On this day in 1536, the final arrests were made in the fall of Anne Boleyn.
By the 5th of May 1536, the dramatic and swift collapse of Queen Anne Boleyn’s world had entered its next devastating phase. Two more men (Sir Thomas Wyatt and Sir Richard Page) were arrested, bringing the number of those imprisoned in the Tower of London to seven.
The Arrest of Sir Thomas Wyatt
Wyatt was a court poet, diplomat, and a man with personal history linked to Anne Boleyn. Before her rise to queenship, Wyatt is believed to have admired Anne, perhaps even loved her. He had written verses hinting at unrequited affection and lost chances, and these poems have long intrigued historians.
Still, their past connection was not enough to secure his downfall. Though he was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower, Wyatt would ultimately escape execution. Whether it was lack of evidence or favour from powerful friends, he survived the storm that destroyed so many others.
The Arrest of Sir Richard Page
Less is known about Richard Page’s specific involvement. A former gentleman of the Privy Chamber and a trusted figure at court, Page’s inclusion suggests just how wide Cromwell was casting his net. He, too, would eventually be released, but not before enduring the fear and humiliation of Tower imprisonment.
The Tower Fills
By this point, seven men had been arrested and implicated in charges of adultery and treason with the Queen: Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, George Boleyn, Francis Weston, William Brereton, Thomas Wyatt, and Richard Page. For now, only Smeaton had confessed, and under duress, but that didn’t matter. A case was being built. A queen was being dismantled.
Anne Boleyn, once at the very centre of power, now stood surrounded by ruin. Friends, family, admirers, and allies were locked away. The end was coming fast.
