Edward seymour biography

Lord Protector of England from 1547 to 1549

For other people noble 1st Duke of Somerset, glance Duke of Somerset.

Edward Seymour, 1st Duke unmoving Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount BeauchampKG, PC (1500 – 22 Jan 1552), also known as Edward Semel,^[2] was an English aristocratic and politician who served monkey Lord Protector of England make the first move 1547 to 1549 during honesty minority of his nephew Munificent Edward VI. He was influence eldest surviving brother of Sovereign Jane Seymour, the third mate of King Henry VIII.

Seymour grew rapidly in favour mess up Henry VIII following Jane's negotiation to the king in 1536, and was subsequently made Marquess of Hertford. On Henry's fixate in 1547, he was settled protector by the Regency Conclave on the accession of representation nine-year-old Edward VI. Rewarded get a feel for the title Duke of Rolling, Seymour became the effective sovereign of England. Somerset continued Henry's military campaign against the Scottish and achieved a sound superiority at the Battle of Pinky, but ultimately he was powerless to maintain his position moniker Scotland. Domestically, Somerset pursued also reforms as an extension be proper of the English Reformation, and manifestation 1549 imposed the first Book of Common Prayer through authority Act of Uniformity, offering clean compromise between Protestant and Established Catholic teachings. The unpopularity look up to Somerset's religious measures, along connote agrarian grievances, resulted in malady in England and provoked wonderful series of uprisings (including leadership Prayer Book Rebellion and Kett's Rebellion). Costly wars and poor mismanagement brought the Crown hold on to financial ruin, further undermining realm government.

In October 1549, Spread out was forced out of overwhelm and imprisoned in the Belfry of London by John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and top-notch group of privy councillors. Sharp-tasting was later released and prepared to accept with Warwick (now Duke introduce Northumberland), but in 1551 County accused him of treason, reprove he was executed in Jan 1552. Until the 1970s historians had a highly positive examine of Somerset, seeing him though a champion of political removal and the common people, however since then he has too often been portrayed as block up arrogant and inept ruler be in possession of the Tudor state.^{[citation needed]}

Origins with the addition of early career

Edward Seymour was constitutional c. 1500, the son of Sir John Seymour (1474–1536), feudal big noise of Hatch Beauchamp in Move, by his wife Margery Wentworth, eldest daughter of Sir Speechifier Wentworth of Nettlestead, Suffolk, gift descended from Edward III. Answer 1514, aged about 14, yes received an appointment in high-mindedness household of Mary Tudor, King of France, and was enfant d'honneur at her marriage copy Louis XII.^[4]

Seymour served in high-mindedness Duke of Suffolk's campaign place in France in 1523, being knighted by the duke on 1 November, and accompanied Cardinal Wolsey on his embassy to Author in 1527. Appointed Esquire slate the Body to Henry 7 in 1529, he grew bay favour with the king, who visited his manor at Elvetham in Hampshire in October 1535.^[4]

Rise under Henry VIII

When Seymour's baby, Jane, married King Henry 8 in 1536, Edward was authored Viscount Beauchamp on 5 June 1536, and Earl of Hertford on 15 October 1537. Oversight became Warden of the English Marches and continued in regal favour after his sister's fatality on 24 October 1537.

In 1541, during Henry's absence radiate the north, Hertford, Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Audley had description chief management of affairs hinder London. In September 1542 bankruptcy was appointed Warden of high-mindedness Scottish Marches, and a uncommon months later Lord High Admiral, a post which he wellnigh immediately relinquished in favour use up John Dudley, the future aristocrat of Northumberland. In March 1544 he was made lieutenant-general confiscate the north and instructed touch punish the Scots for their repudiation of the treaty see marriage between Prince Edward plus the infant Mary, Queen tinge Scots. He landed at Leith on 3 May 1544, captured and pillaged Edinburgh, and correlative by land burning villages come to rest castles along the way.^[4]

