Preparations Fit for a Queen

Contributed by Natalie Sweet

Of Anne’s coronation, we have numerous accounts. Two come from her enemies – Eustache Chapuys and an unidentified witness (whose account found its way into the letters and papers of Brussels) provide scathing commentary and give voice to the supposedly hostile crowds that Anne encountered. Thomas Cranmer and one of the King’s justices, Sir John Spillman, also described the days events, and we have surviving pamphlets that include Nicholas Udall’s verses composed in Anne’s honor.  Several years later, the Tudor chronicler, Edward Hall, would provide his own take on the events.

To begin our examination of the records of Anne’s coronation, however, we will first begin with requested favors, costs, and logistics. Numerous persons contacted Thomas Cromwell for the honor of being allowed to create the trappings for the various ceremonies. Robert Tomlynson, the Alderman of Our Lady’s Guild in Boston, wrote that he “endeavoured since to provide such wild fowl as I could get in these parts, i.e. six cranes, six bitterns, and three dozen godwits” for a present to be prepared for the King to present in honor of the Queen’s coronation. Stephan Vaughn wrote to Cromwell with hopes for his wife, saying, “I am informed that the Queen intends to have a silkwoman to trim and furnish her Grace with such things as she shall wear. If you will recommend my wife to the place you will bind us both. You know what she can do. I suppose no woman can better trim her Grace.”

Nothing speaks as much to the pomp and cost of the festivities, however, as the plans described in the Letters and Papers of Henry VIII:

Coronation Of Anne Boleyn.

The order in proceeding from the Tower to Westminster.

The King’s messengers to ride foremost with their boxes, to stay when that time is, and to go when that time is, as they see the followers do pause.

The strangers that ride, and the Ambassadors’ servants. Item, next the trumpets, the gentlemen ushers, the chaplains having no dignity, the squires for the Body, with pursuivants two and two on each side. The knights and challenger and defender with steryng horses. The aldermen of London. The great chaplains of dignity. Heralds, two and two on each side. The knights of the Bath, the “barenettes” [and abbots]. (fn. 3) The knights of the Garter, being no lords. The two Chief Judges and Master of the Rolls. Then all the Lords and Barons in order after their estates. The Bishops. The Earls and Ambassadors. The comptroller of Household. The treasurer of Household. The steward of Household. Two kings-of-arms. The King’s chamberlain. The Lord Privy Seal. The Lord Admiral of England. The Great Chamberlain of England. The Archbishops and Ambassadors. The two esquires of honor, with robes of estate rolled and worn baldric wise about their necks, with caps of estate representing the duke of Normandy and the duke of Aquitain. The Lord Mayor and Garter. The Marshal, the Constable, the Treasurer, the Chancellor. The Serjeants-of-arms on both sides. Her Chancellor bareheaded. The Queen’s grace. The Lord Chamberlain. The Master of the Horse leading a spare horse. Seven ladies in crimson velvet. Two chariots ; two ladies in the first, and four in the second, all of the greatest estates. Seven ladies in the same suit, their horses trapped to the pastron. The third chariot, wherein were six ladies with crimson velvet. The fourth chariot, with eight ladies in crimson velvet. Thirty gentlewomen, all in velvet and silk of the liveries of their ladies. The captain of the Guard. The King’s guard in their rich coats.

“The appointment what number of officers and servitors that shall attend upon the Queen’s grace, the Bishop and the ladies sitting at the Queen’s board in the Great Hall at Westminster, the day of the coronation, as followeth :—

Carvers : Lord Montague for the Queen. Sir Edw. Seymour for the Bishop. Thos. Arundell for the ladies at the board.

Cupbearers : Lord William Howard for the Queen. Lord Clynton for the Bishop. Lord Audeley’s son and heir for the board.

Sewers : Sir Edw. Nevill for the Queen. Percival Harte for the Bishop. Richard Verney for the board. Chief pantry, 1. Chief butler, 1. Chief sewer, 1. Almoners, 7. Servitors, knights, and gentlemen for three messes, 60. Sewers, 8. Servitors, 80. Yeomen, 16.

