Henry Percy

DEATH OF HENRY PERCY ~ ANNE BOLEYN'S FIRST LOVE

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Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland, was born about 1502.

He is primarily remembered as the betrothed of Anne Boleyn, whom he was forced to give up before she became involved with King Henry VIII.

Henry was the eldest son of Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland and Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Spencer. Through his mother he was a cousin of William Carey, who was married to Anne's sister, Mary Boleyn.

When quite young, Henry was sent to serve as a page in Thomas Wolsey's household.

It was a way for young aristocrats to learn about their society.

Though his father had planned to betrothe Percy to Mary Talbot, he fell in love with Anne Boleyn, then a young lady of the court. Percy became betrothed to Anne, probably in the spring of 1523, when he was still page to Wolsey.

On hearing the news, Wolsey scolded Lord Percy before his household, as permission for the marriage had not been sought from his father, nor from the King.

The betrothal was soon discovered, and the Earl of Northumberland sent for young Lord Percy.

Besides the proposed match with Percy and Mary Talbot, another serious obstacle was that Anne was intended to wed James Butler~9th Earl Ormond.

Another significant reason for Percy's father's refusal to permit the match between Percy and Anne, was that he believed Anne Boleyn, a mere knight's daughter, was not a high enough rank for his son and heir.

It is speculated that Anne Boleyn had already caught the eye of Henry VIII, and was the true reason she was forbidden from marrying Henry Percy.

Thomas Wolsey allegedly said to Percy~

“...in the meantime, I order you – and in the king’s name command you – not to see her again if you intend to avoid the full wrath of his majesty”

Thomas Wolsey broke up the love match, and both Percy and Anne were heartbroken and devastated.

This seemed to be the reason why Anne Boleyn held such a strong grudge towards Wolsey.

In early 1524/1525, Percy begrudgingly married Mary Talbot.

Their union was not a happy one.

By 1528, only four years into their marriage, the couple's relationship had broken down irretrievably.

Percy suspected his wife of spying on him for Norfolk, while her father worried that the young husband was abusing her, and might even poison her.

The couple may have separated shortly thereafter, at least temporarily, since Mary delivered a stillborn child at her father's home in April 1529.

Mary accused her husband of a precontract with Anne Boleyn.

She confided her alleged grievance to her father, Percy, on oath denied the allegation.

This was more likely to protect Anne, and his lost love's rising position at court.

On 19th May 1527 Percy succeeded his father as sixth Earl of Northumberland.

Percy was constantly ill with a feverish, shivery illness, probably malaria, and burdened with debt.

Cardinal Wolsey treated him in a patronising manner, and was not permitted to go to court, nor even to his father's funeral.

In May 1536, Percy was by now a man in broken health.

He was forced to be on the jury for the trial of his former love, Anne Boleyn.

Anne is said to have confessed a precontract with him, in the hope of saving her life.

He collapsed following Anne's guilty verdict, and had to be carried out.

In early 1537, Percy's mind was failing fast.

Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland, died on 29th June 1537, a mere 13 months after the woman he loved, Anne Boleyn.

Percy was buried in St Augustin's Church, now the site of St John at Hackney parish church.

A memorial plaque was discovered during the 2020 refurbishment of St John at Hackney, and was re-installed inside the church.

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en.wikipedia.org/.../Henry_Percy,_6th_Earl_of...

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Picture of Henry Percy, from the Duke of Northumberland Collection, Syon House.