"And now, his monarch's sweating face thrust into his, he remembers something his father told him: if you burn your hand, Tom, raise your hands and cross your wrists before you, and hold them so till you get to the water or the salve: I don't know how it works, but it confuses the pain, and then if you utter a prayer at the same time, you might get off not too bad. He raises his palms. He crosses his wrists. Back you go, Henry. As confused by the gesture — as if almost relieved to be stopped—the king face away and so relieving him, Cromwell, of that bloodshot stare, of the indecent closeness of the popping blue whites of the king's eyes. He says, softly, 'God preserve you, Majesty. And now, will you excuse me?' (Mantel, H. 2012. Bring up the Bodies. 276-277)

MARK RYLANCE and DAMIAN LEWIS as THOMAS CROMWELL and KING HENRY VIII in WOLF HALL (2015-) | 1x05 "Crows"

Anne Boleyn 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻 Thomas Cromwell — making fool of Chapuys WOLF HALL (2015) | 1x05