My lords, l do confess to you...
...that although I have lain with the queen these past weeks...
...my conscience will not permit me to consummate this marriage...
...because I feel there is some impediment to it.
I have done as much as any man...
...to move the consent of my heart and mind...
...but the obstacle will not out of my thoughts.
Perhaps the truth is that there existed a precontract...
...between the duke of Lorraine's son and the princess...
...from which she was never released...
...and so therefore...
...l am really married to another man's wife.
My lords, l leave it to you...
...to investigate whether or not my scruples are justified.
Your Majesty.
My lord, you must find some way to relieve His Majesty's conscience.
I tell you, Charles...
...God will not grant me any more children if I continue in this marriage.
Was she such a maid that she didn't know what to do?
Not telling a woman what she must expect on her wedding night...
...is sending a sailor to sea with no biscuit.
I will force Cromwell to bring about a dissolution of the marriage.
I only went ahead with it for the realm...
...and now even that reason is forgot.
The emperor and the king of France are at each other's throats.
And both have come courting.
Who needs Cleves?
My Lord Cromwell.
Was the match not his idea?
Majesty, the Princess Mary is here.
Madam.
Princess, if you please.
I have received a letter from a cousin of mine.
He is Duke Philip of Bavaria.
Philip would like to come to England and pay court to you.
Why?
He has heard many things about you, Princess Mary.
Many good things.
I suppose he's a Lutheran, like you.
He is charming and very good-looking.
I think you might like him a little.
What should l tell him?
Tell him....
Tell him he may come if he pleases and if the king wishes...
...but not to expect anything.
Father?
Gregory.
What on earth are you doing here?
Well, l noticed you forgot your pills at the apothecary.
I didn't want you to be in pain.
Sit down.
So, what are you working on?
I'm preparing some bills for Parliament on the medical profession.
And l'm trying to persuade His Majesty...
...to appoint councillors based upon merit...
...and nothing else.
You look tired, father.
How is His Majesty?
He's fine. His leg bothers him.
It gets sore. He gets irritable.
Is that why he strikes you on the head sometimes?
I resent the king nothing, but others seek to undermine me...
...since l was born so low and they so high.
And for other reasons too.
Think not on that.
Look after your own dear wife and the child in her belly.
Love them as you love God and his holy word.
All shall be well.
I'm sorry you failed to capture that archtraitor Reginald Pole, Sir Francis.
The king detests him above all men.
However...
...he has other matters on his mind now.
When I last spoke to His Majesty, he confessed he was...
...in some ways, tired of his life.
His life or his wife?
They are much the same thing.
Can he not find distraction, as he has always done before?
Easily, but he is more jaded than before.
The usual remedies won't suit.
Something more extreme might tempt him.
In this matter at least, Your Grace, I shall not fail the king.
-My lady. -My lady.
My lady.
Sir?
Princess Mary, I hope you can forgive my impetuosity.
I know we should have been formally introduced, but l couldn't wait.
You are Duke Philip?
May I kiss your hand?
I hope I might see you again, my lady.
With my cousin the queen present, of course.
I had thought to leave court tomorrow for the country.
I may delay my leaving, if it pleases you...
...for a day or so.
My sweet Francis, I missed you.
Oh, handsome as ever.
We haven't seen you for ages. What have you been doing?
Trying to kill someone.
Did you manage it?
Not yet.
I suppose you've come to look over my little darlings.
Only after l've feasted my eyes on you, my dear lady.
Go along.
We have some new ones, I think.
Pretty little things.
I sometimes find it hard to believe that whoever bore them...
...did not feel bothered or obliged to raise them.
You told me most of them were bastards.
But aristocratic bastards, my sweet boy.
Aristocratic bastards.
Hello.
-l think l've seen him before. -Who do you think he is?
Do you think he's been in a swordfight?
What do you think he wants?
Sir?
-He has a cruel face. -Yes, I remember.
l have found someone to amuse the king.
-Who is she? -Her name is Miss Catherine Howard.
She is a distant relation to the Duke of Norfolk.
Her background is, how shall l say, not entirely conventional.
I assume she's young and pretty.
See for yourself, my lord.
You may come in now.
Catherine, these are the excellent people I told you of.
His Grace, the Duke of Suffolk, and the Earl of Hertford.
-Your Graces. -How old are you, Catherine?
Seventeen.
I wonder who taught her to count.
Tell us something about yourself. Your family, so on.
