On this day in 1536, writs were issued summoning Parliament and, according to imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, a bishop was consulted regarding whether King Henry VIII could abandon his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
Just hat was going on at the royal court on 27th April 1536?
Let me explain…
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I must say I don’t completely understand this. What was Henry doing. Hedging his bets? covering his behind? Seeings how Anne would be dead in 22 days the sitting of Parliament in June would have been a moot point. Perhaps Henry didn’t think the proceedings against Anne would progress as quickly as they did or he didn’t think she would be convicted. The last one seems unlikely given how terrified people were of Henry if he said convict they would. This whole episode against the six innocent people is so shady and frustratingly improper.
The last Parliament had sat since 1529 and would now be dissolved so as a new one could form as a new Parliament with emergency powers, with regards to the succession, the Queen and the realm. Of course it took time to travel to London and the numerous Lords, Bishops and gentlemen who made up Parliament had to be summoned with plenty of notice. Of course the business would depend on what happened to Anne and the others and Henry’s decisions over the next few days. The fact that he had consulted with Dr John Storksey Bishop of London and asked him about leaving the Queen, shows Henry was still conflicted on the matter. He was still considering a way out which meant leaving Anne the same way he had ridden away from Katherine and had consulted with him on more than one occasion already as a canon law expert. I still believe this was the public side of Henry, before the storm hit. It was hardly private. however, as Cromwell knew as did the Pole faction and therefore Chapuys now knew which meant the world would soon know. Henry’s state of mind has to be questioned at that time but of course we know what is coming. Henry possibly didn’t as yet want to arrest or execute Anne but he was preparing for the possibility of the evidence coming from the two Commissions and he was prepared to sign her death warrant if he had that evidence of her betrayal. Anne was about to put her own foot in it and that’s what pushed Henry over the edge towards her demise. Whatever else Parliament was needed because Henry would have a new bride and a new Act of Succession was needed. Ironically it would also pass the dreaded Acts of Attainder against those killed in this brutal show trial.