On this day in Tudor history, 23rd April, less than a month before he was executed, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, a man who had been in high favour and was a friend of his brother-in-law the king, lost to courtier Nicholas Carew in the Order of the Garter elections.
Why would the queen’s brother lose out to another courtier? Was this a sign that the Boleyns were on their way out?
Find out more in the video below:
I thought it would be interesting to share a few facts about these two men…
George Boleyn and Nicholas Carew
| George Boleyn | Nicholas Carew | |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | c.1504-5 | c.1496 |
| Parents | Thomas Boleyn and Elizabeth Howard | Richard Carew and Maline Oxenbridge |
| Titles | Knighted and became known as Viscount Rochford in 1529. | Knighted before 1517 and became a Knight of the Garter in 1536. |
| Offices | c.1515-16 appointed as page to Henry VIII 1526 – Cupbearer to Henry VIII 1528 – Master of the Buckhounds, Esquire of the Body, Keeper of the Palace of Beaulieu. 1529 – Chief Steward of Beaulieu, Governor of St Bethlehem Hospital, appointed ambassador to France 1534 – Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle |
By 1511 – Groom of the Privy Chamber 1515 – Esquire of the Body and a cupbearer 1518 – Gentleman of the Privy Chamber 1522 – Master of the Horse |
| Family | Married Jane Parker, daughter of Henry Parker, 10th Baron Morley, 1524/5 No children, but granted the wardship of Edmund Sheffield in 1533. |
Married Elizabeth Bryan, daughter of Sir Thomas Bryan and sister of Sir Francis Bryan in 1514. Children: Mary, who married Sir Arthur Darcy Anne, who married Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Elizabeth Sir Francis Carew Isabel Carew, who married Nicholas Saunders. |
| Death | Arrested on 2nd May 1536. Tried on 15th May 1536 – Found guilty of treason for committing incest with his sister, Queen Anne Boleyn, and plotting with her to kill King Henry VIII. Executed by beheading at Tower Hill on 17th May 1536. Buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London. |
Arrested on 31st December 1538. Tried on 14th February 1539 – Found guilty of treason for being involved in a conspiracy with the Marquis of Exeter and Baron Montagu, and plotting with Cardinal Pole. Executed by beheading on Tower Hill on 8th March 1539. Chronicler Charles Wriothesley records that Carew’s body and head were buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, but Stanford Lehmberg notes that John Stow records his remains being interred at St Botolph’s, Aldgate, so they must have been moved. |