Editing Anne Boleyn (section)

== Faith and spirituality ==

Because of Anne's early exposure to court life, she had powerful influences around her for most of her life. These early influences were mostly women who were engaged with art, history and religion. [[Eric Ives]] described the women around Anne as "aristocratic women seeking spiritual fulfillment".{{sfn|Ives|2004|p=278}} They included Queen [[Claude of France|Claude]], of whose court Anne was a member, and [[Margaret of Valois-Angoulême|Marguerite of Angoulême]], who was a well-known figure during the [[Renaissance]] and held strong religious views that she expressed through poetry. These women along with Anne's immediate family members, such as her father, may have had a large influence on Anne's personal faith.

Anne's experience in France made her a devout Christian in the new tradition of [[Renaissance humanism]].<ref>{{harvnb|Starkey|2003|pp=368–370}}.</ref> Anne knew little [[Latin]] and, trained at a French court, she was influenced by an "evangelical variety of [[French humanism]]", which led her to champion the [[vernacular Bible]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dowling|1991|p=39}}.</ref> She later held the reformist position that the papacy was a corrupting influence on Christianity, but her conservative tendencies could be seen in her devotion to the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ives|2004|pp=219–226}}. For a reevaluation of Anne's religious beliefs, see {{harvnb|Ives|2004|pp=277–287}}.</ref> Anne's European education ended in 1521, when her father summoned her back to England. She sailed from Calais in January 1522.<ref>{{harvnb|Williams|1971|p=103}}.</ref>

Another clue to Anne's personal faith could be found in Anne's [[book of hours]], in which she wrote, "''le temps viendra''" ["the time will come"]. Alongside this inscription, she drew an [[armillary sphere]], an emblem (also used by her daughter Elizabeth) representing contemplation of heavenly wisdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Ives|2004|p=240}}.</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Borman|2016|pp=290–291}}.</ref>

Anne Boleyn's last words before her beheading were a prayer for her salvation, her king, and her country. She said, "Good Christian people! I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law, I am judged to death; and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I come hither to accuse no man, nor to any thing of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die; but I pray God save the king, and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler, or a more merciful prince was there never; and to me he was ever a good, a gentle, and a sovereign lord."<ref>{{harvnb|Ives|2004|p=358}}.</ref> [[John Foxe]], [[martyrologist]], included Anne in his book, ''Actes and Monuments'', claiming she was a good woman who had sincere faith and trust in her God. Foxe also believed a sign of Anne's good faith was God's blessing on her daughter, Elizabeth I, and God allowing Elizabeth to prosper as queen.

[[File:St. Mary's church, Erwarton, Suffolk - geograph.org.uk - 283396.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Church, [[Erwarton]], Suffolk, where Boleyn's heart was allegedly buried]]