The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown

by Ridgway, Claire

  Chapuys had also reported that earlier in May the King had ordered Sir Nicholas Carew to move Jane out of London, to Carew's country home, in order to prevent gossip:

  "To cover the affection he has for the said Semel he has lodged her seven miles hence in the house of the grand esquire, and says publicly that he has no desire in the world to get married again unless he is constrained by his subjects to do so."3

  By 14th May, however, the King was confident enough to bring his relationship with Jane out into the open and to have her close to him.

  We have no way of knowing how Jane felt about the situation. She must have known that she was being groomed to take Anne Boleyn's place as queen and that Anne was in the Tower, but she may not have known all of the details. Did she feel guilty about Anne's predicament? Did she believe that Anne was guilty? Did she think that Anne deserved it for taking Catherine of Aragon's crown from her? Did she worry about her own future) We just don't know what Jane was thinking at this time, but how awful to be planning a marriage while your predecessor is waiting to die.

  No Great Beauty

  Chapuys seems to have been bemused by the King's behaviour and his attraction to Jane. Chapuys was no friend of Anne Boleyn, referring to her frequently as "the Concubine" or "the putain" (whore), but he was also highly critical of the King's new flame too. In a letter to Antoine Perrenot, Chapuys wrote:

  "I have no news to add to what I write to His Majesty, except to tell you something of the quality of the King's new lady, which the Emperor and Granvelle would perhaps like to hear. She is sister of one Edward Semel[Seymour], "qua este a sa mate," of middle stature and no great beauty, so fair that one would call her rather pale than otherwise. She is over 25 years old. I leave you to judge whether, being English and having long frequented the Court, "si elle ne tiendroit pas a conscience de navoir pourveu et prevenu de savoir que cest de faire nopces." Perhaps this King will only be too glad to be so far relieved from trouble. Also, according to the account given of him by the Concubine, he has neither vigour nor virtue; and besides he may make a condition in the marriage that she be a virgin, and when he has a mind to divorce her he will find enough of witnesses. The said Semel [Seymour] is not a woman of great wit, but she may have good understanding (un bel enigm, qu. engin?). It is said she inclines to be proud and haughty. She bears great love and reverence to the Princess. I know not if honors will make her change hereafter."4

  No great beauty, possibly not a virgin, proud and haughty; but at least she cares about the Princess Mary! That was Chapuys' summation of Jane Seymour.

  Henry VIII's Letter to Jane Seymour

  In the few days between Jane arriving at Chelsea on 14th May and Anne Boleyn's execution on 19th May, Henry VIII sent a message to Jane which was accompanied by a gift, a token of the King's "true affection":

  "My dear friend and mistress,

  The bearer of these few lines from thy entirely devoted servant will deliver into thy fair hands a token of my true affection for thee, hoping you will keep it for ever in your sincere love for me. Advertising you that there is a ballad made lately of great derision against us, which if it go much abroad and is seen by you, I pray you to pay no manner of regard to it. I am not at present informed who is the setter forth of this malignant writing, but if he is found out he shall be straitly punished for it. For the things ye lacked I have minded my lord to supply them to you as soon as he can buy them. Thus hoping shortly to receive you in these arms, I end for the present your own loving servant and sovereign,

  H. R."1

  We can see from the King's words that pamphlets were being published and circulated which derided Henry and Jane's relationship. Anne Boleyn may have been unpopular in some quarters but her imprisonment and the King's behaviour with Jane Seymour were causing gossip and disapproval. In this letter, the King is promising Jane that he'll get to the bottom of it, and asking her not to worry.

  This is the only surviving letter which Henry wrote Jane and it is hard not to compare it to the gushing letters Henry wrote to Anne during their courtship, letters in which he wrote of being "stricken with the dart of love" and which he ended with words like

  "Written by the hand of that secretary, who in heart, body, and will, is, Your loyal and most assured Servant,

  H. aultre A.B. ne cherse R" or "H. no other (AB) seeks. R"2

  with the "A.B." written in a heart.

