A new biography out by George Bernard claims that Anne Boleyn might have committed adultery after all. And what evidence is this historian using? A POEM! A POEM! He’s using a poem to cite as evidence for how Anne possibly could have done it; or at least, gave enough reasons for Henry to believe it. WHATTT…..I don’t buy it.
Excerpt from the article:
“Examining a 1545 poem by Lancelot de Carles, who was then serving the French ambassador to Henry’s court, Bernard concludes that the poem, entitled “A letter containing the criminal charges laid against Queen Anne Boleyn of England,” offers strong evidence that Anne did, in fact, commit adultery. She was accused of “despising her marriage” and “entertaining malice against the king”, with her indictment claiming that “by base conversations and kisses, touchings, gifts, and other infamous incitations” she seduced men including the musician Mark Smeaton, chief gentleman of the privy chamber Henry Norris and her brother George, Viscount Rochford, “alluring him with her tongue in his mouth and his in hers”. All five men, and Anne, were executed.”
I might write a poem and then clearly whatever I put must be true….!
Historically poems have a tradition of being factually true, and that holds particularly for this period, so it is not so astonishing that he is basing an interpretation into a closer look at poetry, though I am interested to read how he uses this evidence, and what else he combines it with…I’ve already put my pre-order in for the book!
I understand what you’re saying. It’s true, we’ll have to see what other evidence he uses besides a poem….I guess I can’t help but overly defensive for Anne, as I love her so much! You’ll have to tell me how the book is!
I think that this theory is preposterous! It seems to be based on a poem by one person and little other evidence. Anne was an intelligent and courageous young woman. Why would she deliberately annoy the King? She knew the penalties for having an affair!
This historian also speculates that it was not Anne who held back from sleeping with Henry. What evidence is there for this new theory? Why would Henry care so much about what future generations thought about Anne refusing to sleep with him? He would have probably thought that it was quite moral of her to try and wait until they were married! I think that Henry was so in love with Anne that he wouldn’t give a damn about what future generations thought.
I am interested in reading the book but much of it sounds like pure speculation.