My mother died when l was little.
My father remarried, but I didn't know his wife really.
I was sent to live in the household of the dowager duchess.
That would be the dowager duchess of Norfolk?
-The widow of the second duke? -l suppose so, my lord.
I didn't see her much.
There were other children there from lots of marriages.
We ran a little wild.
-There was some fun in it. -Well, sweet Catherine...
...l think the fun is just about to start again.
What do you think, Your Grace?
I think....
I think she looks fit for a king.
So did you talk to him? To Philip?
A little, yes.
I believe he is a very intelligent young man.
I couldn't tell.
And extremely good-looking.
He likes you a great deal.
He doesn't even know me.
We have nothing in common.
Your Majesty, Duke Philip asks for an audience.
I don't want to see him.
Then go in there. Quickly.
-Philip, my dear cousin. -Majesty.
How do you find this country?
I like it very much.
I could most happily live here.
So you've met Princess Mary?
It was only for a moment, but I relive that moment...
...over and over again in my mind.
I was told before that she was charming, intelligent...
...well read, gracious.
The true heir of Catherine of Aragon, a true princess.
But nothing prepared me for her beauty.
But a beauty that comes from inside.
To me, she's the most beautiful creature on God's earth.
The council has acted upon Your Majesty's request.
We demanded written evidence of the queen's envoy...
...the pre-marriage contract to the duke of Lorraine's son.
They provided it...
...but the papers seem to suggest that instead of the usual formula...
...per verba de futuro...
...the actual wording on the document reads per verba de presenti...
...which is a binding contract which renunciation cannot undo.
So it does seem that Your Majesty has reason to be optimistic.
The king has noticed you.
He may ask to see you.
What shall I say to him? What should l do?
Just be yourself.
Who's that girl?
That is Catherine Howard.
She is a relation to the Duke of Norfolk.
She has only just come to court.
Bring her to me.
Majesty.
Majesty, Miss Catherine Howard.
Thank you, Charles.
Catherine.
Your Majesty.
Please, be seated here.
Are you married?
No, Your Majesty.
-Can you read? -Enough to write a letter.
Who writes to you?
Nobody.
Do you have many houses?
What is it?
You stepped on my foot.
Philip, l'm so very sorry.
I do apologise. I'm so sorry.
Philip, l'm so sorry.
-l thought-- -You didn't step on my foot.
How could you? Your feet don't even touch the ground.
I wanted a moment alone with you.
I....
You're crying.
Only because l'm so happy.
Would you like me to kiss you again?
Do you know where this ring comes from?
It once adorned the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury.
The whole shrine glittered with jewels left by princes and pilgrims.
But this ring...
...this ring was the most valuable gift of all.
A king of France left it as an offering to save his mortal soul.
May I touch it?
Good night, princess.
Good night, Your Grace.
Tell me, Mr. Cromwell, how is work proceeding on the palace at Nonsuch?
I'm pleased to report it is almost complete...
...and will be ready for your personal inspection come July.
Good.
I want to give a gift of land to Mistress Catherine Howard.
There is some we recently confiscated from a felon, if l remember correctly...
...with two large houses upon it.
I wish to grant the whole to Mistress Howard.
Majesty.
I hear the council found a flaw in the queen's precontract.
It was not such a flaw...
...that it could not be overcome by the queen's personal repudiation.
There must still be grounds.
Before God, I think she is not my lawful wife.
Whatever people say, Mr. Cromwell...
...either to your face or behind your back...
...you are still my first minister...
...whose love and loyalty I have no cause nor reason to doubt.
If there is anything important to be done...
...l know who best to do it.
Majesty.
-Mr. Cromwell, sir. -Mr. Cromwell.
I beseech you, sir.
Take this.
Mr. Risley. Give them to Mr. Risley.
Thank you. We're doing our best. We'll do our best for you.
Very good, very good, very good.
-Mr. Risley. -Thank you, sir.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your Majesty.
How was your meeting with the French ambassador?
It was very interesting, Your Majesty.
He told me the king was not averse to opening secret negotiations with us...
...with a view to disengaging the French...
...from their disagreeable alliance with the emperor.
Good.
The ambassador also suggested to me...
...how much Anglo-French relations would improve...
...if Lord Cromwell no longer stood as an obstacle to them.
Mistress Howard.
The king would like you to accept a gift.
It's lovely.
You must thank His Majesty.
You can thank him yourself.
Your Majesty.
Come.
