May 15th 1536: The Trial That Stopped A Country
Dressed in a gown of deep black with crimson petticoat and a hat with a black and white feather Anne prepared to face trial, held in the King’s Hall at the Tower of London. Anne, still the Queen of England faced a jury of her peers – to call them unbiased would be a huge understatement. The men upon the jury included Charles Brandon the Duke of Suffolk, well known to have hated Anne, others were very close friends of the King or allies of Mary Tudor or the Seymour family – men witg no love in their hearts for Anne Boleyn.
Entering the King’s hall Anne must have known that she faced a losing battle this day. With Norris, Weston, Brereton and Smeaton already guilty of treason against the King and sentenced to death there was little chance that Anne would be found innocent.It seems the trial of Anne Boleyn was for mere appearance. As the Queen of England, she had the right to a trial by a jury of her peers by the King’s law – the outcome of her trial was already decided.
Hundreds came to the Tower to see her trial – for a Queen of England to be tried for adultery, incest and treason was no light matter! The numbers made certain that a platform had to be constructed in the middle of the hall for Anne to sit upon. At the other end of the hall, her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk presided over events. Official documents of the trial have been lost to time but word of mouth, letters and reports have passed on that Anne entered the King’s hall with poise and dignity befitting a Queen. Presenting herself to the jury, Anne showed no fear or nerves. She gave a small curtsey to the jury before taking a seat prepared for her upon the middle of the platform. Even in one of her most terrifying hours, with hundreds of staring eyes, Anne remained composed in dignity and grace.
The charges were read, every sordid, horrible, scandalous detail revealed to all within the hall. Throughout this indignity Anne sat poised and beautiful and showed no sign of disgust or guilt. After she was asked how she pleaded, the Queen replied she was not guilty of all charges.
Those trying Anne for her crimes argued staunchly of her guilt, giving evidence presented at the Westminster and Kent indictments as examples of the horrendous crimes Anne had committed against her husband, the King of England. For her part Anne defended herself with great dignity and spirit, such was her nature. She adamantly denied all the charges and argued that, ‘she had maintained her honour and her chastity all her life long.’ (Weir 2009, pg. 215) She used her famous wit, charm and intelligence to mount a challenging defence of her innocence that it has been said some in the audience began to doubt the charges.
Anne’s spirit and fight for her innocence was useless. Each member of the jury stood and gave their verdict of guilty. Anne Boleyn, the Queen of England had been found guilty of all charges presented before her of adultery, incest and treason. It in unlikely the verdict surprised her, and seated before hundreds, facing a jury of men she knew, this trial she had no choice but to lose.
After the verdict was given and Anne’s guilt declared, she was asked to remove her crown and all titles. Historians doubt she actually wore a crown at that stage as reports noted she was wearing a hat. Removing her crown is probably a figurative term to mean she remove all rights to titles and possessions. After this humiliation, her sentence was read. It has been suggested that prior to this, Anne was worried about her fate and unsure what would happen once she was condemned. Perhaps she had hoped to be sent to a nunnery or be divorced and forced to live in prison. What sentence befell her must have been a huge shock.
The Duke of Norfolk, her uncle, read her sentence, ‘Because thou hast offended against our sovereign the King’s Grace in committing treason against his person, the law of the realm is this, that though hast deserved death, and thy judgement is this: that thou shalt be burnt 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’ (Weir 2009 pg. 218). Despite hearing the news Anne kept her composure. Anne Boleyn was a woman of immense strength and complexity.
In reply to this fateful sentence Anne is said to have replied...
“My lords, I will not say your sentence is unjust, nor presume that my reasons can prevail against your convictions. I am willing to believe that you have sufficient reasons for what you have done; but then they must be other than those which have been produced in court, for I am clear of all the offences which you then laid to my charge. I have ever been a faithful wife to the King, though I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me, and the honours to which he raised me, merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal at all times. 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, for He who saveth from death hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. Think not, however, that I am so bewildered in my mind as not to lay the honour of my chastity to heart now in mine extremity, when I have maintained it all my life long, much as ever queen did. I know these, my last words, will avail me nothing but for the justification of my chastity and honour. 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 so pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace and joy, where I will pray to God for the King and for you, my lords.”(Weir 2009, pg. 219 – 220)
Anne never admits to her guilt of the crimes charged but shows her humanity by admitting to the faults of jealousy, suspicion and rage and goes on to protest her innocence,, admirably declaring she had not sinned against Henry and had preserved herself for her husband only. The fact that she willingly gave her life for those condemned alongside of her - Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and soon her brother - was a brave and beautiful gesture. Despite knowing she would die in a manner yet to be decided showed the composure of her speech.