Knights of the Bath : Marquis of Dorset, earl of Derby, lords Clifford, Fitzwater, Hastings, Mountegle, and Vaux ; Mr. Parker, lord Morley’s son ; Mr. Wynsor, lord Winsor’s son ; John Mordant, lord Mordant’s son ; Fras. Weston, Thos. Arundell, Mr. Corbet, Mr. Wyndham, John Barkeley, John Huddelston, Ric. Verney of Penley, Thos. Ponynges, Hen. Savile, John Germayne, Rob. Whitneye of Gloucestershire, Geo. Fitzwilliams, John Tyndall.

Knights and gentlemen to be servitors : Sir John St. John, Sir Michael Fisher, Sir Thos. Rotheram, Sir Geo. Somerset, Sir Wm. Essex, Sir Antony Hungerford, Sir Ric. Graundfeild, Sir John Hamond, Sir Robt. Painton, Sir Giles Alington, Sir Thos. Elyot, Sir Rafe Langford, Sir John Fulford, Sir Thos. Darcy, Sir John Villers, Sir John Markham, Sir John Beryn, Sir Nic. Stirley, Sir Thos. Straung, Sir Fras. Lovell, Sir Edw. Chamberlen, Sir Adrian Fortescue, Sir Water Stoner, Sir Wm. Barentyne, Sir Wm. Newman, Sir Arthur Hopton, Sir Edm. Beningfeild, Sir Ant. Wingfeild, Sir Geo. Frogmerton, Sir John Russell of Worster, Sir Geo. Darcy, Sir Wm. Pickering, Sir Thos. Cornvell, Sir John Bridges, Sir Wm. Hussey, Sir Edw. Wotton, Sir Wm. Hault, Sir John Skott, Sir Ric. Clementes, Sir Wm. Kempe, Sir Edw. Cobham, Sir Wm. Fynch, Sir John Thymbleby, Sir Rob. Hussey, Sir Chr. Willughbie, Sir Wm. Skipwith, Sir Wm. Askice, (fn. 4) Sir Jeffrey Poole, Sir Jas. Worsley, Sir Thos. Lysley, Sir John Talbot, Sir John Gifford, Sir Wm. Basset, Sir Ph. Dracote, Sir Henry Longe, Sir Ant. Lutterell, Sir John Sainctlowe, Sir Roger Copley, Sir Wm. Pellam, Sir Wm. Goring, Sir Walter Hungerford, John Hersley, George Lyne, Ric. Philips,—Yorke, Ric. Dodham, Rafe Mannering, John Seintler, Clement Harleston, John Turell, Humfrey Ferres, Geo. Grissley, Wm. Drurye, Wm. Cope, John St. John, Edm. Tame, Ric. Lygon, Leonard Poole, John Arnold, John Arden, Wm. Stafford, Chas. Herbert of Troy, Sir Wm. Paunder, Young Wingfeild, Holcrofte, Skipwith, Diar, Young Barkeley.

Sewers : Roger Banbricke, Antony Isley, Edm. Browne, John Cheyne, Wm. Morgan, Davy Morgan, Hen. Seymer, William Jones.

Yeomen ushers and yeomen appointed to attend upon the Queen at her Coronation : John Lane, Laurence Sendell, Robt. Griffith, Thos. Marshall, John Brygden, Davyd Philips, John Geffrey, Wm. Avenell, Ric. Ryder, Wm. Sendre, Hugh Troblefeild, John Ashton, John Smith, senior, John Robertes, John Perce, Antony Saunders, Walter Wagham, Thos. Coxe, Ric. Stone, Thos. Hawkins, Wm. Bond, Robt. Whitbrowe, Hugh Lewis, Thos. Gethens, Ric. Gilmyn, Rob. Gibbes, Ric. Rawneshaw, John Bromfeld, Robt. Langden, John Holcomb, Robt. Owen, Griffith ap Morice, Walter Menours, Wm. Jones, Robt. Mortoun, Edm. Stoner, John Gethens, Edw. Philips, John Wympe, Ric. Clerke, John Holland, John Alcock, Ric. Gilling, John Evanse, Lyonell Martyn, Fras. Coket, John Brathwet, John Cox, John Knotford, John Belson, John Byrte, John Node, Moris Apenevet, Michael Whiting, John Stevens, Hugh David, Lewis ap Watkyn, John Cowper, Edw. Johnson, Ric. Fowler, John Grymith, Symond Symmes, Robert Stonhouse, Edw. Aprichard, Hen. Holden. Ibid., f. 50 b. ii. Officers appointed to attend on the Queen and the Bishop sitting at the Queen’s board end, on the day of her coronation.

