Editing Anne Boleyn (section)

=== The Netherlands and France ===
[[File:Claude de France (1499-1524).png|thumb|upright=0.85|Drawing of [[Claude of France]] by [[Jean Clouet]], c. 1520. The wife of [[Francis I of France]], she was served by Anne as [[maid of honour]] for nearly seven years.]]
[[File:Court of Savoy, Mechlin.jpg|thumb|Interior [[Hof van Savoye|Court of Savoy]], [[Mechelen]]]]
Anne's father, Thomas, continued his diplomatic career under Henry VIII. In Europe, his charm won many admirers, including [[Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy|Margaret of Austria]], daughter of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]]. During this period, Margaret ruled the Netherlands on her nephew [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles]]'s behalf and was so impressed with Thomas Boleyn that she offered his daughter Anne a place in her household.<ref>{{harvnb|Starkey|2003|pp=259–260}}.</ref> Ordinarily, a girl had to be 12 years old to have such an honour, but Anne may have been younger, as Margaret affectionately called her {{lang|fr|la petite Boulin}} {{sic}}.<ref>Fraser and Ives argue that this appointment proves Anne was probably born in 1501; but Warnicke disagrees, partly on the evidence of Anne's being described as "petite" physically. See Warnicke, pp. 12–13.</ref> Anne made a good impression in the Netherlands with her manners and studiousness; Margaret reported that she was well spoken and pleasant for her young age,<ref>Warnicke, p. 12.</ref> and told Thomas that his daughter was "so presentable and so pleasant, considering her youthful age, that I am more beholden to you for sending her to me, than you to me".<ref>{{harvnb|Fraser|1992|p=147}}.</ref> Anne stayed at the [[Court of Savoy]] in [[Mechelen]] from spring 1513 until her father arranged for her to attend Henry VIII's sister [[Mary Tudor, Queen of France|Mary]], who was about to marry [[Louis XII of France]] in October 1514.

In France, Anne was a maid of honour to [[Mary Tudor, Queen of France|Queen Mary]], and then to Mary's 15-year-old stepdaughter [[Queen Claude]], with whom she stayed for nearly seven years.<ref>{{harvnb|Starkey|2003|pp=261–263}}.</ref><ref name="Fraser_a">{{harvnb|Fraser|1992|p=121}}.</ref> In the Queen's household, she completed her study of French and developed interests in art, fashion, [[illuminated manuscripts]], literature, music, poetry and [[religious philosophy]]. Ives asserts that she "owed her evangelicalism to France", studying "reformist books", and [[Jacques Lefevre]]'s translations into French of the bible and the [[Pauline epistles]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ives |first1=Eric |author-link=Eric Ives|title=A Frenchman at the court of Anne Boleyn |journal=History Today |date=August 1998 |volume=48 |issue=8 |pages=21 |url=}}</ref> She also acquired knowledge of French culture, dance, etiquette, literature, music and poetry; and gained experience in flirtation and [[courtly love]].<ref>{{harvnb|Starkey|2003|p=263}}.</ref> Though all knowledge of Anne's experiences in the French court is conjecture, even Ives suggests that she was likely to have made the acquaintance of King [[Francis I of France|Francis I]]'s sister, [[Marguerite de Navarre]], a patron of humanists and reformers. Marguerite de Navarre was also an author in her own right, and her works include elements of [[Christian mysticism]] and reform that verged on heresy, though she was protected by her status as the French king's beloved sister. She or her circle may have encouraged Anne's interest in religious reform, as well as in poetry and literature.<ref name="Fraser_a"/> Anne's education in France proved itself in later years, inspiring many new trends among the ladies and courtiers of England. It may have been instrumental in pressing their King toward England's break with the Papacy.<ref>{{harvnb|Ives|1994}}</ref> [[William Forrest (poet)|William Forrest]], author of a contemporary poem about Catherine of Aragon, complimented Anne's "passing excellent" skill as a dancer. "Here", he wrote, "was [a] fresh young damsel, that could trip and go."<ref name="Fraser115"/>