Original subtitles

This programme contains some strong language

So who was the murderer?

You are seriously accusing Lord Cromwell?

He was no lord in those days.

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 browbeating noblemen, plotting their downfall,

wrangling and cheating and embezzling,

all of which were daily proceedings

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

- 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!

- For shame, Thomas!

He's an old man.

Anne of Cleves, Majesty.

And this is how she stood before you?

- Yes. As she is.

- Well, look, my Lord Norfolk, is she not well and seemly?

- Tell me about her.

- Um...

She was brought up piously.

I believe she speaks no language but her own.

- Not even French?

- Well, our envoys say she has a good wit,

and I am sure she will learn our tongue

as soon as she puts her mind to it.

And of course, we will be able to make music together.

If she does not know the words to English songs,

I'm sure she will know them in other tongues.

- In Germany, as far as I understand,

great ladies do not have music masters, sir.

A lady there would lose her good name by singing,

or dancing.

Then what shall we do after supper?

Drink?

They are great drinkers, the Germans. They are known for it.

- They say the same of the English.

- My wife and I will hunt.

We will enjoy the pleasures of the chase together.

What?

- I believe she rides.

I am not sure she shoots.

- They don't hunt, either?

What do they do all day? Sew?

- And pray.

- By God, she'll be grateful for you for taking her out of that place.

- Yes, she will.

Her life must have been a trial, bless her.

She will find our ideas quite different.

Cromwell!

- Come, my lords.

This will not do. Shake hands like Christian men.

- On the subject of Christians,

your man Riche -

Chancellor of Augmentations, he calls himself -

says that Thetford Priory will go down.

It will not go down, sir,

because the priests of the priory

pray for the souls of my ancestors who are buried there,

and they will pray for them as long as this world endures.

I want that understood. Tell him, will you?

- As long as this world endures.

That's a lot of prayers, my lord.

That's a lot of prayers.

- It will be conveyed to the Lady Anna by the straightest route,

Your Majesty. She has already begun her journey to London.

- Her cousin.

- The Duke of Bavaria.

- It appears to me that our friendship with the German states

might be further strengthened if we made a match

between him and Mary.

If I have to sacrifice myself for England,

cannot my daughter?

If I am to breed for the nation, why cannot she?

- My lady, Cromwell is here.

Duke Philip of Bavaria, my lady.

The King would like you to meet him.

- With a view to what?

- With a view to marriage.

Duke Philip is a well-made man.

Fair, dark eyes.

Not unlike your lady mother's colouring.

- That does not weigh.

- And he's no Lutheran. Don't let anyone tell you he is.

- I never let anyone tell me anything, my lord.

- What we can't have is any late retraction.

You say yes, you'll meet him,

and then at the last minute, you say no.

That would embarrass the King.

- Yes.

No.

Yes, it would leave him embarrassed.

No, I would not do it.

I have sworn to be obedient, as you so often remind me.

- Well, the King is a tender father.

He would never force you into a marriage with a man you cannot love.

- He forced my cousin Meg Douglas out of marriage

to a man she swore she would die for.

- Philip has told the King he will make no demands.

He takes you for friendship's sake, to further the alliance.

- Does he speak English?

- Only German.

Others will interpret.

- She permitted it? - She did.

- Which is a good sign, by God.

She never permitted any of us to kiss her.

- You have not the rank.

I am assured by Cromwell that she will be conformable.

He always gives me that assurance, yet nothing ever comes of it.

- Lady Mary will do as you command, sire.

She's given me that assurance. But in Europe...

..they are claiming the marriage is made against her will.

- They think I would enforce her? - Yes.

I just... I wonder if it's wise...

..to let her leave the kingdom, sire.

The Emperor still threatens the Duke's rule.

If the Duke should fall,

Mary will always be a rallying point for your enemies.

- You see, Your Majesty? Your daughter will never marry.

Cromwell breaks every match proposed for her.

I wonder why.

- I'm bringing Anne of Cleves overland to Calais.

I want you there with Fitzwilliam when she arrives,

paying reverence on my behalf.

- In Calais?

