Anne Boleyn: From Queen to History

May 20th 2010: Conclusion
I do not think it would come as any surprise to say that I adore Anne Boleyn. She is my hero, my idol, my source of inspiration, to be even a fraction of the woman she was would be a wonderful thing. For me, I found writing about Anne’s last nineteen days to be an incredibly powerful and moving experience. I have read countless books, articles and websites related to Anne and yet writing this for myself I found I still learnt so much about an amazingly inspiring woman.

Anne Boleyn was and will always be one of the most well known women of Tudor history. Why? Because she was so unlike many woman of her day. Anne was incredibly intelligent; she had a wit and fire which burned in her belly and drove her forward. She was ambitious, determined, passionate and managed to hold the attention of one of England’s most famous Kings, Henry Tudor, for almost a decade. She played a part in one of England’s greatest religious upheavals with the Reformation and gave birth to Elizabeth I, one of the most beloved and well known Queen’s in all English history. She was unlike the humble and placid mould of women in her time and I believe that if Anne was alive today there is simply no telling the amazing things she could accomplish.

I do not, nor will I ever believe that Anne Boleyn was ever guilty of the crimes she was charged with and condemned to death for. I do not believe that she ever committed adultery and I feel that the case and evidence I have provided throughout this piece of writing shows the countless reasons as to why Anne would never have taken part in adultery. She was to smart and knew the risks and had fought to hard and to fiercely to get to where she was, the Queen of England, to let it all slip away for some silly affairs with men she cared little for. I do not believe that she ever committed incest with her brother. Anne was a very religious woman and incest was a great sin against God and I firmly believe Anne would never have wanted to blacken her soul with such a sin. I also do not believe that Anne would have ever committed treason against her husband by openly plotting his death. Henry had made Anne; he had chased her, made her his mistresses, and transformed the religious beliefs of an entire country so that he could make her his Queen, why would she want him dead? Why would she want to end all that she had, all that she had worked so hard for to achieve? For a woman of great intellect and skill I do not see such a thing happening.

I firmly believe that Anne was the innocent victim in a serious of fates and plots that befell her. Yes she was outspoken, yes she challenged her husband, yes she was jealous of his mistresses and frustrated by his decisions and yes she had not provided Henry with the son he so desperately desired but that does not mean she deserved to die.

Love her or hate her Anne Boleyn was an incredible woman. She rose in status from a mere nobody to become Queen of England and left in her legacy one of the most remarkable Queen’s in Elizabeth Tudor. Anne had the spirit and fire that burned within her far beyond the years in which she was born into. Her courage, determination, spirit and wit helped her capture the heart of one of the most famous Kings in all history and unfortunately this same spirit and fire brought about her downfall. It was a sad ending for one of the most remarkable women in history. I wonder what Anne would say if she knew that 474 years after her death people were still talking and writing about her? I think she would smile.

May 19th 1536: Goodbye Sweet Queen
What it must have been like for Anne this morning I do not think we can ever imagine. We do not know how she spent her last night upon this earth but if it was anything like the previous night which Anne believed to be her last, we can assume that she spent much of the time in prayer. As the first golden rays of dawn crept over the Tower of London, spilling into the Queen’s chambers, Anne took Mass for the very last time. Once more she confessed upon the Sacrament that she was innocent and that she had not committed the horrendous crimes brought against her. After this at approximately 7am she ate a light breakfast with her ladies in waiting and prepared herself for her final few hours upon this earth.

For her last day, perhaps her greatest day, Anne chose to wear a dress of gray damask which had a crimson kirtle underneath and a mantle that was trimmed with ermine. She wore an English hood, a necklace and earrings. One might gloss over Anne’s choice of dress for her final moments but I think it is extremely important to stop for a moment and look at this gown Anne had chosen to wear. Anne was an extremely clever woman and she did not simply choose this outfit on a whim, no there was a strong reason behind it. Crimson or red was the colour of martyrdom and this was the third time since her arrest that Anne had chosen to wear this colour. Twice before, each time on extremely important moments Anne had worn crimson. If one remembers the day that Anne was arrested she returned to her chambers and dressed in a beautiful dress of gold and crimson. As she was taken by barge down the river Thames to the Tower of London it is said that the sun shone off her jewels and dress. Anyone that looked upon her would have seen the crimson of her dress. At her trial Anne wore a gown of black with a crimson petticoat, the second time she was to display the colour of martyrdom. Hundreds upon hundreds of eyes stared at Anne during her trial, unconsciously taking in the silent message she was trying to convey through her choice of clothing. And now once more, in her final hours, when again hundreds of eyes would be watching her, Anne chose carefully. Without having to say a word, through her gown Anne was showing her martyrdom, proclaiming her innocence. Such a strong important message all without having to speak a word – Anne was no fool, instead she was amazingly clever.

At 8am Sir Kingston came to tell Anne that her hour was approaching and that she should prepare herself, but Anne was already prepared. She told Sir Kingston: ‘Acquit yourself of your charge for I have long been prepared’ (Weir 2009, pg. 261). I think Anne’s words have never been more true. It seems as though in these final hours Anne held more grace, poise and strength than she had ever done in her whole life. It seems as though after all the stress, lack of sleep, humiliation and fear that she had endured for almost three weeks Anne was prepared to die. She knew in her heart and soul she would never have the happiness or love that she once held. Things would never be the same; there was no one to save her, to rescue her from this fate which lay before her. Henry whom had once been her strong loving suitor, whom had lavished her with presents and promises, whom had changed an entire countries religious basis to make her his Queen was no longer there. Anne was alone, her brother gone; her father abandoning her, her daughter barely three years old… there was no one to help her. Anne had made her peace with herself and the world and she was ready to face her fate.

At 9am, or perhaps a little before, Anne was to leave her chambers in the Queen’s lodgings for the last time. Three years ago she had stayed in the very same lodgings on the night before her coronation, the night before she was to be raised above all others to become Queen of England. Now she left the same chambers to face her death. As she left the Queen’s lodgings Anne was accompanied by four ladies in waiting. It has been suggested that these four women were not those same ladies in waiting whom Anne detested that had been attending to her during her imprisonment. Instead it has been proposed that they were four of Anne’s ladies in waiting that had attended her during her marriage to Henry VIII. If this is true or not one cannot be sure, but it would be some comfort to know that in her final hours Anne had four women whom she held close with her.

Leaving her chambers Anne walked down the stairs from the Queen’s lodgings to the courtyard between the Jewel House and the King’s Hall. Two hundred Yeomen were there to lead Anne, her ladies in waiting, Sir Kingston and several others to the scaffold that had been erected. She walked through the courtyard and then through the twin towers of the Coldharbour Gate (which no longer stands) to the scaffold that awaited her. It has been reported that approximately a thousand people surrounded the scaffold upon Tower Green to watch the execution of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England. Of course several of those watching were the men whom had fought so viciously to bring these charges upon Anne including Thomas Cromwell, the Duke of Richmond (Anne’s step son) and the Duke of Suffolk.

Despite thousands of eyes staring at her Anne is said to have looked composed and dignified. One report states that Anne ‘has never looked more beautiful’ (Fraser 2002, pg. 315). It is great credit to the type of woman that Anne Boleyn was, that in her final moments knowing she was about to die, that she could hold herself with such composure and beauty. Perhaps she was being stubborn? Not wanting to show any sign of weakness or perhaps she was just glad that soon it would all be over.

The scaffold was draped in black cloth and had straw scattered across it. Upon the scaffold waited the French executioner whom was dressed like all the other men to conceal his identity. His sword was hidden under the straw to save Anne seeing the tool that would soon end her life. Slowly Anne took the four steps that lead up to the scaffold and took her place in the centre. She turned and ‘begged leave to speak to the people, promising she would not speak a word that was not good’ (Weir 2009, pg. 266). She then asked Kingston ‘not to hasten the signal for her death till she had spoken that which she had mind to say’ (Weir 2009, pg. 266). It appears that Anne was determined to say her final words before her death.

Turning back to the crowd that was staring so intently at Anne, she took a deep breath and with a voice that wavered at first but grew stronger as she continued Anne spoke…

‘Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, according to the law, for by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I come here only to die, and thus to yield myself humbly to the will of the King, my lord. And if, in my life, I did ever offend the King’s Grace, surely with my death I do now atone. I come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that whereof I am accused, as I know full well that aught I say in my defence doth not appertain to you. I pray and beseech you all, good friends, to pray for the life of the King, my sovereign lord and yours, who is one of the best princes on the face of the earth, who has always treated me so well that better could not be, wherefore I submit to death with good will, humbly asking pardon of all the world. If any person will meddle with my cause, I require them to judge the best. Thus I take my leave of the world, and of you, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. Oh Lord, have mercy on me! To God I commend my soul’ (Weir 2009, pg. 266 – 267).

Upon reading this one might be aghast at Anne’s words. Henry Tudor, King of England, Anne’s once husband had condemned her to death for trumped up charges of adultery, incest and treason – which have little to no evidence, and yet Anne asks that the people listening to pray for Henry whom treated her so well? It sounds shocking and quite contradictory and yet it was not. What MUST be remembered and we can see so clearly in Anne’s speech is that there was a format that one must follow if they were to make a speech upon their execution. Guidelines if one wishes of what has to be said. Now days I can only imagine that if a person was sent to their death on false charges they would want to rally and speak out against what was happening to them, but in the Tudor times such a thing was not done. The King was the law, the supreme ruler and he dictated how a person was to live their lives. One must thank and praise him for all he had done, even if it was to condemn them to death.

