The Final Days of Anne Boleyn Pt 4: The Execution of George Boleyn and Company

On the morning of May 17, 1536, George Boleyn, Francis Weston, Henry Norris, William Brereton, and Mark Smeaton were led out of the western gate of the Tower and taken to Tower Hill for execution. The King had commuted the sentences for all of the men from the traditional punishment for treason (hanging, drawing, and quartering) to a simple beheading. This would have been a very public execution.

In this time, the rules of precedent were observed even in instances of execution. As the highest ranking nobility of those to be executed, the first to die was George Boleyn, Lord Rochford. According to custom, George would have been expected to make a speech on the scaffold. Usually, the condemned would speak to the offences laid against them, desire that those in attendance pray for them, and speak to the sovereignty of the King. Here is the speech of George Boleyn as close as we can tell from the Chronicle of Calais:

Christian men, I am born under the law and judged under the law, and die under the law, and the law has condemned me. Masters all, I am not come hither for to preach, but for to die, for I have deserved to die if I had twenty lives, more shamefully than can be devised, for I am a wretched sinner, and I have sinned shamefully. I have known no man so evil, and to rehearse my sins openly, it were no pleasure to you to hear them, nor yet for me to rehearse them, for God knoweth all. Therefore, masters all, I pray you take heed by me, and especially my lords and gentlemen of the court, the which I have been among, take heed by me and beware of such a fall, and I pray to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, that my death may be an example unto you all. And beware, trust not in the vanity of the world, and especially in the flattering of the court. And I cry God mercy, and ask all the world forgiveness of God. And if I have offended any man that is not here now, either in thought, word or deed, and if ye hear any such, I pray you heartily in my behalf, pray them to forgive me for God’s sake. And yet, my masters all, I have one thing for to say to you: men do common and say that I have been a setter forth of the Word of God, and one that have favoured the Gospel of Christ; and because I would not that God’s word should be slandered by me, I say unto you all, that if I had followed God’s word in deed as I did read it and set it forth to my power, I had not come to this. If I had, I had been a living man among you. Therefore I pray you, masters all, for God’s sake stick to the truth and follow it, for one good follower is worth three readers, as God knoweth.

What is of interest here is that George confessed to being a sinner but not to the crimes with which he was charged. This all seems to be in line with the Boleyns’ sympathy towards the reformed faith and belief in the idea of justification through faith. Another accounting of George’s scaffold speech from Thomas Wyatt includes the following:

Trust in God, and not in the vanities of the world, for if I had so done, I think I had been alive as ye be now. Men do common and say that I have been a setter-forth of the word of God and one that hath favoured the Gospel of Christ; and because I would not that God’s word should be slandered by me, I say unto you all that if I had followed God’s word in deed as I did read it and set forth to my power, I had not come to this. Truly and diligently did I read the gospel of Christ Jesus, but I turned not to profit that which I did read; the which had I done, of a surety I had not fallen into so great errors. Wherefore I do beseech you all, for the love of our Lord God, that you do at all seasons hold by the truth, and speak it, and embrace it.

While similar in tone, it more readily emphasizes that it was George’s pride and vanity that brought about his downfall and not any particular deed. 

Each man in his turn mounted the scaffold, spoke to the crowd, and would place his head upon the block. Henry Norris was next to die and was recorded as saying almost nothing at all. Francis Weston would have been next. He is reported to have said:

I had thought to have lived in abomination yet this twenty or thirty years and then to have made amends. I thought little it would come to this.

William Brereton would follow, saying:

I have deserved to die if it were a thousand deaths. But the cause whereof I die, judge not. But if ye judge, judge the best.

Finally, after watching each of his companions die, Mark Smeaton would have been last. At this point, the block and scaffold would have covered in the blood of the others. While the others did not confess to the adultery in their trial and still did not do so before meeting the axe, Smeaton did not take the opportunity to retract his previous confession:

Masters, I pray you all pray for me for I have deserved death.

After their executions, the bodies would have been undressed and buried. As he was from the nobility, George was interred inside the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula near the high alter while the others were buried in the chapel yard.