Am I to cross? - Mm-hm. Write to me the minute you see her.

Make sure she knows who you are.

Be kind. Be patient, Gregory.

Make sure she has the things that she likes to eat.

She'll want ready money. I'll give you a purse of 50 sovereigns.

And do not embark for home

without checking that all of her train's debts are paid.

I want Anna looking to us for anything she needs. Company...

- Excuse me. My, um, head aches.

- What's that? - He's jealous.

He wishes you would send him to Calais, not me.

- Why would you?

He's an idiot.

- No, he's like a son.

He's anxious to please you.

Give him a kind word, Father.

- This pretended alliance between France and the Emperor.

Neither man dare turn his back on the other.

It is not friendship, but its opposite.

- All the same, their league has endured

longer than we could imagine.

- We have few friends in either court.

You especially.

You have few friends, Cromwell.

- If my service has incurred their malice, I count it well.

It was done for Your Majesty's sake.

- Are you sure about that?

I think it is because of what you are.

They don't know how to deal with you.

- Likely not.

Your Majesty must realise...

..they want me displaced so that you and your kingdom

may be the worse advised.

That's why they poison your mind against me.

- So...

..you would recommend...

..if I hear you have exceeded your office,

or that you have slacked my instructions or reversed them,

that I should ignore the rumour?

- I would recommend you talk to me before you believe anything.

- It is a long time now since I first saw you, Tom.

- It is.

More than ten years, sire.

Is it?

- I remember our first interview.

Suffolk did not know what to make of you.

I knew, though.

I saw your sharp little eyes.

You told me not to go to war.

"Never fight," you said.

"You can't afford it."

Skulk indoors like a sick child. It will be good for the Treasury.

And I thought to myself, "By St Loy,

"this man has some stomach. He has some gall."

- I trust I did not offend. - You did.

I overlooked it,

as a ruler sometimes must.

I am greatly altered these ten years.

You, not so much.

You no longer surprise me like once you did.

I do not think you will surprise me again,

considering all that you have said and done...

..some of it miraculous, I will not deny, Tom.

You have worked beyond the capacities of ten ordinary men.

But still I miss the Cardinal of York.

Still I miss Thomas Wolsey.

- I am bested by the Cardinal's ghost.

How do you like the new Queen's Maids-of-Honour?

- They seem very young.

- Oh, that's you getting older.

The maids are the usual age.

- Who is this?

- Catherine Howard.

Norfolk's niece.

Succulent little thing.

- I think we've had enough of Norfolk's nieces.

- I sent her away because she looks 12,

but they swear she's of sufficient age.

Here she is again.

A simpler maid I never saw. Her mouth's always hanging open.

But she has no mother, bless her.

She was but an infant when her mother died.

- A soft word, my lady.

- I'm not a monster, my lord.

I wonder who paid for what's on her back.

That cloth did not come from the old dowager's wardrobe.

And those rubies - did they not once belong to Anne Boleyn?

- That got your attention.

- Send her away.

- Again?

What do I say to the Howards?

- Say what you like.

Just make sure she doesn't show her face here again until the King

is safely married.

- Sir.

My lord, I have decided to make speed to Rochester

and greet the bride in my own person.

- Why, sir?

It will only be a day or two before she arrives.

- I want to nourish love.

- Your Majesty, with all respect, was this not aired in Council?

It was your Councillors' earnest prayer that Your Majesty

spare himself the journey and that you greet the Queen in London,

and you were pleased to accede.

- Can I not change my mind, Wriothesley?

In London there will be music and ordnance,

and we shall not speak a dozen private words to one another

before we must ride back,

and then it will be hours before we have a chance to be alone.

No. I want to surprise her...

..and gladden her heart and bid her a proper welcome.

- If you will be advised by me, sir... - But I will not.

You have many strengths, Crumb,

but you are no adept in courtship.

- She'll hardly be off the ship, sir.

Think how shamed she will be if she cannot appear at her best.

- And she may well, of course, be overwhelmed

by Your Majesty's presence.

- That is why I must go!

I will spare her anxiety.

She will be working herself up toward great ceremonies.

I will go in disguise.

