Original subtitles

To the faithful people of England,

your Holy Father offers you

the hand of condolence,

his tears of grief

and his anger at the martyrdom

of Sir Thomas More and Cardinal Fisher.

Their murder has shocked the whole of Christendom.

It was an unpardonable sin against

God and our Holy Church, in whose name

these two great and noble men died.

We pray for those in England

who must continue to live under tyranny

and in fear for their lives

and for their souls.

We pray the King

ceases to listen to evil counsel

and returns to obedience and the true faith,

before it is too late.

We pray to Mary, Mother of God,

that England may be

redeemed from heresy,

and all its evil ways,

and from the clutches of the heretics

who even now, are leading her towards

destruction and damnation!

George Boleyn, Lord Rochford,

is to marry Lord Morley's daughter.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Lord Morley came to see me.

He cannot meet Sir Thomas Boleyn's

demand for a dowry of 300 pounds.

I assured him that I would make up the shortfall.

Your Majesty is most generous.

How is your survey of the religious houses progressing?

Majesty, the Commissioners are currently

examining houses in the west country.

There, and elsewhere, they tell me

they have uncovered many enormities.

What enormities?

They have found

the monks and many places

so depraved, so licentious

and so corrupt that your commissioners

already despair of any perfect reformation.

For example the case of the celebrated Hy Blood of Hailes.

Supposedly the blood of a saint,

used for healing the pilgrims who flock there hoping for a miracle,

it turns out to be the blood of a duck,

which the monks renew regularly.

Duck's blood...

Well, Mr. Cromwell,

what do you propose we do about it?

If Your Majesty will forgive me,

I think we should be looking for ways to promote your Majesty's New Monarchy.

What do you have in mind?

One way would be through the production of plays.

- Why plays? - Plays are

an ideal way of setting forth, before the people's eyes,

the abomination and wickedness of the Bishop of Rome.

They're also a means to demonstrate to people

the obedience that as subjects they owe,

by God's and man's laws,

to Your Majesty. Good.

Then, I leave it to you, Mr. Secretary,

to finance and produce some plays.

We must do all we can

to advance our revolution.

...that I shall now suffer death in

and for the faith

of the Holy Catholic Church.

- My Lord. - Mr. Secretary. Your Grace.

Since Your Lordship makes no secret of your zeal for reform,

we were anxious to let you know our progress.

His Grace has just informed me

of an important new appointment at Canterbury Cathedral.

Indeed. Dr. Simon Heyes has been made our new Dean.

Dr Heyes particularly detests the cult and images

and is determined to removed them from the Cathedral

as well as introducing the new learning.

It's vital that we place reformers

in positions of responsibility inside the Church.

There's bound to be a reaction to the self-serving martyrdoms of Fisher and More.

Which is why I'm letting it be known, throughout the Kingdom,

that if anyone hears a friend or a neighbor,

criticizing the King or his marriage or the reforms,

they have a duty to report it.

At the same time, Mr. Cromwell

we have a duty to spread the good news.

If the New Monarchy is about anything at all

then it is about liberty!

Liberty from old superstitions from fear and guilt.

We... we are moving, my friends, from darkness into light.

I'm in agreement with Your Grace.

Fortunately, we have a new weapon

to promote our ideas.

Oh, my Lord! What in God's name is that?

It's called a printing press, my lord.

And it will change the world.

What are you thinking of?

Nothing.

May I say something?

You know there are many people abroad,

and perhaps even some within this Kingdom,

who still question the legitimacy of our daughter.

It's true.

You know it's true.

But there is something we can do to change everything.

If Elizabeth was betrothed

to King Francis's youngest son,

the Duke of Angouleme,

then her legitimacy and station would no longer

be questioned by anyone.

I agree,

and have already thought about it.

I will speak to the French Ambassador.

Will you come to my bed tonight?

Dear Thomas!

- Majesty. - Come and stay at court.

I need you. I'm not going to sign it! Go and tell them!

People are going to know that the King of England is easily changeable!

- Is it better for a King to be feared? - I don't want to be chancellor.

Or loved? You will do as I command!

- Harry. Harry. I come to offer my resignation. - The time for Harry is over!

I discharge you most willingly.

Your head, cut off. Your body,

to be divided in four parts.

Please forgive me.

Hey.

Thomas?

Thomas...

What is it?

I've changed my mind.

I don't want to go through with it.

