Original subtitles

You were right that I should turn him to face us.

Jesus Maria.

He looks as if he would spring down and trample you.

- I wish that France could see this.

Or the Emperor.

And the King of Scots.

- There can be copies, Majesty.

I hear you have a visitor.

- Why don't you tell me all about it, Eustache?

- Mon cher, you must not blame me

if your amours are of interest to all Europe.

Hitherto, observers have been frustrated

by your extreme discretion.

Yes, it's a good likeness.

- And, uh, what will you do

with this new daughter of yours?

Will you confess her to the world?

- I'll have a hard time keeping her hid,

with you shouting about her in the streets.

- Law books.

It is your trade?

- You are aware, aren't you,

that, until this morning...

..I did not know you existed?

- I've shocked you with my arrival.

I'm sorry. - When I came back here,

I was homesick for Antwerp.

I would have stayed for not much encouragement.

- It was my mother's wish that you would not be troubled.

- But why? Why did she not write to me

when she knew her condition?

I would have come back. I would have married her.

Please tell her that. - My mother is dead.

A cold to her chest last winter.

She said that...

..she did not want you to regard me

a mistake you would have to pay for.

But she took me to Mr Vaughan's household to learn English.

Against the day.

I heard there was a revolt and you were in danger, so I came.

Is it over? The rebellion?

- There's still some unrest.

But now the Queen is with child, so...

- So you're safe.

I need not have come.

Still, I'm...

I'm glad to see you.

Are you glad to see me?

- I'm...

I'm astonished.

Alive?

- Alive.

- Maid or man?

- My lords...

..a son!

- The Lady Mary's looking more than usually sour

on this happy occasion, don't you think?

No doubt realising she will never now be Queen.

Is she recovered?

Grind it finer. And the other bowl.

- Here.

Wait. - Yes, my lady.

- Lady Rochford, she should not be given

such rich food in her weakened state.

- Lord Cromwell. I've told you this before.

These are women's affairs and none of your concern.

- My son's procession.

- The King and I, we may not attend the christening.

It's tradition.

- Will you go for me?

Tell me all that transpires?

- I will.

- Come. Come, Your Grace.

- Bess.

Of course you'll stay.

When my father is King and married to Meg Douglas

and Lady Mary both,

then you shall be Princess Jenneke,

and we will speed through Whitehall

in our silver chariot, and throw buns at the populace.

What can Antwerp offer next to that?

Do people know who you are in Antwerp?

- Some guess.

You are well remembered in the town.

I ask myself...

..why did you not marry again, begin another family?

- I have Gregory.

- Oh? And what have you done about women since then?

- An Englishwoman would not ask?

- Not out loud.

- Well, it's better to say the truth.

Of course, one buys women.

No doubt your people do it for you.

They are in awe of you.

- I'm in awe of myself. I never know what I'll do next.

Don't go back, Jenneke.

I can protect you better here.

I'll make you a marriage,

if you think you can love an Englishman.

- You chose Gregory's bride for him.

Would it be the same with me?

- Gregory is my heir.

It's not the same.

I'll give you your choice of bridegroom, of course I will,

and I'll make you a good settlement.

This place must seem strange to you now

but you will soon come to feel it's home.

Think of Ruth in the Bible.

She adapted herself.

Did you know I served another master before the King?

- Wolsey, the prelate?

- He had a daughter.

Dorothea. Illegitimate.

I offered her comfort and a home.

I offered her my own hand in marriage...

..all for the love of her father.

But she rejected me.

She said I had betrayed her father, my master,

at the end of his days.

- Did you?

Betray him?

- I don't know.

I don't think so.

But it's undone me, Jenneke.

Her accusation.

I've lost my way.

- Then leave this life.

Leave it.

Won't your King release you,

after everything you've done for him?

There's an abbey,

Launde, in the heart of England,

which will shortly come down.

It's a blessed place.

The bees there, they make honey scented with thyme.

I have thought of it for myself,

once the abbot surrenders it,

that I might live there when I'm old

and all of this is over.

You could live there, too.

Don't laugh. You could.

You've come so far, Jenneke.

You won't abandon me, will you?

I would walk to Jerusalem if it would save her.

Archbishop.

- Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis,

in nomine Patris,

et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

That's just negligence.

Negligence.

They've suffered her to take cold.

They've suffered her to eat things

she should not have eaten.

If she'd married me, she'd be alive.

She'd be alive now.