John Hancote, Thos. Berram, Roger Gerers, John Massye, John Colby, John Person Edw. Dickey, Ric. Estoune, Wm. Lawry, George Banckes, Thos. Massy, Ralfe Ball, John Gounter, Ric. Baker, John Thomas, Thos. Norton, Wm. Germaine, Thos. Toby, Richard Faice, Geo. Hodson. John Williams, Adam Holland, Robt. Bird, Robt. Gibson, Wm. Batty, Hugh Norres, Thos. Calfe, Wm. Paye.

Carvers : The earl of [Essex or] Rutland for the Queen ; Sir Edm. (Edward) Seymour for the Archbishop.

Cupbearers : Lord Derby for the Queen ; Sir John Dudley for the Archbishop.

Sewers : The earl of Sussex for the Queen ; Sir Thos. Arundell for the Archbishop.

Panters : Viscount Lisle, chief panter ; John Apricharde ; John Gislym.

[Butlers] : Earl of Arundell, chief butler ; Ric. Hill, Edm. Harvye. [Ewers] : Sir Henry [Thomas] Wyat, Jeffrey Villers, Henry Atkinson. Chief almoners for the Queen : Lord Bray, Sir Wm. Gascoyne. Almoners : Henry Wells, Thos. Mason. Edmond Pekham, cofferer. William Thynne. Thos. Hatclife, Edw. Weldon, for the Bishop, and the said Bishop to be served covered. Surveyors at the dressers : Thos. Weldon for the Queen ; Thos. Holden for the Bishop. Michael Wentworth, Henry Bricket, to see that nothing be embezzled.

Servitors from the dressers : For the Queen : Sir — Parker, Sir John St. John, Sir William Wynsor, Sir John Mordaunt, Sir Fras. Weston, Sir John Gifforte, Sir John Barkeley, Sir John Huddleston. Sir Ric. Verney, Sir Thos. Poninges, Sir Hen. Savell, Sir John Germayne, Sir Robt. Whetney, Sir Geo. Fitzwilliams, Sir John Tyndall, Sir Michael Fisher, Sir Tho. Rotheram, Sir Geo. Somerset, Sir Wm. Essex, Sir Antony Hungerford, Sir Ric. Graundfeild, Sir John Shamond, (fn. 5) Sir Robt. Paynton, Sir Walter Stoner. For the Archbishop : Sir Thos. Elyot, Sir Rafe Langford, Sir John Fulford, Sir Thos. Dar[c]y. Sir John Villers, Sir John Markham, Sir John Berryn, Sir Nic. Stirley, Sir Thos. Straung, Sir Fras. Lovell, Sir Edw. Chamberlen, Sir Adryan Fortescue, Sir Hen. Longe, Sir Wm. Barington, Sir Wm. Newman, Sir Arthur Hopton, Sir Edw. Beningfeild, Sir Antony Wingfield, Sir Geo. Frogmerton, (fn. 6) Sir John Russell of Worcestershire, Sir George Dar[c]y, Sir Wm. Pickering, Sir Thos. Cornwall, Sir John Bridges.

Waferers : Rob. Leigh for the Queen and the Bishop. He must bring his wafers for both services to the Queen’s cupboard, to be set (fn. 7) from thence by the sewers. Confectionery : Cutbert Blakden (fn. 8) for the Queen and Bishop, with similar orders.

Kitchen : For the Queen and Bishop : John Plume, Edw. Wilkinson, Ric. Currey, John Armstrong, Robt. Plume, child, Thos. Galepy, fryer.

Larder : Lord Burgenye, John Dale, Jas. Mitchell.

Sausery : John Richardson for the Queen and Bishop, remaining in the house.

Pastry : John Cuncle, Elister Shainc. Boilers : John White, [John Tayler].

Scullery : Wm. Richarde for the Queen ; Wm. Rawlyns for the Bishop, and to be served with gilt plate.

Marshals : Ric. Rede for the Queen ; Edw. Vaux for the Bishop ; Jesper Terrell ; John Stevens. Richard Chace to be supervisor that every man give his due attendance that shall wait in the hall beneath the bar.

