The Tudors (2007–2010): Season 4, Episode 5 - Bottom of the Pot - full transcript

What does this letter say?

I thought Your Majesty just read...

I asked you to tell me
what this letter says,

my Lord Hertford.

The letter accuses Queen
Katherine of dissolute living

before she was married
to Your Majesty,

while she was living with the
Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

There was two men.

A music teacher named Henry Manox,

and a gentleman called
Francis Dereham.

And that her way of
life was not a secret,



that many knew of it.

Who wrote the letter?

It is not signed.

Whoever left the letter
says he only wrote

it because he did not have the
heart to tell you by mouth.

It's a forgery!

Yes, Your Majesty.

The accusations in this letter
are maliciously intended.

Many calumnies are published
about well-known persons,

are they not?

- Yes, Your Majesty.
- Nevertheless, my Lord,

I charge you to investigate
the matter thoroughly.

Do not desist until you have
reached to the bottom of the pot.

- Majesty.
- In the meantime, the Queen shall be confined



to her apartments, with only
Lady Rochford in attendance...

until her name is cleared.

My Lord.

Majesty.

Your Majesty.

No, the other hand.

What?

Sergeant? What is this?

My Lady, you are confined
to your apartments,

with only Lady
Rochford to attend you,

for as long as it please the King.

- No!
- Please, Katherine!

- Joan!
- Don't let them take me!

Joan! Joan!

Why? Why must I stay here?

Please tell me.
I don't understand.

Forgive me, my Lady.

But from now on there will be a
guard posted just beyond the door.

Please.

Francis Dereham,
you are under arrest.

Under arrest for what?

For what, I ask you?

I want to ask you some questions

about what went on,
some years ago,

at Lambeth,

between Katherine Howard,
as she then was,

and two men:

Henry Manox and Francis Dereham.

You know what I'm talking
about, don't you?

There's no need to be afraid,
Mistress Bulmer.

No harm will come to you...

so long as you tell me the truth!

Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

I understand that this man,

Henry Manox, was a music teacher?

Did you ever see him

or hear of him taking liberties
with Katherine Howard?

Yes, sir. He told me
he was in love with her.

I told him,

I said if my lady of Norfolk
knew of the love between him

and Mistress Howard,
she would undo him,

because she is from a noble house,

and if you marry her,
some of her blood will kill you.

And what did Manox say?

He said, "Hold your peace,
woman! My designs are"

"of a dishonest kind. I doubt
not I shall achieve my purpose."

She said to him that he
would have her maidenhead,

though it be painful to her,

knowing he'd be good
to her afterwards.

And did he... have her maidenhead?

No, sir, for she started
seeing someone else.

And would that man
be Francis Dereham?

Yes, my Lord.

Did you know Katherine
Howard at Lambeth,

when she was 14 or 15 years old?

Yes, sir.

Did you have carnal
knowledge of her?

We... played some games.

We pretended to be man and wife.

It amused her.

Did you know her carnally?

You should know, Mr. Dereham,

that we have spoken
to some of the maids

who used to sleep in
the same dormitory.

They say that you crept
into the Queen's bed for

- a hundred nights or more.
- She was not the Queen.

Let me ask again.

Did you have carnal knowledge
of Katherine Howard?

No!

I thought you were not altogether
honest with me, Mr. Dereham.

I wanted to show you what we
do to people who are dishonest.

Who don't tell the truth.

I'll tell you the truth.

Certain accusations have
been made against the Queen.

What kind of accusations?

Oh, that she was light,
immoral, dissolute...

with certain men...

before she came to court.

I can't believe it to be true.

But since the
accusations are made,

I must know all the facts.

But since this inquisition
is in progress,

be careful who you speak to.

I'll have no spark of
scandal against her name.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I have a good hand.

What do they know?

Why have I been
confined like this?

I don't know.

Someone has told them something!

Who?

What has he told them?

What has he told them?

Why are you crying like this?

It's not about you!

I have to speak to him.

I have to speak to the King.

He'll understand.

We have some evidence
that Katherine Howard gave

you a gold chain and rich cap,
as a gift.

Why did she buy you such gifts?

