Anne Boleyn's Trial Document

Up Close and Personal

Hello fellow history lover,

I promised I was leaving Anne Boleyn alone for a while but…I only went and saw her trial document up close at The National Archives! So, I will be telling you about my visit, which included much more than that.

Some of you may already know Dr Euan Roger. Euan was a speaker at The Wars of the Roses Online History Festival (which you can still purchase by clicking here) and has also appeared on many podcasts talking about his work including the fantastic ‘Treason’ exhibition and its accompanying book, which he co-curated/wrote.

Me with Dr Euan Roger

I was at the National Archives to interview Euan about his latest research into St George’s Chapel and College at Windsor, which will be the topic of his next book (that podcast will be available soon). Euan had also kindly asked if there was anything I would like to see while I was there! So I jumped at the chance, of course to see the trial document of Anne Boleyn which I had first seen behind glass at the ‘Treason’ exhibition.

So, I thought I knew what to expect….

Dr Euan Roger removing the trial document from its protective package

I’m not one for hyperbole so, when I tell you the following, know it is genuine. I had seen this document before, I had read transcripts in English (the original is in Latin) and so was familiar with what it said, so my reaction really surprised me!

I won’t pretend I cried (like other people apparently have pretended to do on seeing this in the past…on camera of course) but I was genuinely moved, and perturbed, to see the words which condemned Anne Boleyn and 5 other innocent victims of Henry VIII’s destructive nature, to death as traitors. There was something shocking about seeing the names, especially.

The most disturbing part, which Euan read out to me (translating in real time from the Latin) was the description of Anne supposed incest with her brother George, which is incredibly detailed and lewd. No one appears to have been concerned as to how this detail would be known without either of the supposed participants having described it themselves, but such was the way with this case! The accusations were purposely lewd - as I discussed with

Historical Snapshots

recently, so that it was difficult for anyone to challenge them without then being accused of condoning such behaviour. They also made conviction for the highest crime, that of Treason, an inevitability.

The Life of Anne Boleyn

More from my visit to The National Archives soon, including Henry VIII’s Will and the earliest account from the building of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

For paid subscribers - scroll down for close ups of the trial documents and the original bag within which the trial documents were kept!