[Lord Chamberlain : John earl of Oxford to give the King water.

The towel : Allen Asplonge, or his heirs, to give the Queen the towel before dinner.

The Queen’s Champion : —.]

Officers appointed to attend on the Lords Spiritual and Temporal at the middle board on the right hand of the Queen. The first board to be 11 yards in length, and to be served with three services of a like fare, and 30 services of another fare.

Sewers : John Barney at the board, John Banbricke at the dresser. Panters : Thos. Bend, Ric. Holbroke, Ric. Madoxe, John Stoddard, Wm. Dennys, Pierce Barly. Buttery and cellar : Bryan Aunsley, William Abbot, Ric. Weckly, John Aman. Ewris : Allyn Matthew, Thos. Christmas, Robt. Clynton.

Almoners : Thos. Oldnall, Wm. Blakeden, Hugh Williams.

[Conveyers] : Thos. Child, Thos. Hinde, Wm. Berman. Surveyors at the dressers : Thos. Hall, Wm. Thynne. John Lane, to see that the yeomen give due attendance. [Servitors from the dresser] : Richard Gilmyn, Robt. Griffith, Thos. Marshall, John Brogden, David Phillip, John Geffrey, Wm. Avenell, Ric. Ryder, Robt. Gibes, Wm. Semerre, Hugh Troblefeild, John Ashton, John Smith the elder, John Robertes, John Perce, Antony Perce, Antony Saunders, Walter Vaughan, Thos. Coxe, Ric. Stone, Thos. Hawkins, Wm. Bonde. Robt. Whitbrowe, Hugh Lewis, Thos. Githens. Waferers : Robt. Lystar. Confectionery : John Amnesleye. Kitchen : Wm. Bolton, Robt. Forster, John Floy (fn. 9) , John Laurence, John Baker, child, Wm. Botte, (fn. 10) fryer. Larder : John Dale, Jas. Michell. Saulsery : John Richard, Symond Dudley. Pastry : John Connicle, Robt. Dauson, Ric. Byre. Boiler : John White. Scullery : Wm. Rice, Wm. Rawlins, Thos. Coke, child, John Worall, (fn. 11) conducte.

Marshals : Thos. Ward, Hen. Hokars. Huisshers : John Gilman, Thos. Myles.

Officers to attend upon Duchesses and other ladies at the middle board on the left hand of the Queen ; the first board 8 yards long. To be served with 3 services of like fare, 3 of another fare, and 30 of another fare.

Sewers : John Bonam, Ric. Sterkey.

Pantry : Thos. Skasley, John Markham, John Coxe, Thos. Hall. Conveyors of the bread to the panters : Richard Boxham, Geo. Forman. Buttery and cellar : Wm. Morrant, Ric. Lee, Ric. Parker, Thos. Trewth. (fn. 12)

[Ewers] : Geo. Fitzgeffrey, John Morgan, John Dixe. [Almoners] : John Stanbanck, Edw. Garret, Thos. Inde, Thos. Walker, Geo. Bond, Wm. Kedle, Thos. Turner. Surveyor at the dresser without, Thos. Hatcliffe ; at the dresser within, Thos. Horden. John Powes to see that the yeomen give due attendance. Servitors from the dresser : Ric. Rainshawe, John Kinge, John Wellet, John Aprice, Ric. Saidell, Wm. Tolley, John Strymyn, Rafe Tykill, Thos. Jones, John Sydnam, Leonard Barowes, John Dorset, Thos. Lewis, Jas. (fn. 13) Stanley, John Tompson, John Smothen, Edw. Deckey, Ric. Eston, Wm. Laury, Geo. Bankes, Thos. Massie, Rafe Baiely, John Gaunter. Wafe[…] Robt. Lyster. Confectioner : John Amnesley. Kitchen : John Dale, George Benson, Rafe Iswell, Wm. Maie, Philip Yarow, child, Ric. Rede, fryer. Larder : Thos. English. Boiler : John Tailour. Saulsery : John Richard, John Ringros. Pastry : Elize Shaunce, Wm. Andreson, conducte. Scullery : Wm. Wells, John Awmorer, conduct, Silvester Glossope.