Because she loved me.

Loved you?

Yes, my Lord.

She told me: "I promise you"

"I do love you with all my heart."

She promised by her
faith and troth

that she would take no
other husband but me.

You were pre-contracted then?

Yes, sir.

It was understood between us
that we would get married.

That's why...

That's why you
knew her carnally?

Yes, sir.

We didn't think we were
doing anything wrong.

She was going to be my
wife and I her husband.

We'd made promises before God.

Why did you not marry her, then?

I left Lambeth for a
while and went to Ireland.

When I returned,
Katherine was already at court.

The Queen recently took you
back into her employment.

On what grounds?

The Dowager Duchess was kind enough
to speak highly of my talents.

You have admitted to the fact
that you had carnal knowledge

of the Queen before her
marriage to the King.

But did you also know
her carnally afterwards?

No, sir! No! On my honour!

On your honour, Mr. Dereham?

My Lady?

His Excellency is here.

Eustace! Please, sit.

Thank you, Lady Mary.

You are too gracious.

I had to see you.

There are many rumours at court.

And it seems the Queen has been
confined to her apartments.

Why?

Nobody knows. But the rumours
speak of her misconduct.

I knew it.

I knew she was always
a light young woman,

dedicated only to pleasure.

And the sad fact is, Lady Mary,

that the Howards are a
great Catholic family.

No, Eustace,

the sad fact is that
Katherine Howard was never

a good Catholic,
nor ever a good wife.

Nor even less a Queen!

What have you discovered?

Katherine Howard was
a loose young woman.

You surely knew that!

I was told that her upbringing
had been unconventional.

I didn't know how unconventional.

I didn't suspect that
at fourteen years old

she was sleeping
with two older men!

You met her!

You saw the look in her eyes.
She was never innocent.

And who is innocent,
my sweetheart?

What did Dereham confess?

Only that he'd slept with the
Queen before she was married.

Do you believe him?

I don't know. I may ask again.

Husband, you must be careful.

If you remember,
you were among those

who offered Katherine
Howard up to the King.

Do you suppose I ever forget that?

But that's why I must be
harder on her than anyone else.

Since I was the most deceived.

I must to bed. I have
things to do in the morning.

I bid thee, all three of thee,
good night.

Good night, brother.

So...

What shall we call
your child, Thomas?

Sir Edward...

can you not tell me
what's happening?

I beg you.
No one tells me anything.

- Please... please...
- Madam, I am forbidden to talk to you.

No, no. You must speak to me.

Madam, I can't... On my life!

Just something!

Why am I confined here?

What has anyone said?

They have taken
Dereham to the Tower.

Also some of the maids who
attended the Dowager Duchess.

Oh... my God.

That's all I know.

Now, Madam, you will
have to excuse me.

I can say no more.

His Majesty the King.

Your Majesty.

- Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty.

Your Grace?

Your Majesty,

my Lord Hertford,
and other Councillors,

have made diligent inquiries

into the question of the
misconduct of the Queen.

And?

Your Majesty...

I have to tell Your Majesty that,

even from my preliminary
investigations,

we believe the allegations
against Queen Katherine

have a sound basis in fact...

The Queen received the
attentions of her music master,

Henry Manox, when she lived with
the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

Manox swears under oath that she
never gave him her maidenhead...

But that instead it was given
to a man called Francis Dereham.

There is ample proof that they
spent many nights together...

Naked.

Dereham claims that he was
pre-contracted to the Queen,

so he did no wrong by having
carnal relations with her,

and that their relationship
was over when he left

for Ireland and the Queen
for Your Majesty's court.

Unfortunately...

Queen Katherine took
this same Dereham

back into her employment during
Your Majesty's late progress,

appointing him her personal
secretary and usher.

I have to say that she has
betrayed you in thought...

and if she had an opportunity...

would have betrayed you in deed.

My Lady.

Sir Thomas?

What is it?

Madam, I have come
to tell you that

for your offences
against the King,

all your household
has been discharged.

Your coffers and chests will be
sealed and placed under guard,

and I am also come here
to collect all your jewels

and return them to His Majesty.

