The Fall Of Anne Boleyn

1st May 1536 ~ The Fall Of Anne Boleyn

.

The May Day Joust of 1536, was the first outward sign that something was wrong in Tudor Paradise.

The festivities began for the English royal couple at Greenwich Palace as usual.

Henry VIII was unable to participate, due to his recent accident.

Anne Boleyn’s brother, George, led the challengers and the King’s good friend and Groom of the Stool, Sir Henry Norris, led the defenders.

Anne had no idea about the ongoing interrogation of the court’s talented musician Mark Smeaton, the day before.

Henry seemed to be in a spectacularly good mood, but suddenly, he got up and left the joust, without sparing a glance at his shocked wife.

Henry ordered Norris to ride with him to Westminster.

According to Norris’s servant, George Constantine, the King interrogated Norris all the way back to Westminster, offering him a pardon if he would tell the King the truth, that he had committed adultery with Anne.

Norris told the King~

“in his conscience he thought Anne innocent of all these things laid to her charge; but whether she was or not, he would not accuse her of anything; and he would die a thousand times, rather than ruin an innocent person.”

Given the lack of his willingness to testify against Anne, Henry Norris was simply taken to the Tower of London, where Mark Smeaton was already being held for some time.

Even if Norris had confessed, he would not have been allowed to be free and live.

Anne, meanwhile, still had no clue as to what an awful travesty of justice were unfolding behind her back......

.

https://www.thefallofanneboleyn.com/.../1st-may-1536-the.../

https://olivialongueville.com/.../anne-boleyn-may-day-joust/

.

https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

.

Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn~'The Tudors'