Francis Weston

Sir Francis Weston (1511Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Francis Weston, by Jonathan Hughes] - 17 May 1536) was a gentleman at the court of King Henry VIII of England.

Background

Francis was the only son of a gentry family. His father was Sir Richard Weston and his mother was Anne Sandys. In 1526, aged only fifteen, he is listed as a page at court. Although he was twenty years younger than the King, he quickly became a minor member of the King's circle, listed as beating Henry at bowls, tennis, dice and other games. In 1532, he was made a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, giving him frequent access to the King. Other honours followed, including becoming a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Anne Boleyn in 1533.

In 1530, he had married Anne Pickering. Cavendish wrote twenty years later that Weston had been a womaniser Rumours suggested that he was enjoying a secret affair with Mary Shelton, during 1536. Mary had been the mistress of Henry VIII the year before, from February to around August 1535. She has at times been confused with her sister, Margaret Shelton, who did not play a large role at court.

Arrest

Once arrested, Anne Boleyn as surrounded by attendants who were instructed to report anything she said to William Kingston, the Constable of the Tower. Kingston was informed that Anne had spoken of Weston flirting with her the year before, after she had chiding him for neglecting his wife in favour of Mary Shelton.

Execution

Francis died aged twenty-five when he was accused of committing adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn, treason, plotting to kill the king and sodomy. There is no evidence to support any of these accusations. He was beheaded just outside the Tower of London on 17 May 1536 along with his co-accused, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford, William Brereton, Mark Smeaton and Henry Norris. He died childless.

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