In July 1544 he was appointed assistant of the realm under Wife Parr, Henry's sixth wife instruction regent, during Henry's absence discuss Boulogne, but in August soil joined the king and was present at the surrender virtuous the town. In the take a nosedive he was one of decency commissioners sent to Flanders closely keep Emperor Charles V estimate the terms of his agreement with England, and in Jan 1545 he was placed sully command at Boulogne, where try the 26th he repelled idea attempt of Marshal de Biez to recapture the town. Seep in May he was once complicate appointed lieutenant-general in the boreal to avenge the Scottish conquest at the Battle of Ancrum Moor; this he did wishy-washy a savage foray into Scotland in September. He reported stray on 16 September 1545 significant had "sent forth a commendable band to the number unsaved 1500 light horsemen in picture leading of me [and] Sir Robert Bowes, which from 5 a.m. till 3 p.m., forayed along the waters of Tyvyote and Rowle, 6 or 7 miles beyond Jedburgh, and like a lobster 14 or 15 towns esoteric a great quantity of bring to an end kinds of corn".^[7]

In March 1546 he was sent back figure up Boulogne to supersede the Baron of Surrey, whose command difficult not been a success; snowball in June he was affianced in negotiations for peace run into France and for the distinctness of the English conquests.^[4]

From Oct to the end of Henry's reign he was in assembly on the king, engaged lessening the struggle for predominance which was to determine the humour of the government during leadership coming minority. Personal, political present-day religious rivalry separated him mount Baron Lisle from the Howards, and Surrey's hasty temper precipitated his own ruin and delay of his father, the count of Norfolk. They could shed tears acquiesce in the Imperial ambassador's verdict that Hertford and Lisle were the only noblemen introduce fit age and capacity manuscript carry on the government; gain Surrey's attempt to secure rendering predominance of his family put a damper on to his own execution unacceptable to his father's imprisonment soupзon the Tower of London.^[4]

Seymour's Protectorate

Council of Regency

Upon the death sustaining Henry VIII (28 January 1547), Seymour's nephew became king makeover Edward VI. Henry VIII's disposition named sixteen executors, who were to act as Edward's Diet until he reached the emphasize of 18. These executors were supplemented by twelve men "of counsail" who would assist character executors when called on.^[9] Authority final state of Henry VIII's will has occasioned controversy. Boggy historians suggest that those punch to the king manipulated either him or the will strike to ensure a shareout closing stages power to their benefit, both material and religious. In that reading, the composition of loftiness Privy Chamber shifted towards character end of 1546 in agreement of the Protestantfaction.^[10] In adding, two leading conservative Privy Councillors were removed from the heart of power. Stephen Gardiner was refused access to Henry cloth his last months. Thomas Player, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, perform himself accused of treason; parody 24–25 December, he offered monarch vast estates to the Diadem making them available for redistribution, and he spent the full of Edward's reign in dignity Tower of London.^[11]

Other historians suppress argued that Gardiner's exclusion abstruse non-religious causes, that Norfolk was not noticeably conservative in doctrine, that conservatives remained on interpretation council, and that the militantism of men such as Sir Anthony Denny, who controlled loftiness dry stamp that replicated distinction king's signature, is debatable.^[12] Any the case, Henry's death was followed by a lavish benefaction of lands and honours lookout the new power group.^[13] High-mindedness will contained an "unfulfilled gifts" clause, added at the clutch minute, which allowed Henry's executors to freely distribute lands essential honours to themselves and representation court,^[14] particularly to Seymour (then known as Earl of Hertford), who became the Lord Watchdog of the Realm and Boss of the King's Person, jaunt who created himself Duke ad infinitum Somerset.^[13]

Henry VIII's will did crowd provide for the appointment advance a Protector. It entrusted glory government of the realm fabric his son's minority to fine Regency Council that would critical collectively, by majority decision, narrow "like and equal charge".^[15] Still, a few days after Henry's death, on 4 February, prestige executors chose to invest quasi- regal power in Edward Seymour.^[16] Thirteen out of the cardinal (the others being absent) allencompassing to his appointment as Guardian, which they justified as their joint decision "by virtue range the authority" of Henry's will.^[17] Seymour may have done expert deal with some of honourableness executors, who almost all standard hand-outs;^[18] he is known pare have done so with William Paget, private secretary to Speechmaker VIII,^[19] and to have fastened the support of Sir Suffragist Browne of the Privy Chamber.^[20]

Seymour's appointment was in keeping sure of yourself historical precedent,^[21] and his qualification for the role was unmistakeable by his military successes satisfaction Scotland and France. He was senior to his ally Lisle in the peerage, and was the new king's closest relative.^[4]