Marshals : Nic. Sainctes, (fn. 14) Thos. Braken. Huishers : John Towe, Nic. Ashfeild.

Officers to attend upon the Barons of the Cinque Ports, at the side board on the Queen’s right hand, next the wall. The first board to be 8 yards long, and to be served with 3 services of like fare, and 30 services of another fare.

Sewers : Ant. Isley, John Cheyne. Panters : Wm. Cowper, John Bartlet, John Whitstall, Wm. Sotherne, conveyers of bread. Buttery and cellar : John Burnell, Robt. Gardener, Matthew Hanmer, Thos. Stanbridge. (fn. 15) Ewry : Edw. Myller, (fn. 16) Thos. Colbeck, Robt. Maxton. (fn. 17) Almoners : Willm. Cressell, Wm. Breredge, Ric. Valentyne, Thos. Reding, and John Downslowe ; John Davie and Robt. Rendon, (fn. 18) conveyers.

Surveyors at the dressers : Edw. Welden, Jas. Sutton. Servitors from the dresser : Laurence Serle, overseer, John Bromfeld, Robt. Lamdon, John Holcombe, Robt. Owen, Griffith Myres, Wm. Jones, Rob. Orton, Edm. Stone, John Githons, Edw. Philips, John Umpe, Ric. Clerke, John Holland, John Alcocke, Ric. Gilling, John Evans, Lymerell Martyn, Fras. Socket, (fn. 19) John Brewet, John Coxe, John Knotfort, John Bilson, (fn. 20) John Birte. Waferer : Robt. Lyster. Confectionery : John Amnsley. Kitchen : Laurence Thexted, Ric. Townsend, Roger Brosse, John Coke, Rafe Hogan, child, Wm. More, fryer. Larder : Hen. Groves. (fn. 21) Boiler : John Tailour. Saulserie : John Richardson, Matthew White. Pastry : Matthew White, child, Roger Brynge, conducte. Scullery : Wm. Phillip, Wm. Hamhider. Marshal : Ric. Wales. Huishers : John Fisher, Jas. Aleasley.

Officers to attend upon the Mayor of London, sitting at the board next the wall on the left hand of the Queen. The first board to be 9 yards long, and to be served with 5 services of like fare, and 30 of another.

Sewers : Edw. Browne, Wm. Jones. Panters : Thos. Pulfort, Hugh Mynours, John Tryce, Robt. Hylston. Buttery and cellar : Thos. Mynours, Wm. Corffale, caker, John Throughgood, Wm. Agre. Ewry : Edw. Bird, Geo. Smert, Wm. Cheke. Almoners : John Fisher, John Rowland, Wm. Blike, Wm. Willkinson, and Hen. Hungreford ; Adam Faulcet, Hen. Wilkinson, conveyers of bread.

Surveyors at the dressers : John Mery, Robt. Pagman. Servitors from the dresser : Henry Bird to superintend, John Wode, Moris Apdenevet, Michael Whiting, John Stevens, Hugh David, Lewis ap Watkin, John West, John Burton, Robert Fleminge, Edw. Clayton, Lewis Appowell, John Cowper, Edw. Johnson, Ric. Fuller, John Treveth, Simmosune Symes, Robt. Stonehouse, Hen. Holden, John Hancocke, Thos. Boram, Roger Meres, John Massye, John Colby. Waferers : Robt. Lyster, John Amnsley. Kitchen : William Snowball, John Sterne, John Crane, John Mathew, Thos. Borrey, child, Peter Child, fryer. Larder : Ric. Mathewe. Boilers : John White, John Tailour. Saulsery : John Richardson, Thos. Nash. Pastry : Thos. Dover, (fn. 22) Ric. Wilkinson. Scullery : Thos. More, Robt. Cellye. Marshals : Thos. Greves, Wm. Bellingham. Huisshers : Thos. Croftes, Wm. Bate.

The hall must be served with plate, as spoons, salts, pots, and bowls.

The Queen’s Lord Chamberlain and Vice-chamberlain and two gentlemen must attend upon the Queen.

Officers appointed for serving the waste. Panter : Wm. Wilkinson. Clerk : Jas. Harington. Cook : John Hautcliffe. Larderer : John Dauson. Cooks for the “Worchouses” : John Birket, Ric. Parker, John Stevens, John Johnson, Steven God, Wm. Whitfeild.

