The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn Give-Away

Author Robin Maxwell is celebrating the fifteenth anniversary and twenty-fourth printing of her novel The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by giving away a copy and a lovely, leather bound journal. The contest link directs you to the author's facebook page where you will be instructed to "Like" the page and input some contact information. You MUST have a facebook profile to enter the contest! Click here for the link and good luck!

Tanya

The Prize!!!

Anne Boleyn Pod-Cast

Hey all! Enclosed is a link to a great pod-cast entitled Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn: Clothing, Courtship and Consequences by Professor Maria Hayward. Click here for the audio! Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

Cheers!

Tanya

Plurrimi Laetissima: Anne and Public Perception

     As I watched a rerun of The Tudors episode depicting Anne's coronation parade through London, I was interested in how the screenwriters portrayed the event. Citizens stood at the sides of the road glaring and refusing to remove their hats as Anne's carriage passed. Some authors have gone as far as to say that people threw food and hurled curses at her during her procession. Is this true? Were the citizens of England disgusted by their new queen and her "usurpation" of the throne? In this post we will look at the primary source evidence of Anne's coronation day, her interactions with the public and whether or not she really was Plurrimi Laetissima (the most happy)
      It is a very common misconception that Anne was widely disliked. In fact Thomas Cranmer wrote that "...as she came along the City, were shewn many costly pageants from which children sang to her and tossed flowers..." Historian Joanna Denny says that "The banks of the Thames outside the palace were lined with crowds eagers to see their new queen..."

  Anne was especially loved amongst the people of London who had becoming increasingly inclined towards Evangelicalism following persecution at the hands of Thomas More. London was the hub of new religious learning and Anne patronized many of the men promoting Protestant doctrine. Many religious books were dedicated to her including a book by Erasmus whom called her "...the most gracious and virtuous..."While the people of London were saddened by the divorce of Henry and Catherine, who's piety was reknowned and admired, but they understood the need for a male heir. Primogeniture, or the inheritance of all property and titles by a first born son, was still the standard of that time period. There was much fear amongst the people of England that if Mary (Catherine's daughter) were to inherit that she would marry a foreign monarch who would rule and subject England to outside power.

     One group amongst whom Anne was unpopular were the nobility who remained Catholic and thus staunch supporters of Catherine and Mary. This hatred was grounded not only in her usurpation of the throne, but also the deep changes made to religious life in England. Anne was a figurehead for Evangelicals to rally around and she imposed her ideas on the women in her households, some of whom were opposed to them. These Catholics found allies in the long rebellious north of England and in the ambassadors of France and England. Conspiracy and hatred towards Anne simmered amongst these groups for many years and when she spoke those famous Latin words "Plurrimi Laetissima" she may not have enjoyed the complete happiness she had hoped to portray.
    
      Anne's generosity and the birth of her daughter Elizabeth were celebrated across London. The common people often spoke of the monies she donated to charitable causes (an enormous sum at 1,500 GBP/year) and how she wished to build educational institutions across England. Her popularity rose the longer she was reigned and by the time her execution was ordered, the gentry were appalled that Henry would dispose of another wife. These rumors of deep hate against Anne are merely that, rumors. She was liked and her appeal and the number of people who love her continues to grow as the truth about her is researched and exposed.

Anne Coronation Procession
Thomas Welter circa 1880

     
     

Read of the Week

Every once in a while I take a break from the believable historical  fiction writers and piles of biographies that cover my desk and read something outrageous and fun. This week that was The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer. The book is written as if it is a secret diary of Elizabeth coming into her own as a slayer following her coronation. It contains many of the actual players in Elizabeth's court including William Cecil and Robert Dudley; but puts a spin on the characters and their roles in her life. The plot of the book is very interesting, Elizabeth must choose between fighting a powerful vampire King and joining him as an undead queen who will rule England together. It is a fun, fast read but obviously take it for what it is a sci-fi book set in Tudor England that lacks grounded facts and often strays from period language structure and social norms.

"...and I have a little neck..."

I happened upon this letter while reading a book by Eric Ives. It is a letter from Sir W. Kingston, who was the Constable of the Tower at the time of Anne's death to Thomas Cromwell. It is dated May 19th, 1536 and it references Anne's state of mind as her execution approached.

This morning she sent for me, that I might be with her at such time as she received the good Lord, to the intent I should hear her speak as touching her innocency alway [sic] to be clear. And in the writing of this she sent for me, and at my coming she said, "Mr. Kingston, I hear I shall not die afore noon, and I am very sorry therefore, for I thought to be dead by this time and past my pain ". I told her it should be no pain, it was so little. And then she said, "I heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck", and then put her hands about it, laughing heartily. I have seen many men and also women executed, and that they have been in great sorrow, and to my knowledge this lady has much joy in death. Sir, her almoner is continually with her, and had been since two o'clock after midnight.

What do you think followers? Did Anne have "...much joy in death..." or were her words and actions a manifestation of fear?