r BULLEN, queen of King Henry VIII., was the 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 married Louis XII., carried over this lady with her to France 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 England, and Anne continued to attend her royal mistress. Having some time after left her service, she was introduced into the family of the Duchess of Alençon. On her return to England, famed for personal beauty and acquired accomplishments, the king, influenced as much by his passion for the youthful Anne as by regard to the canon law, began to express his scruples concerning his union with Catherine of Aragon. Anne was placed at court and distinguished by many marks of royal favour, and the enamoured monarch openly expressed his attachment to her; but she was possessed of too much virtue and policy to confer any improper favours. This prudent and virtuous restraint only increased the passion of the impetuous Henry; who at length came to the resolution of divorcing his queen, to make way for his favourite. Various delays and difficulties occurring to the divorce, Henry privately married Anne during the month of November 1532; and in April following he publicly declared her queen of England. The issue of this marriage was the wise and fortunate Queen Elizabeth, 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 excite. 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 inadequate evidence to be beheaded; which sentence was executed in May 1536. She resolutely denied to the last any serious guilt.

St Anne's Day, a festival of the Roman and Greek Annealing churches, celebrated 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.