William Brereton (courtier) facts for kids

William Brereton lived from about 1487 to 1536. He was an important person from Cheshire, England. He worked for King Henry VIII at his royal court. In May 1536, Brereton was accused of a serious crime against the king. He was executed for treason. This happened along with the king's second wife, Anne Boleyn, and others. Many historians today believe that William Brereton and the others were innocent.

William Brereton's Early Life

William Brereton's exact birth date is not known for sure. He was likely born between 1487 and 1490. Some records suggest he might have been born later, around 1501. He was one of many sons of Sir Randle Brereton. His father was a knight who served King Henry VII. William's mother was Eleanor Dutton.

His Family Connections

William had a brother named Sir Urian Brereton. William was also the great-uncle of Ambrose Barlow. He was the great-great-uncle of Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet.

William's Marriage and Children

In 1530, William Brereton married Elizabeth Somerset. She was a distant cousin of King Henry VIII. Elizabeth was also the widow of Sir John Savage. William and Elizabeth had two sons together:

• Henry Brereton
• Thomas Brereton

Elizabeth's first husband had faced financial troubles. His lands were taken by the king. William Brereton, as a royal official, was given control over these lands. His marriage to Elizabeth helped him become even closer to the king. This strengthened his position as a royal servant.

William's Important Career

In 1508, William's father gave him some money each year. This helped William start his career in royal service. He joined the king's service along with three of his brothers. By 1521, he was a "groom of the king's chamber." This was an important job at court. From 1524, he became a "groom of the privy chamber." This was a highly desired position. It gave him a lot of political influence.

Royal Rewards and Power

The king rewarded William Brereton for his work. He received many royal grants in Cheshire and the Welsh Marches. These grants made him very wealthy. His yearly income was more than £10,000. This was a huge amount of money back then. It made him one of the richest men at court.

Cheshire was a special area in England. It was a "county palatine," meaning it had its own laws and leaders. Local leaders had a lot of power there. Brereton used his power in Cheshire. He was known as the king's main official in Cheshire and North Wales. This was because of his wealth and royal connections.

By the mid-1520s, Brereton held many important roles. He was sheriff of Merioneth and Flint. He was also constable of Chester Castle. These jobs showed his high standing with the king.

Key Moments in His Career

Around 1530, William Brereton reached the peak of his career. He received gifts from King Henry VIII outside Cheshire. He was granted land in Finchley and Kent. He also got married around this time. After his father died, he became Chamberlain of Chester.

Later that year, he traveled to collect signatures for a petition. This petition asked the Pope to cancel King Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. This shows how much the king trusted Brereton. He often went hunting with the king. He also oversaw lands belonging to Henry FitzRoy, the king's son. In 1531, Brereton delivered jewels to Anne Boleyn. In 1533, he was a witness at Henry's wedding to Anne Boleyn. In 1534, he investigated problems at Valle Crucis Abbey.

Brereton's position at court brought him many benefits. It increased his standing and influence. People sought his help and protection. Historian Eric Ives noted that Brereton is one of the best-documented men of his time.

William's Arrest and Trial

In May 1536, William Brereton was arrested. The king's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, led the legal actions. Brereton was accused of a serious crime against the queen and the king. Historians believe Cromwell may have included Brereton in the accusations. This might have been to gain more control over the Welsh Marches. Brereton was not known to be very close to the queen. His fate was likely sealed for political reasons.

The Trial and Verdict

Brereton's trial took place on May 12 at Westminster Hall. He and the other accused men were told their charges upon arrival. They all said they were not guilty, except for one man. Thomas Cromwell made sure the jury was not fair. The jury members were mostly enemies of the Boleyn family. Some were close to Cromwell. Others had a lot to gain if the defendants were found guilty. For example, the jury foreman owed Brereton a lot of money. This debt would disappear if Brereton was found guilty.

Historian Alison Weir said the trial's outcome was decided from the start. The men knew their fate when they saw the jury. Eustace Chapuys, a foreign ambassador, said Brereton was found guilty without clear proof. The men were sentenced to death. Their sentence was later changed to beheading. Brereton's family tried to save him. They offered money and land to the king. But it is unlikely the king ever heard these offers.

His Final Moments

On May 17, William Brereton was led from the Tower of London. He went to a place called Tower Hill to be executed. Others executed that day included George Boleyn and Henry Norris. A witness recorded their last words. Brereton said, "The cause whereof I die, judge not. But if you judge, judge the best." This might have been a careful way to say he was innocent. It also helped protect his family's property. The men were buried near the Tower of London.

Like the others, Brereton always said he was innocent. His friends and people who knew him believed he was innocent. Many historians now think he was caught up in a political struggle. He was likely removed so Cromwell could gain more power. Nine years later, Brereton's wife left a special gift to her son. It was a gold bracelet, the last gift from his father. She believed he was innocent until she died in 1545.

William in Books and Films

William Brereton has appeared in many books and films. Most of these are based on historical facts.

Academic and Historical Works

Historian Eric Ives wrote a famous book about Anne Boleyn. He actually started his research by studying William Brereton. He then realized Brereton was connected to Anne Boleyn's story. Ives wrote books about Brereton's business and royal activities. Brereton also appears in many other history books about Henry VIII.

Novels and TV Shows

Brereton has been in novels about Anne Boleyn. These include books by Norah Lofts and Margaret Campbell Barnes. In one novel, he was shown as the jouster who injured Henry VIII. However, there is no real evidence that this happened.

He was played by Alastair Mackenzie in the 2015 TV series Wolf Hall. In the 1969 film Anne of the Thousand Days, he was played by Brook Williams. He also appeared in the 1972 film Henry VIII and His Six Wives.

One TV show, The Tudors, showed a very different version of Brereton. In this show, he was portrayed as a young Catholic priest. In reality, he was married and in his mid-forties. He also leaned towards the Protestant faith. The show also created a fictional plot involving the Pope. None of these details about Brereton in The Tudors were historically accurate.