Anne Boleyn

I was born at Blicking Hall in Norfolk. My parents were Thomas Boleyn and Elizabeth Howard. I had one brother, George, and one sister, Mary. My best friends were Thomas and Mary Wyatt. Together we played in the dungeons of my Hever castle.

One day my father told me that I would go to France and be a lady-in-waiting to Mary Tudor who was going to marry the King of France. I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to tell Mary and Thomas Wyatt the news. They were sad to see me go. In fact they practically begged me not to go. But my father sent me away to accompany Mary Tudor.

The trip to France was the most horrifying experience I had ever had in my life. I remember that night when the angry seas raged trying to pull our boat under. I thought we were going to die, until the next morning we were there. When we landed, a person from France escorted Mary Tudor to a small boat and he rowed the boat. When he came back he escorted Mary’s ladies-in-waiting to our boat. He didn’t row our boats because we were not royal; instead we had to row them ourselves.

When we landed on the French ground, the King of France and his nephew, Francois, who was next in line for the French throne, Francois’s wife, Claude, Francois’s mother, and Francois sister, Marguerite, all came to greet us. I saw that Francois was stunned by Mary’s beauty and that he admired her. His eyes were on Mary the whole time.

The King of France dismissed all of Mary’s ladies except for me because I was too young. I became Mary’s favorite lady. She would always give me proper education and she made me do little chores. Mary and I would talk about a lot of things, especially her love for Charles Brandon. “Francois is in love with me. His eyes are always on me whenever I enter the room, but he is not at all like my darling Charles Brandon. Anne, it won’t be too long until men notice you. You will be beautiful one day,” said Mary.

When the King of France died, Francois became King and Mary went home. I was about to return to England with her until Queen Claude asked me to be her lady-in-waiting. I was glad that she asked me to be her lady-in-waiting because I loved France so much that I didn’t want to go home. I became Claude and Marguerite’s favorite. They made sure that I receive excellent education. It wasn’t long before I excelled at singing and dancing. I had a taste for French fashion and later on I began making my own clothes. It wasn’t long until women tried to follow my example and men started taking notice of me. I had a gift of flirtation and soon the King of France began to notice me.

I didn’t want to be anyone’s lover, but my husband. I told Marguerite this and she said she would tell him to leave me alone. The next day he left me alone and everything was fine.

In 1521, my father ordered me to leave France and to return home. I hated to leave France, but I wanted to go back home. When I returned home, my sister Mary told me that she was King Henry VIII’s mistress and that she was carrying Henry’s child. Henry sent Mary to marry Will Carey. When I heard about this I was so mad at her that I couldn’t control my anger. “You slept with him! You stupid girl! You have just ruined our family’s reputation!” My father said, “Anne, Mary is providing us favor with the King. The King has just knighted me viscount in honor of Mary.” I was so mad at her that I wanted to slap her, but I couldn’t in front of my father. I stormed out of the room. From that day on, I learned from my sister’s example.

A few months later, my father sent me to become a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. I became quite popular with young men. I teased them and flirted with them. My suitors were Thomas Wyatt, Sir Henry Norris, and Sir William Brereton. They all wrote poems about me and professed their undying love for me.

One day while I was out in the royal garden a young man named Henry Percy came up to me. I flirted with him and teased him. Then Percy said, “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen!” “You are the handsomest man I’ve ever seen,” I replied. From that moment we were in love with each other. Percy was the son of the Earl of Northumberland and he worked for Cardinal Wolsey. Every day at the same time we would meet at the garden and we kissed with a sense of fiery passion. Oh! How I loved him! One day at a party Henry Percy said, “Anne! I love you so much! Would you marry me?” That was the happiest moment of my life. I was going to marry my true love! I felt like I was floating on air. “Of course I’ll marry you,” I said. Henry smiled and we kissed with fiery passion.

The next day, I waited for Henry in the garden, but he didn’t come. For days I waited for him, but still he didn’t come. Where could he be? I thought. I was so worried about him that I almost fainted in the garden. George came to me and said,” “Anne! Percy just married Shrewsbury’s daughter. Wolsey didn’t want him to marry you. He called you a stupid girl and that since Percy is from one of the most powerful families in England; he doesn’t deserve you. Percy kept saying he wanted to marry you until his father came and told him he was an insolent boy and forced him to marry Shrewsbury’s daughter. Against Percy’s will he married her. The king said that you must leave the court until you get over your love for Percy.”

I left for Hever. I was so depressed that I wanted to die. I kept hoping that Percy would come to Hever to take me away and together we would flee from England. I was being silly. Of course Percy wouldn’t do that. I hated him for marrying Shrewsbury’s daughter. But most of all, I hated Wolsey. He called me a stupid girl. He kept Percy from marrying me. I vowed that I would have my revenge on Wolsey.

