Today marks the anniversary of the execution of Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Sudeley and Lord High Admiral. He was beheaded on Tower Hill after being found guilty of thirty-three counts of treason.
On hearing of his execution, the Lady Elizabeth (future Elizabeth I), allegedly lamented “This day, died a man with much wit, and very little judgement”, and I would have to agree!
I have written many articles on Thomas Seymour over at The Elizabeth Files so do check them out:-
- Thomas Seymour’s Execution 20 March 1549
- The Execution of Thomas Seymour – Gives more detail on his downfall.
- Thomas Seymour Breaks into the King’s Residence
- Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour Part One
- Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour Part Two
- Elizabeth, Seymour and Shakespeare
If you’re a subscriber to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography then they have an excellent biography of Seymour written by G W Bernard.
Elizabeth sums Thomas Seymore up perfectly in that statement, and nothing more really needs to be said. He perhaps, should have had that as his Epitaph.
I remeber reading that Elizabeth made this very wise and short statement and left the room, and this is when Sir William Cecil inroduced himself as to what to do next. He would later be her chief advisor. He was lawlyer, and advised on what to do next. This is what saved from the axe under the scrutiny of the regents of Edward VI. Then came much worse trouble for her with the riot of Sir Wyatt under the very early reign of Mary I, and luckily had ridden next to her as they entered London, after Lady Jane Grey, at the orders of Mary’s rivals failed on her ninth day as Queen. Elizabeth knew and showed throughout all this her cleverness, intelligence, and other qualities that not much later, in 1558, to be the greatest monarch England ever had. She was definitely Anne’s daughter! Thank you, WilesWales