There has been some speculation and reports that Anne herself would have been able to witness the executions and did so. This is often portrayed in film and television versions of the events for dramatic effect; however, given the placement of the royal apartments within the Tower, it would not have been possible for her to look out her lodging windows and see Tower Hill. Yet, on this day, Anne would have been aware of the executions. We also know from the journal of William Kingston that Anne was concerned for the soul of Mark Smeaton as he did not retract his confession and thus would go to his judgment with a lie upon his conscience, damning his immortal soul.

After their executions, the bodies would have been undressed and buried. As he was from the nobility, George was interred inside the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula near the high alter while the others were buried in the chapel yard. 

That being said, there is some evidence that Thomas Wyatt was able to observe and hear the executions from his place within in the Tower. He wrote two poems about the event. The first, “Innocentia Veritas Viat Fides Circumdederunt me intimici me,” was written in May during his imprisonment.

Who list his wealth and ease retain,
Himself let him unknown contain.
Press not too fast in at that gate
Where the return stands by disdain,
For sure, circa Regna tonat.

The high mountains are blasted oft
When the low valley is mild and soft.
Fortune with Health stands at debate;
The fall is grievous from aloft,
And sure, circa Regna tonat.

These bloody days have broken my heart.
My lust, my youth did them depart,
And blind desire of estate. Who hastes to climb seeks to revert.
Of truth, circa Regna tonat.

The Bell Tower showed me such sight
That in my head sticks day and night.
There did I lean out of a grate,
For all favour, glory, or might,
That yet circa Regna tonat.

By proof, I say, there did I learn:
Wit helpeth not defence too yern,
Of innocency to plead or prate.
Bear low, therefore, give God the stern,
For sure, circa Regna tonat.

The Latin phrase at the end of each stanza translates to “Thunder rolls around the throne.” The other was a longer poem likely written after he returned to his father’s castle in Allington. It was untitled and thus is known by its first line, “In Mourning Wise, Since Daily I Increase.” It is of particular interest that this longer lament does not make reference to Anne herself.

After the executions, Anne would receive a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, to inform her that her marriage to Henry had been declared null and void, thus making their daughter, Elizabeth, a bastard. There is no recording as to the grounds for annulment, but it could have been one of two reasons or perhaps even both: unlawful degree of affinity and pre-contract of marriage. The unlawful degree of affinity would have been due to Henry's previous sexual relationship with Anne's sister, Mary. The issue of the pre-contract would have been due to Anne's relationship with Henry Percy and possible engagement that had been reversed under the direction of Percy's father, the Earl of Northumberland and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Unlike Katherine of Aragon, Anne signed documentation assenting to the dissolution of her marriage to Henry. This was  a strategic move in an attempt to protect her daughter Elizabeth from receiving harsher treatment from her father, similar to that Mary received when her mother, Katherine, did not agree to the annulment Henry received in order to marry Anne.

For further reading:
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier, and Diplomat by Clare Cherry and Clare Ridgeway

The Final Days of Anne Boleyn Pt 3: The Trial and Sentencing

Anne’s trial took place on May 15, 1536 only 13 days after her arrest. Four of the five men accused of committing adultery with her had been tried and sentenced two days prior. Of those four men, only the court musician, Mark Smeaton plead guilty. This particular aspect is interesting in that Smeaton was the only commoner among the men and was therefore subject to torture in ways that the other were not. The torture is often cited as the impetus behind Smeaton’s “confession.”

In order to avoid a massive public spectacle and possible disturbances to the proceedings, the trial was held in King’s Hall with the Tower rather than the more traditional Westminster Hall. Anne was a massively unpopular figure among the masses. Despite the change of venue, it was recorded that there were still nearly 2000 people in attendance. As per tradition of the time, she was judged by a jury of her peers which included Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and longtime friend of the King, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and Anne’s uncle, and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland and former betrothed of Anne. Of all of the men tasked to judge this trial, Percy was likely the most sympathetic to Anne. They had had a previous relationship, one that was thought to have been a love match. In fact, a possible pre-contract or even a secret marriage to Anne Boleyn had been given as cause for an annulment of Percy’s marriage to Mary Talbot, daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury and cousin to the King. 