Now, now, sweetheart.

Every woman has a moment of faintheartedness.

It's natural.

No!

You are marrying into a great family.

You will do it, whether you like it or not. Do you understand?

Benedicto Dei

omnipotentis:

Patris et Filii

et Spiritus sancti...

Get on with it!

Amen!

Brethren, we are gathered here today.

Majesty, Sir Henry Norris.

Sir Henry.

- Your Majesty. - What can I do for you?

Well as Your Majesty may know,

I recently became a widower.

And so, naturally, I am looking to wed again.

And my choice has fallen

upon one of Her Majesty's ladies.

- Who? - Lady Margaret Sheldon.

- You mean Madge! - Yes.

Yes, I believe some people call her that.

If they are familiar with her.

Have you made your intentions plain to Miss Sheldon, Sir Henry?

No, Your Majesty. I have merely

admired her from a distance.

But I would now like to take things further.

If Your Majesty can think of no...

impediment?

No. None.

You have my permission.

I have known you a long time.

I could not think of a more honest nor a more honorable man.

I am deeply grateful to Your Majesty.

Sir Henry.

Your Majesty.

His Excellency the French Ambassador.

- Excellency. - Your Majesty wanted to see me?

I wanted to ask after my brother, the King.

His Majesty is very well.

Except for his hatred of the Emperor,

which is like a disease. So he still wants our friendship?

Mon Dieu! He loves you above all the princes in the world.

Then make to him this proposal

that his son Charles,

Duke of Angouleme,

should be betrothed to our beloved daughter,

Elizabeth.

Who is she?

Jane Parker.

Lord Morley's daughter. He's a distant cousin of the King...

But she's a girl.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Was that funny?

I don't know.

Sweetheart.

You do love me, don't you, George?

Of course I love you. I married you, didn't I?

Oh, I can't wait for tonight.

- What is it? - Nothing. I...

Excuse me, father.

You're very pretty,

... Pretty Jane.

No.

No, please...

No, please.

Please don't...

Let us go about our other matters.

Now as much as King John

does Holy Church so handle,

so here I curse him with cross,

book, bell and candle...

I will ask God

to put him from His eternal light.

I will take him from Christ,

and after the sound of this bell...

The bell, you buggers!

The bell!

And after the sound of this bell.

I said after the sound of this bell...

Both body and soul,

I will give him to the devil in hell!

And meanwhile... This is a fine piece of work, Mr. Secretary.

And educative.

I wonder who wrote it?

Ah, Mr. Bale.

He was once a priest of the old faith,

but seeing how things went on,

became a most passionate reformer.

You know, I think our family never did anything better

than facilitate and encourage

your own rise, Mr. Secretary.

And I trust you never forget that we did so.

... and Bishops,

will make lots and lots of money.

I love the Pope, as much as I ever may be.

I pray thee heartily, tell me why you do so?

Because I perceive well,

the Pope is a jolly fellow

A trim fellow, a rich fellow.

Yes, and a merry fellow!

He's rich in his royalty...

and angelic to his behold!

I've talked to the French Ambassador.

Francis is sending the Admiral of France to arrange the marriage.

Thank you.

Majesties.

The Admiral of France is to pay an official visit.

I want you to receive

and entertain him on my behalf.

Why him?

Surely my father would be a much better choice.

I trust Your Grace to carry out my commands.

I am, as ever,

Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant.

That was unnecessary.

- He hates me. - But he loves me.

As they're in latin...

no man can know.

What is it?

That woman is a whore!

She treats me worse than I treat my dogs.

But then your dogs biteack!

If ceremonies and superstitions from us fall,

then farewell monks and canons,

priest, friar, bishop...

and ALL.

How is Queen Katherine?

Alas she is very unwell.

She is sinking.

Not only is her household severely reduced,

but she has been separated from her daughter

for the last 4 years. That is very cruel.

But her faith is astonishing.

And the Lady Mary?

While the concubine has power,

I fear for her life.

To the comfort of this nation!

Precibus et meritis beatae

Maria simper Virginis...

Lady Mary. What in heaven's name are you doing

with the Princess Elizabeth?

She was left alone.

I took care of her.

Give her to me.

You left her alone. You little fool!

We sup and think of those who are no longer with us:

to More and to Fisher, those martyred men.

God bless them.

I am told that many who

initially supported the King's reforms

are now forming a different opinion.

