TYNDALE. And what would Sir Thomas More say about me, the heretic Protestant, whispering in the King’s ear?

ANNE. His Majesty greatly respects you.

TYNDALE. More wants to burn me. Which I do take to heart: he is Lord Chancellor of England.

ANNE. For now.

TYNDALE. Ah. Satan’s mire.

ANNE. Think of it, Master Tyndale. You would take the Word of Christ to the heart of Government.

TYNDALE. And what word would that be, through the King’s ear, to the heart of England?

ANNE. That is for your conscience…

TYNDALE. It would be: ‘Oh King, oh King, you were wrong to divorce your wife.’

FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN (claps her hands). Oh! Praise Jesus you said it to her face!

ANNE glares at her. A pause.

ANNE. No.

TYNDALE. ‘Oh King, take back your true wife, Catherine.’

FIRST COUNTRY WOMAN. True Queen!

ANNE. No. Leviticus 20, verse 21: ‘If a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness: they shall be childless.’

TYNDALE. Deuteronomy 25, verse 2: ‘If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child…’

ANNE. No no…

TYNDALE. ‘…the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger…’

ANNE. No no no…

TYNDALE. ‘…her husband’s brother shall go unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duties of an husband’s brother unto her…’

ANNE. No no no, no, yes but… With Catherine, he was Catholic! With me he is… new, a new King. Of a new England, reformed, truly Christian. Isn’t that what God wants?

TYNDALE. We can only be guided by His Word.

ANNE. But what is His Word? Leviticus or Deuteronomy?

TYNDALE. There must be interpretation. Leviticus refers to taking a brother’s wife when the brother is still living.

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.