- Please, Sir Thomas...
- Everything in here is...

Where is the King? I must see him.

Madam, I must tell you
that the King and his Council

have ordained that,
for your offences,

you have forfeited
the title of Queen,

and must be known as
Lady Katherine Howard.

You will be taken
to Syon Abbey today,

to wait upon the King's
further pleasure.

Where is the King?

I need to speak to him.

You don't understand.
I have to speak to him.

Then everything will be all right.

Don't you understand?
Everything will be all right.

His Majesty is at Chapel.

But I fear he will
not speak to you.

Lady Katherine!

Stop her! Guards!
Katherine Howard! Stop!

Katherine Howard! Stop!
You are arrested.

Stop! Do not proceed!

- Katherine Howard!
- Your Majesty!

I must speak to you.
Please, please, Your Majesty!

Please, it's me...
Katherine! It's Katherine.

It's Katherine. Please. Please.

Henry! Henry, please!

No! Your Majesty!

No, please!

Henry! No, please! Please, Henry!

Please!

Risley. Risley!

Majesty.

Go and fetch Bishop Gardiner.

- I must speak to him.
- Yes, Your Majesty.

Why are you doing this?

Why are you doing this?
I've already told you everything I know!

His hands, my loves. His hands.

What are you going
to do to me? No! No!

No! No! No!

NO!

Your Grace.

I must warn Your Grace...

that the poor creature,
ever since she came here,

has been in such
lamentation and heaviness

that I never saw in any creature.

Sometimes in a frenzy, that I had

to remove every implement
that might have harmed her.

Lady Katherine!

Lady Katherine! Bishop
Gardiner is come to see you.

Lady Katherine?

Lady Katherine, do not weep,

for I am come here with a
letter from His Majesty

which offers you his
most gracious mercy.

Madam, the King offers you mercy.

What?

What did you say?

Here is His Majesty's letter.

In it, he offers you mercy,

despite the... uh... grievous offences
you have committed against him,

if you will only openly
confess your faults.

There. You see?

I humbly thank the King,

who has shown me
more grace and mercy

than I could have hoped for.

But, first, I must
ask you some questions.

And you must answer as
truthfully and honestly

as you will reply at
the Day of Judgment.

Katherine!

The King offers his hand in mercy.

There is nothing to
be frightened of.

Come. Come! Sit down.

Alas, my Lord, that I am alive!

The fear of death does
not grieve me as much

as the remembrance of
the King's goodness,

for when I remember how
gracious and loving a Prince

I had, I cannot but sorrow.

But this sudden mercy,

more than I could have looked for,

makes my offences
appear to my eyes

more heinous than they did before.

You confess that this
Francis Dereham came

often to your bed at Lambeth?

Yes, my Lord.
He has lain with me,

sometimes in his doublet and hose,
and sometimes naked,

but I mean, not so naked

that he had nothing upon him,
for he had always

his doublet on; but I mean

naked when his hose
was pulled down.

In order to know you carnally?

Was there a pre-contract
between you?

Did you intend to marry him?

He sometimes called me
"wife" when we were together,

and I called him "husband."

Still... I think it was no contract.

If there was a contract,

then your marriage to the
King would be invalid...

you might face shame...

But you would not
forfeit your life.

He promised to love
me with all his heart...

But I think it was no contract.

Did Dereham have
carnal knowledge

of you after you became Queen?

No, my Lord. He never did.

I will go back
to London and draft

a plea of forgiveness for
you to submit to the King.

Wait!

I have important things to say.

My Lady?

I never consented to
sex with Francis Dereham.

He used importunate
force against me.

In a manner... violence.

He raped you?

The Queen confessed?

Yes. She told me
that Dereham raped her.

I'm sure she was lying as

I'm sure she's lying
about other things too.

But I do believe that there
was some form of pre-contract

between them, which would
invalidate the marriage.

And she claims to be
innocent after the marriage?

Of course.

And you believed that?

You don't believe it?

I don't believe
anything Dereham says.

It might not be Dereham.

Why does Your Grace say that?

You have the Queen's confession?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The Queen begs for mercy.

