“We are on the edge of a Golden World!”
Today is the…
477th anniversary of the day that Anne Boleyn was beheaded.
“And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.”
the-morning-and-the-evening-star:
On this day, May 19th 1536, Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, died by the sword with great dignity.
Never has there been such a great and controversial queen consort. Nor will there ever.
“Seduce me. Write letters to me. And poems, I love poems. Ravish me with your words… seduce me”
These bloody days have broken my heart…
17 May 1536 – Executions of five innocent men
The 17th May saw the executions of five men, all former royal favourites, for high treason. The men’s sentences were commuted by the King, in his mercy, from hanging, drawing and quartering at Tyburn to beheading at Tower Hill.
The men were led out of the Tower of London up to the scaffold site on Tower Hill. George Boleyn, Lord Rochford and brother of Queen Anne Boleyn, was the first to be beheaded due to his high rank.Next on the scaffold was Sir Henry Norris, Henry VIII’s former Groom of the Stool and great friend. Norris was followed by Sir Francis Weston, gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Even though his family had fought for his release and Jean, Sieur de Dinteville, and Antoine de Castelnau, Bishop of Tarbes, French ambassadors, had interceded on his behalf, he had not been pardoned.
Then it was the turn of William Brereton, a groom of the privy chamber and a royal favourite.
Finally, court musician Mark Smeaton climbed the scaffold. Smeaton was of humble origins but his musical talent had led to obtaining a position at court and winning the King’s favour.
George Boleyn was buried in the chancel area of St Peter ad Vincula, the Chapel Royal of the Tower of London, and the other men were buried in its churchyard.
