The Fall Of Anne Boleyn Begins
On the 30th April 1536, witnesses saw Henry and Anne argue.
Although this was a common occurrence throughout their tempestuous relationship, this argument had serious consequences.
Cromwell’s wheels were turning, the fall of Anne Boleyn had begun…..
The May Day Joust of 1536, was the first outward sign that something was wrong in Tudor Paradise.
The festivities began for King Henry and Queen Anne at Greenwich Palace as usual.
Henry was unable to participate, due to his recent accident.
Anne Boleyn’s brother George led the challengers, and the King’s good friend and Groom of the Stool Sir Henry Norris, led the defenders.
Anne had no idea about the ongoing interrogation of the court’s talented musician Mark Smeaton, the day before.
Henry seemed to be in a spectacularly good mood, but suddenly he got up and left the joust – without a backward glance at his shocked wife.
Henry then ordered Norris to ride with him to Westminster.
According to Norris’s servant George Constantine, the King interrogated Norris all the way back to Westminster, offering him a pardon if he would tell the King the truth….. that he had committed adultery with Anne.
Norris told the King~
“In his conscience he thought Anne innocent of all
these things laid to her charge.
Whether guilty or not, he would not accuse her
of anything.
He would die a thousand times, rather than ruin an
innocent person.”
Given the lack of his willingness to testify against Anne, Henry Norris was taken to the Tower of London, where Mark Smeaton was already being held.
Even if Norris had confessed, he would not have been allowed to be free and live.
Anne, meanwhile, still had no clue as to what an awful travesty of justice was unfolding behind her back……
On May 2nd, 1536, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford and Anne’s brother, was imprisoned at the Tower of London, charged with incest and treason.
That morning, Anne was asked to present herself to the Privy Council where she was formally charged with adultery, incest, and treason.
She was arrested and taken to the Tower later that afternoon.
According to witnesses, Anne seemed blindsided by the charges and was seemingly in a state of shock.
She had just 19 days to live….
🌹 Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn~’The Tudors’
