On 4th May 1536, a further two members of the King’s privy chamber were arrested and taken to the Tower of London: Sir Francis Weston and Sir William Brereton. Weston’s arrest was predictable, coming after the Queen’s ramblings about him telling her he loved her, but Anne had not mentioned Brereton and he was not close to her.
Perhaps Brereton’s arrest had more to do with his power in North Wales and his likely opposition to Cromwell’s plans for reform there.
Trivia: Contrary to his portrayal in The Tudors series, Sir William Brereton was not a Jesuit priest hired by the Pope to kill Anne Boleyn, he was a groom of the privy chamber and someone who Eric Ives describes as “the dominant royal servant in Cheshire and north Wales”.
Also on this day in 1536, Lady Jane Rochford, wife of George Boleyn, sent a message of comfort to her husband in the Tower. She told him of how she would petition the King’s council on his behalf. George replied, giving her thanks.
Did Anne become aware that her comments about Weston was the cause of his arrest? If so what a awful burden for her to have, as well as what she was facing herself, it is no wonder she had hysterical out-bursts. I can only imagine, but in situations such as these the worst thing must have been the waiting and the inability to do anything or see anyone, a combinded feeling of being helpless and hopeless, so tragic..