Anne was always more French than English, so it's fitting for her death to be conducted in the French aristocratic style. A kindness by Henry? Perhaps in the context of the 16th century, when Henry could have easily burnt her (as Anne's orginal sentence recommended), or sent her to the block to be beheaded by a drunken axeman (poor Lady Salisbury). Rather he chose the most profession way (as Sharon pointed out), and dispatched her wil skill and accuracy. Over and done with for Henry.

C C Humphrey's wrote a fictional account of Jean Rombaud (Anne's executioner) after he kills her. I don't remember a lot about the book, even though I own it. I do recall something about Rombaud vowing to bury Anne's sixth finger.

As for poor Katherine Howard. Even as Queen she was sent to the block and to meet the fate of so many traitors. Anne's treatment seems humane compared to Katherine's end. Yet, Katherine showed courage at the end and died with the dignity deserving of a Queen, even if she was not permitted the skill and professionalism of a French executioner.

Sharon said:

This is just my personal opinion, but I am such a cynic when it comes to Henry's motivations. 

 I know Anne loved everything French, but for me, believing that this might have been the reason Henry ordered the swordsman from France is just too much to ask.  I still think he was more worried about the way the world would see this execution, than he was of caring whether Anne, because she loved everything french, would appreciate the swordsman.    That even makes me dislike him more. 

 I'm going with the possibility that someone told him it would look better for Henry if the Queen of England died swiftly with one stroke of the sword rather than take the chance of the axe not hitting it's mark the first time. And Henry always wanted to look good.  I can't buy into Henry's humanity.  If there was a touch of humanity in him, I don't believe he would have been on that barge going to Jane as soon as he heard the cannon fire proclaiming Anne's death. 

I agree 100%

Hi E,

this is what I was able to find about Henry's involvement in Anne's death,

Ives says:  “The king responded by whipping up a purient self-righteousness which anesthetized all doubt.  He declared that his wife had been unfaithful with more than a hundred men, and was morbidly concerned about the plans for the executions, even to the making of the scaffolds.” (L&P) Found on page 351 of my really worn and bookmarked to death copy of Ive's book, The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn.”

“The king was at his most nauseous in making arrangements–even perhaps in advance of the trial–to bring over the executioner of Calais to kill Anne.”  (L&P) Found on page 351 of Ives' book.

“Arrangements were by now in hand for the Queen's execution.  Henry VIII had gone to the extraordinary trouble of sending for “the hangman of Calais,” “Calais then being an English possession.”  (chronicles of Calais) “Decapitation by the sword was very rare in England, but widely used in Europe, it was a much cleaner, kinder, and more precise method of execution than death by the axe.”  (Abbott) “Evidently “the sword of Calais” was of some renown, being an expert executioner known for his swiftness and skill in cutting off heads.”  Page 250 of my copy of The Lady in the Tower, by, Alison Weir.

Henry was off at night on his barge to see Jane, but he was very involved with the planning of Anne's death.  “The result was a series of romantic night-time assignations and river trips which actually began to win poular sympathy for Anne.”  “No man,” Chapuys reported, ever paraded with such regularity the fact that his wife had cuckholded him, and with so little sign that he minded.”  (L&P) Page 327 of Ives' book.

Ives also said that the warrant for Anne's execution states Henry was moved by pity to have the manner of death be beheading instead of burning.

I think it is a sure bet that Henry was very involved in Anne's death.

The sentence of burning or beheading at the king's pleasure wasn't the law in England at the time – traitorous women were supposed to be burned. I think the reason for the difference is what happened on the afternoon of May 17. The papers have been lost but we know this is when Cranmer annulled Henry and Anne's marriage. I know there is a theory that she was given the promise of life in return for agreeing to annul the marriage but I think execution by sword was held out to her as the easiest death available at the time. I also think Henry was behind it as he wouldn't want a repeat of Catherine of Aragon's refusal.

As for poor Catherine Howard that is possibly an even nastier story. I don't think she did commit adultery with Culpepper (he only confessed to wanting to) but she died by Act of Attainder in which anyone who had indulged in horizontal jogging before marrying Henry was guilty of treason. This act was applied retrospectively so Catherine was caught by her shenanigans with Dereham. How could she have known that a youthful fling (common enough then as now) would be treason years later?

E said:

It's terrible for Catheryn isn't it? What a ridiculous state the legal system was in during Henry's reign! It would sit better with me if Henry stood up and said: “Right. Im a tyrant. Anyone of you who argues with me- ever- will be boiled alive. Actually, this could happen at any moment to any of you if I decide it. Next.”

Sharon- it's all speculative, I'm of the view we can't know anything as it is so far away from us, but we get given little scraps from which we must draw our own conclusions. I may be the most recent victim of Henry's charm- and I am not a fan of that cretin- I've mentioned before that every one around Henry gets the blame for Henry's actions.. I think my post reflects the fact that I cannot reconcile the mans actions toward the woman he adored and chased for seven or so years!