A few months later, I returned to England. One day out in the garden King Henry VIII said, “Anne! I love you, Anne! I loved you ever since I set eyes on you!” What Henry had said was a nightmare! I didn’t want to be his mistress! I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be your mistress. I’m saving all my love for my husband.” “Anne! I’m going to divorce Katherine and marry you! You would make a perfect queen! Together we will have many sons, Anne!” said Henry. I didn’t believe Henry would actually do those kinds of things. I thought he was full of talk. To quiet him, I agreed with what he said and I left him in the garden.

The next few days, I avoided Henry. I was sent back home. A few months later I was back. I decided to play along with Henry’s game. When we played cards, Henry paid all my debts. It wasn’t long until I realized Henry was being serious. He was actually trying to divorce Katherine and marry me! I couldn’t help imagining me sitting on the throne and wearing a crown on my head! It was too good to be true! I felt sorry for Katherine, but my ambition took over my sympathy. Henry took his case to Rome. Later, we found out that the pope was captured by the Queen’s nephew, Charles the Emperor. We were distraught.

Cardinal Wolsey didn’t like me a bit and he tried to persuade Henry to marry Renee, Queen Claude’s sister. But Henry was too stubborn. He wanted to marry me. He arrested Wolsey, to my surprise and happiness. We heard the news that Wolsey had died while going to the Tower of London. When everybody found out about my affair with Henry, they blamed me for Cardinal Wolsey’s death. I was mad when they blamed me and I tried to tell them that it wasn’t my fault, but they didn’t believe me. “We’ll have no Nan-Bullen!” “God save the Queen!” “God save the King!” they shouted. I was so distraught. I thought that people would love me, instead they hated me! I had many enemies, including Katherine of Aragon and her daughter, Mary, and Duchess of Suffolk, who was Henry’s sister, Mary. I couldn’t believe the Duchess of Suffolk was my enemy since I was her favorite lady-in-waiting when she was Queen of France. But she was best friends with Queen Katherine, So naturally she took her side.

I heard the news that the pope escaped. He was on neutral sides. My patience began to decline. The scarlet fever began to spread through England. The king sent me home so that way I couldn’t catch the disease. While I was at Hever, I caught the scarlet fever anyway. I fought hard to get well because if I died then I wouldn’t get what I wanted more than anything in the whole world. But as much as I fought, I got even worse. I thought I was going to die. I prayed for God to help me fight off the disease so that way I could become Queen of England. Then one day, God answered my prayer. Henry sent me his second best physician and I got better.

When I was well, I went back to court. Henry knighted me Marchioness and I was so happy when he let me accompanied him to France. At France, I was so disappointed when the ladies-in-waiting at France didn’t want to see me. They called me “The King’s whore” which made me even angrier.

When we got back to England, I started to get sick. I visited the physician and he told me I was pregnant. I was upset. I was pregnant and I wasn’t Queen of England yet and my son would be nothing but a bastard. Henry could sense that something was wrong and he asked, “What’s wrong, my dear?” “I’m afraid that the next king of England would be nothing more than a bastard,” I replied. Henry said that he would do something about it and left me.

Henry separated from Rome and proclaimed himself Head of the Supreme Church of England. Then Henry and I married secretly. I was so happy. I was now Queen of England. Now I could sit back and relax.

After our honeymoon, Henry began to plan my coronation. I had a lavish coronation. That day was the happiest day of my life. Henry spoiled me. He got me everything I had ever dreamed of.

The day of the birth of my son arrived. I was screaming in pain giving birth to my son. Finally, the pain stopped. I began to relax now. “Ah, you have a beautiful, healthy daughter,” said the midwife. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t have a daughter! I had to have a son!. “What! No! It can’t be!” I cried. “It’s a girl your highness, look!” said the midwife gently. I lay back in my bed. The midwife left the room to tell Henry. I cried. I was a failure. I promised Henry a son, not a daughter. Henry came in the room and he said gently, “It’s okay sweetheart. We will try again.” He left the room. I stopped crying. His words soothed me. I looked at my daughter. “What a terrible time you were born into, my love,” I said gently. I loved my daughter. She was strong, beautiful, and healthy. Why she is going to be just like me! I thought. Too bad she wasn’t a boy. Wait I could make her next in line for the crown of England! No, I promised Henry I would produce sons and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. “Her name is Elizabeth. After my husband and my mother,” I told the midwife.

Elizabeth’s christening was a grand affair and Henry declared Elizabeth the next in line for the throne. I was happy, I had gotten my wish. Even though I got what I wanted, Henry still wasn’t satisfied. I was relieved and happy when I got pregnant again.

During my pregnancy, I proved myself a devoted mother. I spent my free time to play and watch over her and, much to Henry’s dismay; I brought her into the royal bedchamber for her to sleep with us. I was a charitable queen. I sewed clothes for charity and gave food and shelter for the poor.

