by Mike Poulton
THOMAS. None.
KING HENRY. You know money though, don’t you? Wolsey says you understand Church finances.
THOMAS. I love a balance sheet as Your Majesty loves hunting.
KING HENRY. He said you know what every monastery in my realm is worth.
THOMAS. Yes.
KING HENRY. Exact figures?
THOMAS. I have rough figures. Monks are very cunning when it comes to hiding their wealth. But the full amount could be brought to light.
KING HENRY. And the total would be? (Waits.) I would be interested to know.
THOMAS. Yes you would, Majesty.
KING HENRY. I don’t see how you would make the calculation.
THOMAS. I trained in the Florentine banks. And in Venice.
KING HENRY. Oh? (Thrown.) The Cardinal told me you were a common soldier.
THOMAS. I was that too.
KING HENRY. Anything else?
THOMAS (meets his gaze unflinchingly). What would Your Majesty like me to be?
KING HENRY. You have a bad reputation, Master Cromwell.
THOMAS bows.
You don’t defend yourself?
THOMAS. Your Majesty is able to form your own opinion.
KING HENRY. I am. I will.
SUFFOLK (clumping in). Ready, Harry? Cromwell. (Grins.) Shouldn’t you be comforting your fat priest?
KING HENRY angry, SUFFOLK doesn’t notice.
You know – they say Wolsey once rode out with his servant Robin. They came to the head of a valley where, looking down, he saw a very fair church with its lands about. He says to Robin, ‘Who owns that? I wish it were mine.’ –
THOMAS. And Robin says, ‘It is, My Lord. It is.’
SUFFOLK. You’ve heard it?
THOMAS. They tell that story all over Italy. Of one Cardinal or another…
KING HENRY meets THOMAS’s eye.
Only there the servant isn’t called Robin.
KING HENRY. Cromwell… One word more. (Whispers.) I miss the Cardinal. Every day I miss him. I’m going to give you a thousand pound – take it to him with our blessing. And I’ve told them to return some necessities for his house in Esher – tapestries, plate, bed-hangings – that sort of… you know. Don’t tell the Duke of Norfolk. Ask Wolsey to pray for me. Tell him to go up to Yorkshire. He’s never been enthroned as Archbishop. Tell him to busy himself with that.
THOMAS. Thank you, Majesty.
KING HENRY joins SUFFOLK. THOMAS leaves as STEPHEN arrives with MORE.
MORE. Cromwell. What are you doing here?
STEPHEN. How was your interview with His Majesty? Unpleasant I should think.
THOMAS. Stephen, can’t we drop this? This rancour between us?
STEPHEN. No – I don’t see that we can.
MORE. God be with you, Cromwell.
MORE and STEPHEN go in to KING HENRY. MORE kneels. HENRY puts the Chancellor’s chain round MORE’s neck. STEPHEN hands KING HENRY the seal. KING HENRY hands it to MORE.
I have your word, Majesty, that you will not press me? On that… matter?
KING HENRY. Oh, Thomas!
MORE. Your word – the word of a king?
KING HENRY. If your conscience tells you you cannot come with me in this matter of my new marriage, then… But I wish you’d tell me your objection.
MORE. I do not say I object.
KING HENRY. I must have a son! All Europe knows and accepts it.
MORE. Good men pray for it.
KING HENRY. My father fought his way to the English throne. It wasn’t given to him – he took it. And he gave England peace. Good order – the rule of law. That was his legacy to me. If I have no son, the old families of England will fight over the Crown like dogs with a bone. They haven’t gone away – those people. They stand in the shadows, watching me. I could die of the plague. I could fall in the joust. Do you know how many men died at Towton? In one battle? Thirty thousand. Thirty thousand Englishmen. Do you wish those times back?
MORE. No man has been more loyal to the House of Tudor than I have.
KING HENRY. But it won’t count – will it? If there are no Tudors left? Forty years of peace, Thomas! I’ll not throw that away because the Pope wants to keep me shackled to an old woman who was never my wife. Anne Boleyn will give me a son. She has promised me a son.
MORE. Sons are the gifts of God.
KING HENRY. It’s Anne. You don’t like her?
MORE, kneeling, returns his gaze.
Is it because she loves the Gospel?
MORE. I love the Gospel.
