Questions about Épistre Contenant le Procès Criminel Faict à l'Encontre de la Royne Anne Boullant d'Angleterre
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote the Epistre Contenant le Proces Criminel Faict a l'Encontre de la Royne Anne Boullant d'Angleterre?
Lancelot de Carle wrote the poem in 1536. He was the secretary to Antoine de Castelnau, the French ambassador to England, and was an eyewitness to Anne Boleyn's trial and execution in London.
What is the Epistre Contenant le Proces Criminel about?
The poem details the life and the events surrounding the arrest, trial, and execution of Anne Boleyn and the men accused with her in 1536. It runs to 1,318 lines and was written in French.
When was the Epistre Contenant le Proces Criminel written and published?
Lancelot de Carle dated the poem the 2nd of June 1536, shortly after Anne Boleyn's execution. It was not published until 1545, though it circulated widely in manuscript before that date.
Who were the men executed alongside Anne Boleyn in 1536?
The men executed with Anne Boleyn were Mark Smeaton, a royal household musician; courtiers Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, and William Brereton; and George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, who was Anne's brother. All were convicted of treason and adultery with the queen.
What language was the Epistre Contenant le Proces Criminel written in?
The poem was written in French. Its full title translates into English as A Letter Containing the Criminal Charges Laid Against Queen Anne Boleyn of England.
Was Lancelot de Carle present at Anne Boleyn's trial and execution?
Yes. De Carle was in London in May 1536 as secretary to the French ambassador, and the poem's account is that of an eyewitness to both Anne's trial and her execution.