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| From www.bn.com |
As with most medieval women, little is definitively known at Jane Parker. She was most likely born at her father's main house of Great Hallingbury between 1500-1510, the daughter of a wealthy peer who owned land in several counties. She was educated according to her noble birth and potential as a noble bride. Sources place her receiving a finished education at the English court and even attending the Field of the Cloth of Gold ceremonies in 1520. Eventually, she was betrothed to Lord George Boleyn, a nobleman by birth whose family owned estates neighboring the Parker properties in different counties, and they were married presumably in her home parish.
Jane spent most of her adult life at court serving Henry VIII's first five wives. She was obviously aligned with Anne Boleyn and the faction that supported her to the throne. Unfortunately, Julia Fox doesn't have much information about Jane specifically and groups her actions at the times in with the Boleyn family. She rose with her husband to the apex of court as the in-laws to the King himself and enjoyed all the riches that entailed. Jane's world came crashing down after Anne miscarried for the final time, and Henry's affection alighted elsewhere. Anne's closest friends and family were arrested or interogated, including Jane. History paints her as a jealous wife whose testimony damned her husband and sister-in-law to a traitor's death. Sadly, no records of the interrogations or trials really exist, but Jane probably provided nothing sensational, just a unknowing confirmation of events that were being used to build the case. Anne and George were convicted on charges of treason and executed in 1536, only three years after Anne's marriage to Henry.
Jane managed to recover rather quickly from her husband's death as a traitor. She petitioned for and received her widow's jointure (or salary) from her father-in-law and managed to secure a place in the train of the new queen, Jane Seymour. After the queen's death, Jane eventually was selected to serve Anne of Cleves. Interestingly enough, Jane once again testified on the state of the royal marriage bed which is believed to have contributed to the quick annulment. Jane transitioned to the household of her kinswoman and final queen, Katherine Howard.
Jane's fall from power was as dramatic as her rise. Katherine was accused of adultery after her marriage to the king, and Jane was believed to have played some role in arranging the trysts. Jane's cooperation have saved her twice before, but her third time wouldn't be so charmed. Jane and Katherine were executed for treason six years after Anne and George Boleyn met the same fate. All four are buried in St. Peter ad Vincula Chapel in the Tower of London.
Jane's story is a sad one: her life was marked by ambition and tragedy. She lost her husband and her own life due to the lust and whims of one man, the King of England. History has branded her as a woman who betrayed her husband and unjustly so.
My mom bought this book for me a few years back. I thought it was fiction, until of course started reading it. I do remember enjoying it, but besides that not a lot stands out to me. I read it before I started blogging, otherwise I'd love to be able to go back and read my review to see what I thought when reading it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started it, it seemed like fiction to me, too. Alison Weir (another Tudor biographer) describes Julia Fox as an apologist, which I think is very accurate.
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