Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Holland
Anne Boleyn was England’s Queen for just three years and three months, as the wife of King Henry VIII.
She was ex3cuted at the Tower of London in 1536 after being found guilty of treason and accused of being unfaithful to her husband.
Some details of Anne’s death are known, including her b-heading by an expert French swordsman, rather than an axeman – a quick clean death, Henry’s last act of mercy to spare his Queen of pain.
Although the facts of Anne Boleyn’s life and death are well-known, the women who witnessed her spectacular rise and dramatic fall are often reduced to footnotes in history – faceless silhouettes observing these events from the sidelines.
One of the most interesting aspects of Anne’s last days is the question of the identity of the four women who accompanied her to the scaffold on 19th May 1536.
Tantalising new evidence unearthed by historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton, reveals who may have accompanied the doomed queen during her final hours.
During the research for her most recent book, ‘Ladies-in-Waiting: Women Who Served Anne Boleyn’, Sylvia uncovered evidence about one of the women in Anne’s inner circle.
A document she unearthed from the British Library’s archives, shows that one of her maids of honour, Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Holland, may have been with Anne at the Tower.
Bess was known to be incredibly close to Anne as a member of her staff.
Bessie Holland’s married name appears in the book of hours that belonged to Anne Boleyn.
This often overlooked connection between the Queen and her maid, raises the possibility that Bessie Holland accompanied Anne to the scaffold, and perhaps received this book as a gift.
Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Holland was the daughter or sister of John Holland of Wartwell Hall.
John Holland was the secretary of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk’s, the uncle of Anne Boleyn.
Bess was also part of the ducal household in 1526.
At that time, Thomas Howard noticed Bess, and she became his mistress.
As Thomas Howard’s mistress, Bess may have been placed in Anne’s household on his recommendation.
When Anne Boleyn was created Marquess of Pembroke, Bess Holland was one of her maids of honour.
Bess also accompanied Anne to her coronation in 1533.
After Anne’s ex3cution, Bess was still at court in 1537, when she rode in the funeral cortege of Queen Jane Seymour.
Despite a fifteen year relationship with Thomas Howard, when he was arrested in December 1546, Bess gave information which helped to seal his fate.
However, Bess may have had no choice but to testify against him.
Bess was not liked by Thomas’ wife.
When Elizabeth Howard complained to her husband about Bess being his mistress, it is said that he beat his wife savagely.
The Duchess of Norfolk painted Bess Holland as a villainess and the duke as a monster!
In 1547 Elizabeth Holland married Henry Reppes.
She died soon afterwards in childbirth, in 1547/8
? Book cover of ‘Ladies-in-Waiting: Women Who Served Anne Boleyn’ By Sylvia Barbara Soberton.
