Claire | May 12, 2020
On this day in history, 12th May 1536, just twelve days after the first arrest in the fall of Anne Boleyn, four men were taken to Westminster Hall and tried for treason. Their names were Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton. All four men were found guilty. Let me explain […]
Claire | May 12, 2018
On this day in history, Friday 12th May 1536, four men were taken by barge from their prison at the Tower of London to Westminster Hall to stand trial for high treason. These men were Sir Henry Norris, Henry VIII’s groom of the stool; Sir Francis Weston, a gentleman of the king’s privy chamber; William […]
Claire | May 12, 2017
On this day in history, 12th May 1536, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were taken by barge from the Tower of London to Westminster and tried in Westminster Hall for high treason. The four men were tried by a special commission of oyer and terminer and any hopes of […]
Claire | May 12, 2016
On 12th May 1536, Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and William Brereton were escorted by barge from the Tower of London to Westminster by Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower of London, for their trial. At Westminster Hall, the four men were brought before a special commission of oyer and terminer […]
Claire | May 12, 2015
On 12th May 1536, Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower of London, escorted Sir Henry Norris, William Brereton, Mark Smeaton and Sir Francis Weston by barge from the Tower of London to Westminster. The four men were brought before a special commission of oyer and terminer at Westminster Hall and arraigned for high treason. […]
Claire | May 12, 2014
On 12th May 1536, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were brought before a special commission of oyer and terminer at Westminster Hall and arraigned for high treason. Smeaton pleaded “guilty”, while the others pleaded “not guilty”. Although the jury included Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire, who would certainly not […]
