Expert: Joseph Logue - 1/15/2009

Question
Hello,
  I was hoping you can give me your opinion on the queen's last words; Tudor Chronicler Edward Hall gave this Account

'Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it.  I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord.  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.  O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.'

While john Stow provided us with this version.

Masters, I here humbly submit me to the law, as the law hath judged me, and as for mine offences, God knoweth them, I remit them to God, beseeching him to have mercy on my soul; and I beseech Jesus save my Sovereign and master the King, the most goodliest, and gentlest Prince that is, and long to reign over you

Who would you trust as the reliable source; the Tudor chronicler or the later account. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

cassius

Answer
Hello Cassisus,

Tough one.  The chronicler is usually given more credence I believe, but my knowledge of the Tudors as supreme propagandists leads me to be doubtful.  It is an interesting fact that while the throne was actively seeking her death, they sought to show Anne in a good light, at least for the reflected glory of a good Christian woman meeting her fate with bravery.  The latter quote seems unlikely as there was little chance that someone was writing everything down that would survive until Stow put pen to paper.

The main thing to doubt is that Anne never really uttered any other speech of importance, so this scaffold eloquence is rather remarkable.  Still a young woman at the time of her death, both speeches seem to be the words of a calm and collected woman, not one who was sent to the axe with little to condemn her.

On the other hand, swift and and horrible death was a consequence of powerful games being played, so a modicum of resignation to one's fate should not be unexpected.  

If one is to believe either, then it is probably best to believe that both capture the spirit of her last words, but that neither can be confirmed.

Joseph Logue