other hand,
to protect the interests of the Church, we should try
not to antagonize one power above the other.
After all, they have soldiers and guns,
whereas we must make do with beauty and truth.
What of this girl,
this putain, the King's ***?
- Anne Boleyn. - Yes.
Why doesn't someone just get rid of her?
- No, don't get up.
Stay like that.
You're so very beautiful.
So very desirable.
I have to possess you utterly.
I can't wait.
- Oh, my love,
just a little longer. And then...
- I am made Head of the Church of England.
- Is it true?
Then I am so glad.
At last you have your right,
and can do as you will.
- I'm going to have Cromwell
refurbish some of the apartments in the Tower.
Every Queen of England
stays there
before her Coronation.
- Papa!
What's wrong?
Don't you want to celebrate?
- It's far too early for that.
The Bishops were not really defeated.
By default, they voted to make the King Head of the Church
but only "as far as
the law of Christ allows."
You don't have to be a clever lawyer to know that "the law of Christ"
may be used to invalidate the vote itself.
- Then it was all for nothing?
- No.
Not for nothing.
The principle has now been effectively
conceded by most of them.
As George told me,
their resistance and recalcitrance
really stem from only one man:
that bloody Bishop Fisher.
[Laughing]
- So?
- Ah, Mr. Cranmer.
- I'm so sorry to be late, Mr. Cromwell. It's completely unforgivable.
- Nonsense. We haven't yet begun to dine. It's good to see you.
Mr. Boleyn, Mr. Wyatt, this is Mr. Cranmer.
- Mr. Cranmer.
You're a man of the cloth, I believe?
- And are you not a poet, Mr. Wyatt?
- That's the least of my sins. You may take my confession after supper.
- I wouldn't if I were you. It will turn your hair white.
We were discussing, before you arrived,
the progress of the Convocation of Bishops,
which was called to decide upon the King's supremacy.
His Majesty has
wisely decided to appointed George Boleyn here
to negotiate with their Graces.
- I find most of them accommodating.
Of course, there are a few stubborn exceptions.
- Bishop Fisher, I assume? - Naturally.
- May I ask who else?
- The Archbishop himself: Warham.
After years of being perfectly pliable, has suddenly become rather intransigent.
- It's because he's old...
and consequently he's closer to his Maker, to whom in due course he must explain himself.
- Well, I'm sure it will be a simple matter then to explain
how he helped liberate his church from superstition,
religious falsehoods and clerical greed.
[Laughing]
- Mr. Roose?
- Yes, sir.
- A cook,
by trade.
- Yes, sir.
- You understand what's expected of you?
- I do. Yes.
- This is for your trouble.
If you betray us,
I'll destroy your entire family.
- Majesty, this is Mr. Cranmer,
of whom I have often spoke.
It was Mr. Cranmer who first spoke to the fact
that Your Majesty's great matter was a theological issue,
not a legal one.
- Mr. Cranmer,
I have desired to meet you almost above any person
now living. You are most welcome here at court.
- Majesty, I--
- It's funny: some of the greatest and most celebrated minds
in my kingdom sweated and struggled over an issue
which you, an obscure cleric, if you will forgive me,
was able to resolve with perfect simplicity and a...
clarity of mind which put them all to shame.
- Majesty, I...
um, I...
- Mr. Cranmer, His Majesty has decided
to appointment you his personal chaplain.
- I...
- ...must thank His Majesty.
- Of course.
Majesty.
- You are welcome here, Mr. Cranmer.
Mr. Cromwell... - Majesty.
Well done, Mr. Cranmer,
well done.
- So you married your ward.
What's her name?
- Catherine Brook.
- Catherine.
Why her?
- I love and admire Miss Brook.
And my young son needs a mother.
- How old is she?
- Seventeen.
- Ha! Ha! Ha!
Some mother!
Poor Catherine.
You're incapable of fidelity, Charles.
You always have been.
- This time it's different. - How different?
- I don't know.
I just feel it.
And it's not just because she's beautiful.
It's a marriage of true souls.
Surely you can understand that.
- O sun, go away!
- And leave us to our own devices.
[Sighing]
And I love you, Anne Boleyn.
And I always will.
- Always?
How can you say that, Thomas,
know what fortune brings, or time changes?
- Time won't change me.
[Moaning]
Or this.
- Thomas...
- My Lady Anne,
you are to be congratulated,
for reaching so high.
- Thank you, Thomas.
I shall never forget
that we were once true friends.
- Oh!
I wish I could forget.
- But I see you are raised too?
- Only to a sometimes diplomat.
Thanks to the patronage of Mr. Cromwell.
We poets and painters sometimes have our uses.
There is someone here I should like you to meet.
Lady Anne Boleyn, this is Mark Smeaton:
dancing master, singer, musician,
and general all-around genius. - Mr. Smeaton.
- He likes to be called just plain Mark.
- How could he possibly be called plain?
- My Lady. It's a great pleasure.
- You play the violin? - Indeed.
- Play me something.
- Of course.
- Will you show me?
[Laughing]
- I wanted to thank Your Grace for your speech to Convocation.
It was well-said and very brave.
- I spoke only of truth.
- I believe that the caveat
"so far as the law of Christ allows"
does indeed invalidate the whole bill.
How can the law of Christ
permit a layman,
even a king, to be Head of the Church?
Boy, a little for me.
In nomine Patris, et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti.
- Ad coenam vitae aeternae perducat nos,
Rex aeternae gloriae.
- [All]: Amen.
- I must ask you, Sir Thomas,
if you still have a mind to resign your office?
- After the vote, your Grace, I must confess
I was sorely tempted.
But, on reflection,
I am content to stay and fight for Christendom.
- This is excellent news.
As indeed is the turning again of the Archbishop.
I thank God that his conscience has finally driven him
to condemn the King's nullity suit,
and he has stated his intention to--
[Coughing]
...oppose any legislation
[Retching]
...which might be injurious to the Church.
[Retching]
- Boy, fetch a doctor! Quick!
- Help, please help! - Oh, God!
Oh, God!
Four men died of their pains.
Bishop Fisher survived only because he ate
so little of the soup.
- It's very unfortunate, Sir Thomas.
- It's more than unfortunate, Your Majesty.
Fisher's cook has been arrested.
But I must tell you that...
that rumours abound
as to the identity of those who plotted against him.
- Who?
- Wiltshire has been named.
- Boleyn? - Yes.
And...
well... some people even blame the Lady Anne. - "Some people" will blame her
for everything!
They'll blame her if it rains... or if the rains fail!
They'll blame her for the barrenness of the Queen and for the fact that I love her.
They'll blame her for the wind that destroys our crops,
and the storms that sink our ships.
It's all the fault of the Lady Anne!
What about you, Sir Thomas?
Do you blame her?
Do you think she tried to poison Bishop Fisher?
- Harry, I-- - The time for Harry is over!
- Whoever was to blame,
the cook, Roose,
tried blatantly and almost successfully
to poison one of your Majesty's great public servants,
a Bishop of our Holy Church, as well as me!
Now if your Majesty were to turn a blind eye to the offence, everyone would be forced
to assume that the attempted murders were...
...done with your blessing.
- My Lord Boleyn.
Mr. Roose,
we've been going over and over this all day, so,
one more time...
who gave you the poison?
Mr. Roose, it is inconceivable that you should suddenly
take it upon yourself to *** your master and his household
after serving him so diligently these past four years.
Who gave you the poison?
- Sir, I have three daughters.
- What is that to me?
- I want them to find good husbands.
But that takes money.
- We can pay you for your information.
- No, sir.
The payment is already made,
the account settled.
- You're a fool.
And you will die for it.
[Festive music]
- [All]: Good Lady Anne.
- You. Hold a moment.
Where are you taking this linen?
- To the Queen's Majesty. - Why?
- To make shirts for His Majesty as she always has done.
- She still makes his shirts?
- Yes, Mistress Anne.
[Door opening]
- Sweetheart.
- How could you? - What?
- Your shirts! She still makes your shirts.
How could you let her? - I hadn't even thought about it.
- You told me there was nothing intimate between you anymore.
- There isn't. What's intimate?
They're just shirts, for God's sake. - No. They're not
just shirts! They are you and me. They are you and her!
- I don't understand.
- Then you ought to.
It's so hard when we're to be married,
but she is still here.
You can't have three people in a marriage.
Why can't you see that?
- And why can't you understand that I've more things
to think about than my shirts?
- The King has agreed to a new and harsh treatment of poisoners.
They are to be boiled alive.
He is wise to have dealt so severely in this case.
But he cannot avoid some suspicion,
at least against the Lady and her father.
- We are all
in the hands of God...
But I worry that,
while I lie here uselessly,
the King may proceed with his divorce, since...
he has given himself the power.
- I was told that at the last Council,
the King became angry
and demanded to know what would happen if he went ahead anyway
and married Anne without the Pope's permission.
- And what did they say?
- Only Boleyn supported him.
Not even his friend Brandon.
- Thank God.
- Katherine!
- Husband. How are you feeling?
- What? - They told me you have been
suffering from a toothache, which I know is a terrible pain.
And someone even said you had a touch of gout.
- Of course I don't have gout! I don't know why you even listen to such stupid rumours!
- Because I care for you.
- Katherine, you are going to have to stop making my shirts.
- I thought you liked the shirts I made for you.
I see you are wearing one.
Henry... - What now?
- Our daughter Mary has been unwell.
She has not kept any food down for 8 days now.
Do you not think we should visit her?
- You can go and visit the Princess if you like. And you can stay there.
- Henry, not for our daughter, nor for anyone,
would I dream of leaving you.
You know my rightful place
is by your side.
[Liquid boiling] - I consign myself to God's mercy.
Bless you, sir.
Tell my girls I died easily,
and with no pain.
- Head first...
or however it comes?
- Qui tacet consentire videtur.
[Sobbing]
Oh, save me!
[Whimpering]
[Screaming]
[Screaming]
[Festive music]
- Sit.
Your wife looks very beautiful.
You seem very happy together.
- Yes, we are.
- A happy marriage is devoutly something to be wished for.
Talking of which, I want you to do something for me.
- Your Grace.
- Madam.
I need to speak to Your Majesty alone.
- The King has sent you? At this hour? Why?
- The King asks you to be sensible. Withdraw your appeal to Rome
and entrust your affairs to his hands,
and he promises to be more than generous.
As you know, Parliament has now voted to make him supreme
in all matters spiritual as well as temporal.
- No. Only the Pope has God's power here on earth,
and is the image of eternal truth.
- Yes, but the King-- - Your Grace,
I love and have loved His Majesty
as much as any woman can love a man,
but I would not have borne him company as his wife
one moment against the voice of my conscience.
I am his true wife.
Go to Rome, if you want,
and argue there with lots of important men
instead of here with just one poor woman.
[Festive music]
- What did she say?
- She said that she'll obey Your Majesty in everything
save for her obedience to two higher powers.
- Which two higher powers-- the Pope and the Emperor?!
- No. God and her conscience.
- Chapuys! - Majesty.
- You can tell your master... actually, you can tell anyone you like:
I will never agree to be judged by the Pope in this matter.
And I don't care a fig of his threat to excommunicate me.
He can do what he likes in Rome. I'll do what I like here.
- Majesty. - And by the way,
welcome back to court.
- Majesty.
- How was the Queen? - Hmm...
She was beautiful.
It's like a thing of the other world to watch her courage.
- I remember you once told me that...
you might sometimes have to make me feel sad.
Even if you didn't mean to.
Are you really going to make me sad?
- No.
I swear to all that is holy,
all things worthy and good... that to you
I will always be true,
and never changing.
I wouldn't blame you if you didn't believe me.
Do you believe me?
- Majesty. You sent for me?
- Anne.
How should you like to go hunting tomorrow?
- If... that is what Your Majesty desires.
- We may be away for a while.
Visit people.
Stay with them.
- Majesty, what is this all about? I...
- And when we return...
we shall be alone.
- Alone...?
- You and I. Here.
No third person.
- Do you mean it?
- I've already given instruction for Katherine to leave.
- My God! [Giggling]
[Sighing contentedly]
- Are you "the most happy?"
[Giggling]
- Ohh...
[Thunder] - Ah!!
- Husband, what is it?
- I saw it. - What?
What did you see?
- I've known it a long time.
I knew Luther and Tyndale
were false prophets.
So many signs.
- I still don't understand.
What is it you've seen?
- The Beast.
The Antichrist.
He's near at hand, Alice.
- Here! Here we go!
- Did you remember to pack the new dress?
- Yes, Madam. - Beautiful morning for a ride.
- Beautiful.
Be very careful with her, John. On your own.
[Man shouting orders]
Let's go.
- Milady, Mr. Secretary Cromwell
is here to see you.
- Madam.
His Majesty commands that you be gone from this place
within the month and settled at his house, The Moor.
- He did not even say goodbye.
- You're free, of course, to take with you your attendants and servants.
- Wherever I go,
I remain his wife.
And I will pray for him.
- There is, uh...
one further matter. His Majesty
wishes that you return to him the official jewels of the Queens of England.
- No.
I will not give up what is rightfully mine,
to adorn a woman who is the scandal of Christendom.
[People whispering]
- God bless Your Majesty.
- [Man]: Your Majesty. - [Man 2]: Bless you. - [Man 3]: Your Majesty.
- God bless Your Majesty. God bless you.
- Thank you. Thank all of you.
[Blessings continue]
- Blessed Lady, Queen of Hearts.
There will be even greater crowds than these to welcome you
on your return to London.
[Giggling]
[Knocking]
- Yes?
Come.
Well? - Majesty,
I am asked to pass on a message of farewell from the Queen.
She regrets that you did not wish her goodbye...
and she enquires after Your Majesty's health.
- Tell the Queen I do not want any of her goodbyes,
and I've no wish to offer her consolation!
I do not care whether she asks after my health or not! Let her stop this
and mind her own business! Do you understand me? - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Get out!
[Moaning in pain]
I'm sorry.
- Don't apologize.
How could it have been different?
And yet everything is beautiful.
Don't you think
everything is beautiful?
- Yes.
Everything is beautiful.
[Sighing] [Chuckling]
- She's a witch who deserves no other fate
than to be dispatched to Hell.
- And you will assassinate the Lady Anne?
- Being a close servant of the King, I'm in a position to do so.
She has seduced and bewitched him.
He considers betraying his lawful wife and the Holy Church.
[Distant rumbling]
- You must not stay any longer. But our prayers and hopes go with you.