With my research, I found that what I was lacking with in
Anne Boleyn's story is information on the people surrounding her. In order to
tell her story, I needed to know more about the people who had a play in the
scandal surrounding her name. I started with Thomas Cromwell, of course having
a dominant role in the journey to Anne's rolling head. It has been said that
Cromwell was 'as great a statesman as England has ever seen and, in his decade
of power, permanently changed the course of English history'. Cromwell was a
level-headed, manipulative man who knew what he wanted and I have found many
articles and websites that claim Cromwell and Anne to be in some kind of
disagreement.
Her brother, Lord Rochford was a prime and important suspect.
To be accused of adultery with your own brother was a scandal kept on the lips
of the people. He was accused of being responsible for Anne’s last miscarriage,
stated that they became desperate to produce a male heir. Jane Parker, his
wife, spoke badly of her husband in court – suggesting that she believed the
rumours. It has been said that on the day of arrest, Anne asked where her
‘sweet brother’ was and of course, didn’t know at the time that he had been
arrested. He was in the Tower of London already. George was tried on the 15th
of May, on the same day that Anne had already been found guilty. He was
executed along with Mark Smeaton and the other four.
I wanted to also look further into Mark Smeaton – the only
man to confess to adultery with Anne. Smeaton was an old friend of Anne and her
brother. A talented musician – his skill led Smeaton to enter court, therefor
meaning that he would have close relations to Anne and the King. Mark Smeaton
was talented in singing, dancing and of course, educated with instruments and
was in Henry’s favour for a very long time. He had even been granted his own
servants. He was later accused of sleeping with Anne. I discovered various
information on these men from books and websites, as their own stories are easily
in my reach.
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