Although a detailed, formal record of Anne’s trial does not exist, we have accounts from those likely in attendance which can help us piece together what occurred. Anne would have been aware that just two days prior Brereton, Norris, Weston, and Smeaton had all been found guilty and sentenced to death. As such, one would think her countenance would be shaken. Yet by all accounts, Anne maintained a level of grace and dignity as she was brought into the courtroom and the indictment was read. She was said to have appeared in court wearing a black velvet gown with a scarlet damask petticoat. This is interesting for several reasons. First and foremost, Anne was determined to be every inch a queen. While it was certain that she would be convicted, she wanted it clearly known and understood by all witnesses that this was the Queen of England that they were sentencing. Additionally, the choice of a scarlet petticoat reinforced the innocence that she proclaimed as the color of martyrdom. The French Bishop of Riez who was in attendance would later write of Anne at the trial:  

She walked forth in fearful beauty and seemed unmoved. She came not as one who had to defend her cause, but with the bearing of one coming to great honour.

Her own uncle as the highest ranking peer on the jury would have read out the indictment which included the following: 

she, despising her marriage, and entertaining malice against the King, and following daily her frail and carnal lust, did falsely and traitorously procure by base conversations and kisses, touchings, gifts, and other infamous incitations, divers of the King's daily and familiar servants to be her adulterers and concubines… [and] conspired the death and destruction of the King, the Queen often saying she would marry one of them as soon as the King died, and affirming that she would never love the King in her heart. 

Yet despite these charges, the prosecution presented no eyewitnesses as evidence of these crimes. 

Anne was then allowed to speak in her defense. As she had no prior knowledge of the charges brought against her, there was no way for her to provide alibis or refute the 20 instances of adultery that she had been charged with. Despite her inability to provide evidence of her innocence, many of the spectators including London magistrates were persuaded of her innocence and would later remark that her guilt was simply because it had been decreed that she be gotten rid of, most likely at the request of Henry who had transferred his affections to the lovely Jane Seymour.

The decision against her was unanimous. Final sentence was pronounced by the Duke of Norfolk: 

 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.

It was noted that when he pronounced the sentence that there were tears in his eyes. Some might say that this showed a level of compassion and affection towards his niece; however, given what we know about his character as an unsympathetic man who sought advancement above all else, these tears were more likely a sign of his relief that he had accomplished the will of the King to be rid of Anne and free to marry Jane without the marriage to Anne being held over him. This was all in spite of Henry going the extra step of having the marriage declared null and void by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer two days later. 

Anne then spoke in response to her conviction: 

I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal. But God knows, and is my witness, that I have not sinned against him in any other way. Think not I say this in the hope to prolong my life. God hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. As for my brother, and those others who are unjustly condemned, I would willingly suffer many deaths to deliver them, but since I see it pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace. 

This speech echoes the sentiments expressed in the disputed final letter. Anne had prepared herself for death but felt grief that Henry’s desire to be rid of her also meant that other innocent people should die. I think is perhaps one of the most telling things about her character. In this moment, she not only seems to have a profound faith in God but also compassion for others. This was not the speech of the scheming social climber that the Catholic supporters of Katherine and Mary would have history believe Anne was. Instead, this is more in line with the view of Protestants who saw Anne in a more positive light.

Once the verdict had been pronounced and Anne had spoken, Henry Percy collapsed and was carried out of the courtroom. Percy had been known to be of a weak constitution and suffer from a persisting ague. The stress of the trial likely exacerbated his illness, which would lead to his death a little over a year later.

After her own trial was completed, her brother would be tried for incest, adultery, and treason. As Anne had been convicted of having “tempted her brother with her tongue in the said George’s mouth and the said George’s tongue in hers” there was no other outcome of his trial than a conviction. The evidence of incest against George and Anne was largely based on the testimony of his wife, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford who had been questioned by Cromwell and the royal commission about the relationship between Anne and George. 

For further reading:

Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives

Law as the Engine of State: The Trial of Anne Boleyn by Margery S Schauer and Frederick Shauer

Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions by G.W. Bernard - This particular title is interesting in that it argues that the charges of adultery against Anne were in fact true. I've read this book and find that the arguments put forth by the historian largely center around a poem by Lancelot de Carles, a servant to the French ambassador and supposed eyewitness to the trial. I find the logic and work uncompelling in its arguments, drawing false and often conflated conclusions based on rather weak interpretations of the primary sources but have included it here in the interest of providing resources on both sides of the argument.