Execution Speeches

According to Thomas Wyatt, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford (brother of Anne Boleyn), said at his execution:-

“Trust in God, and not in the vanities of the world, for if I had so done, I think I had been alive as ye be now.

Men do common and say that I have been a setter-forth of the word of God and one that hath favoured the Gospel of Christ; and because I would not that God’s word should be slandered by me, I say unto you all that if I had followed God’s word in deed as I did read it ans set forth to my power, I had not come to this.

Truly and diligently did I read the gospel of Christ Jesus, but I turned not to profit that which I did read; the which had I done, of a surety I had not fallen into so great errors.

Wherefore I do beseech you all, for the love of our Lord God, that you do at all seasons hold by the truth, and speak it, and embrace it.”

Sir Francis Weston said at his execution:-

“I had thought to have lived in abomination yet this twenty or thirty years and then to have made amends. I thought little it would come to this.”

Wyatt reported that Sir Henry Norris “sayed almost nothinge at all” and that Sir William Brereton said:-

“I have deserved to die if it were a thousand deaths. But the cause whereof I die, judge not. But if ye judge, judge the best.”

Mark Smeaton did not retract his confession, but said:-

“Masters, I pray you all pray for me for I have deserved death.”

Anne Boleyn’s execution speech shows her dignity, courage and strong religious faith:-

“Good Christian people, I have not come here to preach a sermon; I have come here to die, for according to the law and by the law I am judged to die, and thereof I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never, and to me he was ever a good, a gentle, and sovereign lord.

And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.”

(Speeches taken from Joanna Denny’s “Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England’s Tragic Queen”)