She confesses that she was
so desirous to be taken

into Your Grace's favour,
so blinded

by desire for worldly glory,

that she did not consider
how great a fault it was

to conceal her former
faults from Your Majesty.

"Considering that I intended"

"ever during my life"

"to be faithful and
true to Your Majesty."

Then we can proceed
with the annulment?

I think it would be best,
Your Majesty.

I don't believe that you
didn't have carnal knowledge

of the Queen after her
marriage to the King.

Please don't! It is the truth...

because someone else had
succeeded me in her affections.

Who?

Who?

Thomas Culpepper.

Thomas Culpepper?

The King's groom?

Yes, sir.

How well did you know this man,
Thomas Culpepper?

Quite well. I flirted with him

and met him sometimes by the back stairs,
and gave him gifts.

He called me his
"sweet little fool."

And did you commit
adultery with him?

No, my Lord. I never did...

although Lady Rochford
encouraged me to do so.

Lady Rochford encouraged you?

Yes, she did.

And then she spread a vile rumour

that we were lovers,
which we never were.

You don't deny that
you met with the Queen

- in secret on many occasions?
- No, my Lord.

But you deny that you ever
committed adultery with her?

I do. We never
passed beyond words.

If you don't tell me the truth,
Mr. Culpepper,

you will be tortured till you do.

I'm telling you the truth.

Which isn't to say I
didn't want to go further!

I intended and meant to do so
with the Queen, and she with me.

My God.

That evil intent in itself
constitutes high treason.

But it was Katherine
who led me on!

She wanted it, not me.

And her servant, Lady Rochford,
she provoked it

and acted as a procuress,
like some madam in a brothel!

Why are they blaming me?
It's not my fault.

I had to stand guard when they
met in the Queen's chambers,

or even her stool closet.

I didn't want to.

I didn't like doing it.

Once I even had to stop the King
coming into the Queen's bedchamber,

because Culpepper
was already there.

Do you think they had carnal
knowledge at those times?

I cannot think it otherwise,

considering all the things I
heard and saw between them.

Guard!

Do you think I shall die,
my Lord?

Do you think I shall die?

Constable! Open up!

Your Majesty asked me at the
beginning of this investigation

not to desist until I had got
to the bottom of the pot.

Majesty, I fear to say that I
am already scraping the bottom,

and a good companion
of Your Majesty,

a fellow of trust,

seems certain to have
betrayed Your Majesty...

committing adultery with
the Queen, your wife.

Who is he?

Your groom, Thomas Culpepper.

So far, both of them
have denied the charges,

though neither of them denies
the many illicit meetings

they had on the backstairs and
in the Queen's stool closet

during Your Majesty's
last progress.

Lady Rochford and other
maids of Her Majesty have

come forward with
corroborating evidence

of their frequent intimacies.

Finally, this letter was discovered in Mr.
Culpepper's chambers.

It is the Queen's handwriting.

She writes:

"It makes my heart die to think"

"I cannot always be
in your company."

And, "I heard that you were"
sick and never longed so much

for anything as to see you."

And it is signed:

"Yours as long as life endures..."

"Katherine."

What has happened is your fault!

Your fault!

You solicited me to marry her!

How misfortunate I am to have had
so many ill-conditioned wives!

I vow that any pleasure
that wicked bitch got from

her wantonness will
be nothing... nothing...

in comparison to the
pain she going to feel

at the hand of my torturer!

Well done, wife.
What shall we call him?

Thomas.

Very well. Thomas he is.

You want to ask Lady
Rochford some more questions?

- Yes.
- There's no point, Sir Thomas.

Lady Rochford has gone mad.

Death to you!

There you are.

Majesty? His Grace,
the Duke of Suffolk.

You've never read the Bible,
have you, Charles?

No, Your Majesty.
I've always allowed others,

with more knowledge than I,
to read it for me.

In that case, you've missed
many great sayings and truths,

Like this one here in the Book
of Solomon, where it says:

"The lips of a harlot are
a dropping honeycomb."

"Her throat is softer than oil."

"Yet in the end,"

"she is as bitter as wormwood,"

and as sharp as a
double-edged sword."