But I think there was something more to Anne’s speech than simply following a format. By now Anne knew there was no reprise, there was no one to save her, she was going to die and what she did in her final moments would affect her daughter for the rest of Elizabeth’s life. She had to protect her daughter and by biting back against the King and soiling his name would not have helped Elizabeth’s already uncertain future. From now on every time Henry looked upon his daughter he would be forced to think about her mother and what she had supposedly done. I think Anne wanted to protect Elizabeth as much as was possible at the time and her speech reflects this.

Yet despite this we can see in her speech that Anne never admits to being guilty of the charges she was condemned for. She admits that she has been found guilty and because of that she will die willingly. She also states that there is no point trying to argue her case because that will not change anything now. She asks people to judge the best of her and then asks for them to pray for her. I think this speech, even following a format and protecting her daughter, shows how clever Anne Boleyn was. In a subtle way, like her choice of clothing, Anne never admits her guilt which, without directly saying so, says everything that needs to be said.

After her speech Anne’s ladies helped her remove her mantle, earrings, necklace and take off her hood. It is said that her long dark hair tumbled out and that her ladies helped her tuck it under a white cap to keep it out of the swords way. After this Anne is said to have thanked her ladies for their help and begged them for forgiveness for any harshness she may have showed them. She also asked her ladies not to be sorry for her but instead to pray for her.

Knowing that the Queen’s end was drawing to a close the executioner stepped forward and asked that Anne forgive him for what he was about to do. She willingly forgave him and then he asked her to kneel and say her prayers. Anne knelt and tucked her dress underneath her so that it would not fly about her legs. How she managed to have the strength and courage to kneel on her own in what she knew would be her last few minutes is far beyond me. Some accounts from those who watched the execution say that one of Anne’s ladies in waiting stepped forward to cover her eyes while other reports state that Anne refused to have her eyes covered. Whichever was the case no one can know for sure.

As she knelt upon the straw those around her knelt also showing their respect for what was about to happen, all those except the Dukes of Richmond and Suffolk. As a thousand pairs of eyes looked at her Anne repeated over and over the prayer: ‘Jesu, have pity on my soul! My God, have pity on my soul, To Jesus Christ I commend my soul…’ (Weir 2009, pg. 270).  It was only now, in the last few minutes of her life that Anne’s resolve began to falter. It is said that nervously she kept looking over her shoulder waiting for the executioners blow to come. The executioner seeing this turned to his assistant and called ‘bring me the sword’ (Weir 2009, pg. 271). Anne turned her head to look at the steps where the assistant presumably was. In this moment the executioner pulled out his sword from beneath the straw. Lifting it high above his head he swung it several times to built up momentum and then with one swift blow he brought it down severing Anne Boleyn’s neck, her lips still moving in prayer.

And so it was done, Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, was dead. Anne’s head fell onto the scaffold, her body tumbling after. It has been recorded that after a person’s head is decapitated from their body that the person lives on for a few more seconds registering what has just happened to them. If this was the case for Anne I dare not even try to imagine what was going through her mind as she died. It is a horrible thought to imagine Anne living on for a few more seconds as her head tumbled to the scaffold, one that sends shivers down my spine.

What I do think about is what Anne thought in those final moments of her life as she knelt upon the scaffold whispering her last words. Was she thinking of Henry, of the love they once had, or the fate he had condemned her to? Of her life that had been? Of the past happiness and joys she had once so treasured? Of her beautiful daughter whose fate would be unknown? Of the probable fear that was coursing through her veins? Or was she simply praying, giving her soul to God? Sadly no one will ever know, only Anne knew what her last thoughts were about.

A few moments after her death the great guns of the Tower were fired to signal that the Queen of England had been executed. After this one of Anne’s ladies in waiting stepped forward and covered Anne’s head with a white cloth before picking it up. The three others lifted up the still bleeding body of Anne and carried it away from the scaffold. Anne’s bloodied clothes were removed in one last humiliation as they were now the property of the King. There was no coffin for Anne, no formal place to rest her body instead she was placed in a chest which used to contain bow-staves. It is said to have been too small for her and thus her decapitated head had to be tucked under her arm. The chest was taken to the church in the Tower – the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula where the paving stones were lifted up and a shallow grave was dug. The chest containing Anne’s body was placed into the ground and buried. No marker was placed over the grave.

For his part after hearing of Anne’s death, Henry VIII rode to Hampton Court where Jane Seymour was staying. The next morning, May 20th he proposed marriage to Jane and the couple were married on May 30th - only eleven days after Anne’s execution. It seems as though Henry was not grieved by his late wife’s passing.

Upon hearing of Anne death it has been said that Archbishop Cranmer stated ‘She who has been the Queen of England on earth will today become a Queen in Heaven’ (Ridgway 2010). For some reason this quote puts a smile upon my face. Despite her flaws, her punishment, her execution Anne Boleyn was finally at peace. Her life may have ended but her legend was just beginning.




The outside of the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula where Anne Boleyn was buried. (Photo by Matt Hucke at www.graveyards.com)





The seal which was placed over where Anne Boleyn’s body is believed to have been buried inside of the royal chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Notice how the seal refers to Anne as Queen. (Photo by Donald Greyfield at www.graveyards.com)

May 18th 1536: Swearing Her Innocence
Anne believed that she was to die this morning at 9am. Where she got this thought from it is not quite clear, perhaps because her brother and co accused had been executed on the 17th it was only logical that she, also condemned, was to die the next day. Anne spent what she believed to be her last night on earth in prayer and at two o’clock she sent for her almoner John Skip to be with her to pray and provide her with some spiritual support. Then in the morning Archbishop Cranmer returned to hear her final confessions. Not surprisingly Anne once again confessed her innocence in all of the matters against her.

Anne was an extremely religious woman. Throughout her life she had been dedicated to the faith and had helped Henry with the Reformation of the English church. In her final days she had little to cling to but her faith. Before she was to die Anne swore on the sacrament TWICE that she was innocent of all charges and allegations laid against her. Her gaoler, Sir Kingston whom was present while Anne took the Sacrament and confessed her innocence, stated that ‘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 always to be clear’ (Weir 2001, pg. 251). Anne truly believed in her heart that she was innocent and that she would go to heaven to be with God.  Why, when her very soul was at stake, a thing that Anne had proven she did not take lightly, would she lie against the Holy Sacrament? Why would she say she was innocent if she was guilty? This in itself, Anne’s strong faith and her belief in God and the purity of her soul, proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anne Boleyn was innocent of all crimes tried against her. She knew that lying to God would damn her soul for all eternity. She swore to God she was innocent and in her heart and her confessions she believed she was.

Anne spent the rest of her morning in prayer awaiting her execution. However this was not to be the case and Kingston sent word to Anne that her execution would be delayed until midday. As midday approached Anne summoned Kingston to her rooms and said ‘Master Kingston, I hear say I shall not die afore noon, and I am very sorry therefore, for I thought then to be dead and past my pain’ (Weir 2009, pg. 252). Kingston explained that there would not be much pain and Anne said: ‘I have heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck’ (Weir 2009, pg. 252) then she put her hand around her neck and laughed. It seemed that Anne was ready to die. Had she resigned herself to her fate? I can only imagine what the last seventeen days had been for the once mighty Queen of England. She had been arrested, taken to the Tower of London, accused and found guilty of adultery, incest and treason, humiliated, found out her brother and four other men had been accused with her and were condemned to die. She herself had been sentenced to death, her marriage annulled and her daughter made a bastard. The toll of these horrendous events must have been overwhelming and no wonder Anne went from fits of tears to fits of laughter. Could any of this be real?! Perhaps Anne found some peace in the knowledge that despite all of this she would soon be dead and all of these lies and stains upon her would finally be over and she would have peace in Heaven.

Yet Anne’s fate was not for her to die this day. Later that afternoon Kingston had to return to Anne’s rooms and inform her that she was not to die today, but tomorrow at 9am. Anne still had one more night left to wait. What that must have been like I dare not even imagine.




The memorial upon Tower Green dedicated to those noble men and woman who were executed upon the Green. (Photo by me).





A closer view of Anne Boleyn’s name recorded on the memorial. We see here that she is referred to as Queen Anne Boleyn and the year in which she was executed. (Photo by me) There is an inscription running around the bottom of the memorial which reads:

Gentle visitor pause a while ♦ where you stand death cut away the light of many days ♦ here jewelled names were broken from the vivid thread of life ♦ may they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage ♦ under these restless skies (Experience the Tower of London 2009, pg. 34).

There is no other experience like standing by this memorial, seeing Anne Boleyn’s name and then reading this beautiful inscription. It sent shivers down my spine and for the rest of my life I will never forget standing there.

May 17th 1536: Part 2: A Marriage Over
It has been suggested that when Archbishop Cranmer visited Anne the day before her marriage to Henry was annulled, he did not go to provide her with comfort in her final hours, but to offer her some sort of bargain. If she would agree to the annulment of her marriage with the King then perhaps the King would show leniency on her or their daughter, Elizabeth Tudor. There is no way to assess if this was the purpose of Cranmer’s visit to Anne or not as no records exist of the conversation that transpired between the two. What we do know is that on May 17th Archbishop Cranmer declared the annulment of the marriage between Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor. There was no official reason for why the marriage was annulled.