Noblemen admitted to do service according to the tenure of their lands, and for the trial of their fees and profits unto the morrow of St. John Baptist’s Day : Earl of Arundel, chief butler ; Viscount of Lisle, chief panter ; earl of Oxford, chief chamberlain ; Sir Hen. Wyat, chief ewre ; earl of Shrewsbury to support the Queen’s right arm and bear the sceptre ; sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports to bear the canopy over her ; lord Burgeine, chief larderer ; Sir Giles Alington to bear the first cup to the Queen ; earl of Sussex, chief sewer ; the Mayor of London to bear a cup of gold to the Queen at her void.

May 13, 1536: Why bother with justice when “the appearance of justice” will do?

What was once the location of the Great Hall.

On this day in 1536, preparations were made for the trials of Anne and her brother. The grand juries were commanded to furnish the indictments, and Constable Kingston received a precept from Norfolk ordering him to bring the prisoners to trial on Monday, May 15th. Norfolk also sent a precept to Ralph Felmingham, sergeant-of-arms, to summon at least twenty-seven “peers of the Queen and Lord Rochford, by whom the truth can be better made to appear.” While these official legal steps were being taken, physical preparations

were also begun to make the King’s Hall in The Tower amenable to two thousand spectators, with benches lining the walls and a high platform for the interrogator and the condemned, so that all could see. “The King was determined,” Alison Weir writes, “that justice would be seen to be done” and was sure of the judicial strength of the evidence. “This was not to be quite the farcical trial that some historians have claimed it to be,” she writes.

Yet, for Henry the outcome was such a foregone conclusion that on the same day that these preparations were being made, he ordered Anne’s household dissolved, and her servants discharged. The next day, May 14th, he sent for Jane Seymour to “come within a mile of his lodgings” so that she would be near at hand when Anne was condemned.

We at “The Creation of Anne Boleyn” admire Weir’s scholarship, but think that if any trial deserves the designation of “farce,” this one was it! The only missing ingredient was humor.  This farce was not a comedy, but a deadly business.

May 12, 1536: The Trial of Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, Francis Weston and William Brereton

By: Natalie Sweet

Events moved rapidly in the week before May 19th. Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle, heard from his agent, John Hussee that,

“Today Mr. Norrys, Weston, Bryerton, and Markes have been arraigned, and are judged to be drawn, hanged, and quartered. They shall die tomorrow or Monday. Anne the queen, and her brother, shall be arraigned in the Tower, some think tomorrow, but on Monday at furthest, and that they will suffer there immediately “for divers considerations, which are not yet known.” Mr. Payge and Mr. W[y]at are in the Tower, but it is thought without danger of life, though Mr. Payge is banished the King’s court for ever.” (Letters and Papers)

The accused men faced a prejudiced jury who was well aware of the verdict Henry wanted, and Tudor law did not aid defendants. Justice at this time was more subjective, more informal, and could not be separated from morality. Juries operated based on their own knowledge. There was no effort to keep them from gossip. In fact, questions were put to juries about their knowledge of the case, and the more they “knew,” the more fit they were considered for service.

The trial itself would have been very speedy – any crime, from petty theft to grand larceny to murder, would only take thirty minutes at the most. Most important in any Tudor trial was the assessment of character – if a person was found to be acting outside of their proper place, they were considered to be gravely in the wrong. There was no such thing as a defense lawyer – the “victim” was both the defense and collector of evidence. At any time when a king or queen had a vested interest in a case, they would be favored. This was true even in cases where there was just an ordinary judge and jury – judges were always appointed by the monarch and they could be fired at will. In other words, they were agents of the monarch. Challenges to this approach to law would not occur until the early Stuart period, when Edward Coke called for judicial review.

Three of the men – Norris, Brereton, and Weston – pleaded “not guilty.” Smeaton, likely under torture, “pleaded guilty of violation and carnal knowledge of the Queen, and put himself in the King’s mercy” (Letters and Papers). The result: “the jury return a verdict of Guilty, and that they have no lands, goods, or chattels”  and that the said men were to be executed (Letters and Papers).

