On 29th October 1532, according to Wynkyn de Word, Henry VIII accompanied Francis I to Morgison, situated seven miles outside of Calais, and bid farewell to him there. Francis I then carried on to Paris. Chronicler Edward Hall dates the farewell to 30th October and writes:
“The morowe after beyng the thirtie daie of October, the two kynges departed out of Caleis, and came nere to Sadyngfeld, and there alighted in a faire grene place, where was a table set, and there the Englishemen serued the Frenchemen of wyne, Ypocras, fruite, & spice abondantly. When the two kynges had communed a litle, they mounted on their horses, and at the very enteryng of the French grounde, they toke handes, and with Princely countenaunce, louyng behauor, and hartie wordes, eche embrased other and so depart there departed.”
I love that description: “loving behaviour”!
Anne Boleyn may have felt snubbed when Francis I prevented her from meeting with his sister, Marguerite of Angoulême, but the trip had been successful. Anne had acted as Henry VIII’s consort and Francis I had shown his support for their proposed union. The trip gave them the confidence to take things to another level. Edward Hall records that the couple got married on Thursday 14th November 1532, St Erkenwald’s Day, the day after they arrived back in England. Whatever the truth of this, the couple did begin co-habiting when they arrived back.
Notes and Sources
- The Maner of the tryumphe of Caleys and Bulleyn and The noble tryumphaunt coronacyon of Quene Anne, wyfe unto the most noble kynge Henry VIII, Wynkyn de Worde, p16
- Hall’s Chronicle, Edward Hall, p794
- Picture: Henry VIII and Francis I of France, manuscript, from http://www.marileecody.com/temporary/images.html
Was it definitely Francis who prevented Anne from meeting Marguerite of Angoulême? I had always had the impression that despite their previous connection, Marguerite felt it was inappropriate. I’d be glad to know more.
We don’t know for certain whether it was Francis or Margaret who objected.
Edmond Bapst, who used the French records to write his biography of George Boleyn, wrote that Anne “had hoped to be considered as the future Queen of England
and be received, if not by the Queen of France herself, then at least by the Queen of Navarre; unfortunately, Francis I did not wish either his wife or his sister to be unnecessarily compromised by keeping company with the King of England’s mistress, and he offered to bring to Boulogne, “as counterpart” to Anne Boleyn, only the Duchess of Vendôme, a person of regrettable reputation and light morals who therefore had no dignity left to preserve. Anne recognised the derision implied in this choice and preferred not to go to Boulogne; she would stay quietly in Calais, waiting for her lover to return with Francis.”
Chapuys wrote:
“A man whom Chapuys sent to the Grand Esquire has just returned with a message from him that he is going against his will to France to hasten the interview, and would rather break it off if he could; and that the King is rather vexed that Madame d’Alençon will not come, but instead of her Madame de Vendosme, who will probably bring with her companions of bad reputation, which would be a disgrace and an insult to the English ladies.” LP v. 1377
In Entrevue de François Ier avec Henry VIII à Boulogne-sur-Mer, en 1532, Alfred Hamy (1838-1904), who also studied the diplomatic letters in the French records, wrote that Margaret was against the annulment proceedings and so feigned illness to get out of it. As Ives comments, Margaret was likely “responding to second thoughts by Francis, who was anxious to avoid anything that could hinder the alliance he was hoping to make with the Pope” and Hamy writes that Margaret’s refusal saved Francis from intervening – See http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5541528d/f142.image.r=Entrevue%20de%20Fran%C3%A7ois%20Premier%20avec%20Henry%20VIII.langEN If Anne had been welcomed as Henry’s consort at the French court by Margaret then the Pope may well have objected.
What a fabulously fulsome response Claire.
I’m sure it must have been a big blow to Anne, for several reasons, though she clearly didn’t let this snub break her stride :>)
Thanks for all the links :>)