The First Trial in
the Fall of Anne Boleyn
This last Saturday (May 12) marked
the anniversary of the first trial in 1536 of, at least indirectly, Anne Boleyn
on charges of adultery. Anne, however,
was not a participant in the trial.
Rather, at this trial each of Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, William
Brereton and Francis Weston were charged with multiple acts of adultery with
the Queen. Sadly, no transcript of the
proceedings, if made (and that is doubtful), survives. All were found guilty, thereby sealing Anne’s
fate. She did not attend the trial;
rather, at that time she was confined in the Tower of London. Her father, Thomas Boleyn, did sit on the
jury – his vote in favor of conviction sealed the fate of his children.
All four, along with George
Boleyn, would be executed on May 17.
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