Sir Francis Weston and William Brereton – Anne Boleyn Week 2024 – Day 4

Both Norris and Brereton were the oldest amongst those who suffered and Smeaton was the youngest, possibly not more than twenty or even younger, and Weston was only twenty five in his prime and enjoying a wonderful life at court, he was married with a baby son and was in the kings special clique of friends, he had been at court like all members of the nobility from a young age, first he was a page then became a member of the kings bedchamber and at Queens Anne’s coronation he was made a knight of the bath, so he was popular with the king and queen, on the up so to speak, but his world came crashing down when he was arrested suddenly for being the queens lover and was later executed, all because of a chance conversation Anne recalled her having with him earlier, Cromwell had him brought in and arrested, whatever he felt how he felt is open to imagination, but he must have felt utterly astonished that the king would think he would ever betray him, and his thoughts must have turned to his wife and parents who would be dismayed at his incarceration, it was very dangerous to betray the king with his wife and why should this young man do that when he enjoyed his trust and friendship? Why ruin his career? Cromwell needed no more scapegoats however he had enough men in the Tower by now but a Sir Richard Page was brought in and Sir Thomas Wyatt, these two were merely it is thought brought in just so they could be released, and therefore make Cromwells investigations look more thorough, William Brereton was also married with two sons and he too enjoyed special privileges at court, these men had not long to live and must have spent their last few days on earth trying to clear up loose ends, George Boleyn was worried about the debts he incurred and Weston wrote a letter to his parents and wife, these men’s families must have believed in their innocence, it is very sad to know these poor men were sentenced to lose their lives just so the king could get a new wife, there was no excuse for this soon to be slaughter and Henry V111 deep down knew it, he knew these men were honourable men close friends, but his need for a son over rode how he felt about them, indeed he probably not worried about their predicament too much, he had other things to think about, his planned nuptials for one!