Anne Boleyn Last Days
One man and one woman would cause one of the greatest storylines ever seen
throughout history. He was a man fuelled with passion. She was full of
adoration. Yet his ability to gain a male heir would once again decline into farce
and injustice. Another tragic tale from the House of Tudor, as we now look at
the final days of Anne Boleyn.
Our story begins on the eighth of January 1536. It was a sad time for the
people of England. Within the court of Henry the Eighth a party was about
to take place. The breaking news was that Catherine of Aragon had died. Henry
and his new wife Anne Boleyn had dressed in yellow garments. This was a sign of
joy in England and one of celebration, and it's unknown why they chose this
colour. In Spain yellow was also used in mourning alongside the traditional
black. Mary Tudor's mother was now gone, and what happened next was an
attempt by Anne to heal some old wounds between the two of them. However,
marry ignored Anne, these two leading ladies never found solace in each other
as time went by. But a more important time was also coming to its conclusion
for Anne. She was pregnant and the child was due imminently and this time Anne
knew that it could be disastrous if she didn't produce the boy and future heir
Henry had always desired. However, the mother to be was unaware that already
the king had his eyes set on yet another woman in court, Jane Seymour was
quickly becoming Henry's latest love, and his demeanour change towards Anne. He'd
given Jane a locket and inside was a miniature portrait of himself a medieval
selfie if you like! But Anne found out about this and in rage ripped the necklace
from Jane's neck. The effect was so strong it made Ann's fingers bleed.
A further two events would cause Anne much pain, the first being when Henry was
part of a jousting tournament. He was felled and knocked unconscious. He lay
for around two hours before regaining his feet. And the second was when Anne
entered one of the king's rooms to find him with Jane Seymour sat on his lap. We
can only imagine the rage she had at seeing her husband in this position. Maybe it
was all too much, the recent events had naturally taken their toll on Anne
ultimately she would miscarry her child. Chapuis who was the Spanish
Ambassador said that this loss was the beginning of the end of the Royal
marriage. Henry was beside himself in his eyes, the once love of his life had
now failed so miserably in giving him the one thing above all else he required, but his
sorrow was short lived at this latest news. As for Anne, she must have been
devastated, and she even probably thought it was all her fault. But now Henry
had seen enough and like the good chap he was, he would not only stick a knife
in Anne but twist it too! He declared he'd been seduced by Anne tricked into marriage
and he used such words as deception. This was about to get nasty, not only for Anne
but fear would spread around the court that Henry was once again on a slippery
road to blame anyone who crossed his path. Jane Seymour had been moved into
private quarters. George Boleyn, who was to receive the Order of the Garter,
was told that his nomination had now gone to Sir Nicholas Carew. Henry had just
begun his own inquiry into what, where, and why. Thomas Cromwell, the king's
right hand man had now started to piece together information to bring down Anne.
It's a plot of epic proportions that still resonates to this day in its
authenticity, and above all else, it's honesty and truthfulness. But as we
know, a trumped-up charge was a much better and easier way for Henry to
eradicate Anne from his life. Anne had argued that Cromwell had not distributed
monies to church revenues or use them for educational and charitable
foundations. She had also suggested an alliance with France. Cromwell, on the
other hand, would respond in his own deceptive way as the kings Chancellor. He
was party to all the money available, and he did after all, have complete
control over these funds. Let's say he was very articulate in summing up and
creating a realistic cash total for the kingdom, while all the time taking a
slice for himself. In other words, he was great at fiddling the books and Anne
knew what he was up to. Yet another suggestion is that Cromwell only became
involved in the split between Henry and Anne when ordered to do so. It's also
said that Cromwell was now under tremendous pressure to manufacture a case of
adultery against Anne which would ultimately be to the satisfaction of Henry. For
if Cromwell declined his own life would have been under much scrutiny. It was
Henry that had devised the plot, in a way a travesty of justice, a single man's
aims to put in his mind the wrongs which now must be put right. It was a
complete breakdown of honour and entitlement. The states engine had roared
into action, the brakes would not be applied until a so called justice was achieved.