I would have managed it!

I would have managed it better!

- It's down to you to get him through this, Cromwell.

Through it and out the other side a married man again.

That's all that's important now.

I mean no disrespect to our lord prince but...

..we all know how easily a babe is snuffed out.

- I suppose you could...feel out the terrain, Crumb?

Where are you going, my lord?

- To ask him.

That's what you want, isn't it?

The King's grieving.

Of course he's grieving. Lovely lady. Who wouldn't?

But the Emperor and France creep close to a treaty,

which is very displeasant to us.

Now, what would make them quarrel faster than a marriage?

Let Henry claim a bride from France.

We could not only stipulate a good sum of money

with the girl, but military aid,

should the Emperor attempt anything against us.

Now, of course, we know that you'd prefer marriage

with some German gospeller's daughter,

but that will not happen. And do you know why?

Because it derogates from the honour of our sovereign.

Henry wears a crown imperial and is beholden to none,

whereas the best of these Germans is a mere...

..a mere prince's daughter,

and the Emperor is their overlord...

..whatever they pretend.

I'll not put a foot forward in this matter, my lord,

unless I have the council behind me and Parliament, too.

- Oh... I trust you.

You won't venture anything alone, my Lord Privy Seal.

- I must go in to the King now.

- Well, let me come with you.

- Uh... Wh-What, introduce you suddenly, like a surprise?

- Uh, well, then... say I'm right outside. Say I...

I offer fatherly comfort and counsel.

- My lord.

The Duke of Norfolk wants an audience.

He threatens to talk to you like a father.

- Does he?

I shall try to be a credit to him.

- He says it is your duty...

..to marry again.

- I could well be content to live chaste my remaining days.

- Parliament will also petition Your Majesty.

- Well, then,

I must set aside my own wishes, I suppose.

What do we hear of the widow?

Madame de Longueville?

I feel I could...

..perhaps be interested in her, if in any lady.

- There is a difficulty.

The King of Scots wants her.

- I do not call that a difficulty.

I shall not get such a pearl as Jane again.

Talk to me again in a week, my lord.

I shall try to have a better answer for you.

Jenneke...

If you need me, if you ever need me,

send a message over the sea.

It will reach me.

Vaughan's people will send it by the shortest route.

- Over the sea.

When I was little, I used to ask my mother,

"Where did my father go?"

and she would say, "Gone...over the sea."

I thought you had sailed to the new-found lands

and would bring back treasure.

I used to watch for your ship coming up on the Scheldt.

- If I'd known...

..I would have come.

- Then come with me now,

Father...

..to Antwerp that you were homesick for.

But you will not.

- Don't you think you should take

the threat of an alliance seriously, sir?

If France and Spain are at peace,

their attentions would turn to us.

Gregory!

Come in.

- You're busy.

He's frightened of me.

I don't know why.

- Perhaps take him into your confidence?

Show him you value his judgment.

- Give me your judgment on this.

100 pearls.

£300 for new clothes.

Sums dispensed for minstrels,

jewellery, gambling debts.

Large sums.

- Mary?

- Oh. Happily not your problem.

- I'm told that you are unhappy about my expenditure.

- The King is building a navy, my lady.

Coastal fortifications.

There are so many claims on his exchequer.

Some of your costs are hard to justify.

- What costs? - There are so many.

Daily presents to the child Eliza?

- She has lost two mothers in a year.

She is quite alone in the world.

You assisted me to return, my lord.

You instructed the court to treat me

as a princess in all but name.

You must not be surprised if I behave like one.

I hear that my father brings our ambassador

Stephen Gardiner back from France.

You did not know?

Gardiner.

- This is Norfolk's doing.

A ten-year truce between France and Spain!

Ten years!

- It won't last. When did their accords ever last?

It's more like a ten-minute truce.

- Read their terms and see how little England is regarded.

- Perhaps the Bishop of Winchester

should return to Paris, sir, lodge your protest in person?

- No, Gardiner stays here.

And why does the Emperor think the King of France

will keep faith with him when he does not keep faith with me?

He has broken every ancient agreement

between his realm and mine.

The kings of France and England

have always delivered up each other's rebels.

So why has he not delivered up Pole?!

Never mind their truce.

Francois is in breach of his treaty obligations to me!

He owes me four years' pension!

Tell the French...

My Lord Privy Seal... My Lord Privy Seal,

tell the French if they will not pay up,

I will invade them!

