Original subtitles

Somerset! Somerset!

Save him!

Lord Jesus, save me!

Did he die well?

Yes, he died well. And now you are in his place.

As what?

As England's ruler, my Lord Duke.

Indeed.

What's that, my Lord?

In the last will of the King's late father, Henry Vlll of famous memory,

the succession is quite clearly lineated.

The line of his eldest sister, the Scottish line, ruled out.

So...

...one, his son, King Edward; two, his elder daughter, the Princess Mary;

three, his younger daughter, the Princess Elizabeth; four...

...Frances; daughter of his younger sister;

five, her daughter, Jane.

Surely an academic question. When the young King is married, has a son...

Exactly. When the young King is married.

The question is, to whom?

Ride on, coachman.

Excuse me. I'm Dr Feckenham. I'm from the Princess Mary.

- I have letters for the King. - Out hunting. Catholics!

- And for my Lord the Duke of Suffolk. - Him, too.

Is there nobody here to receive me?

My Lady Jane?

I am Dr Feckenham. I am confessor to the Princess Mary.

I know.

How do you do?

You're not out riding?

No.

Plato. In Greek.

It's not easy.

Don't you think so?

"The soul takes flight to the world that is...

"...eternal...

"...invisible...

"...but there arriving, she is sure of bliss

"and forever dwells in paradise."

In his writing, Plato tells of the death of Socrates,

condemned for spreading pernicious religious doctrines to corrupt the young.

What conclusions do you draw?

If men believe things strongly, they may die for them.

What would you be prepared to die for, Lady Jane?

I would die to free our people from the chains of bigotry and superstition.

What superstition did you have in mind?

For example, the idea that a piece of bread

can become the body of our Saviour, Father.

Did he not say at his last supper, "Take, eat, this is my body"?

He also said, "I am the vine, I am the door."

Was he a vine, a door?

Who has been teaching you to say such things?

Don't you think I could have thought them for myself?

I am sorry. Yes, indeed. You are quite clearly a most remarkable young lady.

And while we will disagree on many things,

it is a privilege to talk to anyone whose love of learning shines like yours.

It...

It is my only pleasure...

...Dr Feckenham.

Jane.

Oh. Mother.

How was the hunt?

Quite splendid, thank you, Jane.

Jane.

So there you are.

Yes, Father. This is Dr...

- You should have been out with us. - This is Dr Feckenham.

Of course, to go out with your family,

out riding, working up a sweat, fresh air,

it's altogether far too base and brutish, isn't it?

Answer your father, Jane.

Mother, please.

You might think, Father, that the first born of the House of Suffolk

might be considering her future in her sixteenth year, you might think.

Instead of poring over books!

She could be... learning things that might be useful to a husband.

Father!

Don't you think so, Doctor?

Henry! The King.

What were you reading, cousin Jane?

Plato! Good morning, Dr Feckenham.

Do you have the letters from my sister?

Her learning is an example to us all.

Your dancing measure, if you please.

- You know, my Lady... - Yes.

It must be time to take your daughter up to London. Show her at Court.

How old is she?

- Fifteen. - There you are. Same age as the King.

She's been well educated.

That is very clear.

She can be... wilful.

She'll grow out of that.

And she has been brought up in the reformed religion.

Certainly.

Then I foresee a glittering future for your daughter, madam.

I had two brothers. Died.

In the same week.

Had a son.

Didn't reach six months.

Your handsome sons with their lovely wives.

Yes, and I have a third son.

Guilford.

They must be such a joy to you, John Dudley.

Three such fine...

...upstanding sons.

One more, one more.

Come on.

Guilford, let's go.

A shilling on the eight.

- That was a seven. - No, an eight.

That was a seven, damn you.

No!

Merry Christmas.

Did you play with puppets when you were a child?

I seem to have spent my whole life listening to sermons.

Better now.

- Who is that man? - Sir John Gates, captain of my guard...

Oh, Jane...

...I feel quite dreadful.

Sire? Edward, in God's name, what's the matter?

Follow me!

What do I do? What do I do?

Your Grace.

It's all right, Jane, Sir John.

I am recovered.

Better now.

- My Lady Jane. - My Lord Northumberland.

The King has sent me to inform you that he is completely recovered.

Well, I am glad.

So much so that there's no need for anyone to mention that he was ill at all.

- I see. - I'm glad.

You're asking me to lie.

To refrain from volunteering information.

It cannot be too hard to understand for a young person who reads Plato in Greek.

Lady Jane. Princess Mary is free to see you now.

Thank you.

She apologises. She was finishing a hand of trump.

- Do you play cards? - No. No, I don't.

You're wise. She's very good.

I see.

Why do you curtsy?

I am curtsying to the Host, my Lady. To Him that made us all.

I see.

So, God made you and the baker, apparently, made God.

Well.

- Can this be my little cousin Jane? - Ma'am.

Now, let me look at you.

How you've grown.

Well, then, embrace me.

And if I were you, I'd take care, little cousin Jane.

Madam, have you considered your daughter's future?

- You know I have. - And can I ask...?

I can see no reason why she should not marry Edward.

- I can. - What?

- He's dying. - What?

He will be dead... who knows, a month?

- God rest his soul. - Indeed.

What then?

There will not be another Roman Catholic on the English throne.

The country people don't agree. They still adhere.

They miss the Latin litanies and mysteries.

The ornaments and precious things.

Because before King Henry closed the monasteries, they were in the churches.

They could see them on the altars. I wonder where those things are now.

Which is why, madam, for you, and yes, for me as well,

there must not be another Roman Catholic on the English throne.

- If Edward dies without an heir... - Then Mary's queen.

Her mother was divorced and Mary was named a bastard. Next in line's Elizabeth.

Whose mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded for treasonable adultery.

Behold, the next in line becomes my Lady, the Duchess Frances Suffolk,

who would, of course, relinquish all her dues and rights

in favour of her daughter, Jane.

Ah, Frances, there you are. Down, damn you, Jupiter.

Good Lord, are you still eating? Do you hear me, sir?

- Afternoon, John. - My Lord.

We were speaking of Jane's marriage, Henry.

It might be a matter of peculiar importance

in the event of circumstances which well might arise.

In fact, I suspect my Lord has someone in mind.

Perhaps he'd be good enough to tell me.

I don't think you've met my youngest and as yet unmarried son, Guilford.

He's a quiet and studious boy.

I imagine even now among his books or else at prayer.

More wine!

No more wine.

- Hey, you! - Because it's bedtime.

I want him out!

Out!

It's bedtime, Guilford.

Good morning, Mother, Father.

Jane, you know the Duke of Northumberland.

Indeed I do. My Lord.

Jane, as you know, the Duke has three fine sons.

Yes, I've been privileged to meet with Robert and...

- John. - Yes, John.

- My third son is called Guilford. - Guilford?

- It was his mother's maiden name. - I see.

Oh, Jane!

My darling little Jane.

- My little girl, we're so proud of you. - Oh, no.

- Yes, yes. - No. No.

Now, Jane, embrace my Lord the Duke.

No.

- What is this? - I order you.

My Lord, I am most honoured...

...naturally.

I'm sure your son is a most noble of young men,

but I don't wish to marry anyone at present.

- You don't wish to marry? - No!

I wish it and your mother wishes it and the Duke wishes it.

- And the King wishes you... - No! That I do not believe!

You don't.

I don't believe that the King wants me to marry Guilford Dudley.

Ellen, please take your mistress to the gallery.

- No! - If you value your position in this house.

- My Lady. - No!

Stop her! Take her! Take her!

See reason!

- No! - Take her!

I will not! I won't!

I will not!

She will.

I'm sure her mother will...

Well?

So be it.

Well?

Well?

I just don't see why.

Then I must make you see.

You see, my cousin trusts me.

- I must not betray that trust. - Your Grace, the battle isn't won.

The battle started by your father must be carried on by you.

The reformation of your church is still incomplete,

the danger that your country could relapse into a pit of popery still great.

I cannot tell you why it matters that my son should marry Jane.

All I can do is beg Your Grace to trust me.

Then you'd better fetch my men to get me dressed.

John.

I do know I'm dying.

You will not marry Guilford Dudley?

Without your family, what are you? No one. Nothing.

What makes you dare to think you can choose whom to obey?

- My love! - Yes, what?

Our daughter has a visitor.

Your Grace.

We would like to speak, madam, to our cousin Jane. Alone.

Alone.

My Lady Jane. No, no.

I wasn't whipped.

They had a boy. If I did something bad, they beat him in my place.

See? You should have been born heir to the throne.

Though, in a way it made it rather worse. You understand?

But it was his duty,

as it was mine to suffer for his suffering in my stead.

As it is yours now to obey your parents and your King.

- Why must you do what he tells you? - Who?

John Dudley.

Because I trust him.

Look, I brought you something.

What is it?

A puppet.

You pull the cords and it dances.

Let me try.

Oh, look, it does. It works.

Of course it works.

- Look, I can make it bow. - So I should think.

Oh, Edward.

Oh, it's wonderful.

All better now?

All better now.

Now promise...

...that you'll marry him.

For me.

It's all right, Your Grace. I'm here.

- Three days? - Or four. Perhaps a week.

No more.

It must be longer. There must be some way.

No, the only thing is arsenic, which would keep him more or less alive,

but in excruciating pain.

- There's nothing else? - Nothing.

- So be it, then. - My Lord...

Doctor...

...I must have the time.

- Who are you? What do you want? - Where are they?

- Bastard! - Where are they?

- Where is he? - Who?

In there.

Get out, you bastard! Get out!

Lord!

- My Lord, you must come with us. - Why? What for?

Clear the way!

Congratulations, my Lord. You're going to be married.

Who to?

You're not to wear black again!

God's teeth!

My dear Guilford.

She wants to see you.

- Who does? - Your betrothed.

- What, now? - Yes, now!

- Please tell me this isn't... - No.

I thought it right...

You may have heard I was unhappy about this match.

Yes. Yes, I did.

