Leases, writs, statutes, all are written to be read and each person reads them by the light of self-interest. - Hilary Mantel

Anne says, “I am Jezebel. You, Thomas Cromwell, are the priests of Baal.” Her eyes are alight. “As I am a woman, I am the means by which sin enters this world. I am the devil’s gateway, the cursed ingress. I am the means by which Satan attacks the man, whom he was not bold enough to attack, except through me. Well, that is their view of the situation. My view is that there are too many priests with scant learning and smaller occupation. And I wish the Pope and the Emperor and all Spaniards were in the sea and drowned.”

Thomas More says that the imperial troops, for their enjoyment, are roasting live babies on spits. Oh, he would! says Thomas Cromwell. Listen, soldiers don’t do that. They’re too busy carrying away everything they can turn into ready money.

He is a good boy, Gregory. Not the most forward, but I can understand that. We'll make him useful yet."
"You don't intend him for the church?" Cranmer asks.
"I said," growls Rowland, "we'll make him useful.