- Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: [praying to God] God, we have not spoken this long or as often as we should. I've often been about other business. If I wanted forgiveness I should ask for it, but for all that I have done and for all that I am yet to do, there can be no forgiveness. And yet I think I'm not an evil man. Evil men pray louder, seek penance, and stick themselves closer to Heaven than I am. I shall not see its gates Lord. Nor hear your sweet words of salvation. I have seen eternity, I swear. But it was in dream and in the morning all was gone. I know myself for what I am. And I throw my poor soul upon your forgiveness, in the full knowledge that I deserve none at your loving hands.
- Queen Katherine: [to Henry, about scholars opinion on their divorce] For every scholar that would vote for you, I could find a thousand that would vote for me.
- Sir Thomas More: I am... reminded of something Wolsey once told me. That I should only ever tell the king what he ought to do, not what he could do; for if the lion knows his own strength, no man could control him.
- Queen Catherine of Aragon: I had always thought 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...
- Chapuys: Madame, I pray you, don't give way.
- Queen Catherine of Aragon: No Excellency, I shall never give way.
- King Henry VIII: Have I made you unhappy?
- Anne Boleyn: No. I would only be unhappy if you ever stopped loving me.
- King Henry VIII: London would have to melt into the Thames first.
- King Henry VIII: The need for reformation in the Church is manifest. The Emperor has a duty to promote it, as do I in my own domain. I'm glad we've had this opportunity to exchange opinions.
- Chapuys: [bowing] Your Majesty.
- Thomas Cromwell: You condemn all reformers as heretics?
- Sir Thomas More: Wolsey was far too soft on them. I intend not to be.
- Sir Thomas More: Will you burn them?
- Thomas Cromwell: Sir Thomas, I notice you allow yourself none of the trappings of your great office.
- Sir 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.
- Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: Lord, we have not spoken as long or as often as we should, I've often been about other business. If I wanted forgiveness, I should ask for it, but for all I have done and for all I am yet to do there can be no forgiveness. And yet I think I am not an evil man, for evil men pray louder, seek penance and think themselves closer to Heaven than I am. I shall not see its gates Lord, nor hear your sweet words of salvation. I have seen eternity, I swear, but it was in a dream and in the morning all was gone. I know myself for what I am and I throw my pour soul upon your forgiveness in the full knowledge that I deserve none.
- Cardinal Thomas Wolsey: [on his arrest for treason] If I had served God as diligently as I served the king, he would not have given me up in my gray hairs.
- Anne Boleyn: [murmuring of disapproval; Anne is wearing purple, the color of royalty] You know, I sometimes wish all Spaniards were at the bottom of the sea.
- Katherine's lady: Mistress Boleyn, you should not abuse the Queen's honor with such language.
- Anne Boleyn: I care nothing for Katherine. I would rather see her hanged than acknowledge her as my mistress.