Thomas Cromwell quotes from The Tudors

Thomas Cromwell

(smiles) Lady Anne.

Anne Boleyn

Master Cromwell. Do you... do you have a message from the King?

Thomas Cromwell

...I think we understand each other. A mutual friend- a Mr. Fish, now living in exile in Holland- has sent me a gift for you. (hands her a book)

Anne Boleyn

What is it, Master Cromwell?

Thomas Cromwell

"The Obedience of the Christian Man"... by William Tyndale. It contains many good criticisms of the Papacy; you'll find it most illuminating. But, always and ever, be cautious as to whom you show this. You must know it would be accounted heresy even to possess it. And, Wolsey is still keen enough to prosecute heretics, as we are called... who embrace the true religion.

Anne Boleyn

I will. And God bless you, Master Cromwell.

Thomas Cromwell

Sir Thomas, I notice you allow yourself none of the trappings of your great office.

Thomas More

I'm not so vain as to display its power, Master Cromwell, but I'll tell you this, I fully intend to use it.

(concerning the bill the King intends to put before Parliament) Mr. Cromwell, this does not strike me as an attack against the abuses of the clergy (coughs) but rather, an attack upon our very faith (coughs again) and upon the faith of our ancestors!

Thomas Cromwell

(coldly) That is your judgement, Your Grace; it is not mine. Neither is it the King's.

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!

Thomas Cromwell

It is rumored that, perhaps, you have a great sympathy for the Dowager Princess Catherine of Aragon.

Charles Brandon

Don't you?

Thomas Cromwell

(pause) Actually, I do. I'm not heartless, whatever some people think- quite the contrary. (pause) But...I serve the King. (pause) The King intends to emplace the succession in the children he will have with Queen Anne Boleyn. A bill is to be put before Parliament- he wants to know if it will have your support. (pause, as Charles considers his position)

Sir Thomas More. (Cromwell looks up and smiles)

Thomas Cromwell

Sir Thomas. (rises)

Thomas More

Mr. Secretary.

Thomas Cromwell

Please be seated. This is- er- quite an informal occasion. (picks up a pitcher) A little ale, perhaps?

Thomas More

(stiffly) No, thank you.

Thomas Cromwell

(smiles and shakes his head)... I'm sure we both know the object that has brought us together. It is very widely rumored, Sir Thomas, that you will refuse to take the Oath of Succession. Now, I say this to you very openly and sincerely, that I wish no harm to come to a great man who has, for years, enjoyed and deserved His Majesty's good graces. I would rather lose my own son, than to see any hurt come to you. (More smiles slightly) May I ask your opinion of the King's new marriage?

Thomas More

(bluntly) I have no opinion. I neither murmur at it, nor dispute upon it. I never did- never will.

Thomas Cromwell

Then, what of His Majesty's claim to supremacy over the Church of England?

Thomas More

(nods thoughtfully) Mmm... I was... unsure about this matter. (pause) Until I re-read His Majesty's own pamphlet, the Assertio Septum Sacramentorum. (Cromwell frowns inquiringly) In fact, I, um, have a copy of it here. (sets the pamphlet on Cromwell's desk) Of course, in the pamphlet, the King asserts the divine origin of the Papacy. The Pope's supremacy descends directly from the Rock of Saint Peter. I think you'll find His Majesty's arguments are as... persuasive and powerful now, as they were when he first wrote them.

Thomas Cromwell

... Will you take the Oath? I need hardly remind you of the consequences of not doing so.

Thomas More

(quietly, coldly) Mr. Secretary, I am the King's loyal subject. I say no harm, I think no harm- but I wish everybody good. And, if this be not enough to keep a man alive, in good faith- then, I long not to live. (stands to leave)

Thomas Cromwell

(exasperated) Sir Thomas. You should know that the King himself has no mind to coerce you. He simply asks that you relent- and condescend to his request that you take the Oath.

Thomas More

(turns back)... Mr. Cromwell, please impart to the King my utter faithfulness, truthfulness and loyalty to him. (leaves)

Thomas Cromwell

What a pleasure to have both you and your lovely wife to sup with, Your Grace.

