Cromwell begins his plot to bring down Anne Boleyn
On the 21st April 1536, Cromwell retired to his home, feigning illness.
In reality, he was cooking up his plan on bringing down Queen Anne Boleyn.
Having decided upon the means of how to secure Anne’s downfall, Cromwell began to quietly gather evidence which would secure her demise.
It is likely that he either bribed some of the queen’s ladies, or placed spies in her household.
The tales that they reported, most of which were innocent enough in themselves, were soon twisted into damning evidence.
All of this was conducted with the greatest discretion.
Anne knew nothing of the horror that was about to unfold.
Even the King seems to have been kept in ignorance, until Cromwell decided he had a suitably persuasive case against the queen.
Then, in the last days of April 1536, events suddenly accelerated.
Cromwell returned to court after his week’s absence and at once sought an audience with the king.
There is no record of what passed between them, but Cromwell must have imparted his suspicions and evidence of the queen’s infidelity.
The king, whose attitude towards his wife had until now bordered between hostility and passion, turned suddenly and irrevocably against her.
Henry ordered Cromwell to gather all of the evidence he needed to secure a conviction.
The fall of Anne Boleyn had begun…..
🖤 Thomas Cromwell & Anne Boleyn
