The Death of Queen Ann Boleyn By Henry Tudor alias Ray Irving.

Hi again everyone,

It seems that Pamela's article has raised more questions than answers about why Anne was beheaded. I myself have done some further research on the matter and have come across articles which seem to back up the male heir theory as well as several other theories.

So I decided to ask a very good friend of mine, Ray Irving who has portrayed Henry VIII for nearly two years, for his insight on the subject. Ray has had the privilege of being asked to do part of a series with Rolf Harris during his Rolf on art programmes for the BBC, as well as constructing several ekits for use by primary school children, which have been authorized by the British Education department. You can visit Ray's site at www.henrytudor.co.uk

I hope by posting Ray's reply that we will be able to draw a line under the issue of Anne and move forward form here:

The Queen Ann Boleyn question has been answered by many people over the years from just one perspective, the Male heir problem. But, there was much more to it than just that, so here's my view which had been formulated by reading all books about Henry, visiting all the Castles and Palaces frequented by Henry, talking to HRP themselves and seeing behind the ropes at Hampton Court and finally being Henry for the past 18 months.

It goes back to the days when Ann Boleyn (Bollin) was a young girl with childlike looks, the sister of Mary who was King Henry's favorite mistress whilst still married to Catherine. His Queen Catherine after many confinements and still-births had grown fat and tired, whilst Henry still had some of the vigor of strength from his sporting life. Henry had proved to the world that he could Father a son because he named his illegitimate son by his mistress Bessie Blount, Henry Fiztroy. Fitzroy means Son-of-Royal who was purposely put into the public arena to prove Henry's manhood. Mary Boleyn a now married woman, to William Carey, had a son called Henry Carey who went on to be very prominent in Royal Courts, that also makes one wonder about who was the father! Getting back to Ann, she knew that Henry fancied her, she played him for 6 years before giving herself to him as a lover. Getting pregnant before marriage, Henry thought that a Boy was going to be born from a woman who rekindled the desires in his now aging body.

The annulment of Catherine's marriage became a national scandal, disapproved by the people who adored Catherine and making Ann the focus of hate. Henry was disappointed by the birth of the child another girl, Elizabeth. However Ann promised a Boy next time. Ann became more and more tired of Henry's advances, his eagerness to produce a boy by legitimate bond and his disappointment with Ann herself who was now not a secret, a desire to him. When the next child, a boy, died in childbirth it was the last straw for Henry, he had taken another mistress, Jane Seymour to rekindle the lost desire and he was looking for a way out of the marriage to Ann. His advisor, Cromwell was a devious character and thought up the framing of Ann to be a witch in the eyes of the people. Remember the people already hated Ann, so her fate was set.

The show trial, the fake evidence, even the myths about the six fingers were all thrown at Ann who didn't stand a chance.

At her execution Ann, spoke her mind and told the world of her belief that Henry had framed her, she was an innocent being murdered by the state so that Henry could have another go for a son with another woman. Losing her head was the noble death of a traitor, hanging-drawing-quartering would have been the other for non-nobles. Henry had a brief moment of compassion and gave Ann the sword executioner from France instead of the rough axe. Even this had some errors in it, the French swordsman was hired because Henry wanted the French to kill his Queen, after-all they had changed her name from Bollin to Boleyn, they had indoctrinated her mind with French court ways and he wanted to fight France.

Poor old Ann, the hapless victim of a ruthless, tyrannical, zealous man who held the power of life and death. She didn't stand a chance. Remember just what happened before the execution, Henry annulled the marriage on the grounds of Bewitchment, thus making his own daughter illegitimate just like his other one. Only a cold hearted, psychopath could do such a thing.

I hope this gives an insight to the mind of Henry VIII and would like to thank Ray for his time and effort in writing this piece for my blog.

I would also like to thank everyone who has posted a reply to Pamela's article and hope you will continue coming back to this site as well as my main website, A Guide to Castles of Europe in the future.


I would like to take this final opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas

Best wish

Stuart
www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com