Anne Boleyn's Swift and Bloody Fall: Justice or Tragedy?

I found myself lying awake tonight, unable to sleep as I pondered over one of history's most notorious Queen Consorts, Anne Boleyn.  I have been what you might call obsessed over the history of this woman for many years.  I have been intrigued with her life as a whole:  her childhood, her education at the Austrian and French courts, her grand entrance into the Tudor court, her love affair and marriage to King Henry VIII, and most of all, her swift downfall, disgrace, and death.

The anniversary of her death is soon approaching, and by that I mean merely hours.  I think about how she must have felt on her very last night here on this earth.  Did she look out her window thinking back on everything on her life?  Did she fear for her daughter, Elizabeth's future?  Did she remain on her knees praying through the night?  Did she still wonder how it all came down to this?  Her impending death must still have been an extreme shock to her, I would think.

In all I have read of Anne Boleyn from Eric Ives to David Starkey, Antonia Frasier to Allison Weir, and hundreds of interesting and educational writings of Claire Ridgeway, in my heart of hearts and intellect, I strongly feel Anne was not guilty of what she was charged with and accused of.

I can say for certain that she was a strong willed woman with a viscious temper, and she unleashed it at the most unfortunate times.  I can also say for certain that once Henry married Anne, expected certain things:  a son, a woman who would bend to his will, a quiet companion who would leave him to rule.  That was not what he found in her, and I believe he grew to resent those things, especially when she continued to fail in her promise to provide him a son and heir for the throne.

Was this cause to have her executed?  In my opinion, no.  I feel that ultimately, in Henry's obsession to have a son, he decided to be rid of her in the swiftest and most calculated way possible and wanted nothing to do with another tedious divorce trial.  After all, if Anne was dead, no one could dispute another child's legitimacy if one was to be born.

What is so intriguing about this woman that I am sitting here at an ungodly late hour writing furiously about her?

In one sentence:  She is a woman I greatly admire, her faults, foibles, wrongdoings and all.  One can simply look at the negative qualities that make up what is some of Anne Boleyn, or they can look at the entire woman.  Who she is is quite remarkable even by today's standards.  She was educated in the highest, most luxurious courts in the world, she was intellegent and witty, always fashionable, an accomplished dancer and musician, a loving mother, and passionate about her faith.  

I think now about how difficult it would have been to be sitting in a tower that was once lavish with her coronation and being "the most happy," and waiting to walk to the scaffold to be executed in front of friends and enemies alike.  It took great grace and courage to stand there and give a speech, completely composed and wait for the sword to slice her lovely neck.

How heartwrenching and sad it must have been for her to see her brother's execution, to be abandoned by family and friends, but most of all to have her husband, the one she loved beyond all others to order her death as if he were ordering tea.  As she sat at the window in the tower, he was arranging plans to marry another woman as if she no longer existed before the execution began.  That kind of betrayal is unspeakable and I can't quite find the words to describe what must have been going through her mind at a time like that.

This cold, early morning of May 19th, I mourn the loss of Anne Boleyn's life, what she was and what she could have been.  I mourn the loss of a little girl's mother, a daughter to Elizabeth Howard, and I mourn the cruel injustices dealt to her.  It is a tragedy, in my opinion.  A senseless and heartless one, and I choose to remember the light that she once was in this world.

Research Project: Sir Thomas Wyatt

This past Fall, I enrolled in a British Literature course at school and enjoyed it immensely.  Part of our semester grade was a documented research paper.  I chose to do my paper on Sir Thomas Wyatt.  I am posting the entire contents of the research paper I wrote, as I think it has a lot of great insight to his work.  Enjoy!

"A hand, that taught what might be said in rhyme;
  

That reft Chaucer the glory of his wit.
 

 A mark, the which (unperfected for time)
  

Some may approach, but never none shall hit."

          —Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey wrote of Sir Thomas Wyatt (Luminarium)

Often referred to as the “Father of the English Sonnet,” Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder was an amazing poet and writer who brought many innovative changes and ideas to poetry in England during the sixteenth century Renaissance period (Wikipedia).  He created the English sonnet and it is still widely recognized and used in today’s literature.   Wyatt composed thirty-one sonnets, ten of which are direct translations of the works of Italian Renaissance poet, Petrarch (1911 Classic Encyclopedia). 

The experiences Thomas Wyatt had as a member of the Tudor court helped to shape his work tremendously.  Wyatt’s frank nature and choice of words in his poetry show a harsh, bitter view of a Tudor era courtier’s life at times; at other times a spurned, disillusioned lover.  They also give one a sense of the bitter injustices he experienced during the years he spent abroad as a diplomat serving in various royal courts.  His primary preference was the sonnet, a form which he was the first English writer to make use of.  He would pave the way for writers such as Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and William Shakespeare (The Norton Anthology of English Literature).