What does not add up is that if Anne’s marriage to Henry was annulled, and thus meaning they were never legally married, how could she have committed adultery? How can you commit adultery if you are not married? And how could she still be the Queen of England without being married to the King? For us in modern times this stands out as a huge error of judgement, and yet nothing of this confusion was said during Anne’s last days. It seems as though this was just another loop hole that was glossed over in the rush to see Anne executed.

Whatever the confusing details regarding Henry and Anne’s annulment of marriage were, one thing was certainly clear – Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Henry and Anne was no longer a Princess but was now a bastard. This must have come as a huge blow to Anne for she loved her daughter and spoiled her with many gifts and as any mother I am sure only wanted the best for her. Now with Elizabeth’s mother to be executed on grounds of adultery, treason and incest and the annulment of her parents’ marriage affectively making her a bastard; the young girl’s fate, only two years and eight months of age, was left hanging. History tells us of what happened to young Elizabeth Tudor, that she after much adversity became Queen of England in her own right, ruling for 44 years in an era that is fondly referred to as the ‘Golden Age’. But that is a story for another time. Right now the little girl’s life had just been turned upside down.

For Henry the news of the annulment of his marriage must have come as great news to his ears. Now he was finally free of the woman whom he had seen as adulterous, a lair and unable to provide him with the son he longed for. He was finally free of Anne Boleyn and could now legally marry Jane Seymour and make her his new Queen. What Anne thought of all of this I do not know, but it certainly must have come as another crushing blow to her already turbulent final days.





Despite being declared a bastard in 1536, Elizabeth was restored to the line of succession in 1543. After the death of her half brother Edward VI and her sister Mary, Elizabeth became Queen of England in 1558 and ruled for 44 years. Her rule is said to have been a golden age in England. This portrait was painted by George Gower in 1588 to commemorate Elizabeth and England’s defeat of the Spanish armada. It hands in the National Portrait Gallery in London and I have been fortunate enough to see it in person.

May 17th 1536: Part 1: So Ends the Lives of Five Men
On the morning of May 17th five men were lead from their lodgings within the tower to their death upon Tower Hill. Cromwell sent word to Sir Kingston the Tower gaoler either on the evening of the 16th or early morning on the 17th that Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, Sir William Brereton and George Boleyn Lord Rochford were to be beheaded rather than hung drawn and quartered. There have been different reasons proposed as to why Henry changed the execution style of these five men – especially Smeaton’s who was nothing but a common born man and thus was not privileged to anything more than hanging. It had been suggested that Henry wanted to try and keep this whole sordid affair as low key as possible. By making a huge public display of these men’s deaths it would only gather more discussion and rumours by those watching. Or perhaps it was because Henry did feel some friendship towards Norris, the man whom had been his master of the stool for ten years. Maybe he believed that Anne had drawn these men into her vial clutches and that it was her fault and not entirely theirs. Or perhaps it was just because it was simpler to have the men beheaded rather than to build gallows for hanging. Whatever the reason I hope that in their final hours this change of execution brought the five men some relief in the knowledge that their deaths would be swift – that is if the axe found its mark.

The walk from the Tower to Tower Hill was not a long one, I have made that walk myself, but I can only imagine what it must have been like for these five men, four of whom proclaimed their innocence against all charges brought against them. I wonder if perhaps this was the biggest walk of these five men’s lives knowing that within a very short time, perhaps even a few minutes, they would be dead.

One by one each man was lead up to the platform where they would meet the end of their lives. It has been reported that a large crowd came to watch the executions and what this must have felt like, to stand upon a platform, the bloodied block in front of you, hundreds of eyes all staring at you, condemned for a crime you did not commit, knowing you were about to die – I cannot even comprehend.

The men were executed in order of rank and therefore George Boleyn was the first to meet his end. In a loud and clear speech George stated:

‘Christian men, I am born under the law, and judged under the law, and die under the law, and the law has condemned me. Master all, I am not come hither for to preach, but for to die, for I have deserved to die if I had twenty lives, more shamefully than can be devised, for I am a wretched sinner, and I have sinned shamefully. I have known no man so evil, and to rehearse my sins openly, it were no pleasure to you to hear them, nor yet for me to rehearse them, for God knoweth all. Therefore, masters all, I pray you take heed by me, and especially my lords and gentlemen of the court, to which I have been among, take heed by me and beware of such a fall, and I pray to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, that my death may be an example unto you all. And beware, trust not in the vanity of the world, and especially in the flattering of the court. And I cry God mercy, and ask all the word forgiveness, as willingly as I would have forgiveness from God. And if I have offended any man that is not here now, either in thought, word or deed, and if ye here any such, I pray you heartily in my behalf, pray them to forgive me for God’s sake. And yet, my masters all, I have one thing for to say to you: men do common and say that I favoured the Gospel of Christ; and because I would not that God’s word should be slandered by me, I say unto you all, that if I had followed God’s word in deed as I did read it and set forth to my power, I had not come to this. I did read the Gospel of Christ, but I did not follow it. If I had, I had been a liv[ing] man among you. Therefore I pray you, masters all, for God’s sake stick to the truth and follow it, for one good follower is worth three readers, as God knoweth (Weir 2009, pg. 242 – 243).

Reading this one may think that George was confessing his sins with his sister and against the King, but we cannot instantly jump to that conclusion. First we must remember that it was customary and tradition in Tudor times for one to show honour to the King and their fellow man in their final moments. Also, what good would it have done his wife Jane Boleyn (Lady Rochford) or his father or mother to fight out against the charges against him? It would have done him no good, he was judged to die and die he must. In making this speech, declaring that he was a sinner perhaps George was referring to other sins he had committed throughout this life.

George Boleyn was an extremely religious man and this his final moments perhaps he was trying to confess his sins and clean his soul in preparation to meet God his maker. It has been suggested that George Boleyn may have been a womanizer and rather than keeping faithful to his wife sought out the beds of other women. Or maybe he had used his position at court to gain favours and advance himself? Whatever the reason for this speech after he had finished George Boleyn knelt at the block, leaned forward and gave himself over to his fate. It has been said that it took three strokes of the axe to remove George Boleyn’s head – for his sake and for the sake of the four men watching on I hope to God this is not true.

Next to meet his end was Sir Henry Norris, Henry’s master of the stool for ten years. One report states that Norris commented that no one owes more to the King than he did, nor had anyone been as ungrateful to the King has he was. He then went on to proclaim that the Queen was innocent of all charges against her. As George Boleyn before him he knelt at the block, laid his head down and was beheaded.

After Norris’ head fell Sir Francis Weston was to face the block. His speech was short simply stating that…

‘I had thought o live in abomination yet this twenty or thirty years, and then to have made amends. I thought little would come to this’ (Weir 2009, pg. 245)

After this he added that he hoped people learn by example of him. Again although this may appear as a confession to his affair with Anne and plotting to kill King Henry I do not believe we can read so much into Weston’s short final speech. I believe that he was simply stating that he had sinned throughout his life (as many religious persons would believe) and that he had hoped to make up for his sins before he died. After his speech he knelt at the bloodied block and for the third time that morning a man’s life was ended.

Forth to meet his end was Sir William Brereton. As like the Norris and Weston his final speech was short…

‘I have deserved to die if it were a thousand deaths, but the cause whereof I die judge ye not. But if ye judge, judge the best’ (Weir 2009, pg. 245).

The block and scaffold now bloodied and holding the bodies of three men, Brereton knelt at the block and accepted his fate. With a stroke of the bloodied axe he was dead.

Lastly, Mark Smeaton was lead up the scaffold to the block. He had been tortured and humiliated and forced to watch four men beheaded in front of his eyes, what all of this must have been like I can only shudder at. His confession was brief…

‘Masters, I pray you all pray for me, for I have deserved the death’ (Weir 2009, pg. 45).

Kneeling at the blood soaked block Smeaton met his end as the axe cut his head from his neck. It should be noted that Smeaton was the only one of these five men to confess his guilt in the crimes brought before him. Here in these last moments of his life he did not retract this confession and took the knowledge that he had confessed to guilt to his grave. Does this mean he was indeed guilty of sleeping with Anne Boleyn and plotting treason against King Henry? I doubt this, I believe that after being tortured and wracked with pain, and then having to watch four men die in front of him Smeaton just wanted his pain and suffering to be over as quickly as possible.

The scaffold upon Tower Hill was now stained red with the blood of five men; all whom I believe were innocent of the charges brought against them. Their bodies and dismembered heads lay upon the scaffold waiting to be taken away. George Boleyn’s body, being a man of noble birth was taken to the royal chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in the walls of the Tower to be buried. The rest, Norris, Weston, Brereton and Smeaton were taken to a nearby churchyard to be buried. And with five (or possibly seven if the axe did not fall upon George Boleyn’s neck well) blows of the axe the lives of five men were ended and their memories left to history.





The view of the Tower of London seen from Tower Hill (photo taken by me).

