Épistre Contenant le Procès Criminel Faict à l'Encontre de la Royne Anne Boullant d'Angleterre
May 1536 arrived in London with a heavy political weight. The court of Henry VIII was gripped by fear and suspicion. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of the king, faced charges that would end her life. Her brother George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, stood accused alongside her. Four other men joined the list of the condemned. Mark Smeaton served as a musician within the royal household. Henry Norris held the title of courtier. Sir Francis Weston and William Brereton also faced execution for treason and adultery. The atmosphere in England shifted from celebration to dread during these weeks.
Lancelot de Carle stood among the crowd watching history unfold. He served as secretary to Antoine de Castelnau, the French ambassador to England. De Carle remained in London while the trial took place. His presence allowed him to witness the proceedings firsthand. He saw Queen Anne face her accusers in the Tower of London. He watched the executions of the five men charged with crimes against the crown. This direct observation formed the core of his later writing. No one else could claim such immediate access to the events.
The poem contains exactly 1,318 lines of verse. It was written entirely in the French language. Lancelot de Carle composed this work on the 2nd of June 1536. The text details the life of Anne Boleyn before her arrest. It describes the dramatic events surrounding her trial and death. The structure follows a narrative flow rather than a poetic rhyme scheme typical of the era. Critics note the specific line count as a marker of its length. The choice of French reflects the diplomatic context of the time.
Although the poem did not appear in print until 1545, it circulated widely earlier. Copies moved through private hands among European readers. Manuscript versions existed before the official publication date. These handwritten copies allowed the story to spread across borders quickly. Readers in France and other nations received these texts within years of their creation. The circulation suggests high interest in the fate of Queen Anne. De Carle's account reached audiences long before any printer touched the page.
The first printed edition appeared in 1545, nearly a decade after composition. This publication made the text available to a broader public audience. Today, the original manuscript resides at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Scholars can access the document there for research purposes. The archive preserves the historical record of this unique poem. Its survival offers insight into Tudor history from an outsider perspective. The location ensures the work remains protected for future generations.
Common questions
What charges were brought against Anne Boleyn in May 1536?
Anne Boleyn faced charges of treason and adultery that led to her execution. Her brother George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, stood accused alongside her along with four other men including Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, and William Brereton.
Who wrote the poem detailing the trial of Anne Boleyn on the 2nd of June 1536?
Lancelot de Carle composed this work entirely in French language on the 2nd of June 1536 while serving as secretary to Antoine de Castelnau. He witnessed the proceedings firsthand from London where he observed Queen Anne face her accusers in the Tower of London.
How many lines does the poem about Anne Boleyn contain and what language is it written in?
The poem contains exactly 1,318 lines of verse written entirely in the French language. Critics note the specific line count as a marker of its length since the structure follows a narrative flow rather than a poetic rhyme scheme typical of the era.
When did the first printed edition of the Anne Boleyn poem appear after its composition date?
The first printed edition appeared in 1545 nearly a decade after composition by Lancelot de Carle. Although the poem circulated widely earlier through private hands among European readers manuscript versions existed before the official publication date.
Where is the original manuscript of the Anne Boleyn poem located today for research purposes?
Today the original manuscript resides at the Bibliothèque nationale de France where scholars can access the document there for research purposes. The archive preserves the historical record of this unique poem ensuring the work remains protected for future generations.
All sources
4 references cited across the entry
- 1newsThe Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison WeirJohn Guy — 1 November 2009
- 2journalWhy Did Anne Boleyn Have to DieSuzannah Lipscomb — April 2013
- 3webLetters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIIIBritish-history.ac.uk
- 4bookEncyclopedia of Tudor EnglandSusan Walters Schmid — ABC-CLIO — 2012