Bishop Gardiner.
Just the man we needed.
Now we may begin.
Gregory, what is it?
It's a boy.
I have a son.
Thanks be to God.
Prince Edward, Your Majesty.
My son.
Gentlemen.
-l call this council meeting to order-- -Cromwell, do not sit there.
That is no place for you. Traitors do not sit among gentlemen.
My Lord Cromwell.
You are arrested for treason.
I am no traitor.
I ask you, on your consciences, am l a traitor?
Yes, traitor.
Traitor, traitor.
-Traitor. -Traitor.
Traitor.
I am no traitor.
Traitor, traitor.
I am no traitor!
No. No, no.
No! I'm no traitor!
Princess Mary, do sit down.
I have some news.
Duke Philip has been sent back to Bavaria.
Your father, the king, sent him away.
I am so sorry. l cannot explain.
No need to explain.
It is of little matter.
The duke was charming...
...but l never would have married him.
He is a Lutheran and l am a Catholic.
My lords, l am come here...
...to introduce a bill of attainder...
...against Thomas Cromwell on a charge of treason.
Lord Cromwell, whom His Majesty has raised...
...from a very base and low degree and enriched with manifold gifts...
...is proved to be a most false and corrupt traitor and deceiver.
Traitor.
Traitor, traitor, traitor.
Being a detestable heretic...
...he has utterly disposed to set and sow common sedition...
...among Your Majesty's loyal and loving subjects.
As the vice-regent for religion, supposed to oversee reform...
...Cromwell has, without His Majesty's knowledge...
...licensed heretics to preach and teach.
My lords, we have evidence that on the night of March the 31st...
...in the parish of St. Peter the Poor...
...Lord Cromwell did arrogantly defend these heretic preachers.
He said if the king should turn against reform...
...he would not turn.
And if the king did turn, and all his followers...
...then he would stand fighting in the field...
...with his sword in his hand against the king...
...and against all his followers.
And he took out his dagger and he said:
"Oh, let this dagger thrust me through the heart...
...if I would not die for that quarrel.
And if l should live a year or two...
...then it will no longer be in the king's power anymore...
...to resist or hinder our Reformation."
And he swore a great oath.
Traitor!
Traitor, traitor.
Is it true that you loved this man, Sir Richard?
As a friend.
But l chiefly loved him for the love I thought I saw him bear...
...towards the king above all others.
But now, if he be a traitor, l am sorry that I ever loved him or trusted him...
...and l'm very glad that his treason is discovered in time.
Traitor.
Justice.
-Justice! -Traitor.
Traitor, traitor, traitor.
I trust, madam, you are happy and well treated?
I have no complaints whatsoever.
Everywhere l go I am treated with great respect...
...and kindness from everyone.
I'm glad.
You're not eating.
Your Majesty.
I wondered--
I'm sending you away for a while, to my palace at Richmond...
...for your health and for your pleasure.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I have some urgent business to attend to.
Madam.
The council considers it sufficient, as head of Church...
...that you can have the bishops annul your union.
But to be more diplomatic...
...we should find proof that the marriage was never consummated...
...and that Your Majesty never truly consented to it.
Send a deputation to Mr. Cromwell.
Demand of him written evidence supporting my annulment.
Doubtless he'll remember how often I spoke...
...of how my nature abhors that woman.
Mr. Cromwell.
Your Grace.
The king orders that you write him a letter...
...describing how he found Anne of Cleves...
...what passed between you on that subject...
...and whether he told you he had consummated...
...his so-called marriage or not.
He also orders you to describe the impediments to the marriage...
...and whether knowing them, you still arranged it.
His Majesty charges...
...that as you will answer God on the dreadful day ofjudgement...
...and also upon the extreme danger...
...and damnation of your soul and conscience...
...to write down exactly what you know.
I will most gladly do as the king commands.
I trust to his pleasure and satisfaction.
I desire more than anything else the king's comfort...
...and would most willingly die for it.
I wondered if you could see your house from that window.
The fact is, Mr. Cromwell...
...that only two hours after your arrest...
...the king dispatched his treasurer there to take away your goods.
The rabble came out to cheer them on.
It was a pretty sight, l hear.
Guard.
"Finding Your Majesty not as pleased as l trusted to have done...
...l was so bold to ask you how you liked the queen.
Your Majesty soberly answered:
'As you know, I liked her not well before...
...but now l like her much worse.
I have felt her belly and her breasts...
