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Showing posts with the label beheading

Lady Jane Rochford, Viscount of Rochford

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She notoriously accused both her husband- George Boleyn, and his sister- Anne Boleyn of incest and treason which sent them both to the executioner's block. She later testified against Anne of Cleves , which could (but didn't) have resulted in the latter's death and then against Catherine Howard , which sent both Lady Rochford and Catherine Howard to their death. This woman is rarely spoken about but she was lady-in-waiting to five of Henry VIII's wives. Lady Jane Rochford was born in Norfolk in circa 1505. Her father was Henry Parker, 10th Baron Morley, a court translator and peer; he was knighted at the coronation of Anne Boleyn. Her mother was Alice St. John and her father was a 1st cousin to Henry VII. Jane had two siblings, the first was Margaret Parker, who married Sir John Shelton and the second was Henry Parker, a politician for Hertfordshire. Probably educated at home, Jane went to court to be a lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII's first wife- Catherine of Ar...

The Murder of Edward VI's Dog...

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In 1547, Henry VIII died and his nine year old son became King Edward VI of England. As he was not yet an adult, Edward's uncle Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (brother of the king's dead mother-  Jane Seymour ) became Lord Protector, ruling the country on behalf of Edward VI. He was Lord Protector between 1547 and 1549. Thomas Seymour (young Edward's 'favourite' uncle) had been promoted to Lord High Admiral, this gave him the power to control the royal navy. Seymour took advantage of this power and tried to lead a rebellion on the throne. Now, the officials had there eye on the scheming uncle... Jealous of his brother's high position in the country, Thomas Seymour  snuck into the palace one night in an attempt to kidnap his nephew. Whilst breaking into the palace, one of Edward's favourite pets, a spaniel began barking. Afraid that the dog would alert the guards, Seymour shot it. On 28th March 1549, Thomas Seymour was beheaded for high treason. ...

The Death of Lady Jane Grey

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Aged only seventeen, Lady Jane Grey meet her end at the executioner's axe with courage and dignity. The young girl had been placed on the throne by manipulative relatives and powerful men, who's soul desire was to ensure that the rightful heir to the throne of England- the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon: Mary Tudor (aka ' Bloody Mary '). After reigning for just thirteen days, Mary's army stormed London and many of Lady Jane's supporters switched sides. Next Mary had herself crowned and arrested her cousin Jane, Jane's husband Guildford Dudley, Guildford's father the Duke of Northumberland and many more people. They were tried for treason and many, if not all, of them were found guilty and sentenced to death. Guildford and Jane were sentenced to be beheaded by the axe whereas Northumberland was executed by hanging- drawing- and- quartering. They were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Because Jane was a Prot...

The Legend of Thomas Moore's Skull...

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Thomas Moore was a close friend of Henry VIII and later one of the men he had executed for treason during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is likely that the king was under the influence of his wife Protestant Anne Boleyn, because she apparently despised the Catholic thinker.   On 1st July 1535, on Tower Hill, Tower of London, Thomas Moore, Tudor scholar, was beheaded because he refused to turn to the new faith that the king had introduced to England. On that day he was martyred. A martyr is a man or woman who dies for their belief (e.g: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Thomas A' Becket, who has been proved to be an ancestor of Anne Boleyn!). The king ordered that the man's severed head was to be displayed as a warning on the bridge. Here is were the legend begins, this is the basic although because it is a legend, there are many version. When the executioner was sent to take down the displayed heads and dispose of them by throwing them into the Thames, Moore's daugh...

Anne Boleyn: Did she deserve to die?

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On 15th May 1536, Anne Boleyn was found guilty of treason and adultery. Treason was the most severe crime anyone could commit because it was a crime committed against the king or queen and in history, it has been a common belief that the ruler is appointed by God, therefore anyone who commits treason is committing a crime against God. Treason was punishable by death. Anne Boleyn was given the choice, she could either be burnt alive or beheaded. She choose beheading as it was cleaner and was quicker than burning. On 19th May 1536, Anne met her end bravely. She was beheaded by an expert swordsman, brought over especially, to avoid having a blunt axe attempt to sever her head. It is said, that the swordsman decapitated her without her knowing, thankfully it was quick and smooth. The witnesses claimed that it was so quick that her lips were still moving in prayer when her head was removed by a graceful swing of a special sword. We know Anne found guilty of adultery and treason, but the ...