May 16th 1536: The Executioner Is On His Way
Anne Boleyn’s execution was to be either burning or beheading, whichever the King saw fit. It was customary in the Tudor times that woman whom committed treason against the King was to be burned – so why was Anne beheaded? It has been theorised that Henry had a change of conscious and did not want his wife (Anne and Henry were still legally married in the eyes of God and the law at this time), to suffer the excruciating agony of being burned at the stake. I have my doubts regarding this theory; after all it was Henry who was so desperately seeking his wife’s death so that he may be free to marry Jane Seymour. Another suggestion is that because this was the first time an English Queen had ever been sentenced to death for treason Henry did not want to make a huge show of the matter. He wanted Anne out of the way and as quick as possible. Burning was a slow and painful death, where as one strike with an axe would kill a person instantly (if the axeman hit his mark that is). Or perhaps it was because that again by law Anne was still the Queen of England. She was housed in the Queen’s lodgings with ladies attending to her and even though she had been declared guilty she should have a death befitting that of her status. Whatever the reason may be Henry decided that Anne was to die by the axe – more specifically the sword. And this is where things get interesting.

Anne Boleyn was to die by the hands of a French swordsman in the style of French beheadings. That is upon her execution Anne was to kneel and with one clean strike of the French Swordsman’s sword her head was to be struck from her body. (Rather than kneeling, leaning forward and laying her head upon a block where it would be struck with an axe and the head severed from the body.) But to get a skilled French swordsman a messenger had to be sent to Calais, across the English Channel, the services of the swordsman obtained and then he would have to travel back to London.  On the surface it sounds quite simple, but in reality for the time period and modes of transport (horse and ship) it would have taken the messenger approximately two days to travel from London to Calais. Then approximately another two days for the messenger and the Swordsman to return to London. That is if conditions were near perfect for travel – crossing the English Channel could be quite rough and treacherous during bad weather. If Anne’s guilty verdict was handed down on the 15th of May, Henry’s decision to have her beheaded rather than burned was made on either late this day or the 16th and Anne’s execution was scheduled to be on the 18th or 19th of May – how could a messenger be sent to Calais and return with a Swordsman in less time than the actual journey would have taken?

This leads to the strong conclusion that even before Anne’s trial on the 15th and her verdict passed down, Henry had planned for her death. The French swordsman must have been summoned before the 15th of May, possibly on the 13th or 14th – before Anne’s trial. Henry VIII wanted his Queen and his wife dead and he had put her through a humiliating trial and an entire day of nervous waiting not knowing if she was to suffer the agony of burning or to be beheaded for a decision that he had already made.  To me this seems like a callous and heartless thing for one person to do to another, but who would argue with Henry Tudor, after all he was the King of England and it seemed he could do whatever he wanted without worrying how it affected others. For Anne whoever even though she now knew how she was to die, when that death would come was another matter entirely.





This portrait of Anne Boleyn was painted in the 16th century and represents what she may have looked like in her last months of life. While still beautiful, in this portrait we see a slightly different Anne, the dark eyes are still there staring out and she is still an imposing figure but there are also signs of aging and stress. Wrinkles and lines have started to creep across her face and there seems to be a great weight or pressure upon her expression as though she is troubled but always in her nature trying to hide it and put on a beautiful strong appearance.

May 15th 1536: The Trial That Stopped A Country
Dressed in a gown of deep black with a crimson petticoat and wearing a hat with a black and white feather on it Anne prepared to face her trial. The trail was held in the King’s Hall at the Tower of London. Anne, still being the Queen of England was to face a jury of her own peers – though to say that they were unbiased would be a huge understatement. The men upon the jury  – men including Charles Brandon the Duke of Suffolk who was well known to hate Anne, were either very close friends with the King or allies of Mary Tudor or the Seymour family – men whom held no love in their hearts for Anne Boleyn.

Entering the King’s hall Anne must have known that she would be facing a losing battle this day. With Norris, Weston, Brereton and Smeaton already found guilty of treason against the King and sentenced to death there was little chance, if any at all, that Anne would be found innocent. No, it would seem that the trial of Anne Boleyn was for mere appearances only. Anne was still the Queen of England and thus had the right to a trial by a jury of her peers by the King’s law – the outcome of this trial whoever seems to have already been decided.

Hundreds upon hundreds of people came to the Tower to see Anne Boleyn’s trial – for the very Queen of England to be tried for adultery, incest and treason was surely no light matter! Such were the number of people that a platform had to be constructed in the middle of the hall for Anne to sit on. At the other end of the hall sat her Uncle the Duke of Norfolk who was to preside over the events. Official documents of the trial have been lost over time, but word of mouth, letters and reports passed on all collaborate that Anne entered the King’s hall with such poise and dignity only befitting a Queen. Presenting herself to the jury Anne showed no sign of fear or nerves. She then gave a small curtsey to the jury before taking a seat which had been prepared for her upon the middle of the platform. Even in this, one of her most terrifying hours, with hundreds upon hundreds of eyes all staring at her, somehow Anne still managed to compose herself to show dignity and grace.

Then the charges were read to Anne, every sordid, horrible, scandalous detail was revealed to all of those persons within the hall. It is said that throughout this indignity Anne sat here, poised and beautiful, showing no sign of disgust or guilt. After this she was asked how she pleaded, the Queen replied that she was not guilty of all charges.

Those trying Anne for her crimes argued staunchly of her guilt, giving the evidence presented at the Westminster and Kent indictments as examples of the horrendous crimes Anne had committed against her husband, the King of England. For her part Anne defended herself with great dignity and spirit, such was the very nature of Anne Boleyn. She adamantly denied all the charges against her and argued that ‘she had maintained her honour and her chastity all her life long.’ (Weir 2009, pg. 215) She used her famous wit, charm and intelligence to put up a challenging defence in the case of her innocence that it is said that some of those in the audience were even starting to doubt if these charges were real or not.

But all of this, Anne’s great spirit and fight for her innocence was of no use. One by one each member of the jury stood and gave their verdict – every man said guilty. Anne Boleyn, the Queen of England had been found guilty of all the charges presented before her, adultery, incest and treason. I can only imagine that this verdict would not have come as a surprise to Anne, sitting there before hundreds upon hundreds of people, facing a jury of men she knew. This was a trial that she had no choice but to lose.

After the verdict was given and Anne’s guilt declared she was asked to remove her crown and all her titles. (I do not think Anne was actually wearing a crown at this stage – as reports say that she was wearing a hat, but I can only presume that removing her crown is a figurative term meaning that she must remove all rights to titles and possessions.) After this humiliation Anne’s sentence was read out. It has been suggested that prior to this Anne was worried about her fate, not sure what would happen to her if she was to be condemned. Perhaps she had hoped she would be sent to a nunnery or that she would be divorced and forced to live out her days in prison. What sentence befell her must have been a huge shock. The Duke of Norfolk, Anne’s uncle then read out her sentence, ‘Because thou hast offended against our sovereign the King’s Grace in committing treason against his person, the law of the realm is this, that though hast deserved death, and thy judgement is this: that thou shalt be burnt here within the Tower of London on the Green, else to have thy head smitten off, as the King’s pleasure shall be further known of the same’ (Weir 2009 pg. 218). Somehow, despite hearing the news that she was to die either by burning or having her head removed from her body Anne managed to hold her composure. How is far beyond me, but this is Anne Boleyn, a woman of immense strength and complexity.

In reply to this fateful sentence Anne is said to have replied...

“My lords, I will not say your sentence is unjust, nor presume that my reasons can prevail against your convictions. I am willing to believe that you have sufficient reasons for what you have done; but then they must be other than those which have been produced in court, for I am clear of all the offences which you then laid to my charge. I have ever been a faithful wife to the King, though I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me, and the honours to which he raised me, merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal at all times. But God knows, and is my witness, that I have not sinned against him in any other way. Think not I say this in the hope to prolong my life, for He who saveth from death hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. Think not, however, that I am so bewildered in my mind as not to lay the honour of my chastity to heart now in mine extremity, when I have maintained it all my life long, much as ever queen did. I know these, my last words, will avail me nothing but for the justification of my chastity and honour. As for my brother and those others who are unjustly condemned, I would willingly suffer many deaths to deliver them, but since I see it so pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace and joy, where I will pray to God for the King and for you, my lords.”(Weir 2009, pg. 219 – 220)

I find this reply very interesting as not once does Anne ever admit that she has ever been guilty of the crimes she was charged with. She shows that she is human, admitting to have faults such as jealousy, suspicion and rage and goes on to protest her innocence admirably declaring that she has not sinned against Henry in any other manner and that she has preserved herself for her husband only. The fact that she would willingly give her life for those whom have been condemned along side of her (Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and soon her brother) is an extremely brave and beautiful gesture. Once again despite knowing that she will soon die (although in which manner is yet to be decided); Anne shows amazing composure and beauty in her speech.

After her speech Anne curtsied again to those who had just convicted her to death and was lead out of the King’s hall back to the Queen’s lodgings. The gaoler that was with her turned his axe inwards to show all those that witness that Anne Boleyn had been sentenced to death.

After Anne’s trial her brother George Boleyn, Lord Rochford was lead into the King’s hall and his trial commenced. Like Anne he was judged by his fellow peers, all whom held no love for him. Now that Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and his own sister had been found guilty and sentenced to death there was no hope for George. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges presented and although he put up a brave fight and is said to have challenged the charges with great wit he too was found guilty of incest and treason and sentenced to death. He was lead out of the King’s hall and back to his lodgings where he was to await his death.