It wasn’t long until Henry suggested Elizabeth should be sent to live with Mary. I was mad. “Why should Elizabeth be sent to live with Mary? Why can’t she stay here?” I asked angrily. “That is one of the duties a princess must make,” said Henry. So Elizabeth was sent to live with Mary.

I miscarried my child. It was supposed to be a boy. I was upset. I was a failure. I found out from my sister-in-law, Lady Jane Rochford, that my husband was having an affair with one of my ladies-in-waiting. I was so mad at him that I ran to Henry and began cursing him. “Don’t you dare talk like that again, to me, you hear!” raged Henry. “I am talking to you as my husband.” I yelled back. He glared at me. At that moment I saw a hint of cruelty in his eyes, “Listen, I have raised you up and I can bring you down whenever I want to,” yelled Henry.

I was numb with fear. Henry was threatening me. I didn’t know what to do. One day I found out that my husband was having an affair with my cousin, Madge Shelton. I was so mad, that I ran to him and I began cursing him. He threatened me again. I didn’t want to be Queen anymore. My life was already in jeopardy. Henry was tired of me and since I couldn’t produce a son, he wanted to get rid of me. I was following Katherine’s footsteps. I felt sorry for Katherine. Katherine tried so hard to get him a son and now she was cast off. I knew that if I didn’t get a son I would end up having Katherine’s fate.

I ran to George’s room and I told him about the relationship between the king and me. “You must get a son, Anne! That is the only way you are going to survive. You have to get a son,” said George.

One day I met a musician whose name was Mark Smeaton. I favored him and he played me music whenever I felt distress. I became his wealthy benefactress.

To my great relief and happiness, I became pregnant again. One day the king had an accident while riding his horse. I was told that he was dead. This greatly distressed me. I wasn’t ready to become a widow. I wasn’t ready to give up my title. It distressed me so much that I miscarried my child. It was a boy. I cried. I was going to get cast off like Katherine of Aragon. “I have miscarried my savior,” I said through tears.

The next day I couldn’t find Mark Smeaton. I looked for him everywhere. I asked everyone where Mark Smeaton was. They replied they didn’t know. I was worried about him. I knew that his disappearance would affect my downfall.

Then I notice that Sir Henry Norris and Sir William Brereton disappeared to. Then one day I found out from one of my ladies-in-waiting. “Mark Smeaton got an invitation from Thomas Cromwell. When he got there Thomas Cromwell accused him of having an affair with you and he denied it. He tortured him until he finally admitted he was having an affair with you. He shouted Sir Henry Norris and Sir William Brereton names. So they arrested Sir Henry Norris and Sir William Brereton,” said one of my lady-in-waiting. I looked her and I asked, “How did you hear about this?” “One of Cromwell’s servants told all of us, he requested for one of us to tell you,” she said. “Thank you. You are dismissed,” I said. When she left, I cried! Oh no! Instead of divorce, it is going to be death! I thought.

A few days later Cromwell arrested me. I was accused of adultery, witchcraft, and incest. I walked the streets of London. I hated that walk. People from the streets were calling me “The king’s whore”, but others were sympathizing with me. I wanted to cry, but I knew it was no place to cry in public.

They put me in the room where I had my coronation. I heard from the guard that they arrested my brother, George. Poor George! My brother had nothing to do with it. I ran to my bed and I began to cry.

I had an unfair trial. All of my enemies were witnesses and made up stories that weren’t even true, just to see me die. Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris, Sir William Brereton, my brother, and I were sentenced to death.

Mark Smeaton had it hard. He was burned, whereas Sir Henry Norris, Sir William Brereton, and my brother George were beheaded. The guard came to me and said they all died nobly. I felt guilty. Four innocent men died because of me. If I didn’t want to be Queen this wouldn’t have happened.

The next day, the guard came in and he said, “King Henry VIII has taken pity on you. He has sent a skilled swordsman from France, so your execution will be the day after tomorrow instead of tomorrow.” I was glad that Henry had softened the death sentence on me. I replied, “I have heard the executioner is very good. And I have a little neck.” The guard laughed at my joke and left my room.

On the day of my execution, I dressed in my most beautiful dress. I couldn’t wait to get this over with. I felt very brave, as if my brother George came down from heaven and told me everything was going to be alright. I arrived at the scaffold at 8:00 on May 19, 1536. Everybody in England was there. I saw that everybody, even my enemies were crying for me. I cleared my throat and said, “Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to judge no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray to God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I would take my leave and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.” I was then blindfolded and I knelt down on the block. Dying was not so bad at all. I said, “To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesus receive my soul.”

A/N: It’s a little modern. At the end of the story What Anne Boleyn said was true. I decided to leave her speech just the way it is. After all, my story is about Anne Boleyn. For those of you who had read Katherine of Aragon. I made a typo. It was Henry VIII. Not Henry VII. Anyway, Review!