“Perhaps the poem that most brilliantly captures Wyatt’s blend of passion, anger, cynicism, longing, and pain is “They flee from me (The Norton Anthology of English Literature).””  In this particular sonnet, Wyatt uses an almost dream-like quality to describe his affair with a woman, who in her fickleness forgets the kindness he has shown her.  He feels forsaken by her, but the sonnet gives no final conclusion for the reader.   In the last two lines (or couplet) of this piece, Wyatt ponders bitterly,

“But since that I so kindly am served,

 I fain would know what she hath deserved.” (20-21)

He sarcastically uses the word, “kindly” to convey his feeling of mistreatment by his lover.  This is not the only sonnet which carries this theme of being wronged.

Another poem written by Sir Thomas, “Who list his wealth and ease retain,” is thought to have been written at the time of his imprisonment in the Tower of London, during which he witnessed Anne Boleyn’s execution (Weir).  In the third stanza,

“These bloody days have broken my heart,

My lust, my youth did then depart,” (11-12)

Wyatt describes the gut wrenching sadness he is experiencing.  It is as though the last of his youth and innocence are now gone with the execution of his friends and all that is left of him is a hollow shell of a person.  The last three words in the last line of every stanza, “circa regna tonat,” translate to “He thunders around thrones (Norton Anthology of English Literature).”  One can assume he refers to Henry VIII in this instance, as he was the king of England during that time.   The difference in this sonnet, however, is the feeling Sir Thomas gives of political danger and disgrace.  He not only feels he lost his youth and innocence, but he also feels stripped of his wealth and safety.

There is also a bit of a cautionary tale in “Who list his wealth and ease retain.”  It advises that when one climbs too high within the Tudor court, one cannot see where the danger of falling lies.  A person is blind to everything but wealth and ambition in an effort to climb even higher.  Wyatt seems to have learned a valuable lesson in his ordeal at the Tower and it is quite evident throughout the theme of this poem (Anne Boleyn Files).  This same lesson is a common theme in present day as we see many people rise to fame and fortune, only to throw it all away because they are blinded by their determination and greed.

In one of his freest translations of Petrarchan sonnets, “Whoso list to hunt,” Wyatt writes about his enchantment with a woman; the pursuit of her causing him to grow weary.  He decides to give up pursuing her and even goes so far as to warn others of the futility of the “hunt.”  It has been rumored for centuries that the muse of this poem was none other than the infamous Anne Boleyn (Ives).  The cynical poet comes close to causing the ire of the mercurial King Henry VIII with his love for Anne, if the rumors are to be believed. 

Perhaps the most telling evidence that this poem may have indeed been inspired by Anne Boleyn is the final four lines:

            “And graven with diamonds in letters plain

             There is written, her fair neck round about,

            “Noli me tangere, for Caesar’s I am,

             And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.”” (11-14)

The Latin phrase, “Noli me tangere,” translates to “touch me not.”  It is easy to then surmise that “Caesar” in this case would be Henry VIII, hence the warning, “King’s property, do not touch” (Fraser).   Even in the present time we still see men or women having to give up pursuit of someone they love due to reasons of politics, money, etc.  It is no less a frustrating experience now then it was in the sixteenth century.

Wyatt never published any of his poems, and very little of his work appeared in print during his lifetime (Norton Anthology of English Literature).  In 1557, Richard Tottel included 97 poems in his book, Songs and Sonnets which he credited to Sir Thomas.  Although Wyatt’s poetry had been previously criticized for being poorly crafted and having a rough meter, critics are now regarding his style as more complex, innovative and experimental (Encyclopedia Britannica). 

While Sir Thomas Wyatt is widely known as the first person to write the English sonnet, his work also helped to illuminate the scandal, danger, trials and tribulations of court life in the sixteenth century.  His common themes of searching for truth, feelings of injustice, betrayal of a lover, and searching for the “quietness of the mind,” are all themes we still find common in literature and music today.  His writing still has the power to touch the reader in a way that they can relate to on any level.  He was brave enough to plainly illustrate for his audience the treachery of what many viewed as a coveted and glamorous life and was one of the few who didn’t lose his head for his efforts!

Sources

The 1911 Classic Encyclopedia. “Sir Thomas Wyatt (Poet).” The 1911 Classic Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Encyclopedia Britannica. “Sir Thomas Wyatt.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2011.

Fraser, Antonia. The Wives of Henry VIII. Great Britain: George Weidenfield and Nicholson , 1994. Print.

Ives, Eric. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn. Oxford: Blackwell , 2005. Print.

Logan, George M, et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2006. Print.

Luminarium Encyclopedia Project, and Anniina Jokinen. “Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder.” Luminarium Encyclopedia. Curtis Clark, 1 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2011.

