The Trials of Anne and George Boleyn

   On May 15, 1536 Anne and her brother George Boleyn were tried in the King's Hall in the Tower of London on charges of regicide, incest and adultery. A large stadium, capable of accomdating up to 2,000 spectators was erected so that the public could view the proceedings. As Queen, Anne was tried by a jury of Peers; mostly nobility who knew that they must convict her or face the King's wrath. The jury was headed up by Anne's uncle the Duke of Norfolk. Also assigned to the jury were her father Thomas Boleyn and her early love, Henry Percy Duke of Northumberland, although these two elected not to be present at the trial sessions.
     The court 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". Anne defended herself well, denying all of these preposterous charges and admitting only to giving money to Sir Francis Weston, to further his work as a poet. 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". Tearfully, Anne's uncle pronounced her guilt saying:

"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."

Anne and her brother were both sentenced to death by burning or beheading based on the King's pleasure. George swiftly met his death at the hands of a local axeman but Anne would have to wait several days before the swordsman of Calais, whom the King had hired to behead her arrived in England.

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