A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Nigel Davenport: Duke of Norfolk

Photos 

Quotes 

• The Duke of Norfolk : Oh confound all this. I'm not a scholar, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can't you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship!

  Sir Thomas More : And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?

• Sir Thomas More : But what matters to me is not whether it's true or not, but that I believe it to be true, or rather not that I *believe* it, but that *I* believe it. I trust I make myself obscure.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Perfectly.

• Sir Thomas More : Have I your word that what we say here is between us two?

  The Duke of Norfolk : Very well.

  Sir Thomas More : And if the King should command you to repeat what I may say?

  The Duke of Norfolk : I should keep my word to you.

  Sir Thomas More : Then what has become of your oath of obedience to the King?

  The Duke of Norfolk : You lay traps for me!

  Sir Thomas More : No, I show you the times.

• Cromwell : I have evidence that Sir Thomas, while he was a judge, accepted bribes.

  The Duke of Norfolk : What? Goddammit, he was the only judge since Cato who didn't accept bribes! When was there last a Chancellor whose possessions after three years in office totaled one hundred pounds and a gold chain?

• The Duke of Norfolk : Your life lies in your own hands, Thomas, as it always has.

  Sir Thomas More : Is that so, My Lord? Then I'll keep a good grip on it.

• The Duke of Norfolk : The nobility of England...

  Sir Thomas More : The nobility of England, My Lord, would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount, but you'll labor like scholars over a bulldog's pedigree.

• The Duke of Norfolk : Why do you insult me with this lawyer's chatter?

  Sir Thomas More : Because I am afraid.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Man, you're ill. This isn't Spain, you know. This is England.

• Cromwell : The King wants Sir Thomas to bless his marriage. If Sir Thomas appeared at the wedding, now, it might save us all a lot of trouble.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Aaahh, he won't attend the wedding.

  Cromwell : If I were you, I'd try and persuade him. I really would try... if I were you.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Cromwell, are you threatening me?

  Cromwell : My dear Norfolk... this isn't Spain. This is England.

• Sir Thomas More : I will not take the oath. I will not tell you why I will not.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Then your reasons must be treasonable!

  Sir Thomas More : Not "must be," may be.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Oh, it's a fair assumption!

  Sir Thomas More : The law requires more than an assumption, the law requires a fact.

• Sir Thomas More : You may suppose I have objections. All you know is that I will not swear to it, for which you cannot lawfully harm me further. But if you were right in supposing me to have objections, and right again in supposing my objections to be treasonable, the law would let you cut my head off.

  The Duke of Norfolk : [understanding, with difficulty]  Oh. Yes.

  Cromwell : [a dig at Norfolk]  Oh, well done, Sir Thomas. I've been trying to make that clear to His Grace for some time.

• The Duke of Norfolk : When the Cardinal calls, you all come running, day or night. What is the man? A butcher's son!

  Sir Thomas More : Chancellor of England, too.

  Margaret More : No that's his office. What is the man?

• The Duke of Norfolk : I still say, let sleeping dogs lie.

  Cromwell : The King does not agree with you.

• Sir Thomas More : No one is safe, Howard, and you have a son. We'll end our friendship now.

  The Duke of Norfolk : For friendship's sake?

  Sir Thomas More : Yes.

  The Duke of Norfolk : Daft!

  Sir Thomas More : Norfolk, you're a fool!

• The Duke of Norfolk : An artificial quarrel is not a quarrel.