Anne’s anguish at hearing this verdict must have been great. She could not know if Henry would spare her life, but she knew how drastically the verdict would affect the families of these men, who would not only lose their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers, but their livelihood as well. Finally, she knew she stood judged as an adulteress – the only question that remained was what punishment would be handed down to her.

A Humorous Victorian Portrayal of Anne

From Facebook user Vivian, whose post was misplaced:

“I wanted to post this on the wall of “The Creation of Anne Boleyn” under the topic of humorous novel, but somehow it couldn’t be done.  Here is what I wrote: A Victorian novel about Henry’s new amour Laura (a fictional person) has an interesting portrayal of Anne.  Anne is depicted as a female warrior, on horseback with a sword in hand, chasing after Henry’s new love interest.  She also uses her beauty to beguile men to betray Laura and even gets into cat fight with Laura’s sister, pulling each other’s hair and punching each other’s noses.  That was a hilarious read.  I’ll check my notes for further detail.”

No warrior Anne with sword here, but she is depicted as hunting with Henry. More precisely, this Victorian painting by William Powell Frith makes a point about who is really the one being hunted.

May 7-8, 1536: Strange Days

Jane Seymour remains sequestered at Beddington. It is no secret that the King is involved with her. As early as April 1st, Chapuys had written to the Emperor that the king was “paying court” to Jane, and that he had “heard that the young lady has been well tutored and warned by those among the King’s courtiers who hate the concubine, telling her not in any wise to give in to the King’s fancy unless he makes her his Queen, upon which the damsel is quite resolved.  She has likewise been advised to tell the King frankly, and without reserve, how much his subjects abominate the marriage contracted with the concubine.”

While Jane remains hidden away, the King is also rarely seen, except at night, when he “banquets” with diverse ladies, “sometimes remaining affter midnight, and returning by the river…accompanied by various musical instruments” and “singer of his chambers.”  Is this some sort of bachelor party, a smokescreen for his intentions with Jane, a show of macho bravado?

In the meantime, new of the arrests is reaching the outlying shires.  On May 7, it has reached the Welsh border, and was received by dismay.  “As the news in this letter is very doleful to this council and all the liege people of the realm,” writes Rowland Lee, Bishop of Coventry, “God forbid it should be true.” The same day, the King informs the sheriffs of every county of the calling of Parliament due to “matters of high importance”

And the investigation proceeds. On May 8, William Latymer, chaplain to Anne, is informed and–as he had just returned from business in Flanders–is searched for possible evidence.

While Jane waits, the King parties, and Cromwell assembles his case, Anne’s moods, according to Kingston, vacillate wildly, from resignation to hope to anxiety. She searches her memory–and speaks of what she recalls–for words or indiscretions that might lay behind the charges

May 3, 1536: Poor Cranmer–No Match for Cromwell

Cranmer, who has been Anne’s champion since before the marriage (which he was instrumental in making happen) is in emotional turmoil, on hearing of Anne’s arrest.  He writes to Henry, his soul clearly in struggle, wanting to defend Anne but fearing for his own safety: “I am clean amazed, for I had never better opinion of woman; but I think your Highness would not have gone so far if she had not been culpable.  I am most bound to her of all creatures living, and therefore beg that I may, with your Grace’s favor, wish and pray that she may declare herself innocent.  Yet if she be found guilty, I repute him not a faithful subject who would not wish her punished without mercy.” At some point his letter-writing is interrupted, as he had apparently been called to the Star Chamber by Cromwell and his cronies; they report where matters stand, and when he returns to his desk, Cranmer concludes his letter: “I am sorry such faults can be proved against the Queen as they report.”

Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke, 1545

April 30, 1536

Cromwell and his colleagues lay all the charges before Henry, and Smeaton is arrested. By the end of the day, the planned trip with Anne to Calais is cancelled.

How to explain Henry’s swift reaction?  Here are the explanations of two respected scholars, Alison Weir and Eric Ives. Which do you find most convincing?

— Alison Weir considers that the charges, in themselves, were “more than enough to arouse fury in any husband, let alone an egotistical monarch” and that from the moment the Council reported the charges to him, he was “convinced that he had nourished a viper in his bosom, and that Anne had betrayed and humiliated him, both as a husband and a king” (118).

