Andrea was kind enough to put together this timeline of Anne Boleyn’s fall, so you can following along in “real time” as we go through the month of May. If I was more organized and had more time, I’d set these up as individual posts to come on the appropriate days!
Late January 1536 – Anne Boleyn miscarries for second time
February – Anne Boleyn recovering
4 February – Henry busy with Parliament
Mid-March – Henry has become serious about Jane Seymour (the purse of soveriegns incident)
Lent – Henry facilitates Chapuys’ snub of Anne Boleyn
14 April – Old parliament dissolved
14-17 April - Easter
23 April – Order of the Garter goes to Sir Nicholas Carew (open supporter of Jane Seymour and open enemy of Anne Boleyn) Significantly, George Boleyn misses out
24 April – commission of Oyer and Terminer ( hear and determine) created. Cromwell sets up, and Henry signed the papers
27 April – Writs issued for new parliament; the speed of which is unprecedented
The trap is prepared and set…….Cromwell waits for some ” incriminating evidence” against Anne Boleyn
29 April – Mark Smeaton incident in Anne Boleyn prescence chamber30 April – Henry Norris incident ” dead man’s shoes”
- Norris approaches John Skip, Anne Boleyn’s Almoner to swear Anne’s integrity
- Anne Boleyn appeals to Henry with Elizabeth in her arms (The Princess had been staying over during Easter holidays)
- Late at night, the Progress to Dover is cancelled – the die is cast……1 May – Mayday jousts go ahead. This is the last time Anne Boleyn ever saw Henry. Henry leaves without saying good-bye.
- Norris is arrested and taken to London, over-nighting at York Place, and conveyed to the Tower the next morning
- Smeaton is arrested, taken to the Tower, racked for around 4 hours and confesses to adultery with the Queen2 May – Anne Boleyn is arrested at Greenwich Palace, questioned by the council and taken by barge along the Thames, entering through Traitors Gate, into the Tower. She is housed in the same apartments as on her Coronation night
- George Boleyn is arrested at York Place, where he was in attendance at court
- Archibishop Cranmer is summoned to court
- Anne Boleyn’s ladies are closely questioned
Temporary stand-still; no-one has actually admitted to anything except Smeaton.
3 May – Anne Boleyn alternates between hysterical outbursts, vengeance and merry optimism (that the situation may be resolved)
- During a hysterical babbling, she recalls an incident regarding Francis Weston
- Francis Weston is arrested and conveyed to the Tower4 May – William Brereton is arrested and conveyed to the Tower (this could be a personal vendetta for Cromwell regarding a hanging by Brereton in Wales of a man whom Cromwell supported “a judicial hanging”)
8 May – Richard Page and Thomas Wyatt arrested and conveyed to the Tower
12 May – Norris, Smeaton, Weston and Brereton tried in Westminster Hall and found guilty.
13 May – Anne Boleyn household is dismantled. Jane Seymour comes to London and stays in Chelsea, close to York Place. Henry promises Jane Seymour Anne’s condemnation – before the “trial”
15 May – Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn are tried inside the Tower, in the great hall, where Anne had had her coronation feast. Anne was tried first. Both were found guilty. Ironically, Lord Percy has to judge her as one of her peers. Her Uncle presides over the trial
16 May – It is decided that Anne Boleyn will die at the hands of the Executioner of Calais
17 May – All five men are executed on Tower Hill. Anne Boleyn’s marriage is anulled and Cranmer issues a dispensation for Jane Seymour and Henry to marry
19 May – Anne Boleyn executed on Tower Green, inside the walls of the Tower. The gates are left open but the time not announced. There are less than 2,000
20 May – Henry is betrothed to Jane Seymour
30 May – Henry marries Jane Seymour
4 June – Jane Seymour is proclaimed Queen, and attends Mass with Henry, as Queen. They dine in state afterwards, and Jane Seymour sits in the same chair occupied by Anne Boleyn only 5 weeks earlier
18 June – Cromwell recieves office of Lord Privy Seal (previously held by Anne’s father)
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Thanks, Andrea!
At one time I took my office calender and marked down major events in English history. Some days were so packed with Plantagenet, York, Lancaster, and Tudor-related events there was no room for office meetings. Oh well…I had MY priorities right
Two dates have always stuck in my mind, and have never needed a reminder…September 7, 1533, and May 19, 1536.
Fascinating!
Great timeline of events. I just find it so shocking that she fell from grace so quickly. I know that love can turn to hate, but I still don’t know how a man can go from being so passionate about a woman (pursuing her for 7 years, sending amazing love letters, giving up so much for her) and then frame her and execute her just three years after the wedding! Even if Henry was not involved in the conspiracy, he was still aware of it – so sad.
Just out curriousity what is your source for these dates?
Oh, I forgot to put it in the post – her sources were Ives and Starkey.
Two things: One, I wanted to thank you – after scanning all the links you posted to activities celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Henry’s accession, I booked a trip to England to attend some of them.
And two: I also planned my trip so that I could visit the Tower and pay my respects to Anne on May 19th and then celebrate my birthday by going to Hever on the 26th.
The trip was amazing and love your site & blog!!!
-k
Sounds like a wonderful trip Kristian! Glad I could help.
Don’t you have the link of the source? or something like that?
@Mery – see my comment above, she used works by Eric Ives and David Starkey (probably “The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn” and Starkey’s “Six Wives of Henry VIII”) to put the timeline together.