King Henry VIII quotes from The Tudors

King Henry

[to Thomas More] Why is Henry V remembered? Because he endowed Universities? Built Alms houses for the destitute? No. He is remembered because he won the Battle of Agincourt. 3,000 English bowman against 60,000 French. The flower of French chivalry destroyed in 4 hours. That victory made him famous Thomas. It made him immortal!

King Henry

Perhaps you don't understand. But i can't sleep. I can hardly breathe, for thinking of you. Your image is before my eyes every waking second. I almost believe that I would sacrifice my kingdom for an hour in your arms... I beg you, name some place that we can meet, and when... where I an show you truly an affection which is beyond a common affection. Written with the hand of your servant, Henry.

King Henry

Anne, I want to say something to you. If it pleases you to be my true loyal mistress and friend, to give yourself up to me body and soul, I promise, I'll take you as my only mistress. I won't have a thought or an affection for anyone else.

King Henry VIII

[about Brandon] Look, I don't mean he is banished forever. Just as long as he breathes.

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!

King Henry VIII

I want jousts, carnivals and banquets organized in honor of the birth of my son. I have not yet decided whether to call him Henry or Edward! 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

When I was five, my mother and I were taken across London, into the Tower. There was a rebellion against my father; the Cornish rebels were actually at the city walls! And inside, everything was panic, fear. We had no news of the royal army, or of my father. My mother tried to remain calm, but she was terrified. So was I. I was sure we were both going to be killed.

Henry VIII

(to Jane Seymour) Don't go. Just because you have done everything that you have promised, don't leave me. You are the milk of human kindness, the light in my dark, dark world. Without you, life is a desert, a howling wilderness. (looks up) Please, God, in Your mercy, don't take her away from me! My son needs his mother, and I need my Queen!

Henry VIII

[at the tomb of Jane Seymour] One day I shall lie beside you again, I promise and we shall sleep together for eternity.

King Henry VIII

[talking to his advisors] My Lords, I assure you I am not content. I have relied upon you to inform and counsel me, and yet I am the most deceived. I have trusted and favoured all of you, and I have formed a sinister opinion that most of you are liars and flatterers who look only to your own profits. I know what you are planning, and if God gives me the strength, I will see to it that none of your projects ever succeed! [sadly] I mourn Cromwell's death. [His advisors looks shocked] Yes, I mourn him! I mourn him, now that I perceive that my counsellors, by light pretext and by false accusations, made me put to death the most...faithful servant I ever had.

King Henry VIII

(to his daughter, Elizabeth) Without knowledge, life is not worth having.

King Henry VIII

(angry at his physicians) These men are not sick from the phlox but from cowardice, and I will not send cowards home. They will either fight or I'll hang them by the wayside! You get them from their sickbeds back into that trench or you'll find yourself a head shorter!

King Henry VIII

My well-beloved commons, I come here today to speak with you to set forth my mind and the secrets of my heart. There should be perfect love and concord in this realm but instead there is discord and dissension in every place. What love and charity is there amongst the clergy when one calls the other heretic and anabaptist, and the other calls him papist and hypocrite? Are these tokens of charity amongst you? Are these the signs of fraternal love? The people look for light, and you bring them darkness. And as for the laity, you are not clean of malice and envy. For you slander and rebuke priests and bishops. You take it upon yourself to judge the clergy by the sole light of your fantastical opinions and vain expositions. Although you are permitted to read holy scripture, you must understand that it is under license, and only to inform your conscience, not to dispute and make scripture. I gave you the Bible in your own tongue, but I am sorry to see that that most precious jewel, the word of God, has been disputed, rhymed, sung, and jangled in every ale house and every tavern in this realm. I, whom God has appointed His vicar here, will see these divisions extinct and those enormities corrected, or God should account me an unprofitable servant. Therefore, be of charity with one another, like brother and brother. Love, dread, and serve God, to which I, as your supreme head and sovereign lord exhort and require you. And I doubt not but that love and affinity which I spoke of at the beginning shall never be dissolved or broken between us.

King Henry

You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To understand it, you need to start at the beginning.