Something was definitely brewing at King Henry VIII’s court in late April 1536. Two commissions of oyer and terminer had been set up, writs for Parliament had been issued and now the King’s council was meeting on a daily basis.1
Meanwhile, according to Eustace Chapuys, the imperial ambassador, Sir Nicholas Carew was advising and coaching Jane Seymour and Princess Mary was being given hope:
“He [Carew] continually counsels Mrs. Semel [Jane Seymour] and other conspirators ‘pour luy faire une venue,’ and only four days ago he and some persons of the chamber sent to tell the Princess to be of good cheer, for shortly the opposite party would put water in their wine, for the King was already as sick and tired of the concubine as could be.”2
And Cromwell was busy meeting with Dr Richard Sampson, a royal chaplain and an expert on canon law. According to Chapuys, Sampson had “been for the last four days continually with Cromwell”.3 Sampson acted as the King’s proctor against Anne Boleyn in the annulment proceedings in May 1536, so it seems likely that Cromwell was discussing an annulment with him at this point.
Things were about to kick off. The first arrest happened on 30 April.
Also on this day in history…
- 1603 – Elizabeth I’s funeral at Westminster Abbey. Click here to find out more about it.
Notes and Sources
- LP x. 748, 752
- Ibid., 752
- Ibid., 753