- Dear God! Tell them no such thing.

- If this truce lasts...

- It will not last.

- If it lasts, then our peril is extreme.

With France as his ally, the Emperor will think

conquering England simple enough.

And cheap...

..especially with the friends that await him

as soon as he sets foot on our soil.

The old Plantagenet families. Pole's people.

The Courtenays.

- If the Emperor invades, he'll set a Pole on the throne.

They'll marry Mary into the family

and they'll make her their puppet.

They think they're descended from emperors and angels,

these people.

To them, Henry Tudor is the son of Welsh horse-thieves.

So, we'll start with Geoffrey Pole.

Wriothesley.

- How is he?

- Well enough, for a man with a hole in him.

Geoffrey...

Geoffrey Pole.

I hear you tried to kill yourself.

Dear God.

Martin!

What were you thinking?

Do you need to lie down again or can you come and sit?

I thought you and I understood each other.

- Who can understand you, Cromwell?

- Well, there's a question.

Martin, can you fetch a candle, please?

- Jesu, do not burn me.

- I've been feeing you for years, haven't I?

I paid you to watch your family,

and yet you seem to know absolutely nothing

about their dealings.

What is it, Geoffrey?

Is it negligence?

Or lack of capacity?

Or do you play me false?

Thank you, Martin.

The French are funny, don't you think?

The French merchants have a custom.

They call it la vente a la bougie.

Suppose you have something for sale -

it might be a bale of wool or books or a castle -

all the interested parties are gathered together,

there's some discussion, perhaps there's a glass of wine,

and then the bidding begins,

and lasts until the candle burns down.

Martin, you can light the candle now.

When the candle burns out,

the bidding ceases and the deal is done. Now,

you answer my questions before this candle dies,

and I will offer you your life.

It'll be on my terms,

but still, it'll be your life. You can live quiet,

away from court. So, you see,

that's what Wriothesley and I have for sale.

Your life in return for information about your family.

Now, so far, you've offered us, well,

a scant few pence worth, haven't you?

But Wriothesley, he thinks you're good for £1,000.

So, have a think,

dig deep in your pockets

and see what you can come up with to persuade me.

I want you to go back in to him.

He'll try to talk around the point.

"I swear it was October...

"Oh, no, no, it might have been March.

"It might have been my mother.

"It might have been the Wife of Bath."

Nail him down on threats to the King.

Threats to the King himself.

And Francois.

I think the King of France is deeper in this

than a brother monarch should be.

- You're going to bring them down?

The oldest, richest families in the land?

- Like skittles.

Like jugs in an earthquake.

- But sir, if you...if you call a traitor

everyone who has voiced a dislike of the King

or his proceedings,

who does that leave alive?

- Me.

The Poles.

The Poles think the world will turn.

They know Henry is afraid of excommunication.

They think a show of force will bring him back to Rome.

But they're wrong. Henry won't turn.

He'll let me live a year or two,

and I'll make sure everything we've done

can never be undone, and then, even if Henry does turn,

I won't turn.

I'm not too old to take a sword in my hand.

- You would...take arms against the King?

- That's not what I said.

Send a man to Wyatt.

Tell him I want to speak to him.

Out now, Wriothesley.

Go out now.

I'll speak to Wyatt alone.

I hear you did great deeds against the rebels, Tom.

- Not really.

Half the time they ran away at night.

- I want you to resume your role

as the King's ambassador to the Emperor.

- Is there no other possible assignment? - There is not.

I hate Spain.

The Inquisitors think all Englishmen are Lutherans.

They put spies in my house,

they steal my letters...

..and, in truth, I cannot read the Emperor at all.

I hear the words he says, but nothing that lies beneath them.

His face never changes.

- It doesn't matter. You have only one task -

to break up this alliance between the Emperor and France.

- But does their pact not suit your purposes, my lord?

With France and Spain at peace,

will Henry not be required to seek other allies?

Allies such as the German princes.

Isn't that what you want?

To force the King into an alliance

with others who've thrown off Rome's yoke?

- Yes, and I'll pursue those alliances in other ways.

But if this pact between France and Spain endures,

the Emperor will invade, put Mary on the throne,

and all that we've gained will be swept away.

You must force them apart.

- He's still alive.

He rose from the table after dining

and then fell under it.

When we pulled him out, he was black in the face.

He coughed up blood, but I think that's what saved him,

for he then drew breath again.

- We'd feared such a crisis.

