May 19, 1536 – Anne Boleyn’s Execution
Posted By Claire on May 19, 2009
Finally the awful wait was over and Anne’s ladies prepared her for the scaffold. They dressed her in a dark grey or black damask gown, which was lined with fur, and an ermine mantle with an English style gable hood. Reports from Margaret, Lady Lee, the sister of Thomas Wyatt, tell of Anne’s calm demeanour and the way that she actually consoled her distressed ladies. Anne Boleyn was a very religious woman, who was convinced of her salvation and knew that death would take her into the presence of her saviour, Jesus Christ.
With Sir William Kingston and her ladies, Anne Boleyn walked out of the Queen’s lodgings, past the Great Hall and to the black draped scaffold. The waiting crowd included Thomas Cromwell, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond (Henry’s son), and Thomas Audley, the Lord Chancellor. Everyone fell silent as Anne approached the scaffold and Eric Ives quotes sources as saying that Anne was “never so beautiful” and that she climbed the steps of the scaffold “with an untroubled countenance”. It was then that Anne gave her speech to the crowd:-
“Good Christian people, I have not come here to preach a sermon; I have come here to die. For according to the law and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never, and to me he was ever a good, a gentle, and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.”
Anne Boleyn did not confess to her crimes (she was not guilty), nor protest her innocence, instead she gave a dignified speech that would protect her daughter from harm.
Anne’s ladies removed her mantle and Anne lifted off her gable hood, showing her lustrous locks, and then tucked her hair into the provided cap. She handed her Bible to Lady Lee, said farewell to her distraught ladies, paid and forgave her executioner, and knelt blindfolded ready for the swordsman. As she knelt, it is reported that she repeated the prayer:-
“O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul. To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.”
As she prayed, it is reported that Anne Boleyn’s head was taken off by one stroke of the sword and cannons fired, to announce her death. As the executioner lifted her head, witnesses in the crowd report that her lips were still moving in prayer (apparently it takes a few seconds to die).
As the crowd dispersed, Anne’s head and body were wrapped in white cloth and carried by her ladies into the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Here, they removed her clothes and placed her in an old chest that had contained bow staves. She was then buried in an unmarked grave.
Scots reformer, Alesius, was with Archbishop Cranmer in the gardens of Lambeth Palace, just across the river from the bloody scene, and he reports that, as the cannons fired, Cranmer looked up and said:-
“She who has been the Queen of England on earth will today become a Queen in Heaven”
before breaking down and weeping.
According to Joanna Denny, Sir William Kingston later wrote to Cromwell that “the Queen died boldly. God take her to his mercy.”
Go to our “Anne Poems” page to read Thomas Wyatt’s poem about Anne’s execution, which he witnessed.
This was the tragic end of this incredibly influential Queen of England, a woman who was framed and murdered by politicians and a tyrannical king who would let nothing and nobody stand in his way. Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry VIII was betrothed to Jane Seymour.
Today, I raise a glass to Anne Boleyn, a true Queen of Hearts.
(Sources of quotations: Joanna Denny and Eric Ives – my favourite biographies!)
Is it true that the swordsman from Calais was so taken with Queen Anne that he acted like he was looking for his sword before he beheaded her to catch her “by surprise” and cause her less pain?
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Thanks for your comment. Some reports do suggest that, although Anne was blindfolded, the executioner cried out “Where is my sword?” so that she would be caught by surprise. This is not noted in the Denny or Ives biographies but it may well have happened. I don’t think anyone present could help being moved by Anne’s courage and dignity and I love the way that they show the crowd dropping to their knees in “The Tudors” clip to symbolize this – although we know that Cranmer was not present.
Claire x
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R.I.P Anne. An extraordinary, daring and intelligent woman!
Technically we have no account that Margaret Lee was present at the execution and, if she was, she left us no report or it – or if she did record it nothing has survived. There is a legend that Lee was with Anne when she died and Anne gave her a prayer book although there is no contemporary evidence that Anne gave any such items to the ladies who attended her. Two prayer books in particular have been alleged to have been given to Margaret Lee, although as Eric Ives notes, they cannot be linked to Anne and the one in the British Library dates to after Anne’s death. Her Book of Hours, currently housed at Hever, which states ‘Remember me when you do pray/ That hope doth lead from day to day/ Anne Boleyn’, did not belong to the Wyatt family after Anne’s death, nor is there any evidence that she wrote the line for Margaret. Ives, when discussing the Book of Hours, places it alongside other comments Anne made in her prayer books, and such comments tend to date prior to Anne’s marriage to the king. It may indeed be a message to Henry when they were engaged. Overall both Ives and Retha Warnicke reject the idea that Anne gave the Wyatt family or any attendant any such token. Interestingly George Wyatt, the poet’s grandson, who composed an account where he detailed Anne’s life, did not claim that his family had received any item from her (and IIRC he did not state that his great-aunt had been present at the execution).