After her speech, she curtsied again to the men who had just convicted her and was lead out of the King’s hall to the Queen’s lodgings. The gaoler turned his axe inwards to show all who witnessed that Anne Boleyn had been sentenced to death.
After the trial, her brother George Boleyn, Lord Rochford was led to the King’s hall and his trial commenced. Like Anne he was judged by his fellow peers who held no love for him. Now that Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and his own sister had been found guilty and sentenced to death there was no hope for George. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and although he put up a brave fight and challenged the charges with great wit, he too was found guilty of incest and treason and sentenced to death. He was led out of the King’s hall and to his lodgings to await death.
Rumour suggests upon hearing the news of his wife’s guilty verdict that Henry rejoiced and proclaimed he believed possibly a hundred men had slept with Anne. He went on to state that he believed Anne used witchcraft and magic to enthrall him under a spell so he may continue to love her despite her evil. If this reaction be true or not, it shows the lack of compassion and grief Henry held for his wife, a woman he once loved, now sentenced to death. In truth it is probable that Henry wanted Anne dead to be rid of her as a great thorn in his side. With Anne gone, he could move on to Jane, a woman in whom he saw a future and new possibilities for him.
In reply to this fateful sentence Anne is said to have replied...
“My lords, I will not say your sentence is unjust, nor presume that my reasons can prevail against your convictions. I am willing to believe that you have sufficient reasons for what you have done; but then they must be other than those which have been produced in court, for I am clear of all the offences which you then laid to my charge. I have ever been a faithful wife to the King, though I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me, and the honours to which he raised me, merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal at all times. 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, for He who saveth from death hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. Think not, however, that I am so bewildered in my mind as not to lay the honour of my chastity to heart now in mine extremity, when I have maintained it all my life long, much as ever queen did. I know these, my last words, will avail me nothing but for the justification of my chastity and honour. 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 so pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace and joy, where I will pray to God for the King and for you, my lords.”(Weir 2009, pg. 219 – 220)
Anne never admits to her guilt of the crimes charged but shows her humanity by admitting to the faults of jealousy, suspicion and rage and goes on to protest her innocence,, admirably declaring she had not sinned against Henry and had preserved herself for her husband only. The fact that she willingly gave her life for those condemned alongside of her - Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and soon her brother - was a brave and beautiful gesture. Despite knowing she would die in a manner yet to be decided showed the composure of her speech.
After her speech, she curtsied again to the men who had just convicted her and was lead out of the King’s hall to the Queen’s lodgings. The gaoler turned his axe inwards to show all who witnessed that Anne Boleyn had been sentenced to death.
After the trial, her brother George Boleyn, Lord Rochford was led to the King’s hall and his trial commenced. Like Anne he was judged by his fellow peers who held no love for him. Now that Norris, Weston, Brereton, Smeaton and his own sister had been found guilty and sentenced to death there was no hope for George. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and although he put up a brave fight and challenged the charges with great wit, he too was found guilty of incest and treason and sentenced to death. He was led out of the King’s hall and to his lodgings to await death.
Rumour suggests upon hearing the news of his wife’s guilty verdict that Henry rejoiced and proclaimed he believed possibly a hundred men had slept with Anne. He went on to state that he believed Anne used witchcraft and magic to enthrall him under a spell so he may continue to love her despite her evil. If this reaction be true or not, it shows the lack of compassion and grief Henry held for his wife, a woman he once loved, now sentenced to death. In truth it is probable that Henry wanted Anne dead to be rid of her as a great thorn in his side. With Anne gone, he could move on to Jane, a woman in whom he saw a future and new possibilities for him.
It should also be noted that on May 13th, even before Anne’s trial, Henry had her household disbanded. Her servants, musicians, dress makers, priests, guards, ushers and ladies in waiting were informed that their services to Queen Anne were no longer needed. A clear sign of Henry’s true intentions.
Anne was back in the Queen’s lodgings, her fate sealed. She had fought bravely, proclaiming her innocence valiantly and holding herself with dignity and poise - the true spirit of Anne Boleyn always shone through. Yet now, her fate was sealed and all she could do was to make peace and await her death.
This is one of Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours. This book contains a collection of prayers and psalms that could be read throughout the day. Within the pages of this book Anne wrote ‘Remember me when you do pray that hope doth lead from day to day.’ It has been proposed that Anne made this inscription during her last days within the Tower of London. Anne’s Book of Hours is displayed at Hever Castle.
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