Anne Boleyn: From Queen to History - May 12th 1536: The Trials Begin
May 12th 1536: The Trials Begin
Before entering Westminster Hall I wonder what chances Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton ever had at a fair trial. All the evidence gathered was already against them, accusing all four men of having illicit affairs with the Queen of England, receiving gifts from her and plotting with her the downfall of the King. The indictments of the previous two days were damning and left little room for the idea of anything but the idea that these four men were guilty.
But it was not just the false evidence that went against these four men; it is the worries and fears of the men chosen to be the jurors of this case. What man could stand up and say Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton were innocent when their King wanted them to be guilty? What man in their right mind would go against the beliefs and wants of the King of England? Especially with the knowledge that if they went against their King they could also face punishment and perhaps even imprisonment and death! But what also went against Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton was the fact that some of the noblemen on the jury were in favour of the downfall of the Boleyn’s. By finding these four men guilty it would lead to the guilt of Anne Boleyn and ultimately her downfall. Surely they would benefit from finding the Queen of England guilty of adultery, incest and treason and seeing her dead.
It is thus not surprising that after each man was tried separately Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton they were all found guilty of charges of adultery and treason with the Queen of England. As traitors they were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, their manhood’s cut off before their eyes before they were beheaded.
It should be noted that only Mark Smeaton confessed to being guilty before the Grand Jury - Norris, Weston and Brereton all pleaded innocent. It should be kept in mind that Mark Smeaton, being not of noble blood or decent was tortured unlike the other men and his confession came after his torture. I personally find it hard to believe any confession after a person has been tortured within an inch of their lives. It has also been suggested that in leniency for confessing to his crimes Cromwell offered Smeaton to be beheaded rather than hung, drawn and quartered.
Westminster Palace (photo by me) wherein lies the Westminster Hall where Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton were tried and found guilty of adultery with the Queen Anne Boleyn and of committing treason against King Henry VIII.
Before entering Westminster Hall I wonder what chances Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton ever had at a fair trial. All the evidence gathered was already against them, accusing all four men of having illicit affairs with the Queen of England, receiving gifts from her and plotting with her the downfall of the King. The indictments of the previous two days were damning and left little room for the idea of anything but the idea that these four men were guilty.
But it was not just the false evidence that went against these four men; it is the worries and fears of the men chosen to be the jurors of this case. What man could stand up and say Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton were innocent when their King wanted them to be guilty? What man in their right mind would go against the beliefs and wants of the King of England? Especially with the knowledge that if they went against their King they could also face punishment and perhaps even imprisonment and death! But what also went against Smeaton, Norris, Weston and Brereton was the fact that some of the noblemen on the jury were in favour of the downfall of the Boleyn’s. By finding these four men guilty it would lead to the guilt of Anne Boleyn and ultimately her downfall. Surely they would benefit from finding the Queen of England guilty of adultery, incest and treason and seeing her dead.
It is thus not surprising that after each man was tried separately Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton they were all found guilty of charges of adultery and treason with the Queen of England. As traitors they were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, their manhood’s cut off before their eyes before they were beheaded.
It should be noted that only Mark Smeaton confessed to being guilty before the Grand Jury - Norris, Weston and Brereton all pleaded innocent. It should be kept in mind that Mark Smeaton, being not of noble blood or decent was tortured unlike the other men and his confession came after his torture. I personally find it hard to believe any confession after a person has been tortured within an inch of their lives. It has also been suggested that in leniency for confessing to his crimes Cromwell offered Smeaton to be beheaded rather than hung, drawn and quartered.
Westminster Palace (photo by me) wherein lies the Westminster Hall where Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton were tried and found guilty of adultery with the Queen Anne Boleyn and of committing treason against King Henry VIII.