Fan Casting Mark Smeaton in A Tudor Tale: Henry VIII

Mark Smeaton was a musician at the court of Henry VIII of England, in the household of Queen Anne Boleyn. In addition to his singing ability, he also played the lute, viol, virginals and the organ. He was falsely accused of an affair with Queen Anne, leading to torture and his execution in 1536. Smeaton's form of execution was beheading, rather than the brutal quartering usually assigned to commoners; the reason is thought to have been due to his co-operation with Anne's enemies.