So, tell me- you are suppressing some religious houses?

Thomas Cromwell

I am starting to, yes.

Und what else?

Thomas Cromwell

I am intending to abolish almost all the Holy Days of the Lord's service- and, during the harvest. (scoffs) These enforced holidays- they damage the country's economy, stop vital works! (the Cranmers nod in agreement) And, in fact, they also impoverish workers!

Und the priests?

As far as the clergy are concerned, we mean to issue a set of injunctions, requiring them to preach the Supremacy. There will also be an injunction requiring parents and employers to teach their children and servants the Lord's Prayer, Creed and the Ten Commandments in English, rather than Latin.

Thomas Cromwell

And all clerics will be put on notice to attack the superstitious cults surrounding images and relics. They will be told it will profit more upon their souls to bestow upon the poor and the needy, what they currently waste on relics.

(shrugs, nods) That's... very good, gentlemen. (Cranmer and Cromwell smile, pleased) But, allow me to chide you. I don't think that you are going far enough, or fast enough.

Thomas Cromwell

(glances at Cranmer, surprised)... Your wife is a great radical, Thomas.

She is - and, illegal. (he and Cromwell chuckle and toast) Two reasons to hide her.

(glances away, irritated) Being carried around in a box does not make you laugh.

(hastily) My dear, I am sorry about that-

I'm not your dear- I'm nobody's dear. I'm a woman, und I demand equal respect for my ideas! For me, the practices of the Catholic Church are evil! The way people are kept in total ignorance und made to feel guilty about their own bodies und their own thoughts- and even worse, the idea that the rich can buy a plot in Heaven for their souls!

Thomas Cromwell

(startled) Well, I agree with you! The Catholic Church is corrupted- it's irredeemable!

Then you should smash und destroy it- utterly, totally und without pity. That is my advice to you, Mr. Cromwell. (Cromwell stares at her, intrigued; she turns back to her husband and stands up, smirking) Now, you can put me back in my box.

Thomas Cromwell

I am also preparing for an emergency session of Parliament-

Bah! Kings had no need of Parliament in the old days!

Thomas Cromwell

(coldly, not looking up from his paperwork) These are not the old days, my Lord.

Thomas Cromwell

And!? [he slams his fist on a table] AND!?

[sobbing] I saw her hugging and kissing her brother!

Thomas Cromwell

[horror-struck and disgusted] Her brother!?

Thomas Cromwell

Do you believe this to be true?

I believe that is true, yes. [Cromwell walks over and looks her in the eye]

Thomas Cromwell

[skeptical] You believe that your husband committed incest with the queen!?

Thomas Cromwell

The Queen was tried yesterday at Westminster Hall. She pleaded not guilty to all charges against her, but the evidence being overwhelming...she was sentenced to death, either by burning or decapitation according to the King's pleasure.

Thomas Wyatt

[fighting back tears] And her accomplices? What of us?

Thomas Cromwell

Smeaton, Brereton, Norris and George Boleyn, all guilty as charged.

Thomas Wyatt

Thomas, what about me? Am I to be tried too?

Thomas Cromwell

No. We found no evidence against you. You're to be released...eventually. [Cromwell leaves the cell]

Thomas Wyatt

[tearfully] BUT I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO'S GUILTY!

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!

(startled and terrified, hastily puts the pear back) My Lord! (after a moment, Cromwell glances up at him) I- I'm sorry, Lord Cromwell, I didn't see you. I...

Thomas Cromwell

(stands) I was talking to God.

(frowns)... But, surely, Sir, you have to go to church for that?

Thomas Cromwell

(stares at him in disbelief)... Do you understand nothing of our reforms? God is not just in church, He is... everywhere. (steps toward him) We do not need priests to speak for us, we can... speak to Him ourselves- and, He will listen. There is no need for bells, and books, and candles. All you need... is your soul. (smiles momentarily) Now go away, and think. (the page starts to leave) Wait. (the page stops, Cromwell offers him the pear.)