I worried that it would impede what's important to me,

which is studying and prayer.

So I would prefer when this...

...when this is done, that we lived...

...shall we say as cousins, rather than as man and wife.

- If that is what you wish. - It is.

- I should myself make something clear. - Please do.

On the night I was informed of my translation into bliss,

I'd attended several taverns, witnessed a bear-baiting

and was in Southwark, sampling the pleasures of a lady of the night.

Thus far, I have to tell you,

it had been a very good evening.

Still...

...duty calls.

Dearly beloved friends,

we are gathered here in the sight of God and the face of His congregation,

to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony,

which is an honourable estate instituted of God in paradise

in the time of man's innocence and therefore not to be enterprised,

nor taken in hand inadvisedly,

lightly or wantonly to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites,

like brute beasts that have no understanding,

but reverently, discreetly, advisedly,

soberly, and in the fear of God.

More.

Well, there we are. How long has he got to live?

- Two weeks, three at the most. - I see.

But has he yet declared his will?

- The King will preserve the new religion. - And his Council?

I'm sure that they understand

how the triumph of the new faith has contributed to their position and wealth.

Plain sailing, then.

Frances, John, there you are.

Speaking of former monasteries,

the King has put at the disposal of our children

the old priory of Eversholt... for as long as they have need of it.

You mean, until we have need of them.

Indeed.

- Look, Dudley... - Yes.

Are you sure your son's the right man for my daughter?

I can control him.

He can be controlled in matters that concern us, my Lord Duke.

My Lady... are you sure you understand?

No, no, there's no need.

It's beautiful.

Don't you think it's beautiful?

Jane?

What's the matter?

Better now.

We oughtn't to get too far behind the rest.

Whoa, there! Whoa! Whoa, there!

What's this?

I have no idea.

Good day.

Is there...

...anything you want?

My wife and I have come to stay here at the priory. It's our great pleasure.

As a token of our...

- You know what that is? - Yes.

- You've been branded. - Why?

- Begging, I presume. - That's right. No tribute.

We want our land back!

It's not our fault, so leave my wife and I alone.

Leave it!

Leave it! Leave it!

Ride on.

Mrs Ellen.

It's lovely. Is there anything to eat?

Yes, of course.

We're on our own.

- We won't be tomorrow. - What?

The Mayor of Hertford is to dine with us in the refectory.

- Just the Mayor? - Accompanied by several aldermen.

God's teeth!

- Glass goblets. - Yes. A present from your father.

- Made in Venice. - Yes, I know.

They're very pretty,

but they do have this tendency to break.

Don't you dare.

- What did those men at the gates want? - I don't know... Food.

- Have they no farms? - I'm sorry?

- Why were they idle? - Tell me, did you see his chest?

- Yes. It was marked. - No, it wasn't.

It was branded, the mark burnt into him with a red-hot iron.

Do you know why? Because he'd been caught begging.

Can you think how he may have fallen into beggary?

The land he used to farm, on which he had much work to do,

belonged to poor monks in monasteries, who allowed poor people to grow food.

Until men like our fathers stripped the monasteries,

fenced in the common land, drove the peasants from their fields

and passed unholy laws branding them for beggary!

- They threw all that money back at you... - Money!

Do you know what's happened to the value of money?

What's that?

- A penny. - No, it isn't... it's a shilling.

- It can't be. Shillings are made of silver. - Should be.

Used to be... but not now.

Which is why a shilling isn't worth a shilling any more.

You've really no idea what's going on, have you?

- I know the priests were all corrupt. - No doubt.

- They told the people to worship icons. - That concerns me less.

- You're talking of your soul. - No, you are talking of your mind!

I wonder if you and the reformers can convince yourselves

that the nature of the sacraments is more important

than whether those who receive them live or die!

The brain is a brittle organ.

The slightest pressure and it snaps... if it isn't wrapped up in a little heart.

I shall have them arrange another bedroom for me.

- They won't think very much of that. - I couldn't care less what they think!

What right have you? You haven't done a thing!

Why don't you go to Court? Do something about all these things?

Because there isn't any point!

Because it wouldn't work. It never does.

Dear God and all his saints, what am I doing here?

What do you want?

- I want to say I'm sorry. - Doesn't matter.

Yes, it does.

- This is not your fault. - That's true.

Well, then...

Goodnight.

Explain it to me.

What?

What you believe. The schism, the new learning, the nature of the sacraments.

- Do you really want to know? - I really want to know.

Well...

It's our belief...

...that faith only saves.

That, as Christ Jesus says, his sons shall come to God if they believe in him.

Not by the Church?

Not by the Church.

Yes.

And...

...that all superstitions, ornamental relics...

...and icons...

...and images...

...and...

- Go on. - Go on?

- With what you were doing. - With what I was saying?

Not just now.

What do I do?

When did you know?

I didn't.

It just happened.

Did you know about it?

- What? - What we've just done.

Well...

...only in terms of the broadest general principles.

Unlike you.

Not exactly.

What?

You're referring to my lady of the night.

Well, yes, I was.