King Henry VIII quotes from The Tudors

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.

King Henry

Ah! Your Excellence, allow me to introduce...

Is this not Mademoiselle Anne? Enchanté. His Eminence, Cardinal Wolsey, has told me all about you, but he did not tell me how beautiful you are. For a Frenchman, that is almost a crime.

Anne Boleyn

(smiles, answering in French) But Frenchmen tell all ladies that they are beautiful- that is also a crime, is it not? I have a gift for you.

For me?

Anne Boleyn

For you, Monsieur, absolutely. (George Boleyn leads over a large wolfhound) This dog is very fast (the Ambassador sticks his hand out to pet it and it growls)... and very formidable.

(in English) What's his name?

Anne Boleyn

Wolsey. (Henry laughs)

King Henry VIII

For a while, I shall have to share Katherine's table, and sometimes her bed.

Anne Boleyn

Her bed!

King Henry

It's nothing. My lawyers have just advised me that to do otherwise might risk counter-suits. I could be seen to be acting against her conjugal rights.

Anne Boleyn

You think it's nothing, to go back to bed with your wife?

King Henry

What do you think is going to happen?

Anne Boleyn

What usually happens.

King Henry VIII

I hear you've been unwell? Is it true?

Cardinal Wolsey

Majesty, when was I ever unwell enough not to serve you?

King Henry

That's what I thought.

Queen Katherine

Have you no kind things to say?

King Henry

Kind?

Queen Katherine

To your wife, the mother of your child. You treat me so unkindly and in public neglect me.

King Henry

Katherine, you must accept the inevitable. The weight of academic opinion is against us. We were never legally man and wife. And the court will decide in my favour and if the court does not decide in my favour, I shall denounce the pope as a heretic and marry whom I please.

King Henry

Wolsey promises me I will have a divorce by summer.

Anne Boleyn

Promises are easy.

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"!

King Henry VIII

Have I made you unhappy?

Anne Boleyn

No, I would only be unhappy if you ever stopped loving me.

King Henry

London would have to melt into the Thames first.

King Henry

The need for reformation in the Church is manifest. The Emperor has a duty to promote it, as do I in my own domain. I'm glad we've had this opportunity to exchange opinions.

Your Majesty.

Thomas Cromwell

Majesty, I have just heard that the Pope intends to make Reverend Fisher a cardinal. [Henry laughes coldly at this] Apparently, he has already dispatched a cardinal's hat.

Henry VIII

Then Fisher will have to wear it upon his shoulders, for by the time it gets here, he won't have a head to put it on!

Henry VIII

That's enough!

Anne Boleyn

No, you told me that we would always be truthful with one another! You said it was the definition of love!

Henry VIII

Then here's the truth. You must shut your eyes and endure [contemptuous] like your betters have done before you!

Anne Boleyn

[angrily] How can you say that to me!? Don't you know I love you a thousand times more than Catherine ever did!?

Henry VIII

[stands up, furious] AND DON'T YOU KNOW THAT I CAN DRAG YOU DOWN AS QUICKLY AS I RAISED YOU!? T'is lucky you have your bed already, madam, for if you did not, I would not give it to you a second time! [moves to leave, but stops] Francis won't accept the betrothal.

Anne Boleyn

Why?

Henry VIII

[angrily] Why do you think!? Because he, and the Pope, and the Emperor ARE ALL AGREED she is a bastard, and you are not my wife!

I was married before and, I must confess, I rather like the liberty of not being married again!

Henry VIII

[laughes] I can understand that!

Henry VIII

What of the others!?

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]

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!

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.