Assisting Anne
In October 1534 when Henry VIII was unfaithful to Anne Boleyn, Anne asked Jane to help her remove the King's mistress and replace her with Madge Shelton, Anne's cousin who would be much less of a threat for Anne. That was the plan anyway, but King Henry found out and the King sent Lady Rochford from court.
Changing her Colours
Two years later in October 1535, King Henry & Queen Anne were on tour with Princess Mary. Many people believed Princess Mary to be their true princess. A crowd of women demonstrated their beliefs even though this action was treasonous. The ring leaders were imprisoned in the Tower of London, including Lady Rochford. It is possible that Lady Rochford was jealous of Anne's strong bond with George which may have given Lady Rochford cause to support the other side, i.e. Princess Mary with having been brought up in the court of Katherine of Aragon she would have known Princess Mary well.
A year later, in 1536, Lady Rochford accused her husband of incest with his sister Queen Anne. After 12 years of marriage Lord and Lady Rochford had no children of their own, even though Lord Rochford had an illegitimate child. This could have put a great strain on the couple. It is also possible that Cromwell, the King's chief minister, put pressure on her to speak against Anne. In May that year Lord Rochford was beheaded at the Tower of London. His assets were seized and Lady Rochford became poor, virtually overnight. She was even forced to beg for a larger income from her father in law.
Jane's Return to Court
Lady Rochford was brought back to court as a lady in waiting to Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. She also served his fourth and fifth wives Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. In 1541 Lady Rochford aided Queen Katherine Howard's affair with Thomas Culpeper, Queen Katherine's cousin. Once the affair became known, Queen Katherine Howard was sent to Syon Abbey & Lady Rochford was sent to the Tower of London. In the Tower Lady Rochford was 'seized with raving madness'. The law did not allow mad people to be put to death. Henry VIII was a man used to getting his own way so he changed the law. In January 1542, six years after the execution of her husband Lady Rochford was found guilty of high treason and was executed on 13th February 1542 just after Queen Katherine Howard was executed. Lady Rochford was buried, like most of the Tower's victims in the royal chapel of St Peter.
Traitors in the Tower of London:
1. Lord Hastings (1483)
2. Anne Boleyn (1536)
3. Countess of Salisbury (1541)
4. Katherine Howard (1542)
5. Lady Rochford (1542)
6. Lady Jane Grey (1554)