Rumour has it that upon hearing the news of his wife’s guilty verdict that Henry rejoiced and then proclaimed that he believed that possibly a hundred men had slept with Anne. He then went on to say that he believed Anne to have used witchcraft and magic to keep him under a spell so that he may continue to love her despite her evil doings. Be this reaction true or not it does help to show the lack of compassion or grief that Henry held over the news that his wife, a woman whom he had once loved, was now sentenced to death. In truth it is more probable that Henry wanted Anne dead, that to be rid of her would be rid of a great thorn in his side and with Anne gone he could move on to Jane, a woman whom held a new future and possibilities for him. It should also be noted that on May 13th, even before Anne’s trial, Henry had her household disbanded. Her servants, musicians, dress makers, priests, guards, ushers and ladies in waiting were all informed that their services to Queen Anne were no longer needed. If this was not a sign of Henry’s true intentions then I do not know what is! Henry wanted Anne gone, he wanted her dead, and now his desire was granted.

For Anne she was now back in the Queen’s lodgings her fate sealed. She had fought bravely to the end, proclaiming her innocence valiantly and holding herself with great dignity and poise - the true spirit of Anne Boleyn always shinning through. Yet now her fate was sealed and all she could do now was make her peace with God and await her death, however that may be.





This is one of Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours. This book contains a collection of prayers and psalms that could be read throughout the day. Within the pages of this book Anne wrote ‘Remember me when you do pray that hope doth lead from day to day.’ It has been proposed that Anne made this inscription during her last days within the Tower of London. (I have been fortunate enough to see Anne’s Book of Hours at Hever Castle and I can say that it is absolutely stunning and humbling to see in person, seeing her inscription sent shivers down my spine. I will always remember.)

May 14th 1536: Jane Seymour Moves In
I have wanted to shy away from writing about Jane Seymour yet I feel she is so intrinsically linked to Anne’s final days that it is hard to turn a blind eye.  First it should be answered who was Jane Seymour? In short she was everything that Anne Boleyn was not. She was blond, having very pale skin and plump in stature. She was quiet, reserved, and humble; willing to do what was asked of her without asking questions or biting back. She was not well educated, though could read and write a little and unlike Anne was no great beauty. She was exactly what Henry VIII was looking for in a new wife and perfect for the next Queen of England.

Jane started her time at court with a brief service as a maid of honour to Queen Catherine of Aragon. After this she returned home to stay with her parents. During 1536 Henry made a royal visit to the Seymour’s manner and it is presumed this is where he laid eyes upon Jane. It is interesting to note that after this visit Jane was invited back to court to serve as one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies in waiting. One can assume then that during this period as lady in waiting to the Queen, Henry would have had some contact with Jane and thus an affair was started between the two. Anne was no fool and surely would have found out that her husband was romantically interested in one of her ladies in waiting. This only served to infuriate the Queen and a famous story in history tells us that one day Anne walked in on Henry and Jane kissing – this distressed the Queen so greatly that several days later she miscarried her last child. If this story is true or not no one will know, but it does help to show how upset Anne must have been with the knowledge that her husband sought favour with another woman.

During Anne’s imprisonment in the Tower it is important to note that Jane Seymour was moved to a residence in Surry only seven miles down from Greenwich where Henry was staying. Each night Henry would sail down the Thames to meet with Jane and have late night suppers with her on a barge with music playing. It would be no surprise as to his intentions towards this blond haired woman. Then on the 14th of May Henry had Jane and her family moved to a magnificent mansion in Chelsea only one mile from the Palace of Whitehall. What is even more astounding is that upon this move Jane now had a vast array of Henry’s royal servants to wait upon her. She was lavished with gifts and dresses and was already being treated like a future Queen. By now there can be no question as to Henry VIII’s plans for Jane Seymour – to make her his new wife, but first he must have his current wife removed.

I can only wonder what Jane thought of Anne during this time as she was honoured with a life of sudden luxury, servants and lavish living. She was the King’s mistress and already being preened and treated like the future Queen of England. Did she resent Anne? Did she feel sorry for her? Or did she think that Anne was getting all that she deserved? After all Jane would have been familiar with Anne Boleyn’s personality and lifestyle being one of her ladies in waiting. She would have known of Anne’s fiery nature, her spontaneity and anger at many of Henry’s actions. As well as been aware and played part in Anne’s love of music and literature and fine dresses and jewels. And it would have been no secret to Jane of Anne’s inability to provide Henry with the son that he so desperately longed for. She may also have been an ear for Henry to vent his stresses and frustrations about Anne. But most of all she would have had daily reminders of Anne’s hatred towards her for her intimate involvement with Anne’s husband, the King.

There does not seem to be any record of Jane’s thoughts regarding the happenings that were befalling Anne and finally her ultimate fate. We know that Jane was a supporter of the late Catherine of Aragon and felt sympathy to Mary Tudor for the suffering she had endured with her father’s new marriage to Anne Boleyn. One could be so bold as to suggest that from Jane’s lack of comments or thoughts on Anne’s downfall that she perhaps secretly believed the Queen deserved her fate. Anne had after all once been a lady in waiting to Queen Catherine, had been the King’s mistress and had sought to become Queen herself through the removal of Catherine of Aragon. And with Anne gone it would mean that Jane would be the new Queen of England and have access to a lavish, wonderful life far greater than any woman could have desired; and perhaps provide Henry with the son he had longed for for over two decades.




Jane Seymour painted by Hans Holbein in either 1536 or 1537. As this portrait shows Jane’s features are everything that Anne’s were not. She appears to be very pale with light coloured eyebrows and a shorter rounder face than Anne’s.

May 13th 1536: Anne’s Great Love
I have often wondered in her final days, shut off from the world she once knew, isolated and denied news of her fellow accused, family and friends, what did Anne Boleyn feel towards the man whom had once been her beloved husband? Henry Tudor, the man whom ultimately would have the final say in her unjust demise.

It is said that Anne once declared to Henry: “But if I were to die a thousand deaths my love for you would not abate one jot.” (Ives 2005, pg. 145) I do believe that Anne loved Henry with all her heart and that at least at some stage Henry loved Anne.  He had chased Anne for years, sending her many passionate love letters and lavishing her with expensive gifts. Below are just three of the famous love letters that Henry wrote to Anne during their early years of courting...

My mistress and friend.
I and my heart commit ourselves into your hands, beseeching you to hold us recommend to your good faour, and that your affection to us may not be by absence diminished. For great pity it were to increase our pain, seeing that absence makes enough of it, and indeed more than I could ever have thought; remember us of a point in astronomy, that the longer the days are, the farther off is the sun, and yet, notwithstanding, the hotter; so it is with our love, for we by absence are far sundered, yet it nevertheless keeps its fervency, at the least on my part, holding in hope the like on yours. Ensuring you that for myself the annoy of absence doth already too much vex me; it is almost intolerable to me, were it not for the firm hope that I have of your ever during affection towards me. And sometimes, to put you in mind of this, and seeing that in person I cannot be in your presence, I send you my picture set in a bracelet. Wishing myself in their place, when it should please you. This by the hand of your loyal servant and friend,
H.R. (Weir 1991, p. 163 – 164)
                          
  ________________________________________

For so beautiful a gift, I thank you right cordially, chiefly for the good intent and too-humble submission vouchsafed by your kindness. To merit would not a little perplex me, if I were not aided therein by your great benevolence and goodwill. The proofs of your affection are such that they constrain me ever truly to love, honour and serve you, praying that you will continue in this same firm and constant purpose, enduring you, for my part, that I will the rather go beyond than make reciprocal, if loyalty of heart, the desire to do you pleasure, even with my whole heart root, may serve to advance it. Henceforth, my heart shall be dedicate to you alone, greatly desirous that my body could be as well, as God can bring it to pass if it pleaseth Him, Whom I entreat once each day for the accomplishment thereof, trusting that at least my prayer will be heard, wishing the time brief, and thinking it byt long until we shall see ach other again.
Written with the hand of the secretary who in heart, body and will is your loyal and most unsured servant.
H. auture    AB     ne cherche R. (Weir 1991, p. 164 – 165)

                            ________________________________________

To my mistress,
Because the time seems to me very long since I have heard of your good health and of you, the great affection that I bear you has prevailed with me to send to you, to be the better ascertained of your health and pleasure, because since I parted with you I have been advised that the opinion in which I left you has now altogether changed, and that you will not come to court, neither with my lady your mother, nor yet any other way. I cannot enough marvel, seeing I am well assured I have never since that time committed fault; methinks it is but small recompense for the great love I bear you to keep me thus distanced from the person of that she which of all the world I most do esteem. And if you love me with such settled affection as I trust, I assure me that this sundering of our two persons should be to you some small vexation. Bethink you well, my mistress, that you absence doth not a little grieve me, trusting that by your will it should not be so; but if I knew in truth that of your will you desired it, I could do none other than lament me of my ill-fortune, abating by little and little my so great folly. (Weir 1991, p. 165 - 166)

These letters clearly show the strong affections that Henry held towards Anne. Calling her his friend and mistress he declared how much he missed her, hoping to soon be with her, promising his heart and body for her alone. Henry even turned an entire countries religious basis upside down with the determination to divorce his first wife so that he may marry Anne! Once they were married Henry organised an extravagant coronation, proudly showing Anne, his new Queen, to all of London. If this was not for love and the desire of a wife whom had promised him a son then what was it all for?

Yet when Anne gave birth to a daughter not the longed for promised son and then had several miscarriages this famous passionate love seemed to fade. Henry once loved Anne’s spirit and fire but as the years wore on he grew tired of it, tired of her arguing with him, biting back at his words in public, questioning his reasoning’s and purposes. He grew tired of her love of music, dancing, clothing and jewels and her adoration from those close to her. He also grew tired of her bickering and resentment over his affairs with other woman – most notably that of Jane Seymour. For Henry, this passionate love he once held for Anne seemed to be gone. But what of Anne’s love for her husband?

