Francis Weston
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Sir Francis Weston as played by [not portrayed in the series]
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born c. 1513 - executed May 17, 1536 by order of Henry VIII Character's backstory: Francis was born into a gentry family and he quickly found a position at the royal court. "He had served Henry VIII as a page since at least 1525. In 1533, at Anne Boleyn's coronation, he was dubbed a Knight Companion of the order of the Bath. He was much liked by the King, the Queen and her brother George Boleyn, Lord Rochford; he played cards with them all, beating the King at nearly every game and partnered Henry at Tennis and Bowls. At night the King often chose him as one of those gentlemen who would sleep in his bedchamber and be on call to attend to his needs" ~ Alison Weir The Lady in the Tower He was married, but rumours suggested that he was enjoying a secret affair with Mary Shelton, during 1536. Mary (called Madge Sheldon in the series) had been the mistress of Henry VIII the year before, from February to around August 1535. Francis Weston was one of the men, along with George Boleyn, Mark Smeaton, William Brereton, and Henry Norris, accused of having an affair with Anne Boleyn in 1536. Though the accusations were most probably false, he too was brought down with the Queen and was executed by beheading. Gentility: Of gentle birth Position: Gentleman of the Privy Chamber Personality type: "young, and of good lineage and high accomplishments." ~Carles He had been "daintily nourished under the King's wing"
| 16th C Portrait at Parham Park in Sussex "Weston Esq. of Sutton, Surrey"
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CHARACTER CONNECTIONSFamily members: Father: Sir Richard Weston - former under-treasurer of the Exchequer Mother: Anne Sandys - one of Elizabeth of York(King Henry VIII's mother) and Queen Katherine of Aragon's gentlewomen Marriage: Anne Pickering - daughter and heir of of Sir Christopher Pickering of Killington Only child, a son: Sir Henry Weston who was made KB at Elizabeth Is coronation, the Queen perhaps showing him favour as much for his father's fatal attentions to her mother, Anne Boleyn, as for his own recent service in the defence of Calais. His marriage to Dorothy Arundell made him kin both to the Queen and to the Howard family. In a grant of Jan 1560 he is described as ‘the Queen's servant’ (though what office he held, if any, is unknown), | Romance(s): Was rumored to be having an affair with Mary Shelton. (Madge Sheldon in the series) Friends: King Henry VIII Mark Smeaton George Boleyn Anne Boleyn Henry Norris William Brereton Enemies: Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex |