The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn

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Authors: Robin Maxwell
me of weighty issues, timely news. I kissed him quickly, then taking from my waist a little lace and jewelled tablet, thrust it in his hands as a gift from me. He took the jewel and hung it round his neck.
    “I’ll wear it near my heart,” he said and kissed me. The kiss was lingering and might have led to sweeter things, but I pulled away and said, “Come calling when you’ve writ a poem for me in it, it won’t be hard …” I kissed his ear and smiled most wantonly. “Or will it?” Then lifting skirts and petticoats to show a bit of stockinged foot and ankle to his admiring eyes, I leapt away and into the wood.
    This night, by candlelight I found a quiet room and came to think. These things that Wyatt said, tho not my usual thoughts, do feel of some import and so I set them down in black and white in great detail, all the words I can remember. Time will tell if they are so, or nothing more or less than idle castle gossip.
    Yours faithfully,
    Anne
    2 May 1526
    Diary,
    When yesterday I dressed for May Day Revels, never did I dream the night would end with such portention. My frock — Maid Marion’s I mean — tho simple was quite elegant. Rough silk overdress in creamy white, fawn panels, sleeves embroidered thick with rosy trimming. The tight bodice cinched my waist to nothing, exposing bosom, shoulders, back.
    I let the Queen and other waiting women go ahead, claimed I’d left my headdress in our rooms and waited, watching courtly lords and ladies in their old style finery saunter down the garden path toward Shooters Hill. Hanging back I saw two hundred archers dressed in verdant velvet, line the forest path. Soon, I knew, Lord Benton playing Robyn Hoode would come with outstretched arms inviting all present “Come into the greenwood and see how outlaws live.”
    The Court assembled at the entrance of the wood and as rehearsed, the archers pulled back bows and let their arrows fly. But then when Robyn Hoode himself appeared a great cheer went up when it was known the outlaw was not Lord Benton, but the King himself! Great laughter and good cheer as Henry welcomed all and led them to his rustic grove. I waited then till all disappeared within the wall of trees. Waited till I heard the music wafting on the wind and knew the masque begun.
    As I hurried down the path I knew the other ladies would be whispering, “Where is Anne? She may not come. Who will play Maid Marion?” The time was ready. Robyn Hoode had battled sword and dagger with the Sheriffs men and climbed the tower where Marion would soon her self be revealed. I circled round, climbed the wooden stair to where the platform stage was set, pushed aside the startled lady who would take my place, and made my breathless entrance on the stage.
    Delighted gasps heard all round at my appearance, then suddenly I found my self face to face with His Majesty. He loomed so large, those blue and laughing eyes so bright, the smile so dazzling I felt the breath go out of me. He spoke his lines of love to Marion with bold and clever grace, and I spoke mine with equal elegance. Then he swept me up within his arms, my feet did lose the ground. I know ‘twas in the scripted play this close embrace, but I swear I felt the cod beneath the codpiece stir and when he kissed me, that too was most sincere.
    The masque went on to its finale, all were rejoiced, the actors gracious cheered. At play’s end the King was swept away by courtiers, the next event the joust to be prepared. I joined with other ladies at Queen Katherine’s side and felt her dark eyed searing stare. She must have seen the play was something more, her husband’s wandering eyes, his arms round my slender waist unlike her own thickening one, and hated me. But she said nothing, just went among her waiting ladies to the tiltyard hung with waving banners all of rainbow hue.
    My heart was beating fast, my mind aclutter and confused. Were the King’s attentions truly meant for me? Impossible, I thought, my

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