Francis Weston

Sir Francis Weston

KB
Portrait believed to be of Sir Francis Weston, by unknown artist
Born c. 1511
Died 17 May 1536 (aged 24–25)
Tower Hill, London
Cause of death Execution by Beheading
Resting place Tower of London, London, England
51.508611°N 0.076944°W / 51.508611; -0.076944
Occupation Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Henry VIII
Spouse Anne Pickering
Children Henry Weston
Parent(s) Sir Richard Weston
Anne Sandys
Relatives Sir William Weston
Arms of Weston: Ermine, on a chief azure five bezants

Sir Francis Weston KB (1511 – 17 May 1536) was a gentleman of the Privy Chamber at the court of King Henry VIII of England. He became a friend of the king but was later accused of high treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn, the king's second wife. Weston was condemned to death, together with George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, Henry Norris, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton. They were all executed on 17 May 1536, two days before Anne Boleyn suffered a similar fate.

Origins

He was the only son of Sir Richard Weston (1465–1541), KB, of Ufton Court in Berkshire and Sutton Place in Surrey, a prominent courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII as Governor of Guernsey, Treasurer of Calais and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer. His mother was Anne Sandys, a daughter of Oliver Sandys of Shere in the parish of Dorking in Surrey. His uncle was Sir William Weston (died 1540), the last Prior of the Order of St John in England, deemed Premier Baron of England. His ancestors had long held high office in the Knights Hospitallers.

Career

In 1526, aged only fifteen, he was listed as a page at court. Although he was twenty years younger than the King, he quickly became a minor member of the King's circle, listed as beating Henry at bowls, tennis, dice, and other games. In 1532 he was made a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, giving him close access to the King. Other honours followed, including becoming a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Anne Boleyn in 1533.

Marriage and children

In 1530, he married Anne Pickering, a daughter to Sir Christopher Pickering of Killington in Cumberland. An oak marriage chest with carved heads of Francis and Anne is preserved in Saffron Walden Museum in Essex. Following Francis's execution in 1536, Anne remarried to Sir Henry Knyvet (1510–1547) of Charlton in Wiltshire, Master of the Jewel Office. By Anne, he had a son and a daughter:

Arrest

Once arrested, Anne Boleyn was attended by four unsympathetic ladies, who had been instructed by the King's chief minister Thomas Cromwell to report on the Queen's actions. Anne told one of these ladies, Mrs. Coffin, that she had reprimanded Weston for flirting with Madge Shelton, who was betrothed to his fellow courtier Henry Norris. When Anne had wondered aloud to Weston why Norris had not yet married Madge, Weston replied, "[Norris] came more to her [Anne's] chamber for her than for Madge." Ironically Weston was not arrested until a day or two after Anne. The first indication that he was involved in this was in a letter from Sir William Kingston to Cromwell, giving the details of Anne’s converstations after her arrest.

Execution

Francis was executed at the age of twenty-five after being accused of committing adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn, treason and plotting to kill the king. He vehemently denied the charges and protested his innocence but it made no difference. In addition, the evidence supporting the accusations against him is dubious. Even his father is said to have offered all the family had in order to gain a pardon for his son but all to no avail. The family trying to save Francis is was backed up by Lancelot de Carle who wrote “no one dared plead for him [Weston]except his mother, who, oppressed with grief, petitioned the King, and his wife [Weston’s wife], who offered rents and goods for his deliverance”.

Francis was beheaded on Tower Hill on 17 May 1536 along with his co-accused, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford; William Brereton; Henry Norris and Mark Smeaton.