Why have you come?

King Francis has
sent you a letter.

What does it say?

"I am sorry to hear of the displeasure
and trouble which has been"

"caused by the lewd and naughty
behaviour of the Queen."

"But knowing my good brother
to be a prince of prudence,"

"virtue, and honour,"

"I do require him to throw
off the said displeasure"

"and wisely, temperately,
like myself,"

"not reputing his honour to rest
in the lightness of a woman,"

"but to thank God of all,"

"comforting himself
in God's goodness."

"The lightness of women cannot
bend the honour of men."

You tell Francis to go...

Tell His Majesty

that we are grateful
for his solicitations.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What of Dereham and Culpepper?

Have they been
arraigned for treason?

They were tried together.

At the last moment, Culpepper
changed his plea to guilty,

but both were found so.

They are due to be hanged,
drawn and quartered together at Tyburn.

Tell the judge to commute
Culpepper's sentencing to beheading.

I hate Dereham more,

since he spoiled the Queen for me.

Now, what of Lady Rochford?

She has been found guilty
of misprision and treason...

but, since she is insane,

she cannot be executed.

You tell Richard Rich to
pass a bill in Parliament

making it legal to execute
an insane person for treason.

Do you hear?

Yes, Your Majesty.

You were one of those who placed
Katherine Howard in front of me.

Were you not, your Grace?

Any regrets?

Charles.

Majesty.

You should be
ashamed of yourselves!

Traitor!

Master Culpepper,

I heartily recommend me unto you,

praying you to send me
word how that you do.

I heard that you were sick,

and never longed so much
for anything as to see you.

I would you were with
me now that you might see

what pain I take
in writing to you.

It makes my heart die to think

I cannot always be
in your company.

I beg you all to pray for me.

He, Dereham,

gave me lots of lovers' tokens.

He knew a little woman in
London with a crooked back,

who was skilled in
making flowers of silk,

who made for him a French
fennel to give to me.

And later, a heart's ease
for a New Year's present,

and some sarcenet,
which I had made into a quilted cap.

He called me "wife,"

and touched the secret
parts of my body.

I remember I gave him a
collar and sleeves for a shirt.

And one day,

he snatched a silver
bracelet from me and kept it,

saying, "Here, wife,
a gift for me."

And he kissed me often
and so passionately

that everyone said he would
never have kissed me enough.

No!

No!

Katherine Howard,

you are indicted for
having led an abominable,

base, carnal, voluptuous,

and vicious life before
marriage like a common harlot...

with several persons.

You led the King by word
and gesture to love you,

concealing your contract
with Francis Dereham

to the peril of the King and
his children begotten by you.

And after marriage,

you showed the same
Dereham notable favour,

while inciting Thomas
Culpepper to carnal knowledge,

telling him

you loved him above the King.

It is my duty

to escort you to the Tower.

My Lady.

Sir Edward.

Don't let them.

No.

Thomas?

Oh God!

Oh, Thomas!

- My Lady.
- No, no, no, no!

No, no! No, No! No, Thomas!

Is she condemned?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What of the others?

Dereham and Culpepper
have been executed

and the bill allowing a
mad person to be executed

for treason has become law.

I want to have a party.

Here is a list of guests.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Katherine Howard, I have to tell
you that you are going to die.

You will be taken to your place
of execution tomorrow morning,

the 13th of February, escorted
by members of the Privy Council.

May I ask one favour?

Will you bring the block to me...

so that I might know
how to place myself

and... make trial of it?

As you wish.

Is there anything else you need?

Do you want a confessor?

No.

I have spoken to God so rarely,

I did not think He
would know who I was.

Ladies.

Something sweet?

- What do you think?
- Your Majesty.

Ah! A beautiful Queen.

Madam, do you want
to say a few words?

I ask forgiveness for my sins,

from His Gracious Majesty,

from God,

and from all of you.

Shall I say more?

No, my Lady.
That is already sufficient.

Thank you.

It's time, my Lady.

I have come here to die.

Oh, my Lady!

I die a Queen.

But I would rather die
the wife of Culpepper...

Life is very beautiful.