Some of the men in the jury were: Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk - who was a well-known enemy of the Queen; Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland - although her former love, he was said to be bitter toward Anne in these days; Lord Clinton - husband of the King's former mistress Bessie Blount (the mother of the King's illegitimate son Henry FitzRoy); Henry Pole - a strong supporter of the Lady Mary (one of Anne's enemies); and many other men - all who were known to be good friends of the King, and some were good friends with or relatives of the Seymours as well.
All in all, this trial and jury did not bode well for Anne!
All we have left to remember this trial are eyewitness reports, seeing as no official record of the trial exists. Here is a report from a witness at the trial:
“And afterwards, Monday, 15 May, queen Anne comes to the bar before the Lord High Steward in the Tower, in the custody of Sir Will. Kingston, pleads not guilty, and puts herself on her peers; whereupon the said duke of Suffolk, marquis of Exeter, and other peers, are charged by the High Steward to say the truth; and being examined from the lowest peer to the highest, each of them severally saith that she is guilty.
Judgment:—To be taken to prison in the Tower, and then, at the King’s command, to the Green within the Tower, and there to be burned or beheaded as shall please the King.”
This attempt was in vain, because the jury was unanimous in their verdict that the Queen was guilty. She was stripped of her titles and crown and was officially known as a mere lady once more - though she would never see herself as such.
Then, her uncle the Duke of Norfolk gave the final sentence - reading aloud to Anne and everyone present, while tears reportedly fell down his face:
“Because thou hast offended against our sovereign the King’s Grace in committing treason against his person, and here attainted of the same, the law of the realm is this, that thou hast deserved death, and thy judgment is tis: that thou shalt be burned here within the Tower of London on the Green, else to have thy head smitten off, as the King’s pleasure shall be further known of the same.”
At this time, burning at the stake was the usual death for a female traitor, though beheading was thought of as a merciful way to die - as the amount of suffering and pain was lessened. Although Anne did not know how she was going to die, she was no longer left wondering about her fate. Interestingly, the Earl of Northumberland reportedly collapsed as her sentence was read out, and he had to be carried from the hall. Another woman who knew Anne shrieked out in horror. It was clear that people were incredibly shocked that the Queen would be killed. After Anne received the sentence (remaining composed the entire time), she addressed the court:
“My lords, I will not say your sentence is unjust, nor presume that my reasons can prevail against your convictions. I am willing to believe that you have sufficient reasons for what you have done; but then they must be other than those which have been produced in court, for I am clear of all the offences which you then laid to my charge. I have ever been a faithful wife to the King, though I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me, and the honours to which he raised me, merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal at all times. But God knows, and is my witness, that I have not sinned against him in any other way. Think not I say this in the hope to prolong my life, for He who saveth from death hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. Think not, however, that I am so bewildered in my mind as not to lay the honour of my chastity to heart now in mine extremity, when I have maintained it all my life long, much as ever queen did. I know these, my last words, will avail me nothing but for the justification of my chastity and honour. As for my brother and those others who are unjustly condemned, I would willingly suffer many deaths to deliver them, but since I see it so pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace and joy, where I will pray to God for the King and for you, my lords.”
This is a heart-wrenching speech, and Natalie Dormer gave a great performance delivering this speech in the form of her last confession to Archbishop Cranmer in The Tudors.
Once she finished her speech, Anne was escorted out of the hall and back to her lodgings in the Tower, there to await her death in a few days.
After Anne's trial, it was George's turn. It should come as no surprise that George was also sentenced to death - since the Queen had just been sentenced, the Jury obviously declared George guilty of the charges as well.
George would be executed along with the other men in two days, while Anne would be executed in four days.