The 16th May 1536 was a very busy day for Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower of London, as he prepared for the executions of Henry Norris, William Brereton, Sir Francis Weston, Mark Smeaton and George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, which had been scheduled for the following day.
Kingston also had to deal with Archbishop Thomas Cranmer visiting Queen Anne Boleyn, not as her confessor or spiritual adviser, but for an entirely different reason.
You can read all about today’s events on The Fall of Anne Boleyn timeline – click here.
What sickens me is that as late as 16th i.e. just one day before the men were executed Kingston was writing to Henry regarding the manner of the executions. In other words Henry still hadn’t indicated whether he would agree to beheadings rather than the full horror of a traitors death. He let the men stew until the last moment, knowing they were innocent.
I should have said writing to Cromwell requesting the King’s instructions
What could have possibly been going through Jane Seymour’s mind knowing the Queen is to be executed and she is receiving guests! It just seems so heartless. But then again, I’m looking at it from a 21st century premise.