Unfortunately we don’t know the name of one of the ladies who attended Anne on the scaffold so this allows for the possibility that Margaret was there. Although as the sister of a Tower prisoner connected to the downfall of Anne, she may not have been seen as suitable to attend Anne.
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Hi Nasim,
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Although Warnicke and Ives reject the idea that the Wyatt family were given any token, Joanna Denny points out that a book of psalms (now in the British Library) which belonged to the Wyatt family was believed to have been the “Bible” given by Anne to Margaret Wyatt. I can’t find where Denny got her information about Margaret attending Anne but assume it’s from records of Thomas Wyatt’s that have been found – I’ll have to dig deeper!
Thanks,
Claire
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marissa Reply:
March 29th, 2012 at 10:17 am
i just read this woowwww thankyou for teaching me so much im writing a report on quee elizabeth and i wanted to know wht happend to her mother so
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Hi!
Admittedly I am no fan of Denny’s work as she has a habit of not researching with much diligence and she can state things without referencing. In regards to the Wyatt/Anne story, I recommend Warnicke’s and Ives’s discussions, including the footnotes which provide analysis of articles connected to the subject. Interestingly Warnicke lists Strickland’s “Live of the Queens” as to where the story derives from, and on this I am unsurprised. Strickland was a somewhat fanciful Victorian historian who had a habit of not referencing – or just plainly inventing! – claims. Could the claim about the Wyatt book be from her? As yet I have found no reference to the story predating the nineteenth-century.
Interestingly Denny notes of two possible books said to have been given by Anne to the Wyatt family – the Book of Hours and the John Croke book of psalms – e.g. the Croke girdle book. In regards to the Book of Hours there is no evidence that this was ever owned by the Wyatt family, or indeed that Anne had this on her whilst in the Tower. Her quote is similar in style to the other quotes she made in her prayer books, many of which were addressed to Henry in the late 1520s. In another Book of Hours she and Henry exchanged love messages which were equally short and sweet. Tellingly Henry left a message asking for her to remember him in her prayers ‘as strongly as I adore you’. Thus Anne’s comments here may have been a response to Henry’s – asking him also to remember her and her hope (e.g. for their marriage) would not abate. Tellingly Denny does not reference her claim that the message was for Margaret, although she does references the Croke girdle book story.
The Croke girdle book was commissioned on request of Croke’s wife, Prudentia Cave, thus not for Anne. Historian Janet Backhouse dates the book to c.1540 and indicates that it was a rather personal book for Prudentia (as her husband may have written out the translation of the Penitential psalms himself). Ives dates it to c.1538, and states that it had no connection to Anne.
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I am a fan of Denny, in that I like to compare her biography with that of Eric Ives.
I don’t suppose that we’re ever going to know who attended Anne Boleyn in the tower and at her execution – whether it was ladies chosen to be informers (like Lady Kingston, Anne’s aunt, Lady Boleyn, and others) or women she was close to, like Margaret Wyatt or Mrs Stonor. Whoever attended her, it can’t have been much comfort to Anne and I can’t imagine her feelings while in the Tower.
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Just wanted to peek in and add my unintelligent remark .. Thanks for the post and the comments, interesting as always she will ever be. She was instrumental in Tudor History and religion, I wish more people would realize the good things she did and not the conjecture.
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Hi Marie,
Your comment is anything but “unintelligent”! I’m so glad you liked the post and yes, I’ve made it my mission to prove people wring about Anne Boleyn!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Claire x
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Great Girl , think she was trully queen.I Wonder what you think about Jodhi May performance
Great story…Castles, Kings & Queens
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Hi Villiem,
I haven’t actually seen Jodhi May’s performance – was she good? Out of Natalie Dormer and Natalie Portman, I prefer Natalie Dormer. What do you think?
Thanks,
Claire
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I am just watching the Tudors, Natalie Dormer is ok, bu the boy who plays the King is not very solid. BBC production with JM is overwhelming, very refined . I’ve already forgotten that other Natalie.
I have choose interesting date to post
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I think Jonathan Rhys Meyers is ok as Henry – charming, but completely self-centred and arrogant, but obviously he doesn’t get fat like Henry did! I’ve only seen the film of The Other Boleyn Girl, not the BBC production, I’ll have to watch it. Thank you, Villiem.
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I just found your site a few days ago and I love it! I visited London a few weeks ago and during our visit to the Tower, they had a re-enactment of the trial/execution of Anne. I have posted a few pictures on the travel blog I set up for our trip if you are interested: uk-mindthegap.blogspot.com
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Hi Daphne,
Now is a great time to visit London with all of the special events going on for the Henry VIII 500 Year Anniversary and it’s great that you saw that re-enactment. I’ve just looked at your blog and it looks like you had a fantastic time, you were definitely there at the right time!
