The Tudors quotes

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Cardinal Wolsey: What did Lord Buckingham say about the king?
Thomas Boleyn: He told me he has a greater claim to the throne and that, as His Majesty has no male heir and will have none but he, Buckingham will succeed to the throne, but he also told me once that he has considered bringing that eventuality forward more quickly.
Cardinal Wolsey: In what way?
Thomas Boleyn: By assassinating His Majesty.

Cardinal Wolsey: Why should the pope favour the emperor, who has caused him nothing but misery, over the king of England, who has never caused him any harm at all?
Edward Fox: The trouble is, your Eminence, the swords of the king of England are much further away than the swords of the emperor. Diplomacy is nearly always settled by such proximity.
Cardinal Wolsey: Spoken like a true lawyer.

Cardinal Wolsey: Your Majesty, I beg that you yield to the King's will.
Queen Katherine: And what is his will?
Cardinal Wolsey: As His Eminence proposes, that you join a religious community of your choosing and take a vow of perpetual chastity.
Queen Katherine: You speak to me of chastity. Have you not a mistress and two children, Your Eminence?

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: I'm going to have to attend on the king and that bitch of his at her coronation! What didWolsey used to call her? "The Black Crow".
Catherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk: Can you not plead some indisposition?
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: I could, even though the king has made me high constable for the day, but if I did, His Majesty would remove my head. And then, I should be genuinely indisposed!
Catherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk: [flirtingly] Very well. So keep your head. It's a pretty head in any case, and I don't want to lose it either. [serious] But store up your knowledge and your anger. Don't act impulsively; it's always a mistake. But one day, with others so disposed, use them both...and if you can, bring her down, and destroy her.

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: Margaret, you and I must stay in the king's good graces or we are nothing. Let him marry who he wishes.
Princess Margaret: That was always your philosophy, wasn't it Charles? So very cynical. Is that why you keep company with that devil Boleyn?
Charles Brandon: You liked him enough once, when he helped us back to court... Or were you just being cynical?
Princess Margaret: I didn't see all of his game. Now I do. I despise him.
Charles Brandon: So do I. But I hate Wolsey more. It's a marriage of expedience.
Princess Margaret: Rather like ours.
Charles Brandon: No, I loved you.
Princess Margaret: You don't know the meaning of the word, Charles. You can love, perhaps for a year, a month, a day, even for an hour. And in that hour I do believe you love as well and deeply... as any man. But after that hour, you love not! You love another, and then another. Your love is most generous where it is most hurtful.

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: Someone told me taking infusions was the worst thing.
King Henry: Trust me. It will make you feel sick, but it's better than the sickness it prevents.

Charles Brandon: Your highness must be looking forward with great anticipation to your wedding? I hear the king was a great horseman... in his time. And famous for his beautiful mistresses.
Princess Margaret: Don't tease me. I don't like it.
Charles Brandon: Will you like it when an old man tries to make love to you?
Princess Margaret: Your grace goes too far. Already.
Charles Brandon: Gospel says the truth will make you free.
Princess Margaret: Now you are blasphemous!

Charles Brandon: Your Majesty must forgive me...
Henry VIII: [angrily] Yes I must forgive you, I must always forgive you, BUT I GROW TIRED OF FORGIVING YOU! I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF "PRINCE"!

Emperor Charles: Together we shall invade France and bring to an end the adventures of that libertine monarch, King Francis.
King Henry VIII: That would make me very happy.
Emperor Charles: It will also make you king of France.

Francis Bryan: Your Majesty's life is far too precious to be put at risk against such a common rabble. Of course, if you choose to go, you'd be like a lion among wolves.
King Henry: Sir Francis, I don't require you to flatter me.

George Boleyn: [talking to his father after Henry VIII is left fighting for his life in a jousting accident] You know, I cannot think whether it would be a bad thing, or a good thing if he died. For as Lord Protector, you would ipso facto be King of England.

Henry VIII: [speaking to his courtiers while Anne Boleyn is in labour with a "son"] I've asked the French Ambassador to hold him at the font during his christening. If he drops him, it's war!

Henry VIII: [speaking while holding his newborn daughter] Who knows, perhaps one day this little girl will preside over empires.

Henry VIII: [talking to Thomas Cromwell, trying to disguise the fact he is in agony from his leg wound] I've dispatched Suffolk with the royal army. If need be, I will dispatch a second army to destroy the rebels.
Thomas Cromwell: Yes, Majesty.
Henry VIII: Unless they disperse, and send 100 of their ringleaders to the Duke of Suffolk with halters around their necks, then he has our permission to burn and destroy all their goods, and make a fearful example of them to all our subjects.
Thomas Cromwell: Yes, Majesty.
Henry VIII: If still they do not submit, Mr. Cromwell, then I promise the utter destruction of them, their wives and their children. Do you understand me? I will destroy them all...[he looks up and glares at Cromwell] And then I'll destroy you, Cromwell!

Henry VIII: What of the others!?
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk: Smeaton, Brereton, Norris and George Boleyn have been found guilty, and are to be executed tomorrow.
Henry VIII: You know what Cromwell told me? He told me she'd had to do with over a hundred men. A hundred fucking men, Charles! [angrily] You know what? My daughter, Mary, owes God a great deal for escaping the hands of that poisoning whore! Oh she planned to have her poisoned, Charles, it's true. Just like she poisoned Catherine. We have proof. And her baby. Her baby was deformed; did you know that, Charles!? [horrified, Brandon shakes his head] So how could it have been mine!? Perhaps Elizabeth isn't even mine! That fucking bitch! [Henry breaks down in tears as Brandon tries to comfort him]