The beginning of the excerpts, here, seems to show his
definite bias against Boleyn, who he called, in his dispatches, “the concubine”
and still worse. It would not appear from the historical record that Londoners joyously
awaited her execution. The “inhabitants” of which he wrote were surely those
who hoped her death might begin a return to the Catholic fold.
The one person who was definitely feeling joyous was
King Henry. This we need not think a biased representation.
The description excerpted here gives us a genuine picture, from
the perspective described, of the life going on around Anne during her
imprisonment. At least it is likely to report in a balanced fashion what the
ambassador had seen and mostly heard. Much of it is confirmed by other historical
sources.
Eustace Chapuys to Charles V, London, 19 May 1530.
I cannot well describe the great joy the inhabitants of this
city have lately experienced and manifested, not only at the fall and ruin of
the concubine, but at the hope that the Princess will be soon reinstated in her
rights. I must say, however, that as yet the King has shown no intention of
bringing about the said reinstatement, but has on the contrary obstinately
refused to contemplate it, on the two different occasions that his Privy
Council has spoken about it. I hear, nevertheless, from many authentic
quarters, that even before the arrest of the concubine, and when speaking to mistress
Jane Seymour about their future marriage, the lady proposed to him to replace
the Princess in her former position; and on the King telling her that she must
be out of her senses to think of such a thing, and that she ought to study the
welfare and exaltation of her own children, if she had any by him, instead of
looking out for the good of others, the said Jane Seymour replied that in
soliciting the Princess reinstatement she thought she was asking for the good,
the repose, and tranquillity of himself, of the children they themselves might
have, and of the kingdom in general, inasmuch as should the reinstatement not
take place, neither Your Majesty nor the English people would be satisfied, and
the ruin and desolation of the country would inevitably ensue.
Such a wish on the part of the said lady is very commendable
indeed, and I purpose using all means in my power in keeping her to her good
intentions. I also mean to go to the King about it, two or three days hence,
and visit one by one the members of his Privy Council, and if I can personally,
or by means of my friends, influence some of the lords and gentlemen who have
been summoned for the next Parliament—which is to meet on the 8th of next
month—I shall not fail to do so, for I really believe there will be a question
of excluding the little bastard [Elizabeth] from the succession to the Crown,
and praying this King to marry again. It should be observed that in the
meantime, and in order to conceal from the public his love for Jane Seymour, the
King has made her reside seven miles from this city, at the house of the Grand
Squire, a rumour having been previously spread among the public that the King
has not the least wish of marrying again unless he be actually urged to it by
his subjects. Many messages, moreover, have I already received from various
members to the effect that at the meeting of Parliament they will uphold, at
the peril of their lives, the Princess [Mary's] rights.
On the afternoon of the very day on which the concubine was
lodged in the Tower, as the duke of Richmond went to his father, King, to ask
for his blessing, according to the latter said with tears, that both he and his
sister, meaning the Princess [Mary], ought to thank God for having escaped from
the hands of that woman, who had planned their death by poison, from which I
conclude that the King knew something of her wicked intentions.
*
*
*
People speak variously about the King, and certainly the
slander will not cease when they hear of what passed and is passing between him
and his new mistress, Jane Seymour. Already it sounds badly in the ears of the
public that the King, after such ignominy and discredit as the concubine has
brought on his head, should manifest more joy and pleasure now, since her arrest
and trial, than he has ever done on other occasions, for he has daily gone out
to dine here and there with ladies, and sometimes has remained with them till
after midnight.
*
*
*
The concubine herself is to be beheaded without fail to morrow,
or on Friday, at the latest, and I have my reasons for saying that the King is
very impatient, and would have liked the execution to have already taken place;
for the day before Anne's condemnation he sent the Grand Squire and many others
in quest of Mistress Seymour, and made her come to within one mile of his own
residence, where she is being splendidly entertained and served by cooks and
officers of the royal household. And I have been told by one of her female
relatives, who dined with her on the morning of the very day of Anne's
condemnation, that the King sent her a message to say, that at three, in the
afternoon of that day, she would receive news of the sentence, and so it was,
for he despatched Master Briant in all haste to give her the intelligence. So
that to all appearances there cannot be the least doubt that, the King will
soon take the said Seymour to wife, some people believing, and even asserting,
that the marriage settlements have already been drawn up.
Source: Calendar of Letters, Despatches, and State Papers…
Spain. Henry VIII. Volume V, Pt. II. 1536-1538. 124ff.
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