Thanks for your compliments about the site.
Claire x
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Hi I love the story of Anne Boleyn its soo tragic
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Hi Bassania,
Yes, it is a tragic story and one that I will never tire of hearing!
Claire x
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It is impossible that Anne’s lips would have continued to move after her head was severed from her body. Once the spinal column is severed life is immediately extinguished. People are not like chickens who will continue to have involuntary muscle spasms after their heads are removed. While the commentary that Anne’s lips continued to move in prayer after her head was removed makes for a more compelling story, it is absolutelly impossible! The author of this piece either has no education in human anatomy and physiology, or is simply proliferating the superstition and rumor of that time period.
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admin Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Hi Christine,
Thank you for your comment and no I’m not a doctor and the article actually says that witnesses reported that her lips moved. I take it with a pinch of salt, but there are many witness accounts of people’s eyes and lips moving after execution in this way. There have been also been medical reports into this phenomena with some saying that the brain remains conscious for around 5 seconds, one neurosurgeon, Dr Robert Fink, saying that it may remain conscious for up to 15 seconds (don’t know where he gets that from!) and most agreeing that consciousness is lost within 2-3 seconds and that any movements are involuntary twitching – see http://health.howstuffworks.com/10-brain-myths6.htm. There was (and is) much interest in this phenomena. There were even experiments on prisoners during the French Revolution who were going to be beheaded – they were asked to blink after they were beheaded!
I actually do have some education in human anatomy, but I never said that I believed this happened or that it definitely did happen – witnesses reported it, obviously to add some interest to the story – and I believe it is just anecdotal.
If anyone is interested in reading more about beheading, there are some interesting articles – http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/behead.html, the famous report of Dr Beaurieux from 1905 http://www.guillotine.dk/Pages/30sec.html and http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=495.
If you read my article, you will see that I’m not proliferating any rumour or superstition, simply reporting what witnesses say happened.
Claire
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Given that Thomas Wyatt was imprisoned in the Bell Tower at the time of Anne’s execution, and that he witnessed the event, all these reports are feasible. Even if Margaret was not actually present, she would have been told of everything that occurred that day. Gifts would have been exchanged also. Wyatt and Anne may even have dined together in the days previous to the execution, both being housed in what was basically the same building. What we nowdays call the Queen’s House was then the Lieutenant’s Lodgings, and he would often entertain distinguished prisoners to dinner in his quarters.
SR
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You may or may not realise that the State Papers have finally been put on-line. To view them:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/Forthcoming.aspx?v=0
You will want the first link: Letters & Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII.
Once you have clicked on it you will be able to search the volumes for Anne Boleyn etc.
And in reply to the comment by feminist_flirt on the 19th of May. It wasn’t so much as he was taken by her, but that it was his way of distracting the victim and that by them turning their head their neck would be perfectly aligned with out the chin being in the way. I actually came across an account of this very thing surrounding Anne Boleyn’s execution in one of the volumes a while back. It was either a letter/account written to Cromwell or an note written by him. I forget which now! Any way great site, just happened to come across it by chance.
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P.S you can also view his Love letters to her, sadly none of hers to him remain. Though there is a school of thought that there are some in the Vatican.
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Thanks so much for the link, Oraya, I did apply to the National Archives for copies of the records pertaining to Anne’s trial but it came out rather expensive. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know about that.
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You will find lots of information in the documents/letters surrounding the trial. What was said etc. In particular Eustace Chapuys documents and letters to Emperor Charles V (Katherine of Aragon’s nephew) are among the most important. As he would converse with the king, Katherine, Mary and Cromwell, as well as getting the gossip from royal courtiers close to the king etc, then report back. The great thing about Chapuys is that it will only report back fact, and when he hears gossip he often states such comments as “until I have further proof of this….” or “this is rumour your such and such, and as I find more proof of this I will inform you” They are very detailed in description. Bear in mind though he loathed her so she was often referred to as the Lady or the Kings concubine etc, so when doing a search for such papers you have to find search phrases that cover everything lol… but you do get used to it.
I’ve been researching these papers for quite some time now so have learnt, to use certain words for Boleyn. The main ones are: concubine, lady, Boleyn, whore, also bear in mind that her surname was quite often miss spelt Boullan Bolyn etc. Also quite often names especially male are abriveated. For example Th for Thomas, Ric for Richard Wm for William etc.. you get used to it after a while though lol..
There are also papers that give an insight to her last few hours, some of which make you feel a little of what she must have been thinking. Also it is a misconception that her ladies cries and she comforted them. Truth is the king rather cruelly did not give her her own ladies in waiting, but instead ladies that didn’t like her. I could give you all the info but I don’t have to hand. She was actually very heart that
I have to be straight with you though, there is a lot to of information on just how cruel Anne Boleyn could be though. But I would also like to say this..
