The Betrothal of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour

On May 20, 1536 just one day after the execution of his wife Anne, Henry promised himself to Jane Seymour. Despite assertions that Jane was the most virtuous and discreet of Henry's wives, most Londoners believed that their relationship had been happening for a while. In fact, sometime between the arrival of Jane at Chelsea Palace and Anne's execution Henry wrote her a letter talking about the pamphlets and letters being circulated that condemned their relationship. Gossip and support of Anne were both on the rise suggesting that Henry was cruel for engaging in an extra-martial affair while his wife awaited trial in the Tower. He wrote:

"My dear friend and mistress:
The bearer of these few lines from they entirely devoted servant will deliver into they hands a token of my true affection for thee, hoping you will keep it for ever in your sincere love of me. Advertising you that there is a ballad made lately of great derision against us,which if it go 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[sic] punished for it.
For the things ye lacked, I have minded my lord to supply them to you as soon as he could buy them. Thus hoping, shortly to receive you in these arms, I end for the present,
Your own loving servant and sovereign,
H. R."

Despite this general sense of disapproval on the part of his subjects, Henry and Jane went forward with their betrothal, planning a wedding that would take place very, very soon.

Anne Boleyn's Scaffold Speech

"Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, according to 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 whatof 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 best. Thus I take my leave of the world, and of you, and I heartily desire you to all pray for me. Oh Lord, have mercy on me! To God I commend my soul.”

Anne Boleyn 1501- May 19, 1536

 

(Taken from Eric Ives' The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn)

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

This a great video that explores the story of Anne and Henry using primary source material

Check it out today!



Read of the Week

This week I really enjoyed The Other Tudors,  Henry VIII's Mistresses and Bastards by Phillipa Jones. It was a really interesting read in that Jones sought to humanize Henry's womanizing by describing it as his eternal search for the perfect woman. The author explores Henry's youth and how his mother influenced what he saw as the ideal wife. It also discusses his relationships with his wives Bessie Blount, Mary Boleyn, Jane Pollard and Mary Berkley. Jones believes that Henry had many illegitimate children (I can't say I agree) and presents evidence included how these bastards were treated by Edward, Mary and Elizabeth during their respective reigns and honors bestowed upon them, sometimes undeservedly. The author is convinced that Henry just loved being in love but was never fully satisfied hence the turn-over rate of his spouses. She emphasizes Henry's positive qualities, playing up his good treatment of his children and his wives, but fails to mention that once they fell from favor that treatment quickly ended. On an interesting side note, Jones also seeks to exonerate Mary Boleyn by suggesting she did not sleep with Francis I but rather that Henry VIII was her first love. It is an interesting interpretation of Henry's private life, despite my hesitation on fully agreeing with much of her research. Still, I encourage you to pick it up as it adds a lot of nuance to Henry's story.

The Trial of Anne Boleyn

On May 15, 1536 Anne Boleyn was tried in the King's Hall of the Tower of London in front of approximately 2,000 spectators. A special elevated platform has been built in the hall so that nobles and commoners alike could attend the trial of Queen Anne. She was tried by a jury of peers rather than the Commision of Oyer and Terminer who had judged and convicted her accused lovers. Everyone in attendance and the King himself was convinced she would be found guilty. He said as much in a letter to Jane Seymour stating he would ..."send her news at 3 o'clock of the conviction of the putain..." In addition to the King's pressure to convict Anne, the jury was made up of many of her enemies including Charles Brandon (friend and brother in law to the King) her uncle the Duke of Norfolk, who knew that if he did not vote to convict his own life would be in danger, Ralph Neville friend to the Seymour family and the Earl of Surrey, cousin to Anne but who had often spoke against her religious policies.

Anne defended herself with grace and dignity; Charles Wriothesley wrote of her performations saying she "...made so wise and discreet aunsweres to all thinges layde against her, excusing herselfe with her wordes so clearlie, as thoughe she has never been faultie to the same..." Anne denied all the charges against her, except for the patronage of Sir Francis Weston. It was after all customary for the reigning queen to patronize promising artists. Despite her magnificent defense, the jury found her guilty. They stripped Anne of her titles, wealth and crown. It was recorded that the Duke of Norfolk had tears on his face as he read the verdict and sentence saying:

 "Because though has 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 they judgement is tis: that thou shalt be burned here within the Tower of London on the Green, else to have they head smitten off, as the King's pleasure shall be further known of the same..."

Lancelot de Carles recorded that Anne then spoke to 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"

Anne's quiet dignity and restraint during the trial garnered her much sympathy as word spread through London that the King sought to have his wife executed and marry another. In fact even the commoners, never overly fond of Anne, began to speak out questioning her guilt, the King's motives and besmirching his conduct of engaging in another relationship while his wife was awaiting trial. Despite the outpouring of support for Anne, the King and Cromwell moved determinedly forward towards her judicial execution.