He believed her, though these four pretended lovers of the queen, who were executed for their crime, all, with the exception of a single one, asseverated that Anne Boleyn was innocent, and that they had never been in her presence.
The only one who accused the queen of illicit intercourse with him was James Smeaton, a musician.

[Footnote: Tytler.] But he had been promised his life for this confession.

However, it was not thought advisable to keep this promise, for fear that, when confronted with the queen, he might not have the strength to sustain his assertion.

But not to be altogether unthankful to him for so useful a confession, they showed him the favor of not executing him with the axe, but the more agreeable and easier death of hanging was vouchsafed to him.[Footnote: Burnet, vol.i, p.

205.] "So the fair and lovely Anne Boleyn must lay her head upon the block.
The day on which this took place, the king had ordered a great hunt, and early that morning we rode out to Epping Forest.