Ridgeway, Claire. The Anne Boleyn Files. MadeGlobal.com, 2011. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.

Weir, Alison. The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn. New York: Ballantine, 2010. Print.

Wikipedia. “Thomas Wyatt (Poet).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.

Lady Jane Rochford....Looking at all sides of the story....

One intriguing figure in Tudor history whom I feel has not had nearly enough research done about her is Lady Jane Rochford (also known as Jane Boleyn). From almost everything I have read about her, you get a picture of an embittered, spiteful woman who hated her husband, or his sister, or both, with such venom that she helped to bring about their demise. She is also infamous for aiding the fifth wife of King Henry VIII in committing adultery by arranging for Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper to meet secretly.

But, what if everything is not as it seems? What if the former Lady in Waiting was given a raw deal by historians? This is something I have given quite a bit of thought. It all started when I recently had a conversation about Jane with a friend of mine who is a fellow Tudors fan. She raised some questions that got me thinking, and she also had some very valid points, at least as far as Anne and George Boleyn are concerned. I thought I would share some of these questions and points of interest that came to mind for me.....

I have read that Jane historically had an unhappy marriage and as a result, she hated George vehemently and was quite happy to testify against him.

Okay, ladies and gentleman.... in Tudor times... how many marriages were all that happy? For that matter, how many people at that time period had the luxury to marry for love? Especially in the case of nobility, marriages were almost ALWAYS arranged by the parents or relatives for their child/ward. And, it was almost ALWAYS with the intention of benefiting the families involved. There was not a lot of thought or care given to the two that were to be married. This was just reality.

While it may be perfectly true that Jane's marriage to George was not a happy one, it is not something so out of the ordinary in those days that it could have driven her to want him dead.

Which also leads me to another thought......Let's say that Jane actually DID have a hand in George and Anne's demise..... what GOOD could that actually have done for her?

Once Anne and George were executed, the entire family was in disgrace and lost many titles and lands. Jane, not having an heir from George would not have and did not benefit from any of the remaining luxuries left to the Boleyns or Howards. It is said she wrote many times to Cromwell, trying to redeem her name and be allowed back to court. She also spent a lot of time trying to stabilize her finances. The Boleyns finally gave her a modest pension, but she was always working towards more. So, the question presents itself: Why would she willingly put herself through all of that extra misery, financial distress, and disgrace just for revenge? It's not really even a true sort of revenge, since she indeed suffered from George and Anne's fall.

Julia Fox, an historian who has written about Jane Rochford, gives the sort of perspective I am driving at. She claims that under the pressure and barrage of questioning that must have been fired at her, Jane must have simply buckled and told them whatever they wanted to hear. Cromwell had what he needed by the time he had questioned Jane. I am sure it would have been a most frightening experience, to be taken to the Tower and interrogated in that manner. And, it would not be so far fetched for Cromwell to use intimidation tactics to get the results he wanted. After all, it's perfectly clear that his advancement depended upon getting rid of the Boleyns. Later, when people started to sympathize with Anne and George's plights, Jane emerged as a jealous and spiteful villain.

Being an Anne Boleyn "obsessor," I was not so quick to see some of these possibilities, that Jane was a pawn, her words twisted and used under pressure to rationalize the murder of the Queen and 5 innocent men. But, I have definitely realized that it has a lot of merit. And is a very real possibility.

As for Jane's activities concerning Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper..... well.... that could definitely go one way or another.

We all know that Catherine Howard, although very young, was in no way naive when it came to sexual affairs. Could Lady Jane have been the one to instigate the Queen's affair with Henry's servant? Or was she merely doing as commanded by her Mistress?

From all appearances, it looks as though Catherine and Culpepper were only too happy to place full blame on Jane for arranging everything, but she could not have MADE them have sex.... that was completely of their own doing, and obviously not the fault of anyone else. I have this impression from the cirucumstances that the beleaguered Lady in Waiting got caught in the middle of the whole charade and was merely doing as she was instructed at Catherine's behest.

If Jane did in fact suggest Culpepper to Catherine, or "entice" her to begin an affair with him, it is clear to me that it spiraled out of her control as the two lovers seemed to stop caring that what they were engaging in was deadly. Catherine was in love with Culpepper, as the one letter she had written him can testify. That letter is what sealed Catherine's fate.... it was not anything that Jane had done.

So, why does she continue to get the blame?

Why does she continue to be an historical scapegoat?

The only answer I can come up with is that Lady Jane Rochford has not been researched without bias. Usually when a person discovers her, it is because they are researching Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, etc, and when reading their stories, you only get one version of her. I personally plan to do more research on her, as I think it would be very interesting to see what I could uncover.


****Image of Lady Jane Rochford can be found here:

http://tudorreader.blogspot.com/2010/03/spotlight-jane-rochford.html