  Maybe there were other letters to Jane, and maybe this was a purely functional, quick message to alert her to what was going on, but it definitely lacks passion and romance.

  14th May 1536 - The Queen's Incontinent Living

  Also on 14th May 1536, Master Secretary Cromwell wrote to Stephen Gardiner and John Wallop, the King's ambassadors in France. In this letter, which was written to inform Gardiner and Wallop of recent events in England, the man who was once happy to be the Queen's right hand man and friend showed his true colours and his fickle nature:

  "The King has deferred answering their letters sent by Salisbury till the arrival of the bailly of Troyes. Has to inform them, however, of a most detestable scheme, happily discovered and notoriously known to all men. They may have heard the rumour of it. Will express to them, however, some part of the coming out, and of the King's proceeding.

  The Queen's incontinent living was so rank and common that the ladies of her privy chamber could not conceal it. It came to the ears of some of the Council, who told his Majesty, although with great fear, as the case enforced. Certain persons of the privy chamber and others of her side were examined, and the matter appeared so evident that, besides that crime, "there brake out a certain conspiracy of the King's death, which extended so far that all we that had the examination of it quaked at the danger his Grace was in, and on our knees gave him (God ?) laud and praise that he had preserved him so long from it." Certain men were committed to the Tower, viz., Marks and Norris and the Queen's brother; then she herself was apprehended and committed to the same place; after her Sir Fras. Weston and Wm. Brereton. Norris, Weston, Brereton, and Marks are already condemned to death, having been arraigned at Westminster on Friday last. The Queen and her brother are to be arraigned tomorrow, and will undoubtedly go the same way.

  "I write no particularities; the things be so abominable that I think the like was never heard. Gardiner will receive 200l. of the 300l. "that were out amongst these men, notwithstanding great suit hath been made for the whole; which though the King's highness might give in this case, yet his Majesty doth not forget your service; and the third 100l. is bestowed of the vicar of Hell [Sir Fras. Brian], upon [whom] though it be some charge unto you, his Highness trusteth ye will think it well bestowed." From the Rolls in haste, 14 May.

  P.S.—Wallop will not be forgotten, though Cromwell cannot tell at present how much he is to have. The King is highly pleased with the services of both."1

  Cromwell was not holding back, was he?

  "Incontinent", in this case, means lacking self-control, so Cromwell was painting Anne Boleyn as a queen of debauchery instead of a queen of virtue. So scandalous was her behaviour, according to Cromwell, that her ladies could no longer keep it secret.

  The letter read just like the Middlesex and Kent indictments, using language that was intended to shock. Cromwell's words regarding the upcoming trial of the Queen and Lord Rochford, that they "will undoubtedly go the same way" were obviously not due to Cromwell being psychic but rather, down to him knowing that their trials had been prejudiced by the trials of Norris, Weston, Brereton and Smeaton. The Queen was unlikely to be found innocent of adultery and treason when those four men had already been found guilty of sleeping with her and plotting with her! Cromwell would, of course, have been pretty confident that the jury would do his bidding.

  Cromwell finished his letter by promising that both Gardiner and Wallop would benefit from the fall of Queen Anne Boleyn, as would Sir Francis Bryan.

  Notice that Cromwell is not taking any credit for the Queen's downfall. He quite clearly stat
es that the investigation was "the King's proceeding". His biographer John Schofield uses this as evidence that Cromwell was commissioned by Henry VIII to do what was needed to remove Anne Boleyn and to replace her with his new love, Jane Seymour. However, it could be that Cromwell did not want Gardiner and Wallop to know of his precise involvement in the plot, or that it was a plot rather than an investigation.

  15th May 1536 – The King to Take a New Wife

  On 15th May 1536, before Anne Boleyn had even been tried, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, wrote to his ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, regarding what he had heard about Queen Anne Boleyn, the allegations against her and the King's plans to remove her and remarry. What is interesting about this letter is that it shows quite clearly the assumption that Anne would die and that Henry would need a new Queen – Charles obviously had not yet received the news about Jane Seymour.