We try to keep the wound open to keep it clean,

but it tries to close,

trapping the dead matter within.

- What do you advise?

- What we always advise - a spare diet,

water his wine, keep the leg up.

- Hopeless.

It's the hunting season.

Cromwell!

There you are.

In your absence, I fear we took a tumble.

What news?

- Majesty, you must not think of transacting business today.

- No? Then who will rule, Dr Butts?

- God protect Your Majesty.

Now hostilities between France and the empire are...

..suspended,

their attention turns to us.

The German princes have formed a league -

they call it the Schmalkaldic League -

to defend themselves against the Emperor.

As England needs friends,

who better than these princes?

You would have me wed a Lutheran?

Duke Wilhelm of Cleves is not a Lutheran.

Like yourself,

he walks his own path...

..a guiding light to his people, Majesty.

He's offered to send a picture of his sister, Anne,

whom, they say, exceeds Madame de Longueville

as the golden sun exceeds the silvery moon.

- Well, then, let them send the picture.

And find out what these German princes will do for us

if we find ourselves under attack.

What other news?

- There is a priest, Your Majesty, John Lambert.

- A heretic.

Old Archbishop Warham charged him in 45 articles.

- And then died before the hearing could be completed.

Cranmer has been reasoning with him,

but he continues to preach,

saying only Christ, not priests, can forgive sin.

- Well, then, let him be tried again.

- He asks if he might present his case privately

to Your Majesty, as head of the Church.

- Bring him before me.

I will debate him...

..in public, I think.

- I think he... - What? You fear for me?

I am well able for any heretic.

And I must carry the torch of faith high,

where my friends and enemies can see it.

Archbishop.

- Thomas.

This Lambert will ruin us.

I have begged him to be circumspect,

and he said, "Act the man, Cranmer.

"Stand up for the truth,

"as you know it to be in your heart."

Here's Gardiner.

- Stephen.

Welcome home.

- I don't know what you've been doing in my absence, Cromwell.

Why have you tolerated an Anabaptist?

Unless, of course, you are one.

- And is that likely?

These people you call Anabaptists,

they serve no king.

They deny the child his book.

They say we live in the last days,

so why learn anything?

You know I have nothing to do with this sect.

- Perhaps not.

After all, you lay up treasure on Earth, don't you?

Indeed, you do little else.

And the body of Christ.

Is it present in the sacrament?

- Your Majesty being so well learned,

a prince of rare sagacity...

- I did not come here to be flattered.

Just answer.

- St Augustine says...

- I know about Augustine. I want to hear from you.

Well?

What do you say, Lambert?

Is it Christ's flesh?

His blood?

- No, sire.

- No?

- No.

It is not Christ's flesh.

- May as well set fire to him now.

- And what about women?

Is it lawful for a woman to teach?

- In case of necessity, yes.

- And may priests marry?

- Yes.

Any man should, if he has not the gift of chastity.

St Paul is clear in the matter.

- The vicegerent,

who is my deputy in all matters spiritual, will speak now.

- Majesty, having heard your reasoning today,

I do not think anything is wanting.

- What? Nothing is wanting?

Well, go on, Cromwell, reason the case.

You think no-one wants to hear you?

I want to hear you.

You agree with him, don't you?

The man's a heretic! Heresy!

No, I think Gardiner has been seeing the King behind my back,

pulling at his sleeve,

telling him how the French are disgusted by our Reformation,

and the Emperor is appalled.

Telling him how he must prove himself a good Roman at heart.

As if his great cause...

..his great cause is just some silly quarrel

that can be patched in a fortnight,

and seven years' work, seven years' work dismissed...

- It is too late for a speech now, master.

- And of course, Gardiner's right, God rot him.

How could I speak in support of the King...

..and condemn a man whose views I entirely share?

- Well, you cannot pick and choose.

If you serve a prince

week to week or cause to cause...

..sometimes all you can do is try to lessen the damage.

- Today we failed.

- What we have begun...

..will not come to fruition in one generation, my friend.

You're past 50.

I not much less.

Maintain your rule, for the gospel's sake,

for as long as you can. I shall do the same.

- But...but, Thomas,

what good is my rule if I cannot save John?

If he can burn John Lambert...

..he can burn any of us.

Any of us.

I should have spoken.

- I have been told by those I trust

there is no faith or truth in Cromwell.

- Master?

- By the mass, I have never known a living man so chilled.

- Richard...