Mark Smeaton who had arrived at court was a Flemish musician. He was often seen
with Anne entertaining her with his remarkable ability to play numerous musical
instruments, but this arrangement was about to end in the most drastic of
fashions. Smeaton was arrested. His accusers said that he had been a lover to
the queen. He was tortured and later confessed. Another suspect in the
fabricated story was Sir Henry Norris. He was seen as a loyal man to Henry,
yet being treated with respect and by being an aristocrat. He was not
conditioned in the same way as Smeaton, to tell him all he knew, however,
during the May Day celebrations of that year, Henry was told that Smeaton had
finally confessed. Henry now acting with the utmost haste had Norris and the
other conspirators rounded up.
Norris continued to plead not guilty to any of
the charges. Yet one damning piece of information sealed his fate. It was said
upon entering the rooms of Anne to see one of her ladies in waiting, Madge Shelton,
that Anne was overheard to say that he came to her chambers not to pay court to a
lady in waiting, but to herself. Others arrested were, Sir Francis Weston again
on the same charge. Sir William Brereton, who had been a groom to the Kings
privy chamber. Sir Thomas Wyatt a good friend to the Boleyn's and a poet, and
quite possibly the one person who had in fact the most prominent association
with Anne as they were said to be great friends before Anne's marriage to Henry.
Yet Thomas was released eventually with all charges dropped. Sir Richard Page
another accused of having direct relations with Anne. Luckily for him, too,
he would be acquitted of all charges and released. The last in the lineup of
suspects was none other than Anne's brother George, who had been arrested and
charged with incest and treason. By the second of May 1536, Anne had been
arrested and placed under guard in the Tower of London. Little was said to Anne
on the journey, yet she often pleaded with her guard to be told what was
happening. Upon arrival, she requested the location of her father, brother,
more specifically, what were the charges. Anne at that point collapsed, the events
over the past few months had taken their toll. And for the first time in her
life, she now knew she was staring at death. On the sixth of May, and wrote a
letter to Henry, it would be her last,
"Sir, your Grace's displeasure and my imprisonment a thing so strange unto me
as what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant, whereas you
send unto me willing me to confess the truth, and so obtain your favour by
such in one whom you know to be my ancient professed enemy. I no sooner
received this message by him, than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if,
as you say, confessing a truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all
willingness and duty, perform your demand." Anne then continued, "but let not
your Grace ever imagine, that your poor wife will ever be brought to
acknowledge a fault, where not so much as a thought thereof preceded. And
to speak a truth, never prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true
affection, than you have ever found in Anne Boleyn: with which name and place I
could willingly have contented myself, if God and your Grace's pleasure had
been so pleased." She wrote
openly about her upcoming trial and thoughts about receiving a fair hearing.
"You have chosen me, from a low estate, to be your Queen and companion, far
beyond my desert or desire. If then you found me worthy of such honour, good
your Grace let not any light fancy, or bad council of mine enemies, withdraw
your princely favour from me; neither let that stain, that unworthy stain, of a
disloyal heart toward your good grace, ever cast so foul a blot on your most
dutiful wife, and the infant-princess your daughter."
Anne completed her letter to Henry by saying,
"My last and only request shall be, that myself may only bear the burden of
your Grace's displeasure, and that it may not touch the innocent souls of
those poor gentlemen, who (as I understand) are likewise in strait
imprisonment for my sake. If ever I found favour in your sight, if ever the
name of Anne Boleyn hath been pleasing in your ears, then let me obtain this
request, and I will so leave to trouble your Grace any further, with mine
earnest prayers to the Trinity to have your Grace in his good keeping, and to
direct you in all your actions. From my doleful prison in the Tower, this
sixth of May, Your most loyal and ever faithful wife,
Anne Boleyn. Although she wouldn't know the outcome just yet, but the king had
already decided the fate of Anne and the others, and nothing would stop him. And
the fear he produced was culpable, round the court and the country. On the 12th of
may 1536 the four accused men were brought and tried at Westminster. Weston,
Brereton, Norris and Smeaton although Smeaton had already pleaded guilty. Just
three days later, Anne and her brother George would tried separately at the Tower of
London. The crime she had committed were read out, adultery, incest, and high
treason. The implications were horrific for Anne as under the Treason Act of
Edward the third, adultery by a queen was classed as high treason. The penalty
for a woman was to be burned alive. The accusations however, fictitious, were
put in place to easily convict her and denigrate her morals. At the trial it was
alleged that Anne had planned the King's death, intending to marry Sir Henry
Norris, Henry had really going overboard this time. The accusations were
incredible, and by far the biggest scandal ever to hit the House of Tudor.
