On this day in 1536

The trials of four of the men with whom Anne was accused of ...shall we say, dallying, had already been concluded.

On the 12th May 1536, Mark Smeaton,the musician Anne had been fond of;  Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton were tried at a special commission ( seperately from Anne and her brother George, who were members of the nobility). These men had little chance against the towering Tudor legal system. There was no defense counsel and they did not have any previous knowledge of the evidence to be used against them, yet they were responsible to prove their innocence--rather than the Crown having to prove their guilt.
When they walked into that courtroom for the first time and layed eyes on their jury, they must have known they were doomed. The Jury consisted almost entirely of men who were either politically inclined against them, owed special favors to the king, or at least would not have wanted to anger him in any way. As Alison Weir writes in The Lady in the Tower,

“Given the affiliations of these men, and the unlikelihood that any of them would risk angering the King by returning the wrong verdict, the outcome of the trial was prejudiced from the very outset.”

The trial went just as you may predict. As Eustace Chapuys, the Imperial Ambassador, wrote to Charles V later in the week,

"Only the groom confessed that he had been three times with the said putain and Concubine. The others were condemned upon presumption and certain indications, without valid proof or confession.”

So it was, only Smeaton confessed (most likely under torture) and the other three pleaded Not Guilty. But they were unable to convince their jurors. All four men were found guilty on all charges, declared traitors and sentenced to the usual traitor’s death, to be “hanged, drawn and quartered, their members cut off and burnt before them, their heads cut off and [their bodies] quartered” at Tyburn.

Yikes.
Which brings us to today.

The following is also from Chapuys' letter to Charles V:

“The day before the putain’s condemnation he sent for Mrs. Semel by the Grand Esquire and some others, and made her come within a mile of his lodging, where she is splendidly served by the King’s cook and other officers. She is most richly dressed.”

That "Mrs. Semel" is Jane Seymour. Sir Nicholas Carew had been sent by the King to move Jane nearer him and install her in a house in Chelsea. The day before Anne Boleyn is found guilty. (But I'll save more on that for tomorrow!)

Here is a letter from Cromwell to his good buddies Gardiner and Wallop, 14th May 1536. If it isn't already apparent that the cards are stacked against Queen Anne, this will seal the deal. Nothing a little bribery, flattery and promises can't take care of:

“The King has deferred answering their letters sent by Salisbury till the arrival of the bailly of Troyes. Has to inform them, however, of a most detestable scheme, happily discovered and notoriously known to all men. They may have heard the rumour of it. Will express to them, however, some part of the coming out, and of the King’s proceeding. The Queen’s incontinent living was so rank and common that the ladies of her privy chamber could not conceal it. It came to the ears of some of the Council, who told his Majesty, although with great fear, as the case enforced. Certain persons of the privy chamber and others of her side were examined, and the matter appeared so evident that, besides that crime, “there brake out a certain conspiracy of the King’s death, which extended so far that all we that had the examination of it quaked at the danger his Grace was in, and on our knees gave him (God ?) laud and praise that he had preserved him so long from it.” Certain men were committed to the Tower, viz., Marks and Norris and the Queen’s brother; then she herself was apprehended and committed to the same place; after her Sir Fras. Weston and Wm. Brereton. Norris, Weston, Brereton, and Marks are already condemned to death, having been arraigned at Westminster on Friday last. The Queen and her brother are to be arraigned tomorrow, and will undoubtedly go the same way. “I write no particularities; the things be so abominable that I think the like was never heard. Gardiner will receive 200l. of the 300l. “that were out amongst these men, notwithstanding great suit hath been made for the whole; which though the King’s highness might give in this case, yet his Majesty doth not forget your service; and the third 100l. is bestowed of the vicar of Hell [Sir Fras. Brian], upon [whom] though it be some charge unto you, his Highness trusteth ye will think it well bestowed.” From the Rolls in haste, 14 May.

P.S.—Wallop will not be forgotten, though Cromwell cannot tell at present how much he is to have. The King is highly pleased with the services of both.”

 

For more, check out the very thorough Anne Boleyn Files.

This witchy Boleyn by Carlyn Beccia