Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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Paternal Family Tree: Smythe
In 1755 [her father] Walter Smythe [aged 34] and [her mother] Mary Ann Errington [aged 20] were married.
On 26th July 1756 Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" was born to Walter Smythe [aged 36] and Mary Ann Errington [aged 21] at Tong Castle, Shropshire [Map].
In 1763 [her future husband] Edward Weld [aged 21] and Juliana Petre [aged 23] were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square.
In 16th July 1775 Edward Weld [aged 33] and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 18] were married. He died three months later.
On 23rd October 1775 [her husband] Edward Weld [aged 34] died from a fall from a horse. He had failed to sign his will so his estate, including Stonyhurst, went to his brother [her brother-in-law] Thomas [aged 25]. His widow Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 19] was left nothing.
On 24th June 1778 Thomas Fitzherbert [aged 31] and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 21] were married.
On 7th May 1781 [her husband] Thomas Fitzherbert [aged 34] died. His widow Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 24] was left an annuity of £1000.
On 15th December 1785 King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 23] and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 29] were married secretly in the drawing room of her house in Park Street, London; her third marriage, his first. The marriage was invalid under English civil law because his father had not given his consent. Her uncle Henry Errington and her brother John Smythe were witnesses. The ceremony was performed by one of the prince's Chaplains in Ordinary, the Reverend Robert Burt, whose debts of £500 were paid by the prince to release him from Fleet Prison [Map] to preside at the ceremony.. He the son of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 47] and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 41].
On 14th January 1788 [her father] Walter Smythe [aged 68] died.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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Before 23rd August 1792 Joshua Reynolds [aged 69]. Portrait of Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 36].
On 4th April 1793 [her brother-in-law] Prince Augustus Frederick Hanover 1st Duke Sussex [aged 20] and Augusta Murray Duchess Sussex [aged 25] were married at Rome, Italy [Map] in secret contrary to the Royal Marriages Act which required him to seek permission before marrying. She the daughter of John Murray 4th Earl Dunmore [aged 63] and Charlotte Stewart Countess Dunmore [aged 63]. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 54] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 48].
In 1794 Georgiana Cottin Baroness Tabley was born to Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Cottin [aged 23] and Lavinia Chambers. Her god-parents were the [her husband] Prince of Wales [aged 31] and Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 37]. She married (1) 9th November 1810 John Fleming Leicester 1st Baron Tabley, son of Peter Leicester 4th Baronet and Catherine Fleming, and had issue (2) 10th July 1828 Reverend Frederick Leicester.
In August 1794 [her brother-in-law] Prince Augustus Frederick Hanover 1st Duke Sussex [aged 21] and Augusta Murray Duchess Sussex [aged 26] marriage annulled by the Court of Arches which deemed the marriage contrary to the Royal Marriages Act. The couple continued to live together until 1801 when they separated. She received a grant of £4000 each year and custody of their children.
On 8th April 1795 [her husband] King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 32] and Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [aged 26] were married at Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 56] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 50]. They were first cousins. She a great granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
On 24th April 1799 [her brother-in-law] Edward Augustus Hanover 1st Duke Kent and Strathearn [aged 31] was created 1st Duke Kent and Strathearn.
Around 1800 [her mother] Mary Ann Errington [aged 65] died.
In 1801 [her brother-in-law] Adolphus Hanover 1st Duke Cambridge [aged 26] was created 1st Duke Cambridge.
On 24th November 1801 [her brother-in-law] Prince Augustus Frederick Hanover 1st Duke Sussex [aged 28] was created 1st Duke Sussex. Augusta Murray Duchess Sussex [aged 33] by marriage Duchess Sussex.
On 21st September 1808 Charles Cavendish-Bentinck [aged 28] and [her step-daughter] Georgiana Augusta Frederica Seymour [aged 26] were married. She the daughter of [her husband] King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 46] and Grace Elliott. He the son of William Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke Portland [aged 70] and Dorothy Cavendish 3rd Duchess Portland.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 10th December 1813 [her step-daughter] Georgiana Augusta Frederica Seymour [aged 31] died.
In 1815 [her brother-in-law] Ernest Augustus King Hanover [aged 43] and Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover [aged 36] were married. She by marriage Duchess Cumberland and Teviotdale. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 76] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 70]. They were first cousins.
On 22nd July 1816 William Frederick Hanover 2nd Duke Gloucester and Edinburgh [aged 40] and [her sister-in-law] Mary Hanover Duchess Gloucester and Edinburgh [aged 40] were married at St James's Palace [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Gloucester and Edinburgh. She the daughter of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 78] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 72]. He the son of William Henry Hanover 1st Duke Gloucester and Edinburgh and Maria Walpole Duchess Gloucester and Edinburgh. They were first cousins. He a great grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
On 29th May 1818 [her brother-in-law] Edward Augustus Hanover 1st Duke Kent and Strathearn [aged 50] and Marie Luise Victoria Saxe Coburg Gotha Duchess Kent and Strathearn [aged 31] were married at Ehrenburg Palace. She by marriage Duchess Kent and Strathearn. She the daughter of Francis Saxe Coburg Gotha I Duke Saxe Coburg Gotha and Augusta Reuss Duchess Saxe Coburg Gotha [aged 61]. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 79] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 74]. They were third cousin once removed.
On 1st June 1818 [her brother-in-law] Adolphus Hanover 1st Duke Cambridge [aged 44] and Princess Augusta Hesse-Kassel Duchess Cambridge [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Duchess Cambridge. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 79] and [her mother-in-law] Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [aged 74]. They were second cousins. She a great granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
On 11th July 1818 [her brother-in-law] King William IV of the United Kingdom [aged 52] and Queen Adelaide of England [aged 25] were married at Kew, Surrey. She by marriage Duchess Clarence and St Andrews. The difference in their ages was 26 years. He the son of [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 80].
On 23rd January 1820 [her brother-in-law] Edward Augustus Hanover 1st Duke Kent and Strathearn [aged 52] died at Woolbrook Cottage Sidmouth, Devon.
On 29th January 1820 [her father-in-law] King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 81] died at Windsor Castle [Map]. His reign the third longest after Victoria and Elizabeth II. His son [her husband] George [aged 57] succeeded IV King Great Britain and Ireland. Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [aged 51] by marriage Queen Consort England.
On 26th June 1830 [her husband] King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 67] died. His brother [her brother-in-law] William [aged 64] succeeded IV King Great Britain and Ireland. Duke Clarence and St Andrews merged with the Crown. Queen Adelaide of England [aged 37] by marriage Queen Consort England.
He was attended by Jonathan Wathen Phipps aka Waller 1st Baronet [aged 60].
On 27th March 1837 Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert" [aged 80] died.
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 26 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Franks: Great x 29 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Smythe 1st Baronet
GrandFather: John Smythe 3rd Baronet
Father: Walter Smythe
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Blount 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Blount 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Blount 2nd Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: George Blount
GrandMother: Constantia Blount
Great x 1 Grandmother: Constantia Cary
Maria Anne Smythe aka "Mrs Fitzherbert"
GrandFather: John Errington
Mother: Mary Ann Errington
GrandMother: Maria Levey