# Wolf Hall: What did the French executioner say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690 "2015-07-20T14:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/1 "2015-07-20T14:19:12Z")
I trust I don’t need spoilers, that would be like spoiler tagging the Titanic sinking. In episode 6, just before cutting her head off the French executioner hopped to the left of a blindfolded Anne Boleyn and said something in French in order to get her to turn her head to correct way before cutting it off. It sounded like ‘ah port tele- **vay** ’ but any version of this is unrecognizable by Google Translate or Babelfish. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/2 "2015-07-20T14:28:28Z")
I think it was “apportez l’epee” - bring the sword. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/3 "2015-07-20T14:31:10Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I think it was “apportez l’epee” - bring the sword. Ah, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/4 "2015-07-20T14:40:33Z")
In this script the only thing in French is “apportez l’epee”…bring the sword although it doesn’t really sound like it. But then neither do other google translations for other possible phrases such as “turn your head” or “lower your arms” > **[Bait and bleed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_bleed#cite_note-4)** > > Bait and bleed is a military strategy described by international relations theorist John J. Mearsheimer in his book on offensive realism, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001). The aim is to induce rival states to engage in a protracted war of attrition against each other "so that they bleed each other white", while the baiter who encouraged the conflict remains on the sidelines and maintains its military strength. > Mearsheimer cites as an example Russia's efforts to provoke Austria and Prus... ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/5 "2015-07-20T15:32:38Z")
Except I doubt very much that you could cut someone’s head off with an épée. Would need something heavier, like a broadsword (glaive). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/6 "2015-07-20T15:42:17Z")
**Moderator Action** Off with her thread! Since this is about a television show, let’s move this from General Questions to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/7 "2015-07-20T15:52:49Z")
You moved it just so you could get that excruciating pun in, didn’t you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/8 "2015-07-20T16:11:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Except I doubt very much that you could cut someone’s head off with an épée. Would need something heavier, like a broadsword (glaive). Well, you can use the épée to make a series of small holes like a perforation and then just tear her head off like it was a coupon. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/9 "2015-07-20T17:05:22Z")
I’m fairly sure that the idea of an ‘épée’ as specifically the light fencing sword is a modern development and that in the sixteenth century it just meant any type of sword. That’s why you could have an [‘épée à deux mains’](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89p%C3%A9e_%C3%A0_deux_mains). Just to be clear, the point about the line is that the executioner is misleading her into thinking that he doesn’t yet have the sword in his hands, so that she doesn’t flinch. I seem to remember that this particular detail was one that Mantel just made up. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/10 "2015-07-20T17:12:35Z")
> [@APB](#): > > I’m fairly sure that the idea of an ‘épée’ as specifically the light fencing sword is a modern development and that in the sixteenth century it just meant any type of sword. I believe the fencing term derives from épée de cour, court sword. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/11 "2015-07-20T17:28:40Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > In this script the only thing in French is “apportez l’epee”…bring the sword although it doesn’t really sound like it. But then neither do other google translations for other possible phrases such as “turn your head” or “lower your arms” iirc, Cromwell muttered the latter (singular) in the crowd (to his son). I guess she didn’t know the form for this kind of thing. Given we all know the result, i found it super intense. Claire Foy … wow. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/12 "2015-07-20T17:35:29Z")
From [The Anne Boleyn Files](http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/may-19-1536-anne-boleyns-execution/): > [@](#): > > As she prayed, it is reported that Anne Boleyn’s head was taken off by one stroke of the sword\* and cannons fired, to announce her death. As the executioner lifted her head, witnesses in the crowd report that her lips were still moving in prayer (apparently it takes a few seconds to die). There is a TON of stuff about Anne Boleyn’s last moments on the internet. FYI. \*Broadsword, according to most places I looked. ---
**Author:** ![LongDog13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@LongDog13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongDog13)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/13 "2025-06-29T01:36:04Z")
The executioner tells Cromwell he’ll try to make it as quick and painless as possible. So he steps over and yells “bring the sword” as if the executioner is being called forward. Remember that he also dresses unlike a regular executioner (black clothes, black hood) so as not to alarm Anne Boleyn so she’s not aware he was already on the stage. She automatically turns her head to hear the voice expecting to hear the executioner walking up but he has already tiptoed to the other side of her and swung making her death unexpected for her and therefore less cruel. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/14 "2025-06-30T00:17:51Z")
“This might sting”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/15 "2025-06-30T17:48:28Z")
“Just a little off the top.” ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/16 "2025-07-05T10:28:24Z")
“Just a short sharp scratch” ---
**Author:** ![LaLaBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@LaLaBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaLaBomb)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/17 "2026-02-18T11:58:23Z")
The Executioner said, “A porter l’épée”. He was an expert and wanted to distract Anne so he moved to one side and acted like he was calling for someone to “You, bring me the sword.” causing the hyper alert Anne to turn her head at the proper orientation as she was kneeling not bent down over a chopping block as they did with axes. It was in this way that he considered his actions humane. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/18 "2026-02-18T17:31:36Z")
Has it really been 11 years!? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-hall-what-did-the-french-executioner-say/725690/19 "2026-02-18T17:40:05Z")
No, it’s been [490 years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn#Downfall_and_execution:_1536) 😏