This Day in Tudor History

On this day in Tudor history, imperial ambassador and virulent enemy of Anne Boleyn, Eustace Chapuys was tricked into acknowledging her as Queen. Chapuys always referred to Anne as "the concubine" or "mistress Anne" despite recognition of her as Queen by the King and his government.

On the Tuesday after Easter 1536 Chapuys arrived at Greenwich Palace to meet the King and discuss matters that effected both the Henry and the Emperor, namely increasing tensions with France. He was met by George Boleyn, Lord Rochford  and the King's minister Thomas Cromwell, who carried a message from Henry firmly "asking" him to visit the Queen and kiss her hand, a universal sign of recognition and subordination. Chapuys pleaded with Cromwell to excuse him from this visit as he believed that "such a visit would not be advisable". The King,surprisingly, did not seem to mind. Chapuys records in his notes that "the King came out and gave me a very kind reception, holding for some time his bonnet in his hand, and not allowing me to be uncovered longer than himself; and after asking how I was, and telling me that I was very welcome". Despite Chapuys' pleasant meeting with the King, Henry,  Anne and her brother Lord Rochford were scheming, planning to manipulate the ambassador into recognizing her.


Chapuys, portrait at Annecy


Chapuys continues to desribe the scene saying:

"I was conducted to mass by lord Rochford, the concubine's brother, and when the King came to the offering there was a great concourse of people partly to see how the concubine and I behaved to each other. She was courteous enough, for when I was behind the door by which she entered, she returned, merely to do me reverence as I did to her."

This may not sound like a major event, but what Chapuys fails to mention is that Lord Rochford conducted him  to mass, purposefully placing the ambassador behind the door through which Anne would enter. Anne Boleyn, for her part, knew exactly where the ambassador stood and stopped as she entered, swung round to him and bowed. Chapuys, based on the rules of courtly manner, was forced to do likewise. He bowed to Anne, acknowledging her as Queen. The King and Queen finally got what they had long desired, recognition of Anne's status as consort.

Tweet