I wonder if Anne loved Henry to the end? What were her feelings towards him? Surely she would have felt hurt and betrayed. In her final months of freedom she knew he had taken a mistress, namely Jane Seymour and she could have been no fool as to think this would never happen – she herself had been his mistress while he was married to Queen Catherine. But did she LOVE him to the end? This is a question which has plagued me greatly and one I will never know the answer to. If it were me I do not think I would still be able to love the man whom had annulled our marriage, had declared our daughter a bastard and whom would send me to the scaffold to be beheaded for crimes which I never committed. But I am not Anne and I will never know what she truly thought and felt about Henry. What I can say is that I believe at one stage in her life, probably for many years she did love him, truly and completely with her whole heart and being. If that love continued to her final hours we will never know.


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King Henry VIII painted by Hans Holbein shortly after Anne Boleyn’s execution in commemoration of the King’s marriage to Jane Seymour. Here we can see the Henry that Anne knew in the last months of her life. Henry Tudor was a man with great knowledge, wit and power yet while still an opposing figure as we can see in this painting, Henry’s famous good looks were starting to give way to signs of baldness and obesity.

May 12th 1536: The Trials Begin
Before entering Westminster Hall I wonder what chances Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton ever had at a fair trial. All the evidence gathered was already against them, accusing all four men of having illicit affairs with the Queen of England, receiving gifts from her and plotting with her the downfall of the King. The indictments of the previous two days were damning and left little room for the idea of anything but the idea that these four men were guilty.

But it was not just the false evidence that went against these four men; it is the worries and fears of the men chosen to be the jurors of this case. What man could stand up and say Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton were innocent when their King wanted them to be guilty? What man in their right mind would go against the beliefs and wants of the King of England? Especially with the knowledge that if they went against their King they could also face punishment and perhaps even imprisonment and death! But what also went against Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton was the fact that some of the noblemen on the jury were in favour of the downfall of the Boleyn’s. By finding these four men guilty it would lead to the guilt of Anne Boleyn and ultimately her downfall. Surely they would benefit from finding the Queen of England guilty of adultery, incest and treason and seeing her dead.

It is thus not surprising that after each man was tried separately Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton they were all found guilty of charges of adultery and treason with the Queen of England. As traitors they were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, their manhood’s cut off before their eyes before they were beheaded.

It should be noted that only Mark Smeaton confessed to being guilty before the Grand Jury – Norris, Weston and Brereton all pleaded innocent.  It should be kept in mind that Mark Smeaton, being not of noble blood or decent was tortured unlike the other men and his confession came after his torture. I personally find it hard to believe any confession after a person has been tortured within an inch of their lives. It has also been suggested that in leniency for confessing to his crimes Cromwell offered Smeaton to be beheaded rather than hung, drawn and quartered.




Westminster Palace (photo by me) wherein lies the Westminster Hall where Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton were tried and found guilty of adultery with the Queen Anne Boleyn and of committing treason against King Henry VIII.

May 11th 1536: When the Evidence Does Not Add Up
Another Grand Jury was convened in Kent on this day to look at the evidence gathered against Anne. As with the day before the jury found the evidence damning and could only conclude that Anne had indeed committed many illicit affairs with Norris, Boleyn, Weston , Brereton and Smeaton as well as plotting to have her husband, the King of England killed.

Claire Ridgway at The Anne Boleyn Files has compiled all the evidence from the 10th and 11th of May inquiries to give an outline of the dates in which Anne supposedly had affairs…

• 6th and 12th October 1533 – Anne and Sir Henry Norris at Westminster
• 16th and 27th November 1533 – Anne and Sir William Brereton at Greenwich
• 3rd and 8th December 1533 – Anne and Sir William Brereton at Hampton Court
• 12th April 1534 – Anne and Mark Smeaton at Westminster (date for Anne procuring Smeaton)
• 12th and 19th May 1534 – Anne and Mark Smeaton at Greenwich
• 8th and 20th May 1534 – Anne and Sir Francis Weston at Westminster
• 6th and 20th June 1534 – Anne and Sir Francis Weston at Greenwich
• 26th April 1535 – Anne and Mark Smeaton at Westminster
• 31st October 1535 – Anne and some of the men compassed the King’s death at Westminster
• 2nd and 5th November 1535 – Anne and her brother George Boleyn at Westminster
• 27th November 1535 – Anne gave gifts to the men at Westminster
• 22nd and 29th December 1535 – Anne and her brother George Boleyn at Eltham Palace
• 8th January 1536 – Anne compassed the King’s death with Rochford, Norris, Weston and Brereton at Greenwich
   
What I find astounding about these dates is that most of them can be disproved. If a judge in today’s court was to look over these dates, with the corresponding information as to where Anne was when these alleged affairs happened, they would throw this entire case out of court!

6th and 12th of October 1533: Anne had only given birth to her daughter about a month before. I find it hard to believe that she would want to be jumping into bed with another man. (I certainly know after I gave birth to my daughter I was not thinking about sex for quite some time!)

3rd and 8th of December 1533:Anne was at Hampton court and not at Greenwich.

12th and 19th of May 1534: Anne was at Richmond not at Greenwich.

April, May and June 1334: Anne was heavily pregnant at this time, as records show that she ‘hath a good belly’. In Tudor times it was not considered safe to sleep with a pregnant woman, especially when she was progressing along and growing bigger for fear of damaging the baby or causing the woman to miscarry. Anne had promised Henry a son so why would she risk losing said promised son by having sex, which could damage or cause her to lose the child? Also on the 20th June when Anne was supposedly to have slept with Weston at Westminster she was in fact at Hampton Court.

27th November 1535: Anne was at Windsor not at Westminster.

8th January 1536: Anne was at Eltham Palace not at Greenwich.

If we can, over 450 years later, prove these countless dates and accusations false and incorrect I am sure that they could have also done back when this indictment was brought out. And yet none of these inaccuracies were ever picked up on by the jury that tried Anne.  It would lead to suggest that perhaps in the haste of trying to gather damning evidence against Anne that these dates were thrown together from on hand knowledge. Also the fact that the indictment the day before suggests that the affairs could have happened before and after these days, leaving the time frame quite open, could show that all of this information was thrown together quite quickly.

What I also find incredibly laughable about all of this is that for nearly THREE YEARS Anne Boleyn was able to get away with adultery, incest and treason! For a woman who was almost never allowed to be alone it is extremely hard to believe that she would have found so much free time to come and go with a number of men as she pleased! Anne was the Queen of England; she was a busy woman with many matters to attend to. She was watched constantly by members of court and always had her ladies in waiting about her. If she was at all guilty of any of these alleged crimes Anne certainly must have been able to work magic to sneak off countless times without anyone knowing!

Also, Anne was an extremely smart woman. She was no young, naïve fool like her cousin Katherine Howard. She knew the ways of court, knew what life was like and she had worked so hard and done so much to get to the place where she was – Queen of England! Why would she risk all of that, all she had done for the opportunity to sleep with five men? I find it extremely hard to believe that Anne would have done such foolish things, not when she was an extraordinarily smart woman and knew the risks.

Anne was also desperate to give Henry the son he so longed for. Considering in those times many people believed it was dangerous to have sexual intercourse in the latter stages of pregnancy for fear that it may harm the child or mother, why would Anne risk losing her child for some reckless affairs?

Another note to go against the above allegations is that Anne was a very religious woman. She believed in the purity of the soul and doing good deeds. Why, when incest was a horrible sin against God, would she go about such a deed? It would have damned her soul, certainly not something Anne would have wanted.




Hampton Court (Photo by me) one of the alleged sights where Anne Boleyn conducted her affairs.

May 10th 1536: The Decision Already Made
On May 10th official legal proceedings began against Anne Boleyn and her fellow accused. A jury of noblemen were presented with various evidences against Anne showing proof of not only her adultery against her husband the King, but also of incest with her brother and treason in plotting the Kings death. Satisfied that enough evidence was gathered the jury at Westminster Hall wrote this indictment…

“Record of the Indictment found at Westminster on Wednesday next after three weeks of Easter: that whereas Queen Anne has been the wife of Henry VIII for three years and more, she, despising the solemn, not to mention most excellent and noble marriage between our lord the King and the same lady the Queen, but even at he same time having in her heart malice against our lord the King, seduced by evil and not having God before her eyes, and following daily her frail and carnal appetites, did falsely and traitorously procure by base conversations and kisses, touchings, gifts and other infamous incitations, divers of the King’s daily and familiar servants to be her adulterers and concubines, so that several of the King’s servants yielded to her vile provocations; viz, on Oct 6th, 25 Henry VIII [1533] at Westminster, and divers days before and after, she procured, by sweet words, kisses, touches and otherwise, Hen. Norris, of Westminster, gentleman of the Privy Chamber, to violate her, by reason whereof he did so at Westminster on the 12th Oct, 25 Hen. VIII [1533], and they had illicit intercourse, both before and after, sometimes by his procurement and sometimes by that of the Queen.

Also the Queen, 3 Dec. 25 Hen. VIII [1533], and divers days before and after, procured William Brereton, Esquire, late of Westminster, one of the gentlemen of the King’s Privy Chamber, to have illicit intercourse with her, whereby he did so on 8 Dec. 25 Hen. VIII [1533] at Hampton Court, in the parish of Little Hampton, and on several days before and after, sometimes by his own procurement and sometimes by the Queen’s.

