queen of Henry VIII. king of Eng- land, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, a nobleman of a powerful family and numerous alliances. The daughter of the duke of Norfolk was her mother, and during the reign of the former king her father had been honoured with several embassies. Mary, the king's sister, who mar- ried Louis XII. king of France, carried over this lady with her at an early age, where she imbibed the freedom, the vivacity, and the openness of manners of that nation. After the death of Louis, that queen returned to Eng- land, and Anne continued to attend her royal mistress. Having some time after left her service, she was intro- duced into the family of the duchess of Alençon. In addition to all her acquired accomplishments, she pos- sessed the greatest personal elegance, and was highly famed in that age.

History does not explicitly mention whether or not it was on her account, but upon her return to England the king expressed his scruples concerning his union with Catherine of Arragon. Enamoured, however, of Anne, he expressed his attachment to her; but she was possessed of too much virtue and policy to confer any improper fa- vours. This prudent and virtuous restraint only increased the passion of Henry; and placing her at court, he dis- tinguished her by many marks of royal favour. The im- petuous king at length came to the resolution to divorce his queen, to make way for his favourite Anne. In this instance the injury done to that queen proved the cause of the final separation of England from the dominion of the pope. Various delays and difficulties occurring to the divorce, Henry privately married Anne during the month of November 1532; and in April following he publicly de- clared her queen of England. The famous Queen Eliza- beth was the first-fruits of this marriage, who was born in September following. For some time Anne enjoyed a considerable share of the royal favour, and she made use of that influence in subduing the haughty prelate Wolsey, and widening the breach between the king and the pope. But this favour was not of long continuance; for the king, ever varying in his temper, allowed jealousy to enter his bosom, which her thoughtless demeanour tended in some measure to excuse. She was accused of adultery with several of the household officers, and even with her own brother Lord Rochford; and having been tried on a charge of high treason, was condemned on very scanty proof to be beheaded; which sentence was execut- ed in May 1536. She to the last resolutely denied any serious guilt.

St ANNE'S Day, a festival of the Christian church, ce- lebrated by the Latins on the 26th of July, but by the Greeks on the 9th of December. It is kept in honour of Anne or Anna, mother of the Virgin Mary.