Anne Boleyn's Fall

The Beginning of the End for Anne Boleyn

      On this day in 1536 Mark Smeaton was arrested, this being the first overt step in Cromwell’s plan to bring down Anne Boleyn.  According to one source, Cromwell had Smeaton brought to his own house and there tortured him.  Eventually, Smeaton would be racked and confess to have committed adultery with Anne Boleyn.  He would ultimately, on May 17, be beheaded at the Tower of London.