Also the Queen, 8 May 26 Hen. VIII [1534], and at other times before and since, procured Sir Fras. Weston of Westminster, one of the gentlemen of the King’s Privy Chamber, to have illicit intercourse with her, and that the Act was committed at Westminster 20 May 26 Hen. VIII [1534].

Also the Queen 12 April 26 Hen. VIII [1534], and divers days before and since, at Westminster, also incited/procured Mark Smeaton, a performer on musical instruments, a person specified as of low degree, promoted for his skill to be a groom of the Privy Chamber, to violate her, whereby he did so at Westminster, 26 April 27 Hen. VIII [1535].

Also that the Queen, 2 Nov. 27 Hen. VIII [1535] and several times before and after, by means therein stated, procured and incited her own natural brother, George Boleyn, knight, Lord Rochford, to violate her, alluring him with her tongue in the said George’s mouth, and the said George’s tongue in hers, and also with kisses, presents and jewels, against the commands of the Almighty God, and all laws human and divine, whereby he, despising the commands of God, and all other human laws, 5 Nov. 27 Henry VIII [1535], violated and carnally knew the said Queen, his own sister, at Westminster, which he also did on divers days before and after, sometimes by his own procurement and sometimes by the Queen’s.

Furthermore, they being thus inflamed by carnal love of the Queen, and having become very jealous of each other, did, in order to secure her affections, satisfy her inordinate desires; and that the Queen was equally jealous of the Lord Rochford, and other the before-mentioned traitors that she would not allow them to hold any familiarity with any other woman without exhibiting her exceeding displeasure and indignation. Moreover, the said Lord Rochford, Norris, Brereton, Weston and Smeaton, being thus inflamed with carnal love of the Queen, and having become very jealous of each other, gave her secret gifts and pledges, while carrying on this illicit intercourse; and the Queen, on her part, would not allow them to show familiarity with any other woman without her exceeding displeasure and indignation; and that on 27. Nov. 27 Hen. VIII [1535] and other days before and after, at Westminster, she gave them great gifts to inveigle them to her will. Furthermore that the Queen and other of the said traitors, jointly and severally, 31 Oct. 27 Henry VIII [1535], at Westminster, and at various times before and after, compassed and imagined the King’s death; and that the Queen had frequently promised to marry some one of the traitors whenever the King should depart this life, affirming she would never love the King in her heart. Furthermore, that the King having come within a short time before to the knowledge of, and meditating upon, the false and detestable crimes, vices and treasons committed against himself within a short time now passed, took such inward displeasure and heaviness, especially for his said Queen’s malice and adultery, that certain harms and perils have befallen his royal body, to the scandal, danger, detriment and derogation of the issue and heirs of the said King and Queen.” (Weir 2009 p. 181-183).


What I find utterly appalling about this indictment is that Anne Boleyn had not even had her official trial and yet she was already being slandered and spoken of as though she were guilty. It would appear that the notion ‘innocent until proven guilty’ did not apply in these times – or at least in this case. The wording used within this document repeatedly suggests that Anne’s heart was ‘malice’, that she was ‘seduced by evil’, ‘did not have God before her eyes’, followed her ‘daily frail and carnal appetites’ and that she was a ‘traitor’. For a supposed indictment this reads more like the outcomes of a trial where someone has already been found guilty. If this document was written in hopes that it would make Anne Boleyn and her fellow accusers look bad then it most certainly did its job. Now not only was Anne accused of adultery she was also accused of incest with her brother and plotting to kill the King – which was treason.




This portrait of Anne Boleyn, painted after the Hans Holbein style hangs in the Inner Hall at Hever Castle. (Which I have had the most fortune pleasure of seeing in person!) There is no sign of the alleged adulteress or traitor who so full of malice or being seduced by evil followed her frail and carnal appetites. Instead I believe it shows a beautiful young Anne Boleyn, her future and a world of possibilities laid out before her. I just adore this portrait.

Source:
Weir, A 2009, The Lady in The Tower The Fall of Anne Boleyn,  Jonathan Cape, London.

May 7th to 9th 1536: Their Backs Turn
Over the next few days all those that had once supported Anne, whom had loved her, had pushed for her to become Queen of England suddenly turned their backs and betrayed her. All those whom she had been so close to wanted nothing to do with her.

Before verdicts were even decided against the men that had been arrested in association with Anne Boleyn others were writing to Cromwell asking for him to remember them when lands and wealth was redistributed. Like vultures swooping down, stepping closer and closer waiting for the innocent prey to die. People like the Duke of Richmond, Anne’s 16 year old step son, Lord Lisle and Richard Staverton were writing to Cromwell asking him to fondly remember them, when, as we must remember, the trails for Smeaton, Norris, Boleyn, Weston and Brereton had not even been conducted!

I find it interesting that there are no documents or reports of Anne’s father or mother trying to plead with the King for the life of their daughter. I am aware that a fire in 1731 at the Cottonian Library destroyed many of the documents related to the trial of Anne, but there appears to be no record of her own parents trying to seek pardon or help for their children. Where they frightened for their own lives? Not only their daughter the Queen of England was imprisoned in the Tower, but also their only son George Boleyn – for crimes of adultery, treason and incest. Perhaps they were trying to keep their heads down for fear that if they stuck them up the King might cut them off?! Again this is another case of we will never know the thoughts and feelings of Thomas Boleyn and his wife, but as of date there is not much evidence to suggest they tried in any way to help their children.

During these few days Cromwell and the council were frantically working to gather all the damning evidence they could against Anne Boleyn and her fellow prisoners in the Tower. They had tortured poor Mark Smeaton until he had confessed (which I find hard to believe the authenticity of any confession gained by painful torture), and had questioned Norris, Boleyn, Weston and Brereton. As well as this they had brought in Anne’s ladies in waiting to grill them over the happenings of the Queen. As history tells us Lady Rochford, Anne’s sister in law and wife of George Boleyn had quite some involvement with the charges laid against her husband. We do not know why Jane Rochford told Cromwell such information – perhaps it was to save her own head? Fearful that she may be dragged into this mess since her husband and her mistress the Queen were already in the Tower? Maybe her marriage to George Boleyn had not been a happy one? Maybe Cromwell had promised to spare her and remember her well if she gave him the information he wanted? We do not know, but it was her words against her husband that played a vital role in his and Anne’s downfall.





This is an artist’s impression of Anne Boleyn during her final days in the Tower of London. Although not a real painting of what Anne would have looked like I do like this image very much. I find it hard to imagine Anne on her knees in the Queen’s lodgings, resting upon one of her ladies in waiting’s knees while the woman cries for her. We know that four of her ladies in waiting did not like Anne nor she liked them – so this image is a little hard to believe as real. But what I like about it is that it expresses the sadness, sorrow and hopelessness that Anne may have felt at times during her final days. In this painting Anne looks so forlorn, abandoned by all those around her whom once claimed to love her. She looks sad and yet almost resigned to her fate. I think it’s a beautiful painting and it always makes me think of how Anne might have felt during her last days upon this earth.

May 6th – 1536: A Letter to the King
A letter was found amongst Thomas Cromwell’s possessions written on this date by Anne to her husband Henry VIII the King of England. It reads...

“Sir, your Grace’s displeasure, and my Imprisonment are Things so strange unto me, as what to Write, or what to Excuse, I am altogether ignorant; whereas you sent unto me (willing me to confess a Truth, and so obtain your Favour) by such a one, whom you know to be my ancient and professed Enemy; I no sooner received the Message by him, than I rightly conceived your Meaning; and if, as you say, confessing Truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all Willingness and Duty perform your Command.

But let not your Grace ever imagine that your poor Wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a Fault, where not so much as Thought thereof proceeded. And to speak a truth, never Prince had Wife more Loyal in all Duty, and in all true Affection, than you have found in Anne Boleyn, with which Name and Place could willingly have contented my self, as if God, and your Grace’s Pleasure had been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forge my self in my Exaltation, or received Queenship, but that I always looked for such an Alteration as now I find; for the ground of my preferment being on no surer Foundation than your Grace’s Fancy, the least Alteration, I knew, was fit and sufficient to draw that Fancy to some other subject.

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 Counsel of mine Enemies, withdraw your Princely Favour from me; neither let that Stain, that unworthy Stain of a Disloyal Heart towards your good Grace, ever cast so foul a Blot on your most Dutiful Wife, and the Infant Princess your Daughter:

Try me, good King, but let me have a Lawful Trial, and let not my sworn Enemies sit as my Accusers and Judges; yes, let me receive an open Trial, for my Truth shall fear no open shame; then shall you see, either mine Innocency cleared, your Suspicion and Conscience satisfied, the Ignominy and Slander of the World stopped, or my Guilt openly declared. So that whatsoever God or you may determine of me, your Grace may be freed from an open Censure; and mine Offence being so lawfully proved, your Grace is at liberty, both before God and Man, not only to execute worthy Punishment on me as an unlawful Wife, but to follow your Affection already settled on that party, for whose sake I am now as I am, whose Name I could some good while since have pointed unto: Your Grace being not ignorant of my Suspicion therein.

