It’s not easy to speak of nonexistence, even if you’ve already commissioned your tomb. - Hilary Mantel

Wherever he goes he is cheered by the people.
“The people?” Norfolk says. They’d cheer a Barbary ape. Who cares what they cheer? Hang ’em all.”
“But then who will you tax?” he says, and Norfolk looks at him fearfully, unsure if he’s made a joke.

She is selling herself by the inch. The gentlemen all say you are advising her. She wants a present in cash for every advance above her knee."
"Not like you, Mary. One push backward and, good girl, here's your fourpence."
"Well. You know. If kings are doing the pushing." She laughs. "Anne has very long legs. By the time he comes to her secret part he will be bankrupt. The French wars will be cheap, in comparison.

More pats his arm. “Have you no plans to marry again, Thomas? No? Perhaps wise. My father always says, choosing a wife is like putting your hand into a bag full of writhing creatures, with one eel to six snakes. What are the chances you will pull out the eel?”