It is what a king does.

You cannot know, Cromwell, because you are not a courtier born.

I know it is not what we agreed, my lord,

but a bridegroom must have his caprices,

and disguising always brings pleasure.

The dowager, Katherine, she would pretend she did not know me.

Of course, she did but play with me, because everybody knows the King.

- May I ask what disguise Your Majesty means to adopt?

- Ah! A Russian nobleman.

With great fur boots.

A shepherd, then.

Or perhaps...one of the Magi.

- Perhaps, sir, just... Just go as a gentleman.

- A gentleman?

Of England?

A gentleman with no name?

Yes.

Very well.

I shall be ruled by Lord Cromwell,

as all the foreigners claim I am.

- Christ. - Well, we did what we could.

You are afraid that he will find her not as reported?

Because for sure she will find HIM not as reported.

- She's expecting a full court reception.

That's what her people have prepared her for.

In Cleves they know nothing of this sort of childish carry-on.

Make speed to Rochester, Call-Me. Warn her.

The King will come on the river with a small train,

no heralds, no ceremony. Anna must be ready.

He'll enter her chamber. She must appear...

..astonished and delighted.

- Well, it could be worse.

At least he's not going to wear his Turkish costume.

I am greatly altered these ten years.

You, not so much.

You no longer surprise me like once you did.

I do not think you will surprise me again.

Gregory. What are you doing here?

- Henry is on his way back from Rochester.

- And Wriothesley? Had he warned Anne? Was she ready?

- She was warned, she was not ready.

Why didn't you stop him from going, Father?

You're his Councillor.

- Sit. Tell me.

- The King came in, masked,

dressed in some outlandish costume,

but she was looking out the window.

They were baiting a bull in the courtyard,

and she cast a glance over her shoulder and then...

..turned back to the sport.

I suppose she didn't believe a prince would come in secret.

The King bowed low...

..and addressed her, and still she didn't turn.

I think she took him for...

..I don't know what, but he stood there with his hat in his hand.

He seemed uncertain how to proceed.

Until her people swarmed in and alerted her.

And then she turned and she realised who he was.

As Christ is my Saviour, Father, the look in her eye...

..I will never forget it. Nor, I think, will the King.

She recoiled from him.

He could not miss it.

Did you tell her he was old?

Fitzwilliam says she is as good a woman as we will find in Europe.

But I don't see how she will undo that first moment.

- And?

- He has said nothing.

- Cromwell, we have not had the papers from Cleves

about the Lorraine marriage, the pre-contract.

It was stated emphatically that the lady would bring them with her,

but it appears she did not.

Even the least suspicious man would ask himself

why they have still not shown them.

I cannot proceed.

I cannot marry until I am sure

she is clear of all past promises.

- Majesty...

- I find her nothing so well as she is spoken of.

Fitzwilliam...

..wrote from Calais, praising her outright.

- Well, I have not yet seen the lady, but...

- No, you have not seen her.

You and I have both been at the mercy of reports,

so you cannot be blamed.

When I encountered her yesterday,

I tell you I had much ado to master myself.

A great outlandish bonnet!

And her height, and stiff as she is, I thought to myself,

"I am to marry the Cornhill Maypole."

- And I believe she had painted her mouth,

which, if true, is a filthy thing.

- Well, her attire can be changed, sir.

- Her complexion is sallow.

When I think of Jane...

..so white and clear.

A pearl.

- Well, I think this will be the journey, sir.

All those long, tedious hours with a baggage train,

the delays, and then... then the voyage from Calais.

As for the papers, I cannot guess

why the ambassadors have not brought them.

But we know there's no pre-contract, and the parties were not yet of age.

You said yourself it's no great matter.

- It is a great matter

if I think I am married and find I am not.

- I hear there was an upset at Rochester, Cromwell.

You know more than I do.

- So I do.

High time you admitted it.

God, is there no help for it?

He's seething inside. I know him from childhood.

The papers are an excuse. He dislikes her

or he is frightened of her. But mark this, Cromwell.

I will not be stuck with the blame

just because it was I who was sent to meet her at Calais.