KING HENRY. In English?
MORE. I fear error – mistranslation may be the unwitting servant of heresy.
KING HENRY. Thomas, I need your help.
MORE. In that matter – in all matters – you shall have my prayers.
KING HENRY. Oh, you should have been a churchman. Why weren’t you?
KING HENRY stumps off followed by SUFFOLK et al. MORE fingers his chain – gets slowly to his feet – looks bleak.
Scene Twelve
York Place.
CHRISTOPHE. Anne Boleyn’s a witch, master – she has witched the King. (Believing this absolutely.) Wear a holy medal to protect you. I give you mine – my mother gave me.
THOMAS. I’m touched, Christophe. But there are no such things as witches.
RAFE. Let him put it round your neck. Just to be on the safe side.
CHRISTOPHE puts the medal on him. He and RAFE go. Door opens – MARY BOLEYN comes out.
MARY BOLEYN. Who was that comely young man?
THOMAS. Rafe Sadler, My Lady – my secretary.
MARY BOLEYN. Hmmm. I’m Mary Boleyn – the Easy Armful – sister to Flat-chest. I believe that’s what the Cardinal calls us?
THOMAS. No! Does he?
MARY BOLEYN. These days you’re always with the King, Master Cromwell. How suddenly it happened! And today my sister sends for you too.
THOMAS. Do you know why?
MARY BOLEYN. She’s bored. Henry’s gone back to his wife – until Holy Week is over. He hasn’t the face to be seen with his concubine during the week of Christ’s Passion. I like your grey velvet. Could you get me some?
THOMAS. A bit sober for a woman, perhaps?
MARY BOLEYN. I’m a widow now – grey becomes my state. Who notices how I dress since the King no longer loves me. Now he’s turned his mind to my sister? Anne says, ‘This is not France. I’m not a fool like you, Mary.’
THOMAS. She’ll not give in to him?
MARY BOLEYN. She’ll marry him – mark me they will be married. They’ve made their vows. My sister’s everything now… I shall be swept out after supper like the old rushes. I heard your wife died.
THOMAS. Yes.
MARY BOLEYN. And your little daughters?
THOMAS. I… I have a son…
MARY BOLEYN. We know. Gregory’s a sweet boy. But you’re quite ugly, aren’t you? Can he be your own? Anne has all the Cardinal’s men in her little black book – she’s forever writing – and devising punishments. She pinches me, you know. Want to see my bruises? When Anne’s Queen her enemies will feel it. You’d do well to keep in her good books. And out her bad ones.
She kisses the end of her forefinger and touches it to his lips. MARK comes out. New kit.
THOMAS. Mark? Is it you? How are you?
MARK (sulky shrug). As you see.
THOMAS. Must feel strange – being back at York Place – now the world’s so altered.
MARK. No.
THOMAS. Don’t you miss My Lord Cardinal?
MARK. No.
THOMAS. Happy?
MARK. Yes.
THOMAS. The Cardinal will be pleased. Shall I take him your good wishes?
MARK. I wouldn’t bother. He’s finished, isn’t he?
MARY BOLEYN. That boy is such a… a… Come in. Don’t stare at her flat chest.
ANNE plays with a tied bunch of rosemary, plucking it nervously. Suddenly she’s all sweetness and light and playful French Court. In a
ttendance are JANE SEYMOUR and JANE ROCHFORD.
ANNE. Aha – Cremuel! I wanted to see for myself this paragon who so enchants His Majesty. Suddenly everything – everything is about you. The King does not cease to quote his Master Cremuel. ‘Cremuel is so right. Cremuel is at all points correct…’ Also, ‘Maître Cremuel makes us laugh.’
THOMAS. I do make him laugh – sometimes.
ANNE. Can you make me laugh, do you think? I seldom… laugh – if I think about it. I should like to try. Come here, Milksop.
JANE SEYMOUR, terrified, comes to her.
Men frighten her because she does not know what they are. See – this is a man. Have you seen such a man? Come here, you. (To MARK.) Stand side by side. Observe, Milksop. This is a boy, we think – one day we must find out – and this is a man. (To MARK.) Oh, don’t pout, sweetheart – you know how I like to tease. I can never remember his name but he sings sweetly. He was a gift. From the Cardinal.
