According to Charles Wriothesley, chronicler and Windsor Herald, it was on 4th June 1536, Whitsunday, that Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, was proclaimed queen:
“Also the 4th daie of June, being Whitsoundaie, the said Jane Seymor was proclaymed Queene at Greenewych, and went in procession, after the King, with a great traine of ladies followinge after her, and also ofred at masse as Queen, and began her howsehold that daie, dyning in her chamber of presence under the cloath of estate.”
The couple had married on 30th May 1536 at York Place (Whitehall) and Jane had made her first public appearance as queen on Friday 2nd June at Greenwich Palace.
Notes and Sources
- Wriothesley’s Chronicle, p43-44.
And much good did it do her, Henry was no doubt immensely cheerful that he had got rid of his troublesome second wife but did her death and those of the five men bring him happiness? No I don’t believe it did, if he ever had a conscience he would never have been happy again.
I don’t think for one moment Henry’s conscience bothered him. Lived in the moment. Disposed easily of Katherine and Anne, regretted the loss of neither and moved on easily. No doubt had Jane not produced a male heir their marriage too would have been short lived.
I always wondered if Anne’s spirit had something to do with Queen Jane’s death, since, in a way, Jane had a little something to do with Anne’s demise? Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but I do believe that karma got Queen Jane in the end. JMHO, however. From reading, find it ironic that Anne had her coronation on June 1st and Jane was declared Queen on June 4th. Or is that whenever the coronations take place for every king and queen? I really enjoy this website, by the way. Thank you for all the hard work and research you do for this to be enjoyed by all.
Yes coronations are always in June, when Elizabeth 11 was crowned in 52 it poured of rain but they still went thru and had it, don’t know why they are in June but probably has it’s roots in history.
Coronations weren’t always in June – Henry VII’s was in October, Richard III’s was in July, Edward VI’s was in February, Mary I’s was in October and Elizabeth I’s was in January – but June was a popular month probably because you were more likely to have sunny days for procession in midsummer. Wouldn’t it have been awful to have all the pageants/tableaux and processions in cold weather and pouring rain? Yuck!
Actually yes all that hard work for nothing.
Not sure Jane had anything to do with Anne’s death. Does research on this site show that? I must have missed it. It may be one of those thing people want to read into female “cat fights”, but who knows. I don’t know that I have seen any evidence that she personally did so. Can you share the source of some specific evidence please?
But since you would be pleased to think Jane died because of a vengeful Anne (LOL- so you think she took viciousness into the afterlife? So much for her communion and confession!) you can appreciate the feeling of people at the time who thought Anne got what she deserved as a “W” who displaced the rightful Queen and caused Thomas More’s death etc. You’d fit right in with that crowd. 😉
How could Jane had anything to do with Anne’s death? Was it she who invented the evidence about adultery and treason against Anne? Hardly. Or did she somehow made Henry to give death sentence he did not want? Impossible.
Maybe she was the reason or one of them why Henry wanted to get rid of Anne (if he indeed wanted it) and it is possible that she did her best to become his wife and queen, but it is unlikely she could have known that the result would be execution as such had never happened before.
Of course it seem heartless that she married him so soon after Anne’s death, but it was Henry who decided.
Even generally, the court was not the place where you showed your true feelings. If somebody had lost the king’s good graces, most people turned their back on him, in order to save themselves.
Huh? Your comment doesn’t even make sense. I’m genuinely confused.
Yes, your comment is wishful thinking. Jane was unfortunate as with many other woman after septic shock after childbirth. The spirit of Anne Boleyn and karma are not facts and I don’t believe Anne had a mean spirit to wish Jane dead. I am afraid that Jane had nothing to do with Anne’s execution and your comment is just wishful thinking.
Jane may not have been crowned, but she was treated to all the glamour and pageant in these few days. I think it is grossly unfair and unsubstantiated to accuse Jane Seymour of having anything to do with Anne Boleyn’s death. Anne was the victim of a miscarriage of justice which had nothing to do with Jane. As for Henry Viii and his conscience, well now he had a wife again who became popular with the common people and the court, which did his own ego good. I doubt Henry even blinked an eyelid. Jane was enjoying her new status, the people enjoyed it, I am certain the odd eyebrow was raised at the entertainment going on in London, but people are fickle and Anne was not popular. After a few days of show and triumphs publicly hailing Jane as Queen, the country, court and king had moved on. Henry wanted to forget Anne, he was convinced that she was guilty of treason and adultery, why feel sympathy for her. In his mind he was free to marry and this was a new eta. Henry and Jane were married, they were expected to put on a good show, did so and good luck to them. What good did it do her? What does it matter? On the day, Jane could not tell the future, she could only basque in the glory of the moment and enjoyed the day.
I doubt if the kings and queens actually enjoyed public ceremonies – they were the actors and it was the public that was meant to enjoy. Especially someone like Jane to whom all was new was probably very nervous if she could behave rightly.
And if Jane was not stupid, she must have been at least a little afraid what would happen to her if she would not bore a son.
As for Henry, if he believed Anne guilty, it is understandable that he would have been deeply hurt. But if he really was and had been a normal man, he would not have simply moved on.
Of course Henry had also a sound political reason to prove that he was not impotent, yet his behavior proved him to be a narcissist who could suddenly turn from love to hate (Wolsey, More, Anne, Cromwell, Katherine Howard).
“[…] he was convinced that she was guilty of treason and adultery” Was he, now?
Iv just been looking at Jane on Wikipedia, they have what they call a shadow cast portrait of her, it is an attractive portrait and the features do resemble Holbiens one, however she looks more attractive in it, and she seems to be wearing a gown of dark and gold material, the colours compliment her fairness, I don’t think it says who the artist was but maybe you could use it on here Claire?.