- Listen, no-one is seeking to blame you.

It's his own fault, if there is fault.

Rushing about the countryside like a lovelorn youth.

So, Cromwell, he wants to get out of it, I hear.

- Let's be clear, my lords.

The King of France and the Emperor are together seeing in the New Year.

They have not been so close in our lifetime.

They have a fleet and funds to attack us.

Our forts are still building.

Ireland is against us. Scotland is against us.

If we're not to be overrun this spring,

we need the princes of Germany on our side,

either sending forces to our aid

or engaging the enemy so that we can defeat him,

or force a truce.

The King needs to make this marriage.

England needs it.

- He agreed to it. He signed up.

He can't jib now. - I agree.

I agree with my Lord Suffolk.

The King has gone too far in the matter.

He was convinced before that she was free to marry,

and she seems a good enough woman to me.

- Oh, she seems a good enough woman to you, does she?

Perhaps you do not understand the requirements of a prince!

- ..I wanted my diamond! Why is my diamond not here?!

Put on my wig.

Come on, we're late.

Going to be late. Sadler!

Where is my Lord Essex?

He is supposed to escort her. He is late. What will she think?

Cromwell, you fetch her.

- I'm not worthy, Your Majesty.

- You are if I say you are.

- What? - Late!

- What's the hurry?

Well, dark mornings, ice on the path.

Needless to imperil oneself. - Cromwell.

- Is Cromwell going for her?

Won't she be insulted, Majesty?

She must know that he's a common shearsman.

- Oh, get on, get on, Cromwell. What matter who does it?

I tell you, my lord, if it were not for fear of driving her brother

into the Emperor's arms, I would not do what I must do this day

for none earthly thing!

- Benedicti. Sitis a Domino,

qui fecit mundum ex nihilo.

Amen.

Deo Gratias.

Gaudete. Gaudete.

- Gaudete.

- You are Lord Cromwell.

Thank you for escorting me this morning. - Mm.

- And thank you for the cakes. A taste of home.

Have you visited my home? - I have not.

We were much misinformed

about your English, your grace. Very good.

- I have a long journey and a good tutor.

I was hoping for letters at Calais, but there was nothing for me.

- Oh, the posts are very bad at this time of year.

I myself am awaiting news from our ambassadors

in France and Spain.

- Ah, yes.

To know whether the friendship continues.

I know it is, um...

..unkind to wish for war.

But I know that my brother Wilhelm would be very happy if the Emperor

and the French King would fight each other again

with their fists and teeth.

- Yes. Certainly their discord is our harmony.

- A gift for you, Lord Cromwell.

- Me? - From Duke Wilhelm, to thank you for your efforts.

- Oh, my.

- Gentlemen, you will be pleased to know that despite the fact

that I still have not received the paperwork that I requested...

- ..I have sent the Queen

her morgengabe, as I think you call it.

A gift in accordance with the custom of your country.

We will let you have the written details of its value.

- And a gift from Cleves, Your Majesty,

to celebrate your new union.

How like you the Queen?

- I liked her not well before.

I like her much worse now.

Her breasts are slack.

Her belly has loose skin on it.

When I felt it, it struck me to the heart.

I had no appetite for the rest.

I do not believe she is a maid.

- Oh, Maj... Majesty, she's never strayed from her mother's side.

What did Anna say?

- Nothing.

Her English disappears when convenient.

I'm hardly going to bring the men in to interpret.

- You like her.

- I do.

She keeps her own counsel.

Sets us a good example, don't you think?

Our view is he lay on her and put his fingers in her.

C'est tout.

The King says she has displeasant airs about her.

You might talk to her chamber-women and see if they're

washing her well enough. - You talk to them.

- This was your gamble, Cromwell. - If I promoted the match,

it was with the King's full permission and encouragement,

and this Council's.

- Yes!

And now it's me getting the blame.

Harry says I should have stopped her at Calais.

I wrote saying she was like a princess.

Well, she is.

Is it for me to feel her duckies and write home my opinion?

- There is...

Get out!

Interrupting the Council!

- There is news from Wyatt in Spain.

