Born Jane Parker, a distant relative of Henry VIII, she became a lady-in-waiting to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and to quite a few of those that followed. Married Anne Boleyn’s brother, George, and later, when Anne was an unwanted wife and George and Anne were accused of incest, Jane gave evidence against her husband. Consequently George was beheaded on Tower Hill along with four other men also accused of adultery with Anne. A few years later when Henry needed to get rid of another wife, Anne of Cleves, Jane again provided useful evidence. When Catherine Howard (number 5) needed a go-between to facilitate her liaisons with Thomas Culpeper Jane stepped into the role. But the affair was discovered and all involved and some that weren't, were imprisoned. Jane appeared to suffer a nervous breakdown and was declared insane which ought to have saved her life but Henry changed the law to allow the execution of the insane and so Jane was beheaded at Tower Green, immediately after Catherine.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford
Commemorated ati
Tower of London execution site
Catling wrote the poem as well as creating the sculpture. Doesn't that cushio...
Other Subjects
Tyburn tree
The first recorded execution here was the hanging of the champion of London's poor, William Fitz Osbern in 1196. Back then there may have been a real tree but in 1571 the 'Tyburn Tree' was erected....
Joan Warne
Burnt at the stake in Smithfield for her Protestant beliefs. Daughter of Elizabeth.
Henry Courtenay, Earl of Devon
Grandson of King Edward IV. 1st Marquess of Exeter. Accused of Catholic loyalties when this was not in favour. Executed by decapitation with a sword on Tower Hill. We have taken his dates from t...
John Denley
Protestant martyr. He was believed to have been a Baptist, which was rather dangerous in the reign of Mary I. Whilst returning from a visit to Maidstone, he was stopped by Edmund Tyrell, a justice ...
William, Lord Hastings
An important man in the court of Edward IV, rising to the position of Lord Chamberlain. On the king’s death he supported his brother, the later Richard III, but something was not to Richard’s liki...
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