The Gossip, the Murmuring, the Speed: Henry VIII and Jane Seymour in 1536

On 20th May 1536, just one day after Anne Boleyn’s execution, Henry VIII became formally betrothed to Jane Seymour. Even by Tudor standards, many saw the speed of the relationship as shocking and unseemly. In this off-the-cuff video, I explore the gossip and murmuring at court following Anne’s fall, ask why Henry was in such a desperate hurry, and consider whether fears of pregnancy may have played a role. I also reflect on what the atmosphere at court must have been like after the sudden destruction of the Boleyn faction — Anne gone, George Boleyn dead, courtiers executed, and two men still imprisoned in the Tower. How did people react? What did they really think? And what did this sudden betrothal reveal about Henry VIII? #HenryVIII #JaneSeymour #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #Tudors #OnThisDay #History