THOMAS. My Lady – since the Cardinal came down, how much progress has been made in your cause?
ANNE. None. (Pulls a funny, sad face.)
THOMAS. Consider how bound to you His Grace would be, if by your means he was restored to the King’s favour.
ANNE. Oh, but what would be the point of that? He cannot help me. He promised he would free the King from Katherine – but then he did not – he would not. I think he did not want it.
THOMAS. Are you any better off now Thomas More is Chancellor?
ANNE. No – no. Truly I am not. It is terrible. He will not work for the annulment – he refuses – and still Henry appoints him. I cannot explain it. Can you explain it to me, Cremuel?
THOMAS. His Majesty has known More since he was a boy. Perhaps he needs old friends about him – with the Cardinal gone – and his wife gone –
ANNE. Oh, Katherine is not gone! He is with her now. They are praying together about their sin.
THOMAS. It’s all they have left in common.
ANNE (laughs). See! You can make me laugh. (Serious.) I don’t believe in those kind of prayers. (Studies him.) And nor do you. I know everything about you. I have you in my books.
THOMAS. The good ones I hope – not the bad ones.
ANNE (serious). You favour the Gospel. For you – very dangerous. I favour the Gospel – for me not dangerous. (Softly.) I can protect you…
GEORGE enters suddenly.
GEORGE. Sister? What… what the…What’s he doing here! Surely you’re not talking to Wolsey’s people?
ANNE. We were discussing our faith. (Suddenly angry.) Oh, and of the time, the time, the time all this is taking!
MARY BOLEYN. She’s not getting any younger.
ANNE. He says if Wolsey were returned to the King’s Council he’d work tirelessly in our cause.
GEORGE. Face it, Cromwell, Wolsey’s finished. I don’t see why we should dance attendance on Rome anyway.
THOMAS. Is that a question? Do you want an answer?
GEORGE. Not from you, Putney boy! (Laughs.)
ANNE. Do you have better ideas, sweet brother? No you don’t – he doesn’t have any ideas at all. Everything is in here – (Touches his codpiece.) and nothing in here – pretty, pretty head – empty, empty, empty. One simple thing we ask of Wolsey, and he could not do it.
THOMAS. It was hardly simple.
ANNE. One simple thing –
THOMAS. You know very well it was not simple.
ANNE (teasing). Then perhaps I am simple?
THOMAS (studies her). You may be. I hardly know you.
A pause as if she can’t believe it – then she laughs as if she’s heard something outrageous.
GEORGE. What did he say! I’ll knock him down!
ANNE. Wolsey can’t help me… but this one might. (Strokes THOMAS’s cheeks with the rosemary.) When you think of something, come and tell me about it. (Leads GEORGE off.) Knock him down? You’re a fool, brother. Look at him. Look at you…
MARY BOLEYN follows THOMAS out. Doors slam.
THOMAS. There have been rumours that your sister is –
MARY BOLEYN. She’s not. She’d call on me to let out her bodices. Besides she can’t be – because they don’t. He’s not got above the knee. Sometimes she lets him pull her shift down and kiss her breasts.
THOMAS. I’m surprised he can find them.
MARY BOLEYN laughs boisterously. JANE SEYMOUR appears at the door.
JANE SEYMOUR. Lady Anne wants you, Mary.
MARY BOLEYN. Oh, by all the saints!
She goes. JANE SEYMOUR, very nervous, makes a huge effort.
JANE SEYMOUR. I wanted to say…
THOMAS. Lady?
JANE SEYMOUR. I have heard that your wife died… And your little daughters… I am truly sorry. I shall pray for you.
THOMAS. May I know your name, My Lady?
JANE SEYMOUR. Oh, I’m nobody. I’m only Jane Seymour.
Interval.
ACT THREE
Scene Thirteen
Burst of music. Council. KING HENRY, NORFOLK, STEPHEN, WILLIAM WARHAM (asleep), SUFFOLK and MORE. THOMAS (not a member) standing before the table.
KING HENRY. Council meetings! Another fine morning wasted!
STEPHEN. Majesty, we are not halfway through the business of the day.
KING HENRY. Then get on with it! What’s next?
STEPHEN. Preparations for Wolsey’s enthronement in York Minster are in hand.