He says that he has driven a wedge between the French and the Emperor.

Apparently, he accused the Emperor in front of his whole court

of being ungrateful to our king.

The Emperor then, of course, flew into a rage and said,

"How dare your master use that word, ungrateful?

"That charge cannot be levelled against an Emperor

"by the envoy of some poor little island full of heretics and sheep.

"An inferior person, a king, cannot expect gratitude.

"The Holy Roman Emperor is set above mere kings.

"Their natural position is at his feet."

I'm sorry, I don't... I don't understand.

Why does that drive a wedge?

- In insulting our king, the Emperor insults all kings,

including his ally, the King of France.

By Christ, that was well done.

Wyatt may have started a fire

that will burn their peace treaty clean up.

We may yet be able to sleep safe in our beds.

Then we won't need your German friends, will we, Cromwell?

And Henry won't need this marriage.

Your man Wyatt aids his country,

but works contrary to your purpose.

- Thank you, Christophe.

- Can you save him?

From this marriage?

- How often do you get the chance to change the map of the world?

Perhaps once in two or three generations. Can I free him?

Can I free him? It's not impossible.

But to let that chance slip away...

- I should be here with you.

Richard is with his new family now.

Call-Me is...is just jealous of anyone you esteem above him.

Richard Riche is a tissue of ambition and...

And Fitzwilliam...

I thought he was your friend,

but now I am not so sure that he can be trusted.

He will see you blamed if it will deflect blame from himself.

- You serve me better where you are, Rafe - with the King.

So what shall we do?

What can we do but as Cicero says - live hopefully,

die bravely.

- Cromwell!

Thetford Priory.

- Yes, my lord.

- You've shut it.

- I have.

- That's my country.

I told you, my forebears lie there.

My father lies there. Flodden Norfolk, they called him,

named after the battle. Now where is he to go?

It's an insult to the Howard name.

My father must be prayed for, damn you!

- Your old dad, why don't you let him take his chances?

- You dare hold me in contempt?

I'll have your guts, you filthy ingrate!

What were you, hmm, when you came to court?

Wolsey owned the shirt on your back.

Now you stir yourself and you show your gratitude to me and to the King

who have done so much for you!

You keep your hands out of my affairs,

and you take your fucking Germans and you kick them out the door!

- The whole Council approved that match!

You signed it, Thomas Howard.

You did, as well as I!

As for that lady, the King couldn't get her here fast enough.

- I tell you, he wants to be free.

Have you not seen him looking at my niece?

He cast a fantasy to Catherine the first time he ever did see her.

- If you want power, why don't you get it like a man

instead of pandering your fucking nieces?

- What? What?!

- God rot you.

- Was that wise, sir?

He takes such pride in his ancestors.

I don't think he'll forgive you for turning them out.

Norfolk, he may be a brute, but he's right.

You told the King that without the Germans

he was destitute of friends, which was true, but now...

..the alliance is melting away.

Henry will be courted again by France and Emperor both.

I don't think Norfolk has disclosed all of his dealings with the French.

I believe they made overtures of friendship that were...

I will not say hidden.

Entrusted to the Duke and not to you.

They hate you, sir.

And Norfolk -

he encourages them.

Didn't I advise you when the Boleyns came down, "Break Norfolk"?

I said, "Break him, whilst you have the chance."

- I have a matter to put to you.

It is a matter of some gravity.

Come here with me and close the door.

- Sir! Sir, you must see this at once.

It's a copy of a letter from Ambassador Castillon

to the French King.

I, um, I put a man in his train.

Now Castillon says that King Henry means to take the Privy Seal from us

and give it to Fitzwilliam.

That he'll cast you down from your office as Vicegerent

and raise up Bishop Tunstall.

- I received your summons. What is it? What's happened?

- Well, I...

I've just come from the King, straight from the King,

and I have news. Good news for the both of you.

I hope you'll think so. Come in.

Come, sit with me.

Sit here.

As you know, ever since I've been Master Secretary,

I've tried to be with the King's person.

But always, I'm wanted at Westminster,

so you know what my life has been.

With the King's permission, I'm now going to divide my duties.