–Eric Ives thinks that the King was not yet certain that Anne was guilty. Yes, he was simmering–but not convinced. He had been seen (by Alexander Ales) to have had an argument with Anne the day before, in which he appeared very angry while Anne, with Elizabeth in her arms, appealed to him. Ives speculates that Anne’s anxiety and Henry’s anger were likely due to a very public argument between Anne and Norris the day before, in which she had accused Norris of “look[ing] for dead men’s shoes” (the shoes being Henry’s) and having Anne for himself, and then asked Norris to go to her almoner to swear that the queen “was a good woman.” Everyone at court knew about this, and it was enough, Ives argues, to occasion the cancelation of the Calais trip, but not enough to convince him of Anne’s guilt. “The fatal catalyst,” he writes, “would be Mark Smeaton”–that is, his confession, which wouldn’t occur until the next day (325).

What do you think?

“He killed off the best part of himself” – Michael Hirst on Anne Boleyn

Michael Hirst, on the “psychological crisis” that led to Anne’s execution,and how it altered Henry:

He had attacked the church on the basis of a love affair, largely.  And he felt sure of what he was doing at the time, and Anne had mistaken promised him a son. After she’d given him a daughter and had the miscarriages, it began to seem to him as though he’d gone horribly wrong.  He was plunged back into reality, which is messy and not perfect. And I think that as he confronted the huge seriousness of it, he began to be screwed up about what he’d done, and began to think in weird ways, that she was a witch and so forth.  This of course, shows how juvenile he still was.  At the same time what it revealed was this absolutely ruthless streak which his father, too, had possessed. So he somehow reconciled his psychological issues and persuaded himself:”oh well, hey ho, I’m the king, I can do what I like.” And went off merrily to another wife.  He did have a psychological tussle with himself, he did have a crisis.  And he came out of that crisis as a much worse person.  He killed off the best part of himself. Something profound happened, and as a result it led to him becoming a complete tyrant and monster.

April 28th-29th, 1536

Nicholas Carew

April 28th-29th: Chapuys is clearly (and gleefully) aware that plots are being hatched against Anne. He writes to Charles that Nicholas Carew is “daily conspiring” against Anne, “trying to convince Miss Seymour and her friends to accomplish her ruin. Indeed, only four days ago the said Carew and certain gentlemen of the King’s chamber sent word to the Princess to take courage, for very shortly her rival would be dismissed, the King being so tired of the said concubine that he could not bear her any longer.”

It’s also clear from Chapuys’ dispatch of April 29th that there is much covert discussion, at court, as to whether or not “the King could or could not abandon the said concubine.” He reports that the bishop of London, John Stokesley, was asked his opinion on this (by an unnamed courtier), and demured, “knowing well the King’s fickleness” and fearful that should Anne be restored to favor, he would be in danger. Chapuys is sure, however, that his true opinion is that the King “would certainly desert his concubine.”

The king, however–more dissembling for public consumption?–is still planning to take Anne with him to Calais on May 4th, after the May Day jousts, and is still pressing Charles to acknowledge the validity of his marriage to Anne. What, in your opinion, is Henry thinking at this time?

April 24, 1536

Ambassador Eustache Chapuys kept a detailed—although highly biased–record of Henry’s court for his master, Charles II. Chapuys commonly used moniquers such as “concubine” and “shedevil” to describe Anne, as he was the great champion of Katherine of Aragon and her daughter, Mary (the only one of Henry’s daughters addressed as “Princess” in Chapuys’s letters; Elizabeth was “the little bastard”).   In the light of Chapuys’ long-standing hostility toward Anne, both the King’s friendly conversation and Cromwell’s advice to Chapuys on April 24, 1536 were an ominous indication of Anne’s precarious position at court:

“And hereupon the King began to speak very well of me, and asked the physician two or three times if he had not spoken with me since Easter Tuesday when I was with him. I think he wished to find out what was in my mind after his brusque replies. Although I would not kiss or speak to the Concubine, the Princess and other good persons have been somewhat jealous at the mutual reverences required by politeness which were done at the church. I refused to visit her until I had spoken to the King. If I had seen any hope from the King’s answer I would have offered not two but 100 candles to the shedevil, although another thing made me unwilling, viz., that I was told she was not in favor with the King; besides, Cromwell was quite of my opinion that I should do well to wait till I had spoken to the King.” Chapuys, London, 24 April 1536 (Venice Archives).