The Rhode Island Republican

ANNE BOLEYN.

In Houssaye's Memoirs, vol. I, page 435, a little circumstance is recorded concerning the decapitation of the unfortunate Anne Boleyn, which illustrates an observation of Hume. Our historian notices, that her executioner was a Frenchman, of Calais, who was supposed to be uncommonly skilful; it is probable that the following incident may have been preserved by tradition in France, from the account of the executioner himself. Anne Boleyn, being on the scaffold, would not consent to have her eyes covered with a bandage, saying that she had no fear of death. All that the minister who assisted at her execution could obtain from her was, that she would shut her eyes. But as she was opening them at every moment, the executioner was fearful of missing his aim, and was obliged to invent an expedient to behead the Queen. He drew off his shoes, and approached her silently ; while he was at her left hand another person advanced at her right, who made great noise in walking, so that this circumstance drew the attention of Anne, she turned her face from the executioner, who was enabled by this circumstance to strike the fatal blow without being disarmed by the spirit of affecting resignation which shone in the eye of the lovely but unfortunate victim.