- Master.

- This l-l-letter.

Take it to the King.

Go yourself.

- I will. I will. - Ride... Ride to him. - Rest.

Rest. I will go. - Tell him I'll see him soon.

- Lie down, lie down.

Lie down. Be still.

- Your malady rushes on you fast,

but I'll go now.

- You have to be still, master. - I know.

A porter l'epee!

- You look very ill, Cromwell.

There is a rumour flying around that you are dead.

- Well, as you see, Stephen.

Do you suppose this inconvenience of yours is over?

- It is. Majesty, I have news from Cleves.

- Yes?

- I know the Bishop of Winch...Winchester

has much in hand. Perhaps he would like to continue his day?

Duke Wilhelm would like to be assured of

the dower arrangements for his sister,

..how...how she will be left,

if Your Majesty should pre-decease her.

- Why? Does she think that likely?

- Such arrangements are comprehended

in any marriage contract.

You cannot be so ignorant of the wedded state, Stephen,

that you do not know that.

- Well, I imagine the lady would be struck to the heart.

She would care more about the loss of the King's person

than for any worldly advantage.

- Yes, that is why the bride's kin make a contract...

..so that when she is...

..newly widowed,

she does not weep herself out of her rights.

- I am known for generosity.

Duke Wilhelm will find nothing to complain of.

- There is, um, another matter.

A little over ten years ago,

a marriage was proposed between Lady Anne

and the heir of the Duke of Lorraine.

- Yes, but that matter was raised last year.

And when the contract was drawn up, it was found

that the parties were but ten and twelve years old.

I see no impediment to our union.

Why is this being bought up again?

All the same,

we had better see the Articles of Revocation.

It is my understanding that the wedding contract

was written into a larger text

which was not formally revoked,

because it was part of a treaty of friendship.

Shall I have someone write all this down for you, Gardiner?

- See?

Would not this delight the Emperor?

Division among my counsellors? Contention and strife?

Cranmer is to give dinner tonight at Lambeth Palace.

You will both attend,

and you will sit together in amity

and be reconciled.

Now, Cromwell,

if that is all...?

I was trying to remember, Cranmer,

when was it?

1514?

Something like that?

In Rome, when Cardinal Bainbridge died.

It was given out at the time

that one of his own household poisoned him.

- You know different, do you?

- They arrested a priest, name of Rinaldo,

but I've often suspected that he did not act alone.

This was all before your time, of course.

Bainbridge took ill at the dinner table.

A powder in his broth.

- Like when Bishop Fisher was poisoned.

- When the cook was boiled alive.

- We are losing our appetites here.

- Ha-ha!

- The powder was bought in Spoleto.

I know the shop.

- Does the shop know you?

This, um...

This priest Rinaldo, I...

..suppose somebody paid him to do it?

- Naturally. Bishop Gigli.

- Wolsey's old crony?

- Exactly.

Wolsey's chief friend in Rome.

With Bainbridge removed,

Wolsey was clear to be the next English cardinal.

You were in Rome then, weren't you, Cromwell?

It's interesting, that.

How were you in Rome, my Lord Cromwell?

- Private business.

I did not know Wolsey then.

- You always knew Wolsey.

- Oh, Bainbridge was a choleric man. He drove himself.

Such men can perish with the heat of Italy.

Besides, I always heard that

the priest retracted his confession before he died. - Yes.

So who was the murderer?

- You are seriously accusing Lord Cromwell?

- He was no lord in those days.

- My lord?

- I'm sorry.

My Lord Bishop, I...

I forget what you were saying.

- Wolsey scarcely had the grace to hide his hand in the murder.

He and Bishop Gigli were fast friends.

When I was his secretary. I saw the letters in the files.

Do you know what I think?

We're better off without cardinals

and proud old prelates such as we used to have.

Now, the archbishop here,

at least he conducts himself humble-wise.

You can tell by his countenance

that he spends his time at prayer,

instead of brow-beating noblemen

and plotting their downfall.

And wrangling and cheating and embezzling,

all of which were daily proceedings

with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. - My Lord Norfolk, you...

- Yes, and promoting false knaves to positions of trust,

soliciting bribes, falsifying deeds, bullying his betters,

consorting with conjurers

and generally thieving, lying and cheating, all to the detriment

and ruin of the commonweal and the shame of the King.

- He's an old man.

- Well, I don't know when I've enjoyed a peace conference

as much as I've enjoyed this one.