  Here is the part of the letter relating to Anne Boleyn:

  "Hannaert has written to Granvelle on the 9th that he had just heard that the king of England's concubine had been surprised in bed with the King's organist. If this be so, as it is very probable that God has permitted it after her damnable life, we think the King will be more inclined to treat, especially as regards our cousin; but you must use great dexterity lest the King intend a marriage in France, and that he should rather choose one of his own subjects, either the one with whom he is in love or some other. We trust that if there be anything in it you will let us know with diligence. We send letters of credence for you for the dukes of Richmond, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and also for Cromwell, such as you will see by the copies. Pontremulo, 15 May 1536.

  P.S.—Since the above was written your man George has arrived, who confirms the news touching the King's concubine, and, as we suppose that the King will put her and her accomplices to death and take another wife, as he is of amorous complexion and always desires to have a male child, and as on the side of France they will not fail to offer him a match, you will suggest, when you can, to him or Cromwell, a marriage with the Infanta of Portugal, daughter of our sister the queen of France, who has 400,000 ducats dowry by testament. Another marriage might be arranged for the Infant Don Loys of Portugal, our brother-in-law, with the princess of England. You must point out to them that these matches would be very expedient, both to remove past scruples and to promote strict amity between us, him, and Portugal, and would be very advantageous to England in case the King should have a male child by this marriage, as he may reasonably hope from the youth and bringing up of the Infanta. If you see the King not inclined to these marriages you might propose one between the King and our niece, the duchess dowager of Milan, a beautiful young lady, well brought up and with a good dowry; treating at the same time of the other marriage between Don Loys and our cousin. But we should greatly prefer the former match with the Infanta, for the good of both, and in order to be able to dispose of our niece of Milan otherwise. Bersel, 15 May 1536."1

  I find it rather chilling that Charles V just accepted the situation and even thought it was good news. From his perspective, it meant that he could secure a good marriage alliance for his niece and stop Henry VIII aligning himself with France. As far as Anne was concerned, Charles seemed to think that she deserved it for her "damnable life". I know that he was Catherine of Aragon's nephew but even so, such cold, harsh talk gives me goosebumps!

  15th May 1536 – The Trial of Anne Boleyn

  On the morning of 15th May 1536, while Anne Boleyn prepared herself for her trial, Jane Seymour received a message from the King telling her that "he would send her news at 3 o'clock of the condemnation of the putain."1 Obviously there was no need for a trial, really, when the King already knew that Anne would be condemned!

  Queen Anne Boleyn was tried in the King's Hall of the Tower of London in front of an estimated 2,000 spectators. A great platform2 had been erected in the hall so that everybody could see. The Lord High Steward, the Duke of Norfolk, who was representing the King, sat on a special throne underneath the canopy of estate. In his hand was the white staff of office and at his feet sat his son, the Earl of Surrey, holding, on his father's behalf, the golden staff of the Earl Marshal of England.3 Sir Thomas Audley, the Lord Chancellor, and Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk, were on either side of the Duke.

  As Queen, Anne Boleyn was given the privilege, if it can be called that, of being tried by a jury of her peers, rather than by the commission of oyer and terminer who sat in judgement on Norris, Weston, Smeaton and Brereton. In reality, this was no privilege. Her trial had already been prejudiced by the guilty verdicts of the four men, and her jury was made up of her enemies. Here are just a few of them4:

  Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk – Henry VIII's brother-in-law and good friend. A man who disliked the Queen and who would, of course, support the King and do the King's will.

  Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, and his cousin Henry Pole, Baron Montague – Both men were supporters of the Lady Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Chapuys had also linked them to Sir Nicholas Carew and the plotting to replace Anne with Jane Seymour.

  John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford – Oxford bore the crown at Queen Anne's coronation in 1533, but he was a good friend of the King's.

  Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland – The Earl had once been in love with Anne Boleyn, but that love seemed to have turned into bitterness and hatred.

