Page 33 - All About History - Issue 180-19
P. 33
Rise And Fall Of The Boleyns
remained insecure. However, Henry’s passion for the Church of England with himself at its head, served to exacerbate her unpopularity
her had not wavered, and he showered her with thereby enabling him to marry Anne. If Rome amongst the English people, many of whom
an abundance of rich gifts, including jewels, would not give him what he wanted, Henry was were sympathetic to the plight of Catherine of
clothes, money and fine apartments. It was not fully prepared to make his own rules. Many Aragon. Indeed, Anne was so widely disliked
for nothing that one source observed that she were appalled by the king’s decision, but Anne that a progress in the summer of 1532 had
became “very haughty and proud”, and she was and her family were supportive and she herself to be cut short because, as the Imperial
treated as queen in all but name. The fortunes of was a great advocate of church reform. This only ambassador Eustace Chapuys reported, “the
Anne’s family rose as a result of her relationship Lady is hated by all the world.” Nevertheless,
with the king, and in 1529 George was admitted it was clear that it was only a matter of time
to the Privy Council. In December meanwhile, before Anne was queen.
Thomas was created Earl of Wiltshire, an “if rome would not In September 1532 Anne partook in a glittering
ennoblement that was followed by a celebratory ceremony that saw her created Marquess of
banquet at the Palace of Whitehall. The give him whAt he Pembroke in her own right. Just four months
following year he was appointed Lord Privy Seal. later she and Henry were secretly married, by
When an annulment did not prove wAnted, henry wAs which time – having finally capitulated to his
forthcoming, with the support of the Boleyns fully prepAred to advances – she was already pregnant. In May
and Thomas Cromwell – a former servant of Thomas Cranmer, whom Thomas Boleyn had
Wolsey’s – Henry took matters into his own mAke his own rules” once made the family chaplain and was now
hands. He made the momentous decision to Archbishop of Canterbury, officially declared
split from the Catholic Church and establish Henry’s marriage to Catherine to be null and
The court of Henry VIII was
one of intrigue, gossip and
duplicitous behaviour
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