The Tudors quotes

[in a play] You give us no choice but to attack and breach your defenses!

No knight shall ever breach mine.

Lady, Desire overcomes all.

King Henry VIII

[to Wolsey] What we lack in men, we can more than make up for in ships. We are in an island race, Cardinal. We have the best and bravest sailors in the world. I will have the greatest navy.

Ships are expensive, your Majesty.

Henry VIII

My father was a clever man, your Eminence. A shrewd man. A businessman. He left me a great deal of money, your Eminence. I intend to spend it!

Thomas Wyatt

Well, do you like it?

Anne Boleyn

Should I like something that accuses me of being cruel?

Thomas Wyatt

But you are cruel Mistress Anne.

Anne Boleyn

Am I? You have no claim on me Master Wyatt.

Thomas Wyatt

I have the same claim as every other lover to whom their heart has been freely given.

Anne Boleyn

[to Master Wyatt] You are a poet as I am a woman. Poets and women are always free with their hearts, are they not?

Thomas Wyatt

No

Charles Brandon

Your highness must be looking forward with great anticipation to your wedding? I hear the king was a great horseman... in his time. And famous for his beautiful mistresses.

Princess Margaret

Don't tease me. I don't like it.

Charles Brandon

Will you like it when an old man tries to make love to you?

Princess Margaret

Your grace goes too far. Already.

Charles Brandon

Gospel says the truth will make you free.

Princess Margaret

Now you are blasphemous!

Thomas Boleyn

[to Norfolk] There will come a point when the King's belief in his minister will hang in the balance and then, Your Grace, we shall drop our truth into the scales... and the scales will fall.

King Henry VIII

Mister Wyatt.

Thomas Wyatt

Your Majesty.

King Henry

I hear you're a poet.

Thomas Wyatt

I write poems, I don't know how to be "a poet".

King Henry

I've read some, I like them.

Thomas Wyatt

My Lord, I don't know what to say.

King Henry

[whispers in Wyatt's ear] Were you in love with Anne Boleyn?

Thomas Wyatt

I...

King Henry

Cardinal Wolsey tells me you were once engaged.

Thomas Wyatt

No, that's not true.

King Henry

Did you love her?

Thomas Wyatt

Lady Anne is so beautiful, it is the duty of every man to love her. Of course I loved her, but from a distance. Personally, I have a wife.

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.

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.

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.

King Henry

How dare you look at me! I am your Lord and Master, not your brother! You are both banished from court. You will relinquish your London houses. You will remove yourself from my sight. Do you understand?

Princess Margaret

Yes... Your Majesty.

King Henry

And Margaret...

Princess Margaret

What?

King Henry

I have yet to decide whether to make your bedmate a head shorter.

Thomas More

Katherine of Aragon is not only a great queen and the daughter of great kings, she is also immensely popular throughout the whole of the country. God forbid that the king should abandon her just to ease his own conscience. I don't think the English people would ever forgive him!

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.

I'm going away.

You're going away, why?

Cardinal Wolsey is going to France. He invited me to go with him. With other musicians.

Must you go?

You know very well that an invitation from a cardinal is like an invitation from a king. We little people must put our hands into the fire if invited to.