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Person    | Female  Born 1505  Died 13/2/1542

Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford

Categories: Execution

Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford

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.

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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...

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Tower scaffold - 1946

See Anne Boleyn's plaque for when/how this plaque was displayed.

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Other Subjects

Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard

As lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves Catherine attracted Henry's ever-roving eye.  Anne was dumped (via the annulment method) and the obese, 49-year old Henry married the 20-year old Catherine.  Sh...

Person, Execution, Royalty, Seriously Famous

3 memorials
Sebastian Newdigate

Sebastian Newdigate

Monk at London Charterhouse.  Newdigate was a personal friend of Henry VIII. The king visited him twice in prison but Newdigate refused to change his views. Executed at Tyburn.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Robert Salte

Robert Salte

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Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial
Sir Robert Hales

Sir Robert Hales

Born Kent.  Lord/Grand Prior of the Knights Hospitallers of England.  As Lord High Treasurer he was responsible for collecting the poll tax. Bad timing for him since the Peasants Revolted, stormed ...

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Thomas Fust

Thomas Fust

Burnt at the stake in Ware (his home town) for his Protestant beliefs. Was associated with Harwood. Condemned by Bishop Bonner.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial