Benutzerin:Aurinia/William Brereton

William Brereton (* ca. 1487 - 1490; † 17. Mai 1536) war ein englischer Adeliger und persönlicher Diener König Heinrich VIII. Er diente eine Zeit lang dem illegitimen Königsohn Henry Fitzroy, 1. Duke of Richmond and Somerset als Verwalter und war ein Verbündeter von Thomas Howard, 3. Duke of Norfolk. Während des Falls der Königin Anne Boleyn wurde auch Brereton impliziert und verhaftet. Gemeinsam mit George Boleyn, dem Musiker Mark Smeaton und den Kammerherren Sir Henry Norris und Sir Francis Weston wurde Brereton des Ehebruchs mit der Königin und somit des Hochverrats angeklagt. Am 17. Mai 1536 wurde er mit den anderen Männern auf Tower Hill enthauptet.

Einige Historiker halten es für möglich, dass Brereton einer gezielten Intrige Thomas Cromwells zum Opfer fiel. Durch seine Verbindung zu den Howards und Henry Fitzroy sowie seine privilegierte Stellung bei Hofe hatte Brereton großen Einfluss gewonnen. Hinzu könnte ein persönlicher Groll kommen. Im Jahr 1534 hatte Cromwell versucht, einen Gentleman aus Flintshire namens John ap Gryffith Eyton vor dem Galgen zu bewahren. Brereton hingegen ließ ihn in London verhaften und zurück nach Wales bringen, wo er hingerichtet wurde.^[1] Falls das tatsächlich Cromwells Motiv war, war Brereton vermutlich relativ ahnungslos, da er wenige Tage vor seiner Verhaftung noch Cromwells Hilfe erbat, um beschlagnahmte Kirchenländereien zu erhalten.^[1]

Die Beweislage gegen Brereton war äußerst dünn. Auf dem Schafott war es üblich, dass der Verurteilte ein letztes Geständnis ablegte, Brereton allerdings erklärte: „Ich habe es verdient zu sterben, auch wenn es tausend Tode wären. Doch urteilt nicht über den Grund, für den ich sterbe.“^[2]

Beverley A. Murphy: Bastard Prince. Henry VIII's Lost Son. 2010 The History Press

S. 156:

A number of Richmond's servants, notably William Brereton, had already established links with the Howard family.

162 - 163:

As the net closed around Anne Boleyn, one of those arrested under suspicion of being her lover was William Brereton, who was Richmond's steward in the Marches of Wales. Since the self-confessed architect of Anne Boleyn's downfall was Thomas Cromwell, the selection of Brereton is unlikely to have been made at random. Brereton's activities in Wales had made him something of a thorn in Cromwell's side as he attempted

to reform local government, so the downfall of Anne Boleyn was a tailor-made opportunity to pluck him out. If the young duke was in any way concerned at these moves against one of his servants, he was cautious enough to keep his own counsel. Whatever his own feelings, Brereton's death presented no danger to him and he was wise enough not to intercede for his servant against the wishes of the king.

207:

In 1534 Brereton had been part of an investigation into alleged irregularities under Abbot Robert Salisbury. Far from being an impartial observer, Brereton seems to have been in the thick of things. The Cymer Abbey in Gwynedd offered him 40 pounds if he could secure his transfer to Valle Crucis, which would necessitate Salisbury's removal. It is entirely possible that the whole investigation was Brereton's idea in order to achieve his end. In 1536 Brereton's acquisition of certain tithes also looks suspiciously like a bribe. Such activities, especially when coupled with Brereton's numerous offices, were inevitably going to attract Cromwell's unwelcome attention.

208:

On the surface, Brereton's relations with Cromwell seem to have been reasonable. As late as May 1536, hearing a rumour that some religious establishments in Cheshire were to be suppressed, Brereton saw nothing wrong in hopefully lobbying Cromwell in expectation of even greater spoils. Brereton could count on some powerful supporters: not only was he Richmond's steward, he also enjoyed the favour of the duke of Norfolk, who acted as the overseer of his father's will. If this was not enough, he was also a groom of the privy chamber and apparently well liked by the king. It didn't give Cromwell a lot of room for manoeuvre.

1. ↑ ^{a b} Beverley A. Murphy: Bastard Prince. Henry VIII's Lost Son. 2010: The History Press, S. 210
2. ↑ Beverley A. Murphy: Bastard Prince. Henry VIII's Lost Son. 2010: The History Press, S. 211