  Ralph Neville, the Earl of Westmoreland – A loyal servant to the King in the North.

  Henry Somerset, Earl of Worcester – It was rumoured that his wife, Elizabeth Browne, the Countess of Worcester, gave evidence against the Queen to Cromwell and was the prosecution's key witness.

  Thomas Manners, the Earl of Rutland, George Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon – Both men were related to the King and were royal favourites.

  Robert Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex – One of the King's best friends.

  Henry Parker, Lord Morley – Father of Jane Boleyn (George Boleyn's wife), one time servant to Lady Margaret Beaufort (Henry VIII's grandmother), staunch conservative and a supporter of the Lady Mary.

  Thomas Fiennes, Lord Dacre – A man with a rather colourful past who needed to please the King.

  George Brooke, Lord Cobham – Brother-in-law of Thomas Wyatt, close friend of Henry VIII and husband of Anne Braye (Nan Cobham), one of the Queen's ladies who is thought to have given evidence against the Queen.

  Edward Grey, Baron Grey of Powys, and Thomas Stanley, Lord Monteagle – Both were son-in-laws of the Duke of Suffolk, so their allegiance lay with him and, of course, with the King.

  Edward Clinton (Fiennes), Lord Clinton – Husband of Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount and stepfather of the King's illegitimate son, the Duke of Richmond.

  William, Lord Sandys – A great friend of the King and also Lord Chamberlain. Sandys was one of the men who escorted the Queen to the Tower of London on the 2nd May.

  Andrew, Lord Windsor – Another friend of the King.

  Thomas, Lord Wentworth – A cousin of Lady Jane Seymour, the King's new flame.

  Lancelot de Carles, secretary to the French ambassador, described Queen Anne Boleyn as she entered the hall, commenting on her grace, her beauty, her lack of fear and how she entered the court "with the bearing of one coming to great honour",5"comme venant a l'honneur d'un grant bien".6 Other witnesses described that she was wearing a black velvet gown, a scarlet damask petticoat and a cap decorated with a black and white feather.7 She looked every inch a queen and the proceedings did not seem to faze her. She defended her honour "soberly" and although she said little, her face showed that she was not guilty of the crimes she was accused of.8 Anne pleaded "not guilty", after which the Attorney General, Sir Christopher Hales, put forward the case against her. He accused the Queen of incest, adultery, plotting the King's death, promising to marry Sir Henry Norris after the King's death, and of making fun of the King and his dress. Chapuys also reported that Anne and George had laughed at "certain ballads that the King has composed".9 No witnesses
gave evidence against her.

  The chronicler Charles Wriothesley, recorded that after her indictment was read out, Anne "made so wise and discreet aunsweres to all thinges layde against her, excusing herselfe with her wordes so clearlie, as thoughe she had never bene faultie to the same".10

  The Queen defended herself admirably, denying all of these preposterous charges and admitting only to giving money to Sir Francis Weston, just as she gave money to many young gentlemen at court.Notwithstanding, the jury were unanimous in their verdict: "guilty". The Queen was then stripped of her crown and her titles, all except that of "Queen". With tears running down his cheeks, Anne's uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, pronounced the sentence:

  "Because thou hast offended against our sovereign the King's Grace in committing treason against his person, and here attainted of the same, the law of the realm is this, that thou hast deserved death, and thy judgment is tis: that thou shalt be burned 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." 11,12

  The shock was too much for the Earl of Northumberland, who collapsed and had to be taken out of the hall, and also for Mrs Orchard, a lady who had cared for the Queen when she was a child, who "shrieked out dreadfully".13 The Queen kept her composure. Although she did not argue against the sentence, she said that she "believed there was some other reason for which she was condemned than the cause alleged".14 Lancelot de Carles recorded that Anne then addressed the court, saying:

  "I do not say that I have been as humble towards the King as he deserved, considering the humanity and kindness he showed me, and the great honour he has always paid me; I know that my fantasies have led me to be jealous... but God knows that I have never done him any other wrong."15