A) She had been used as a pawn for the advancement of the males of her family.
B) She hadn’t I believe intended to fall in love with the king when this all started, but did. And subsequently became very jealous. With due cause, as she knew herself that she had good reason to be. After all, after over twenty years of marriage to Katherine, he had tossed her aside with out feelings for here. And lets face it, when you love someone it’s hard not to be jealous when you know that there’s another Anne Boleyn just waiting to jump into your shoes!
C) So this would have brought out a side of her, esp towards Katherine, and her daughter that she may otherwise not have been include to be.
D) All of a sudden you are thrown into a position of such power, that at her young age would have most likely gone to her head. Especially if you aren’t born into it! And lets be honest, your twenties have to be the most difficult part of any ones life. You’re not a child any more, but you also don’t yet have the wisdom of age. It’s that in-between stage of life.
E) And finally you have to take into account the period that she was living in. Also what had been taking place in her name. The reformation, Dissolution of the Monasteries, the divorce, the fear that the country would be thrown into civil war because of it all. That’s a lot of weight to bear on one so young. At forty one myself I don’t think I could have coped. And then sadly knowing that she had no one she could trust, only the King.
All of this could only have brought out the out come of a very unhappy and angry young lady!
Hope I didn’t go on to much lol… but history has always been a passion of mine. I do lots of research myself for personal papers.
I hope you find the link useful, it is a true treasure trove!
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There are also papers that give an insight to her last few hours, some of which make you feel a little of what she must have been thinking. Also it is a misconception that her ladies cries and she comforted them. Truth is the king rather cruelly did not give her her own ladies in waiting, but instead ladies that didn’t like her. I could give you all the info but I don’t have to hand. She was actually very hurt that the King had done this. I’ll find her exact words later. But they were very cold towards her.
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Ewwwwww! disgusting and little bit iqy ha that was to girl-ish
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ever bloom Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 4:17 pm
ya that was kinda girl-ish haha
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Eww!! that’s nasty im so never going to England jk i love england soo hahaha
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We all know Henry ordered a French swoardsman from Calis for the execution. However, did you know that for the swoardsman to arrive for the date of the excution, Henry would have had to have sent for him before Anne’s ‘fair trial’? It was definatly a stich up.
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I like this website a bit i mean its quite good and everything. Anyway, did Anne Boleyn say any prayers when in the tower? because im doing a porject on her and we have to fill this shoe box with stuff that would have meant stuff to her like letters from henry and other people and prayers she would have said.
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Claire Reply:
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:19 am
Hi Laura,
We don’t have copies of prayers she said in the Tower but she did spend a lot of time in prayer. If you look at http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/resources/anne-boleyn-words/anne-boleyn-letters/ the first letter is a letter which, according to legend, Anen wrote to Henry from the Tower. Some historians doubt its authenticity now but we just don’t know really. Alson at http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/resources/anne-boleyn-words/anne-boleyn-poems/ you will find two poems which Anne was said to have written in the Tower, but, again, we don’t know whether she really did write them, probably not but they’d be good to put in your box. You’ll also find Henry VIII’s love letters to Anne at http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/resources/anne-boleyn-words/henry-viiis-love-letters-to-anne-boleyn/
Hope those help you.
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Thankyou! I Got an A* in my test!!!!!!!!!
Love this website
Love you admin lady!
XX
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Claire Reply:
January 4th, 2012 at 4:42 am
Yay! Congratulations, Laura!
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Hello! I’ve been doing family research and have discovered that Margaret Wyatt aka Lady Lee is my 13th great grandmother. I’m very interested in finding out about her friendship and history with Anne Boleyn. Do you have any suggestions as to where I might find such information? I’m in the US so I wouldn’t be able to physically go to locations in England. (not yet anyway… however I’m going to make it my mission to get there!!) Thank you in advance for any help/information you may provide!!!
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wowwwww thts cool
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Hello Claire X,
My name is Megan Chacon and I am doing two different papers about Anne Boleyn for two different classes. I am in a writing course and a British History course (the Brit HIst paper is required so i figured I would kill two birds with one stone).
Well the first one is a research paper and my question is “Why was Anne Boleyn Executed?” For this one I think I have a good idea about what to write. I am covering a lot of the different theories but mainly sticking with what Ives book has to say.
The other paper is about how closely the movie “The Other Boleyn Girl” relates to actually history and how it was adapted. Do you have any advice for scenes that were changed a lot? or key things that were left out or things that were added?
Thank you so much, Megan
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Claire Reply:
April 26th, 2012 at 10:52 am
Hi Megan,
I’ve written an article on The Other Boleyn Girl, see http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/6685/anne-boleyn-and-the-other-boleyn-girl/ – that should help you with your paper.
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