ANNE. Nowhere does it say that.

TYNDALE. That is the revealed meaning.

ANNE. Revealed how?

TYNDALE. By prayer.

ANNE. Oh, then let’s pray and make anything true! We’re cutting free of the Pope in England, because of me. Me! Don’t you understand that? Because I’m Queen.

TYNDALE turns away, distressed.

SECOND COUNTRY WOMAN. You’re no Queen of England.

ANNE. How dare you!

SECOND COUNTRY WOMAN. Ooh ooh, Your Majesty. (Mocking bow.) Going to have me hauled to Tyburn for treason, have me hanged and cut down, my innards burnt at front of me, have me cut into quarters?

FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN. That’s what they should do to you, strumpet.

FIRST COUNTRY MAN. Concubine of Babylon.

SECOND COUNTRY MAN. You’re a whore.

SECOND COUNTRY WOMAN. Witch.

One of them picks up a stone to throw at ANNE.

TYNDALE. Stop this, stop it!

A pause.

ANNE. Is there any hope you may change your opinion?

TYNDALE. It’s not my opinion, it’s God’s Word.

ANNE. But if… if the King… put me aside, declared Catherine his lawful wife, she’d have her Catholic way. She’s a very strong woman.

TYNDALE. As are you.

ANNE. She’d give the English Church back to the Pope. Do you want that?

TYNDALE. No. Course not.

ANNE. Then join us. Guide the King. Help us build a new Jerusalem.

TYNDALE. Your Majesty. Against what the world says, I think you have Christ within you. But the King must take back his true wife.

ANNE. But you call me ‘Majesty’!

FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN. He’s polite.

ANNE. Can’t you see? With me, the Reformation lives. With Catherine it would die.

TYNDALE. God will work his purpose out.

ANNE. Through me!

TYNDALE. Tell Thomas Cromwell ‘no’. (Turns away.)

ANNE. I love the King. I love him.

The SECOND COUNTRY WOMAN snorts.

Go on, go on, sneer, say filthy things. But I love the King and he loves me and that’s how God works. Works His purpose, His way, through our love.

SECOND COUNTRY WOMAN. Stewing in an adulterous bed…?

ANNE. That’s all I have, the King’s love. It protects me from all the… viciousness, the plots at Court, the Spanish spies, Sir Thomas More, even from you, Master Tyndale. Because that love comes from God. Can’t you see that? Can’t you see that?

TYNDALE. Madam, we must be our own confessors. Best you look into your heart. Good day to you.

ANNE. No…

TYNDALE and the COUNTRY MEN and WOMEN walk away.

Can’t we say a prayer? Can’t we sing?

They exit.

(Aside.) Look into my heart. But I do. I do.

She turns away and exits.

Scene Six

Enter JAMES and CECIL, PARROT and GEORGE at a distance. SERVANTS follow, bringing on the velvet chair. JAMES sprawls in it.

JAMES. Are they outside?

CECIL. They have been for five hours.

JAMES. Left alone together? Standing up?

CECIL. As you instructed, Sire, we removed the chairs from the chamber.

JAMES. Good. Has there been sound of disputation?