My mind boggles that he could organise the murder of Anne- beautiful, vibrant, charming, intelligent, fashionable Anne during the day and then visit JANE SEYMOUR at all. I mean really- does Jane bother any one else as much as I? That boring, nasty, heinously ugly weeping sore of a woman – he was interested in her at all??? But killed his wife for her?? And his wife was Anne??!!!

EverythingsfineeverythingsfineeverythingsfinedeepbreathsdeepbreathsandIamzen.

It's certainly true that Jane Seymour was not Anne in any way.  In fact, it seems that the only thing the two women had in common was Henry, but I don't think it's fair to Jane to call her boring, nasty, or even heinously ugly.  Reports of Jane Seymour readily admit that she wasn't an amazing beauty–in fact, I think at least one source notes that she was actually pretty plain, but this is Henry VIII that we're talking about.  Jane had to be at least marginally attractive to catch Henry's attention to begin with.  I think we assume Jane Seymour was boring because so little is written about her and because we know Henry explicitly told her to stay out of politics, and, to Jane's credit, she was smart enough to do just that.  Had she survived Edward's birth, she probably would have been allowed more freedom and probably could have accomplished a lot at court.  It is unfortunate for her that history views her as so one-dimensional.  As for nasty, I don't think that Jane liked Anne at all, but Jane was hardly alone in this.  For all of Anne's admirable qualities, she was also a very polarizing figure at court and had succeeded in making more than a few enemies.  I don't think that anyone can say that Anne's attitude toward Katherine of Aragon was exactly gracious, either, so it's hardly fair for us to condemn Jane of the same behavior. 

I don't think that Henry killed Anne “for” Jane Seymour.  It's not like Jane asked Henry to have Anne executed–ultimately, Jane had nothing to do with Anne's execution.  Henry had Anne executed because it's what he wanted and because he could.  Henry wanted Jane because she was the exact opposite of Anne–even her religious views were different.  Henry wanted out of a marriage that had some pretty serious issues–granted, Henry was the reason for most of those issues, but there was no such thing as marriage counseling back then.  

Both women played the game.  Both women got involved with a married man, which isn't right no matter how you cut it.  Despite their differences, once it came to marrying Henry and rising to become queen, both women follow a similar plotline and both wind up dead.  But it isn't fair to “excuse” Anne for doing what she did and then turn around and call Jane Seymour names for doing the exact same thing.  True that Katherine of Aragon wasn't executed, but the method of elimination was entirely up to Henry. 

 

I don't think that Henry killed Anne “for” Jane Seymour.  It's not like Jane asked Henry to have Anne executed–ultimately, Jane had nothing to do with Anne's execution.  Henry had Anne executed because it's what he wanted and because he could.  Henry wanted Jane because she was the exact opposite of Anne–even her religious views were different.  Henry wanted out of a marriage that had some pretty serious issues–granted, Henry was the reason for most of those issues, but there was no such thing as marriage counseling back then.  

Both women played the game.  Both women got involved with a married man, which isn't right no matter how you cut it.  Despite their differences, once it came to marrying Henry and rising to become queen, both women follow a similar plotline and both wind up dead.  But it isn't fair to “excuse” Anne for doing what she did and then turn around and call Jane Seymour names for doing the exact same thing.  True that Katherine of Aragon wasn't executed, but the method of elimination was entirely up to Henry. 

I don't think its was Jane's looks that attracted Henry's attention, although maybe her blonde hair and blue eyes gave her an air of 'innocence', in comparison to Anne's dark, smouldering looks. Jane had been at court for a very long time, even serving Katherine when she was queen. If Henry had been drawn to her physically he would of acted on it earlier – he was a ladies man after all! He even commented on the fact that he wished he had sampled the other more attractive ladies at court before marrying Jane, as he thought he could of done better in the looks department. I think what drew him to Jane was her manner – quiet, submissive, calm AND most importantly virginal. She seduced him with simpering smiles and little looks, adopting Anne's behaviour at the beginning of the courtship to keep him interested. She knew what she was doing, she would of witnessed Henry and Anne's arguments and heated debates – Anne's sharp tongue and Henry's violent temper. I believe she was pushed to attract Henry by her family and made herself the opposite of Anne because she knew that was what he wanted. The grass is always greener after all… I find it hard to believe that Jane loved Henry as Anne did – By the time Anne was executed Henry was already overweight and smelly and his violent tendencies began to show. From what I have read of Henry's treatment of Jane – he doesn't appear to have been particularly nice to her… I don't think he would of dared to tell Anne to shut up haha! Jane was someone he could rule, Anne wasnt.

I think 'playing Henry' was a pretty popular pastime at court. You could rise fast and fall faster, though, so it was a dangerous game.

Exactly Impish and Meg.

There were some people like Brandon and Cramner who weathered the Henry storm due to luck, skill and personal attributes. And those who were fair-weather friends like Cromwell and Wolsey who out-lived thier usefulness.

As for KH, I'm looking at Hugh Hefffner who's last “girl-friend” dumped him a few days before thier marriage and less than a week later HH had a new fiancee…H8 was like that. He needed a replacement close to hand  before changing to a new model.