The terrible murders

of honest and faithful men has opened many eyes.

I still do not blame the King.

He has been seduced by witchcraft.

I've always believed it,

and now I have proof. - You have proof? - Yes.

I have befriended

a maid of Anne's bedchamber,

who has told me that the harlot hides a secret.

She's deformed Chapuys,

an extra fingernail on her left hand,

which she is always at great pains to conceal.

As well her body

is covered in moles, which is sometimes called, the Devil's Teats

as you know. Now, this maid,

she swore to me honestly that she had seen these quite plainly

on Anne's naked skin,

even though the lady constantly seeks to cover herself.

My God!

Is it so?

It's is truth.

That is why she must die.

What is it?

He's having more affairs.

Are you sure?

Of course I'm sure.

Often I can't find him. No one will tell me where he is.

He leaves the palace. I know that.

He's gone for hours sometimes.

I think he's got a harem somewhere.

There's a place where he keeps his harem,

where he keeps his women. I know it.

Anne.

Something's going to happen to me.

- No! - You know there's a prophecy.

Everyone knows it. The prophecy says

a Queen of England will be burned.

- Don't talk like this.

Nothing is going to happen to you.

I'm unable to give a King a son;

a son

to be the living image of his father.

Shhh...

It's all right. Everything is going to be all right.

Please don't cry.

I love you.

I'll look after you, I swear.

Please don't cry.

Sir Thomas.

Mr. Secretary. What are all these?

Denunciations.

It is reported that a canon at Tewksbury,

mistakenly or otherwise, offered prayers to Katherine the Queen.

Other than Anne.

Seven of his congregation reported these words.

- What will you do to him? - Nothing.

He's near 80 years old.

An absent-minded slip of the tongue

in such an old man is perfectly forgivable.

Some of these others

are much more serious.

Look at these.

The tracts praising His Majesty

and his New Monarchy and the reformation they explain.

Why the reformation is necessary

and the liberties and the opportunities it would be bringing to the King's

humblest subjects.

It's very impressive.

You are to be congratulated on your industry, Mr. Secretary.

But does it never concern you

that the King has taken to himself

an absolute power,

without any constraint, to remake the law?

Is not that which pleases the King... the law?

I was... I was only observing...

I like you, Mr. Wyatt, and enjoy your company.

But you have a reputation:

you gamble and you whore.

You sail close to the wind.

God forbid

it should ever blow you onto the rocks.

His Excellency Philippe Chabot de Brion,

Admiral of France.

- Your Grace. - Admiral Chabot.

It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you and your party

to my home and to England.

May I present my wife, the Duchess.

Madame. Je suis ravi de vous conna�tre.

And, with your permission,

may I present my Secretary, Monsieur Alfonse Gontier...

Madame. Your Grace.

And my niece, Mademoiselle Germaine.

Mademoiselle. You are very pretty.

Madame. Your Grace.

So tell me, your Grace, what are we to expect?

I am to entertain you and your staff here for a few days.

Then the King invites you to dine at court.

- Very good. - There is one other thing:

I am told that Queen Anne

has planned a banquet in your honor.

And a tennis match.

I believe you met Her Majesty

once before, in Calais,

when she accompanied His Majesty before her coronation.

I may have. But I have no recollection of any such meeting.

And, alas, I don't play tennis.

Shall we?

Good morrow, John.

Your Majesty.

- Where are you going? - Out. - Where?

Go back inside.

Where are you going? I want to know.

It's none of your business. It is my pleasure that you go back inside. Now.

Majesty.

Mademoiselle.

I like you, Excellency.

You're very clever.

But I don't like the way your Emperor treats me.

He seems to think that, as far as Katherine is concerned,

that I act out of spite,

or that I am being malicious.

But I swear it's not true.

I suppose I ought

to be content in the knowledge that the world knows

the many wrongs that have been done to me.

You don't approve of the changes I'm making in this kingdom.

Cromwell intercepts some of your letters.

We used to call it Humanism.

Wolsey, More and me.

We were all Humanists.

Most people think I've changed, but I haven't.

At heart I'm still a Humanist.

Chapuys,

I promise you

that I am going to make such a reformation in this kingdom

that I shall be remembered eternally

throughout all Christendom.

I have no doubt what so ever

that Your Majesty's reign

will always be remembered.

I had planned a banquet in his honor...

- Who? - The French Admiral.

