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8:35 pm
January 5, 2010
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Hi, I just watched the finale of the tudors series 3 and at the end Cromwell is executed by a drunk, whose is paid to do so, by Cromwells enemies, Am i right in thinking this is just a rumour?, and if it is just a rumour, what are your opinions on it, do you think those who conspired against Cromwel were capable of doing such a terrible deed?
Thanks
10:09 pm
December 8, 2009
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No. Cromwell probably did suffer a botched execution, but it was probably just human error. There are several myths flying around about Cromwell's execution and most of them date from the Victorian era. The most common is that Henry kept Cromwell alive deliberately as he knew the headsman had taken on a young apprentice, and knew he`d botch the job. Apprentices would never have been allowed to carry out a full on execution without proper training, and certainly not on someone like Cromwell. Also, if Henry really wanted Cromwell to suffer, then he wouldn`t have commuted Cromwell's sentence down from hanging, drawing and quartering to a simple beheading. Primary sources make no mention of the exocutioner's age, but he was described as \”a ragged and butcherly miser\”. He certainly wasn`t drunk. I think the programme makers threw that in just to emphasise how unpopular Cromwell was, and to show how his enemies gloated after tryng so hard and for so long to bring him down.
I was an emotional wreck after watching those scenes. Poor Cromwell and well done James Frain!
Be daly prove you shalle me fynde,nTo be to you bothe lovyng and kynde,
11:17 pm
January 5, 2010
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Thanks, for info.
I was nearly in tears myself over cromwells execution scene, but don't mention Anne's exectution scene, i was in floods of tears, I'm not very manly
2:10 am
January 16, 2010
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Henry's behaviour, even as a King, doesn't make sense to me. Why did he feel it was necessary to behead so many people???
Henry came to regret Cromwell's execution. And he never balmed himself for anything! About eight months after Cromwell died, Henry accused his ministers of bringing about Cromwell's death by false charges and said that Cromwell was the most loyal advisor he had.
Brilliant performance by a brilliant actor; James Frain. I, too, was bawling like a baby when I watched his death in the Tudors.
6:50 pm
February 16, 2009
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I agree about James Frain's acting and also Natalie Dormer's acting, both were amazing and were very moving scenes. I had to put my hands over my eyes and watch Cromwell's execution through my fingers! Whatever we think of Cromwell, he seriously did not deserve such an horrific end.
I agree with Hannah, as far as I can see from my research into Cromwell he did have a botched execution but there is no evidence that this was on purpose or planned. Like Hannah, I think this was to emphasise his unpopularity and I also think that this, and the scenes with his son, gave the viewer some compassion for Cromwell and his plight which you might not otherwise have felt. It would have been easy to think of him as having his come-uppance after framing Anne and the Boleyn faction but by handling his downfall in this way you could see that he was just like everyone else at court, just trying to survive. Poor man!
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
1:32 am
June 20, 2009
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Yes.. I cried at both of their execution scenes too.. My fiancee looked at me like I was crazy, but he knows that I read soo much about these people, you feel like you know them. Cromwell was who he was, and believed he was doing the right thing. We obviously can't step inside his head to figure out why he did those things, but I think we can safely say that his botched execution was not totally what he deserved.
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
11:18 am
December 8, 2009
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No one deserves execution, botched or otherwise. But thats just me viewing the past through 21st century eyes. Cromwell was tried in absentia, so he never got the chance to defend himself, or answer the charges laid against him. I love that last letter he'd written to the king. It was supposed to be an account of the Cleves marraige, to secure the annulment. But embedded throughout the whole letter are subtle and direct answers to all the charges, and appeals for clemency. A heartbreaking example of Cromwell's intellect.
Be daly prove you shalle me fynde,nTo be to you bothe lovyng and kynde,
10:23 am
August 25, 2010
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This may be a good spot to ask this, as it is about Cromwell. I haven't looked too much into him so I am confused. Was he a family friend of the Boleyn's? Even if not, I thought he supported Anne (as a fellow reformer) so why did he frame her or help to bring about her demise?
“Oh death, rock me asleep, Bring me to quiet rest, Let pass my weary guiltless ghost out of my careful breast.”
10:45 am
February 24, 2010
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Cromwell was first and foremost the King's man. As far as I know there was no great friendship between the Boleyn's and Cromwell. He supported Anne as a reformer, but they had a falling out over the money from the monasteries and Cromwell started plotting her downfall when he realised it would make Henry happy if she went away for good. After Anne and Goerge were executed, however, Thomas still dined with Cromwell. (If you can believe that) Who knows if Thomas thought him a friend. I don't know how he could. These men were out for their own ambitions. They would do whatever it took to stay in Henry's good grace.
5:46 am
August 25, 2010
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Sharon said:Cromwell was first and foremost the King's man. As far as I know there was no great friendship between the Boleyn's and Cromwell. He supported Anne as a reformer, but they had a falling out over the money from the monasteries and Cromwell started plotting her downfall when he realised it would make Henry happy if she went away for good. After Anne and Goerge were executed, however, Thomas still dined with Cromwell. (If you can believe that) Who knows if Thomas thought him a friend. I don't know how he could. These men were out for their own ambitions. They would do whatever it took to stay in Henry's good grace.
Thank you so much! I totally forgot about the money situation.
“Oh death, rock me asleep, Bring me to quiet rest, Let pass my weary guiltless ghost out of my careful breast.”
5:39 am
October 31, 2010
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Botched beheadings weren't all that uncommon. The English form of beheading was less than efficient, and axes are poor tools for executions. I always wondered why the British continued its use long after better tools were developed and used in other countries. I would certainly think that if you were going to be executed in this manner, it would have been preferable to be the first to go than the last if there was more than one execution that day. From what I understand, axes dulled quickly and the executioner certainly wasn't going to stop in between executions and sharpen his axe.
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
3:30 pm
August 12, 2009
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That's why those of highest rank went first. Also, the block would be all messy by the end, so the lowest rank got that and the dullest blade.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
