Short answers, pulled from the story.
Mark Smeaton was a 16th century court musician born to a carpenter and a seamstress. His surname likely derived from Flemish-French roots like de Smet or de Smedt. He began his career singing in Cardinal Wolsey's choir before transferring to Henry VIII's Chapel Royal.
Thomas Cromwell ordered Mark Smeaton's arrest on the 30th of April 1536 following reports of his conversation with the Queen. Smeaton spent the night at Cromwell's house in Stepney before being sent to the Tower of London at 6 pm on the 1st of May.
Queen Mary I later convinced herself that Princess Elizabeth was illegitimate due to an affair between Mark Smeaton and Anne Boleyn. These claims died with Mary since Elizabeth's lineage could not be successfully challenged by such arguments. The accusation served primarily as political ammunition against Elizabeth during Mary's reign.
Gary Bond portrayed Mark Smeaton in the 1969 film Anne of the Thousand Days depicting torture by Cromwell's henchmen. Michael Osborne played him in the second episode of The Six Wives of Henry VIII in 1971 showing a knotted rope twisted onto his eyes.
Hilary Mantel fleshed out Mark Smeaton as a character in her novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Her stories show him manipulated into confession through intimidation tactics orchestrated by Cromwell. Historical accuracy varies across these works depending on whether they prioritize dramatic tension over documented facts.