30 April 1536 – A court musician is arrested and interrogated

| April 30, 2018

30 April 1536 – A court musician is arrested and interrogated

On this day in history, 30th April 1536, Mark Smeaton, a court musician, was arrested and taken to be interrogated by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s main secretary and adviser, at his house in Stepney. We do not know what happened to Smeaton in during the time he spent in that house, but within 24 hours […]

30 April 1536 – The arrest of musician Mark Smeaton

| April 30, 2017

30 April 1536 – The arrest of musician Mark Smeaton

On this day in history, court musician Mark Smeaton was arrested and taken to Thomas Cromwell’s house in Stepney to be interrogated. It is not known what happened to Smeaton at Cromwell’s house. The Spanish Chronicle records that he was tortured with a rope and cudgel: “Then he [Cromwell] called two stout young fellows of […]

30 April 1536 – Arguments and interrogations

| April 30, 2016

30 April 1536 – Arguments and interrogations

On Sunday 30th April 1536, according to Alexander Alesius, the Scottish theologian who was visiting the English court at Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn had an argument. He couldn’t hear what it was about but it was clear to him that the King was angry. Read more… On that same day, court musician […]

30 April 1536 – Cromwell interrogates Mark Smeaton

| April 30, 2015

30 April 1536 – Cromwell interrogates Mark Smeaton

On 30th April 1536, court musician Mark Smeaton was taken to Thomas Cromwell’s house in Stepney where he was interrogated. Within 24 hours he had confessed to making love three times to the Queen. It is likely that the note that Henry VIII received at the May Day joust, the next day, contained details of […]

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