From now on, you two will share the task.

Each of you will be Master Secretary.

You'll split your time, so if one of you is in Westminster,

the other will be with the King.

You'll both be made knights.

You'll both be raised to the Council.

You know what I have made of this office.

Nothing eludes it.

Nothing is beyond it.

From now on, everything starts with you,

and with you, everything stops.

Rafe. Yes.

And I am to be made Lord Great Chamberlain,

Chief of the Household.

The Earl of Essex died last night, and, well, I'm...

..I'm to be given his title.

When I left the King - before I came here...

..before I told my household -

I wanted to tell you first.

Master.

To have your blessing.

I wanted to tell my old dad...

"What, Put-An-Edge-On-It has been made an earl?"

Just to see his face.

But everyone I wanted to tell...

..is dead.

Gregory. - Father.

Bess has something she wishes to tell you.

- What is it, Bess?

- I will leave you both.

- Catherine Howard has left the court.

She's back at Lambeth with Norfolk.

- I know.

- The Queen was glad to see her go.

But the Queen doesn't understand.

- Understand what?

- He visits her.

The King.

He stays with her until late.

His barge comes back after sunset.

The Howards believe that he might marry her.

And who is to say that he will not? - Do you have any proof?

- I was bidden to a piece of work.

It was handed to me out of malice.

It was something of Jane's.

Jane, my sister.

It was her girdle book, her little prayers.

I was told to take this and to pick her initials out.

I said, "I will not. I will not do it.

"I am Mistress Cromwell. I am not some servant."

The next thing that I see,

Catherine Howard is wearing it at her waist.

And it is not the first gift that she has had

that belongs to some lady better than she will ever be.

Could you have another child, Crumb?

I think you could.

You are of common stock. Common men have vigour.

I thought I would get another son from this marriage.

But there is no sign God intends it.

Can we not pay her off?

- We might write to Cleves this moment.

You could write at my dictation as we once used to.

- My eyes are not what they were, sir.

We could offer her a settlement, sir,

but I don't know how much we would need to find

to placate her brother.

And I do not know how to salvage Your Majesty's reputation

if you were to renounce a lawful match.

I imagine it would be hard to hold your head up

before your fellow princes.

Or come by another wife. - I could come by one tomorrow.

- Yes.

Most likely some papist.

And then I would wish myself far away.

- Come sit with me.

Put your papers to one side. Come, sit down.

Do you remember the day we rode down to the Weald

to see the ironmasters and find out new ways of casting cannon?

Those were brighter days.

Jane did not like me to leave her...

..but she knew that we had long planned the excursion,

and your lordship's press of business being what it is,

and the duties of a king being what they are...

..she did not ask me to forbear.

- I said to her, "It will be only two nights or three,

"and we will take it at our ease.

"We shall listen to the birdsong.

"We shall ride, like knights of Camelot, through the woods.

"We shall enjoy the sunshine."

But when I think about it...

..I recall we never made that journey, did we?

- Into Kent? No.

But it was projected.

Let's say we did, sir.

Let's say the ironmasters gave us their best welcome.

Opened their minds to us...

..showed us all their secrets.

- They must.

No-one could keep their secrets from me.

It is no use to try.

The King would not elevate you,

make you Lord High Chamberlain, Earl of Essex,

if he meant to destroy you.

- Have I not taught you, Rafe?

Have you not read it in the Book Called Henry which I wrote for you?

Never say what the King will not do.

- Sir Rafe!

- Is my Lord Archbishop on his way?

- Er, we're not expecting him.

- My Lord Bishop, are you on the Council now?

- Imminently.

- We'll see how long that lasts, shall we?

Anyone want to make a bet?

Well, our numbers are down, but shall we begin?

- We don't sit with traitors.

- Tear out your heart and stuff it down your throat!

- Get his arms.

Get his arms!

- Hold him!

My lord!

My lord, you must come with me.

I'll walk by your side and lead you through the crowd.

Adieu, Cromwell.

- You give me my title, Stephen.

- You have no title.

It's gone.

You are no more than God made you.

May he take you to his mercy.