“And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus, I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.”
Thus, on 19th May, 1536, when England displayed a riot of spring blossoms,
Anne Boleyn went to her death by the executioner’s sword. Nearly five hundred years later, this extraordinary woman captivates us still, and we cannot read enough about her tumultuous years with King Henry.
But what about the years before she met him? Anne, it seems, had a full, happy life in Norfolk, Kent, Mechelen, in the Low Countries, and France – long before she came to the English court. And yet we allow ourselves to become so preoccupied with her love affair with Henry, that we overlook her formative years. The very years that, through training at foreign courts, made Anne who she was.
So, if you are curious about how Anne ‘became Anne’ and wish to understand the woman better by seeking out the girl, then here is a fabulous opportunity to do just that. In this beautiful month of May, what could be nicer than sitting in a garden (hopefully full of cherry blossom) and reading about Anne’s remarkable journey towards a crown.
Do grab this bargain whilst it’s available. Hopefully, I have ‘judged the best.’But that is for you to decide…!