He has been here for 2 weeks already,

staying with the Duke of Suffolk,

and he has not yet sent me a message of goodwill.

Every other French envoy

has always done so.

Neither has he requested an audience with me.

With me, the Queen of England

and when we are discussing the future of my own child.

Your Majesty should rest.

I ought to leave you... They also tell me he has struck up an acquaintance

with the Imperial Ambassador, Chapuys.

Is that not extraordinary? Tell me

why should he do such a thing?

Why do you not say anything, Mark?

Your Majesty must forgive me. I don't know what to say.

These matters are beyond my competence.

What am I? Only a dancing-master.

And then there's something else:

someone, some bitch who probably hates me...

Told me that the King has deliberately invited

a lot of beautiful women to court

for the Admiral's visit.

I mean can you believe that?

- Your Grace. - Your Majesty.

May I present his Excellency,

Philippe Chabot de Brion,

the Admiral of France.

- Majesty. - Welcome to my court.

Allow me to introduce my wife,

Queen Anne.

Madame.

Please, let us be seated.

Some wine?

Of course. Which domain does it come from? Is it Bordeaux?

- This is English wine. - English wine?

We have been making wine in England since the Romans.

As recently as that?

Tr?s bien.

It's very fruity.

And strong. Like a...

... gladiator's sweats! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Who is that gentleman?

My secretary, Monsieur Gontier.

I should like to introduce him to my wife.

Excuse me.

Enchant?, mademoiselle.

Majest?

Your Majesty must forgive me

for not being able to attend the banquet you arranged in my honor.

It was most unfortunate,

but His Grace the Duke of Suffolk,

and his charming wife,

have kept me a virtual prisoner in their castle.

I was... how shall I say?

... imprisoned by affection.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Madame? Are you amusing yourself at my expense?

Forgive me, Monsieur.

I could not help laughing

at the King's proposition of introducing your secretary to me.

For whilst he was finding him,

he met that pretty lady,

and forgot the whole thing.

Let's talk some business.

What instructions do you have from your master,

with regard to the betrothal of my daughter Elizabeth to the Duke of Angouleme?

His Majesty regrets that such a proposition is impossible.

Why "impossible"?

Much as he loves Your Majesty, the King cannot agree

to betroth his beloved son to a...

... to a bride whose legitimacy

is not accepted by his Holiness Pope Paul,

by Holy Church itself,

nor even by the Emperor.

However, His Majesty,

to demonstrate his love, proposes another match.

He would consent

to the betrothal of the Dauphin...

to Lady Mary, your legitimate daughter.

If you do not agree to the match, my master

will marry his son to the Emperor's daughter...

leaving your country

isolated in Europe.

Excellence, your audience with His Majesty is now over.

I'm sorry.

I have no excuses, Catherine.

I thought those days were behind me.

Perhaps human nature can never change.

I swear to you it will never happen again.

I love you too much.

I have no right to ask you to believe me.

But it's true.

You see...

... you did make me cry, after all.

Who was she?

Who was who?

That lady you were talking to,

when you were supposed to be finding Monsieur Gontier.

I don't know.

Is she one of your mistresses?

How many do you have?

What are their names?

Where do you keep them?

Someone told me that your nobles,

like Brandon, are assisting you in having your affairs.

That's enough.

No.

No. You told me... you always told me

that we should be truthful with each other.

You said it was the definition of love.

Then here's the truth:

you must shut your eyes and endure

like your betters have done before you.

How can you say that to me?

Don't you know that I love you

a thousand times more than Katherine ever did!

And don't you know that I can drag you down

as quickly as I raised you?

This is lucky you have your bed already, madam,

because if you did not, I wouldn't give it to you again.

Francis won't accept to the betrothal.

- Why? - Why do you think?!

Because the Pope

and he and the Emperor

all agree she's a bastard!

And you are not my wife!

Tell me: how's your Catherine?

She's fine.

In fact... she's with child.

Ah! You're a happily married man, Charles.

I envy you.

Do you think the planets influence our lives?

I don't know.

I would often discuss the issue with More.

We would stand on the roof at nights, and study the heavens.

More had a great knowledge of the stars

and how they influence our...

... humors.

I regret now what happened to More.

In some ways I wish it never happened.

But it wasn't all my fault.

Whenever my resolve weakened,

whenever I was inclined to save him...

a certain person would privately

urged me on to his destruction.

Who?

You know who she is, Charles.