NORFOLK. By the thrice-cracked skull of Thomas Beckett – it’s about time! He’s been months getting there – more like a royal progress than a humbled cleric on an ambling mule –
SUFFOLK. He’s marching up through Yorkshire like a conqueror – an army at his back –
THOMAS. Not true, Your Grace.
SUFFOLK. He means to rule us all from York as he once did from York Place.
THOMAS. He wishes only to serve God, and his King. And he needs me at his side. I ask Your Majesty’s permission to ride north.
KING HENRY. I need you at my side. There are difficult matters I must… Difficulties. I’ll say this for you, Cromwell – you stick by your man.
THOMAS. Why would I not? I’ve had nothing but kindness from him. Majesty.
He starts to go.
KING HENRY. You’re going to see Lady Anne?
THOMAS. She has sent for me, Majesty.
KING HENRY. She spends more time with you than she does with me. You and her Gospel men… If I did not know her chaste I should suspect your honesty, sir. (Gets up, signals the others to stay where they are.) A word. Stephen Gardiner tells me Wolsey has been writing to the King of France –
THOMAS. I don’t believe it.
KING HENRY. Letters have been intercepted.
THOMAS. Then I can only think he hopes France will intercede with Your Majesty on his behalf. My master would do anything to regain your favour. Anything that is open and honest.
KING HENRY. Cromwell, this is breaking my heart – the Cardinal was like a father to me. And there’s nothing more hateful to me than ingratitude… (Looks at MORE.) But when those closest to me let me down… These letters – I suspect he’s been writing to Katherine too – and Katherine’s people, we know, carry her tales of woe to the Emperor and the Pope. It smacks of treason.
THOMAS. You can’t believe it, Majesty. Treason? The Cardinal?
KING HENRY. Never tell a King what he can or cannot believe.
THOMAS. Majesty.
KING HENRY (lowers his voice). Look at Archbishop Warham. (He is fast asleep.) That is how my affairs are. Yet many authorities advise me that I should consider my marriage to Katherine dissolved in the eyes of Christian Europe, so I may remarry when and where I please. But others say –
THOMAS. I am one of the others.
KING HENRY. Dear Jesus! I will be unmanned by it!
THOMAS. You have to take Parliament and the English people with you on this matter or the rights of your heirs will be challenged.
KING HENRY. My will is not enough then?
THO
MAS. No, Majesty. For the sake of your son – I mean the son of any future marriage – I think it’s not enough.
KING HENRY. Nan’s threatening to leave me. There are other men, she says, and she’s wasting her youth. Other men! What am I to do? I put all my trust in Wolsey –
THOMAS. Certain ambitious men – (A glance at the council table.) prevented my master from bringing your affairs to a happy conclusion –
KING HENRY. Still you speak for him! Tell me this, Cromwell. Who’ll get me my divorce? Do you know Anne’s chaplain – Dr Cranmer? She puts great faith in him.
THOMAS. The Cardinal thinks very highly of him.
KING HENRY (quizzical look – could go either way). I’ve a mind to make you one of my Council? They’re all against it – the Dukes, Archbishop Warham, Gardiner – Thomas More especially. That’s why I might just… do it. I can’t let you go to York. No. This… difficulty… I want you to speak to Katherine for me – I shall speak to her no more. (Aloud.) You’ve all failed me! (Storms out.)
SUFFOLK. Harry? Harry – where are you going? (Runs after him.)
STEPHEN helps the almost defunct WARHAM out of the chamber.
MORE. It falls to you, Cromwell, to help His Majesty unravel Wolsey’s affairs. He was an exceedingly rich man and his… empire must be dismantled. You know where all the money came from and where it is now.
THOMAS. Oxford and Ipswich are to be the Cardinal’s monuments –
MORE. Monuments? It would go better for the Cardinal if the world could forget him – and all his works –
THOMAS. What money’s left, is for them.
MORE. Ipswich is a lost cause. Wolsey’s birthplace. It rankles. The King might take over the Oxford College.
THOMAS. It will still be called Cardinal College?
MORE (contempt for THOMAS’s simplicity). Under a different name… I see you take it hard. Well, here’s more bad news for you. (Relishing the moment.) The King is minded to appoint Stephen Gardiner to the Bishopric of Winchester –