...and thereby, as l can judge, she should be no maid.
I left her as good a maid as l found her'."
The end. What does he say at the end?
"I beseech Your Majesty most humbly to pardon my rude writing...
...and to consider that I, a most woeful prisoner...
...am ready to take the death...
...when it shall please God and Your Majesty."
"Yet the frail flesh incites me continually to call to Your Grace...
...for mercy and grace for my offences...
...and thus, Christ save, preserve and keep you.
written at the tower this Wednesday--"
"The last of June, with heavy heart and trembling hand...
...of Your Highness' most heavy and miserable prisoner and poor slave."
He's written something right down at the bottom.
"Most gracious prince, I cry for mercy."
Mercy.
Another one. It was just this crazy one.
Will Your Grace be on Tower Hill tomorrow?
Try to keep me away.
I can vouchsafe to Your Grace...
...that his final end will be the most ignominious ever.
So l have heard, Your Grace. So l have heard.
What is he talking about? Tell me.
Cromwell is set to appear on the same scaffold...
...as Lord Hungerford, otherwise known as Mad Walter...
...who has been sentenced to death for various offences...
...such as sodomy, raping his daughter...
...and paying magicians to predict the date of the king's death.
At least he won't have to pay them to predict the date of his own.
And then Cromwell will be humiliated.
The false churl who was so ambitious for others' blood.
That is not our only device.
Tom and l have conceived some more sport at His Lordship's expense.
What kind of sport?
Patience, Edward.
Patience.
Let's have another beer.
Sorry there.
I've forgotten your name, fellow. What is it again?
-Gurrea, sir. -Gurrea.
Do you have the pox, or is it gone, Gurrea?
It's a big day tomorrow.
I ought to be abed.
Last pint. l'm paying.
And let's drink to old friends, huh?
Two more pints, my good man.
Guard!
That's right.
Master Gurrea.
I trust you're feeling clear-headed this morning.
Madam, the Earl of Hertford is come.
My lords.
Madam, it is my duty to inform you...
...that Parliament, the Convocations of Canterbury and York...
...have found your marriage to the king to be invalid...
...on the grounds of your precontract with Lorraine...
...His Majesty's lack of consent to the marriage...
...and its non-consummation.
The marriage is thus declared null and void...
...and from henceforth, it is the king's pleasure...
...that you call yourself his sister.
Do you consent?
In which case, I can tell you that the king has settled upon you...
...a handsome annuity of 4000 pounds per annum...
...as well as the manors at Bletchingley and Richmond...
...and also Hever Castle, so long as you remain in England.
And since His Majesty confirms that you are still a maid...
...you are free to marry whom you choose.
Please.
Tell the king that...
...l hope l will sometimes have the pleasure...
...of his most noble presence.
And beseech the Almighty to send him long life and good health.
Oh, my lady.
Father.
Kill him.
Put him to death.
Good people...
...l am come here to die.
Kill him. Traitor!
And not to purge myself, as some may think l should.
-Beast. -That's for betraying--
I am by law condemned to die.
And l thank my Lord God that has granted me this death for my offence...
...for since l came of age...
...l have lived as a sinner and offended my Lord God...
...for which l ask him heartily for forgiveness.
Get it over with, for chrissake. Get it over with.
I have also offended my prince...
...for which l ask him hearty amnesty.
-Do it now. -Damn you, Cromwell.
I heartily desire you to pray for the king's grace...
...and that he may long live with you in health and prosperity...
...and that after him his son, Prince Edward...
...may long reign over you.
There it is.
Nonsuch Palace.
My fool told me it didn't exist.
Gentlemen, you should all take warning from me...
...who was, as you know, from a poor man made by the prince...
...into a great gentleman...
...and that l, not contented with that...
...not with having the kingdom at my orders...
...presumed to a still higher state.
-Come on. -Get on with it.
-Die. -You deserve it.
My pride has brought its punishment.
Traitor.
Damn you to hell.
-Yes. -You should just die.
Lord, grant me that when these eyes shall lose their use...
...the eyes of my soul may see thee.
Good Lord and father, that when this mouth shall lose his use--
Kill him.
--that my heart will say unto thee:
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Go ahead now. Take his head off.
Pray for the prince...
...and for the lords of the Council...
...and for the clergy and for the people.
Now I beg you again that you will pray for me. Pray....
If possible, cut off the head with one blow...
...that l may not suffer much.
Chop it off.
Your Majesty.