Did Anne Boleyn actually commit adultery, or was she framed?

by AlwaysBi
AzurasStar

Almost certainly she was framed. The charges at the time were basically known to be false, but it was the Kings wish to have her executed and the court was determined to pull that off for him. Especially Thomas Cromwell, the privy seal, who was getting quite sick of Anne and her outspoken ways. Henry was celebrating Anne's death while she was alive, it was shocking how he proudly claimed to be a cuckold whilst knowing how weak it made him look. He was at parties on boats and dinners with court ladies like his next wife Seymour while Anne was in the tower awaiting trial. In his mind she is already guilty.

Cromwell first interviewed a young man named Smeaton. There is evidence that Smeaton was tortured for his confession that he slept with Anne. Young and tortured Smeaton was the only one of the accused men to "confess".

Anne swore on the sacrament she was not guilty. She did so twice, in front of the Archbishop. She risked what she fully believed to be her heavenly soul several times to say that she was innocent. For such a religious woman to do that when it isn't true would be shocking and unlikely. But perhaps the desperate actions of a dying woman.

Then consider that the men who were tried were tried before Anne, and so if they were guilty Anne was too. Even when the evidence showed the men and Anne were often not in the same place when these meetings were supposed to take place, the court had previously decided Anne's guilt. Henry had most likely sent for the swordsman of Calais to come to England and execute her before she was even tried, given how soon he was able to reach England.

The final piece that speaks to her innocence is the theatrical, taunting nature of her execution. Her beloved brother was accused of sleeping with her on the basis they had spent 1 hour alone in her chambers. Given that her brother was her closest confidante, and one of the only men she was allowed to speak with in private, the charges made no sense. It was likely he was included to ensure a clean slate for Henry 8th and his new family once Anne was gone. Her brother presented a wonderful case at the trial, and was found guilty nonetheless.

The swordsman himself was a taunt. Anne could have been mistaken for a french woman as she was raised there from either 6 or 14 years old depending on her birth (likely 14). Having a french executioner with a sword did guarantee a clean, not-pr-disaster execution of the Queen, but there are English men who can use a sword. They were also visiting calias just before they were married and could have conceived Elizabeth there.

All in all, I think Anne Boleyn was undoubtedly innocent and I think many people at the time even knew this. It was more about getting rid of Anne through whatever means necessary than finding the truth.