Queen Katherine quotes from The Tudors

Queen Katherine

(kneels to the King) My lord, (Henry tries to force her to rise, but she remains on her knees) sir, I beseech you, for all the love that has been between us, let me have justice, and right. Give me some pity and compassion for I am a poor woman and a stranger, born out of your dominion. I have no friend here, and little council. I flee to you, as head of justice in this realm. I call God and all the world to witness that I have been to you a true, humble and obedient wife, ever comfortable to your will and pleasure. I have loved all those who you have loved for your sake, whether or not I had cause, whether they be my friends or enemies. By me you have had many children, although it has pleased God to call them from this world. But when you had me at first, I take God as my judge, I was a true maid without touch of man. And whether or not it be true, I put it to your conscience. (She rises, curtsies to the King, and departs the court)

Queen Katherine

Though I love Your Majesty and I'm loyal to you, in every way, I cannot disguise my distress and unhappiness.

King Henry VIII

Well, you're going to have to.

Queen Katherine

[about Anne Boleyn] And your fear of The Sweat is greater than your infatuation with your mistress?

King Henry VIII

Katherine, she is not my mistress. I do not sleep with her. Not whilst you and I are still married.

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?

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.

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.

Queen Katherine

I had always fancied that the King, after pursuing his course for some time, would turn away, would hear to his conscience and change his purpose, as he has done so often before. I believed with all my heart that he would return to reason, but now, I ...

Madame, I pray you, don't give way.

Queen Katherine

No excellency, I shall never give way.