TYNDALE. What is it you want, Lady Anne?

ANNE. To read your new book.

The COUNTRY PEOPLE are incredulous.

TYNDALE. You’ve heard of my new book?

ANNE. Yes, from the Cardinal.

Unease again from the COUNTRY PEOPLE.

He told me it was the work of an extremist, heretical beyond all reason, from a pen in the service of the Antichrist.

TYNDALE. The work has its critics.

ANNE. He’s only heard of it, not read it.

TYNDALE. A true critic then. (To the FIRST COUNTRY MAN.) Give her a copy of the book.

FIRST COUNTRY MAN. She’ll give it to the Cardinal for him to burn!

TYNDALE. I don’t think so.

The FIRST COUNTRY MAN takes a book from a bag and, reluctantly, hands it to ANNE.

ANNE. Thank you, Master Tyndale.

TYNDALE. A book won’t break the Pope’s power in England. That will take a King.

ANNE stares at him, then turns to go.

ANNE. Good day, Master Tyndale.

TYNDALE. Sing Martin’s hymn with us.

She turns back.

The FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN steps forward and sings the first line of the last verse of ‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’.

FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN (singing).

God’s Word above…

ANNE.…all earthly powers.

ALL (singing).

No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours,

Through Him who with us sideth.

Let good and loved ones go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill;

God’s Truth abideth still;

His Kingdom is for ever.

TYNDALE and the COUNTRY PEOPLE exit. ANNE stands for a moment with the book. She opens it slowly. She reads. She snaps it shut. Then she holds up the book to the sky and closes her eyes in prayer.

ANNE. Lord Jesus. By Your Divine Will, You have put this sword into my hand. Now give me Your Grace to use it well. Amen.

She exits, quickly.

Scene Twelve

Enter LADY ROCHFORD, JANE and CELIA. LADY ROCHFORD is reading The Obedience of a Christian Man. JANE and CELIA run to her.

LADY ROCHFORD gasps and closes the book.

JANE. My Lady, what’s that?

CELIA. Is it a Lancelot story? The knight, coming out of the lake, naked in the dawn…

JANE.… Queen Guinevere, lying on the mossy bank…

CELIA.… Wearing nothing but her long hair…

They laugh.

ROCHFORD. No. Nothing like that.

She shoos them away, walks and carries on reading. They follow her. They remain on the stage.

Enter SLOOP and SIMPKIN.

SLOOP vomits.

SIMPKIN. What’s the matter?

SLOOP. I’ve just been on an errand for His Grace the Cardinal.

SIMPKIN. What? Tasting oysters?

SLOOP. His Grace does like his Colchester natives. No. He sent me to Sir Thomas More’s house.

SIMPKIN. And Sir Thomas poisoned you?