Thomas Cranmer was the man who would make the final Declaration on Henry and
Anne's marriage by anulment and stating it was now void on the 17th of May.
As expected all the accused were found guilty, including George Boleyn on the 17th
of may 1536. Anne was now at the point where she was preparing for death. The
constable of the tower, William Kingston reported that Anne was happy and ready
to be done with life. Although Anne's execution would typically have been by
being burnt alive, Henry decided on beheading, why? Who knows, maybe he wanted
her to go quickly, to concentrate on the next sorry saga of his unravelling life.
William Kingston paid a visit to Anne on the day of her execution.
"This morning she sent for me, that I might be with her at such time as she
received the good Lord, to the intent I should hear her speak as touching her
innocency alway to be clear. And in the writing of this she sent for me,
and at my coming she said, 'Mr. Kingston, I hear I shall not die afore
noon, and I am very sorry therefore, for I thought to be dead by this time
and past my pain.' I told her it should be no pain, it was so little. And then
she said, 'I heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck,'
and then put her hands about it, laughing heartily. I have seen many men
and also women executed, and that they have been in great sorrow, and to my
knowledge this lady has much joy in death.
The 19th of May 1536, Anne was taken to a scaffold erected on the north side of
the White Tower. It's said she wore a red petticoat under a dark grey gown,
trimmed in fur. She was accompanied by two female attendants. She walked from
the Queen's House to the scaffold. A woman who looked in a determined
mood as if death was not upon her. She mounted the steps and the crowd fell
quiet, as she made a short speech.
Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by
the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I
am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am
accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long
to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never:
and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person
will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my
leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for
me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.
It was too much for many spectators. As tears slid down their painful
expressions. It's said that Anne did not criticise Henry even at the end. But
thoughts were with her daughter and family. She didn't want any further
retribution placed upon them. Neither did she imply her guilt. Without a doubt
she quietly spoke of her innocence. Many including Thomas Cromwell, Charles
Brandon, and even the illegitimate son of the king, Henry FitzRoy witnessed
her death. It was a most upsetting turn of events for Cranmer, and it's been
said he broke down in tears. To be fair to Cranmer he had from the outset
believed none of the accusations laid at the door of Anne and had expressed
his feelings to Henry. However, he knew nothing could change the king's mind.
Cranmer was in a vulnerable place and quite possibly decided his best course
of action was just to remain quiet. But one final act he carried out was to listen to
Anne's last confession, and he helped her prepare. An outer garment was removed
her hair was tucked inside a coif after bidding farewell to her now
distraught ladies, she kneeled down. The blindfold was placed upon her and she
was knelt upright, as was the case for French style executions. She prayed, oh
Lord God have pity on my soul. The execution was done swiftly with one single
stroke. Anne was buried in an unmarked grave inside the chapel of St. Peter
ad vincula. And in 1876, renovations were carried out at the chapel, when her
remains were discovered. Queen Victoria then had them reentered, and this time
identified with her name placed upon the marble floor. The story of Anne Boleyn
is one of the most told in history, this young woman who was thrust into the
limelight and became queen would like many others fall at the hands of King
Henry the Eighth. Their love was quite possibly the most intense ever
witnessed. Henry was completely besotted by this lady. Yet as usual, he
quickly became disenfranchised and bored with her inability to produce an heir.
Yet the fascination of Anne Boleyn in her short life continues to inspire people
today. It's a majestic tale of love found and love lost, with an ending that
you couldn't make up. So was Anne herself ruthless? As little did she know at
that time what she was letting herself in for when Henry came calling was
her finale a case of politics taken to the extreme by her fanatical husband.
We'll never know the whole story. Still reports and accounts tell a vivid
tale. She was the first English queen to be executed in public. Yet 500 years
after her death, she still warrants much attention. Anne Boleyn became one of
the biggest stars in history, and certainly raised the profile of Henry and
his Tudor regime. Anne may be gone. But for over 500 years, she has left people
still wanting to know more and as a person, she warrants the attention. A lady
whos fame is still written about today. She was without doubt one of the most
influential and important queens, England as ever had.
Well, thank you so much for watching. I really appreciate it. For more amazing
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