Cardinal Wolsey quotes from The Tudors

Cardinal Wolsey

Ah, Doctor Knight! Off to the Vatican, are you? And what have you here? Shows letters One is a letter requesting a nullification of the dispensation the King got to marry Queen Catherine. The other is a letter to His Holiness saying that if a divorce cannot be granted, that the King be allowed to take a second wife to father a son. Not only is the King challenging a papal bull, he is asking the Pope to sanction bigamy!

Cardinal Wolsey

[to Cardinal Campeggio] Let me make certain things plain to you. If you do not grant the King his divorce, papal authority in England will be annihilated. You should remember, the greater part of Germany has already become estranged from Rome, the same thing could happen here. It would mean the total ruin of the kingdom.

Thomas More

Do you really think we should go to war?

Cardinal Wolsey

I think we should try to do as the King wants us to do.

Thomas More

What if the King doesn't know what's in his best interests?

Cardinal Wolsey

Then we should help him decide.

Cardinal Wolsey

Thomas, let me give you a little advice. If you want to keep the love of a prince, this is what you must do: You must be prepared to give him the thing you most care for, in all the world.

Thomas More

The thing I care for most is my integrity.

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

We have a new visitor at court, Princess Marguerite of Nevarre. I was saying to myself yesterday, I found her a very beautiful young woman with a very sweet and yielding disposition, She confessed to great admiration for Your Majesty. Should I, arrange ...?

King Henry

Yes! Yes, do it.

Cardinal Wolsey

Well, at least our alliance with the emperor is popular, although sometimes I ask myself why that should be so.

King Henry

Because he's not French!

Cardinal Wolsey

Quite.

Cardinal Wolsey

[regarding Henry's desired divorce] It is my considered opinion that we should apply to His Holiness, Pope Clement, for a ruling on this matter. Since he loves Your Majesty, I'm certain he will rule in your favour.

King Henry VIII

Oh, I hope so. I certainly do hope so, for your sake.

Cardinal Wolsey

Lady Anne, what are you doing here?

Anne Boleyn

I have an audience with His Majesty?

Cardinal Wolsey

What would a silly girl like you have to say to a king?

Cardinal Wolsey

Let me know the moment the cardinals arrive.

Cardinal Wolsey

Your Majesty.

You did not hear the news?

Cardinal Wolsey

What news?

The cardinals are not coming.

Why not?

The Emperor has decided to release the Pope from capitivity. Pope Clement ordered all cardinals back to Rome as the Vatican is once again in session. There is nothing I can do about; I am terribly sorry. They only take orders from His Holiness.

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?

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?

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.

Cardinal Wolsey

Try to discover by subtle means, through his agents, if the emperor is prepared to support his aunt by use of force.

Thomas More

You think he might invade England in support of the queen?

Cardinal Wolsey

I don't think anything, but I imagine everything.

Queen Katherine

I know also your malice against my nephew, the Emperor. You hate him like a scorpion. And why? Because he would not satisfy your ambition and make you pope by force.

Cardinal Wolsey

Madam, you should never presume...

Queen Katherine

My only satisfaction is that in frustrating you I hasten your fall from the King's good graces, an outcome I desire above all others.