But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my Death, but an Infamous Slander must bring you the enjoying of your desired Happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great Sin therein, and likewise mine Enemies, the Instruments thereof; that he will not call you to a strict Account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at his General Judgement-Seat, where both you and my self must shortly appear, and in whose Judgement, I doubt not, (whatsover the World may think of me) mine Innocence shall be openly known, and sufficiently cleared.

My last and only Request shall be, That my self may only bear the Burthen 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 have found favour in your Sight; if ever the Name of Anne Boleyn hath been pleasing to 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.

Your most Loyal and ever Faithful Wife, Anne Bullen
From my doleful Prison the Tower, this 6th of May.”

Despite being a beautiful piece of writing there is a great deal of speculation as to whether Anne actually wrote this letter or not, and there are many reasons to suggest that perhaps this letter was in fact a forgery written many years after Anne’s death.

The first reason against this letter being written by Anne Boleyn is the handwriting. We have evidence of what Anne’s handwriting looks like and the original copy of this letter shows handwriting VERY different from Anne’s. It is much larger, scrawlier and hastily written. Whereas previous letters from Anne show her writing to be small, precise and extremely neat. It has been suggested that Anne did not write the copy of this letter found but that Thomas Cromwell rewrote the letter (the copy found amongst his possessions). I would argue against this – why on earth would Cromwell rewrite a letter of Anne Boleyn’s? It is clearly known that the man did not like Anne and was working desperately to try and bring about her downfall, so why would he rewrite something she had written? He certainly would not have shown Henry VIII the letter. If there was any shadow of a doubt in Henry’s mind, any tiny disbelief, any love that he held for his wife this letter would have surely sparked those feelings and created more disbelief in the King’s mind. Cromwell wanted rid of Anne and giving Henry a copy of this letter would have been an extremely foolish thing to do – and we know Cromwell was not foolish.

It has been suggested – which is the most likely reason for the differing in handwriting, is that Anne dictated this letter to one of her Ladies in waiting. Thus the difference in style of writing. Perhaps there is some merit in this. Anne could have been too distressed to write a letter herself and therefore commanded that one of her ladies write for her.

Another interesting thing to point out is that the letter was signed ‘Anne Bullen’ – Anne always signed her name either ‘Anne Boleyn’ or ‘Anne the Quene’. Why would she revert to the old spelling of her name? Especially since she was so adamant that she was still the lawful and rightful Queen of England. Was she trying to be humble before Henry? Or maybe since it was obvious many of her ladies in waiting in the Tower did not like her whoever wrote it signed the name ‘Bullen’ as an insult to Anne?

The first sentence of this letter always makes me frown: “Sir, your Grace’s displeasure, and my Imprisonment are Things so strange unto me, as what to Write, or what to Excuse, I am altogether ignorant;” I do not believe that Anne was completely ignorant to Henry’s displeasure at her. After all since she had miscarried their relationship had been frosty at best. Anne was an extraordinarily smart woman, she would have known, or at least had some inclination of Henry’s feelings – so why would she write otherwise? Perhaps she was trying to protest her complete shock over all of these harsh and sudden events?

What touches me most about this letter is Anne’s simple and direct nature. She is pleading for her very life here, begging Henry to see the truth that she was a pure and innocent woman and that these charges against her are so ridiculous! She is trying to plead with Henry not to believe the lies that those around him are saying, people whom are set on her downfall, but to listen to her, his loyal and truthful wife. She is terrified that she will not receive a just trial for those upon the council judging her will want to see her fall. She is pleading for the mercy and love of her daughter, Elizabeth so innocent in all of this horror and for the mercy of those falsely accused and imprisoned with her. All she wants is the truth to be known, and in her eyes (and in mine), it is that she is completely and utterly innocent. Her writing is extremely blunt and at one point in the letter she plainly states to Henry that if her death brings him joy then she hopes God forgives him of this great sin. Even in her distress and despair Anne’s sharp tongue and fiery nature is still present!

I do not know if this letter is real or not, if Anne actually wrote these words or if they are a clever forgery. I like to think that Anne would have written to Henry. After all it is human nature to try and appeal to those you love for help. This letter is utterly heart wrenching to read and it breaks my heart to think that Henry would have never have laid eyes upon it. Cromwell would have been an utter fool to let Henry read this letter – and Cromwell was no fool. If Anne did write this letter she poured her heart out to her husband and it was all for nothing.





‘Anne the Quene’ – this was how Anne Boleyn signed her name after she became Queen. This is actually her handwriting). Despite the writing being neat and quite beautiful it is very significant that Anne would sign all her letters in this manner as she was determined to show that she was the Queen of England. Why then would she have signed her letter to Henry, written from her lodgings in the Tower, with ‘Anne Bullen’? Was she trying to show humility to Henry? Hoping perhaps that he would take pity upon her and show her mercy? Or if the letter had been dictated by Anne, was it one of her ladies trying to have a silent attack upon Anne, using the old and unused spelling of her name? Or in the end, is the letter even real? Is it nothing more than a fabricated piece of writing to make us reflect on Anne’s feelings and emotions? In the end we will never know, but the signature at the end of the letter is important to reflect upon. For a woman who was determined that she was still rightfully the Queen of England - holding fast to this belief, and had signed all other letters over the last three years as ‘Anne the Quene’, why would she suddenly do so different now?

May 4th to May 5th 1536: Seven Arrests
From May 1st to May 5th five men were arrested on charges of having sexual relationships with Anne Boleyn the Queen of England. These men were Sir Henry Norris, Mark Smeaton, George Boleyn, Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton. Each had a history with Anne and had interacted with the Queen from time to time. Anne had accused Norris only a short time earlier of being in love with her, Smeaton was Anne’s musician and confessed under torture of being in love with the Queen and having sexual relations with her, Boleyn was her brother, Weston was a well known womanizer who worked for the King and Brereton, who was friends with the Boleyn family was a well known enemy of Thomas Cromwell.


What should be stated is that Norris, Boleyn, Weston and Brereton denied these allegations at their trials.  When Henry accused Norris of sleeping with his wife on May 1st, Norris so famously replied: “I would rather die a thousand deaths than be guilty of such a falsehood.” Henry told Norris that if he confessed he would give him a pardon, and yet Norris STILL denied the allegations. Why would a man who is guilty and who could have been pardoned still deny such allegations? I believe because he was innocent and would not die a liar than to confess to something which was not true. The only man to confess to having an affair with Anne was Mark Smeaton. What should be mentioned at this time is that Smeaton was not a man of wealth or power, he was a musician at court, one who Anne enjoyed listening to. While the other prisoners were at least treated with some respect in the Tower, Smeaton was not. He was tortured, put in chains and irons and treated without dignity. It is no wonder that after torture he would confess – I know I probably would confess to something I did not do after endless hours of agonising torture. So the fact that Smeaton confessed after torture means little to what actually happened between him and Anne. Especially considering the dates and places of his alleged affairs with Anne did not actually match up with where Anne was staying at the times.

As well as these five men who were directly implicated in having sexual relations with the Queen, Sir Richard Page and Sir Thomas Wyatt were also arrested and sent to the Tower. While these men were not directly charged with having affairs with Anne, they were imprisoned because they knew the Queen well. Page was apparently good friends with Anne and Wyatt, a famous poet, had grown up knowing Anne. He apparently loved her very much and was battling for her attentions and affection when King Henry started to court her.


It is no surprise that the man behind all of this was Thomas Cromwell a man whom hated Anne Boleyn as much as she hated him. They at one time had been ‘friends’ but things between them quickly soured. They differed in their beliefs as to what should happen to the churches and the churches revenue during the Reformation. Anne believed that the money should go to charities and educational institutes while Cromwell felt that the money should go back to the King (while he took a nice cut for himself). Cromwell, knowing that Anne did not like him, saw her as a threat to his relationship and position within the King’s court and I believe sought to bring about her downfall. He worked hard to gather all the damning information he possibly could against her. Writing letters, insisting on torture and punishment to get the confessions he so desperately needed to convict Anne. He also interrogated her ladies in waiting, one of them being the Lady Rochford, George Boleyn’s wife, to gain evidence of affairs against the Queen.  Cromwell had time, money, power and alliances with him to gain all the information he needed and Anne, for her defence had nothing, not even the support of those around her.





I just wanted to take a moment to have a look at the beautiful (at least I think so) badge of Anne Boleyn. In this image we see a glorious mighty falcon which refers to a noble lineage of the Butlers – Anne’s father was granted the Earldom from the Butler family (which Thomas Boleyn was related) by Henry VIII. The falcon also represents majesty and power and an eagerness to claim something greatly desired. (That rings bells in my ears for Anne Boleyn’s passion and desire not to be a simple mistress but to become the rightful Queen of England!)

The roses coming out of the stump are the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York. These roses represent Henry VIII’s right to the thrown through his father’s war to unite the roses.  The stump itself also signifies Henry’s right to the thrown – but combined with the new roses bursting through it is to give the impression of new life coming to the Tudors. Anne’s promise to provide Henry with a son?

The crown and the sceptre obviously refer to Royalty – Anne being Queen and Henry being King. The crown although not a royal Queen’s crown is to signify that while breaking away from the Roman church Henry had great power and influence within his own Kingdom. 

I just love this badge – it shows how carefully and creatively Anne designed things to give so many deep meanings. Looking at the badge and it’s meanings you can see the high ambitions she had to become Queen of England and Henry’s one true love. She wanted to much and aimed high – even promising the King a long desired son. But in the end it was not to be and all her high hopes and ambitions came to naught.