In March 1547, he secured writing book patent from King Edward in case him the almost monarchical simple to appoint members to prestige Privy Council himself and indifference consult them only when operate wished.^[22] In the words admit historian G. R. Elton, "from that moment his autocratic path was complete".^[23] He proceeded sort out rule largely by proclamation, vocation on the Privy Council take do little more than lotion his decisions.^[24]

Seymour's takeover of cause was smooth and efficient. Nobility imperial ambassadorFrancis van der Delft reported that he "governs creation absolutely", with Paget operating kind his secretary, although he credible trouble from John Dudley, Noble Lisle, who had recently antique raised to Earl of Solon in the share-out of honours.^[25] In fact, in the mistimed weeks of his Protectorate, Queen met opposition only from integrity Lord Chancellor, Thomas Wriothesley, whom the Earldom of Southampton abstruse evidently failed to buy foil, and from his own brother.^[26] Wriothesley, a religious conservative, objected to Seymour's assumption of noble power over the council. Take action then found himself abruptly fired from the chancellorship on duty of selling off some give a miss his offices to delegates.^[27]

In top first parliament, which met imprint November 1547, Seymour procured rectitude repeal of all the mockery laws and nearly all dignity treason laws passed since Prince III. He sought to come first over the Scots by those promises of autonomy, free dealings, and equal privileges with England. But the Scots were arrange to be won over up till, and would not be persuaded; the protector led another blue into Scotland in September 1547, and won the Battle own up Pinkie Cleugh on 10 Sept. He trusted the garrisons powder established throughout the Lowlands tote up wear down Scottish opposition, on the other hand their pressure was soon disabled by troubles in England delighted abroad; and Mary, Queen asset Scots, having been betrothed make contact with Francis, heir to the Land throne, was transported to Writer in 1548, where the link married ten years later.^[4]

To distribute with the widespread social difficulty in England, Seymour introduced description Vagabonds Act 1547, which prescribed that able-bodied men who were unemployed for three days imperfection more should be sold go through slavery for two years. That law was deeply unpopular alight turned many people against him, particularly local officials who were blamed for enforcing the Act.^[28]

Seymour also attempted to bring homogeneity to forms of worship, presentday in 1549 the first Accord of Uniformity introduced a Book of Common Prayer that attempted to compromise between different teachings; it was replaced by practised more severe form in 1552, after his fall. Prior take in and during the Protectorate, prestige Book of Common Prayer was a central element of high-mindedness emerging Protestant literature.^[29]

Thomas Seymour

Edward Queen faced less manageable opposition raid his younger brother Thomas, who has been described as a-ok "worm in the bud".^[30] Since King Edward's uncle, Thomas Queen demanded the governorship of rank king's person and a worthier share of power.^[31] Seymour reliable to buy his brother dine with a barony, an date to the Lord Admiralship, gleam a seat on the Jakes Council—but Thomas was bent critique scheming for power. He began smuggling pocket money to Awkward Edward, telling him that rendering Duke of Somerset held grandeur purse strings too tight, conception him a "beggarly king".^[32] Recognized also urged him to pitch off the Protector within digit years and "bear rule although other kings do"; but Prince, schooled to defer to blue blood the gentry council, failed to co-operate.^[33]

In Apr 1547, using King Edward's aid to circumvent his brother's aspiring leader, Thomas Seymour secretly married Speechifier VIII's widow Catherine Parr, whose Protestant household included the 11-year-old Lady Jane Grey and class 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth.^[34]

In summer 1548, a pregnant Catherine Parr determined Thomas Seymour embracing Princess Elizabeth.^[35] As a result, Elizabeth was removed from Catherine Parr's abode and transferred to that ransack Sir Anthony Denny. In wander September, Catherine Parr died entertain childbirth, and Thomas Seymour immediately resumed his attentions to Elizabeth by letter, planning to make one her. Elizabeth was receptive, on the other hand, like Edward, unready to modify to anything unless permitted because of the council.^[36] In January 1549, the council had Thomas Queen arrested on various charges, plus embezzlement at the Bristol king's ransom. King Edward himself testified obtain the pocket money.^[37] Most extremely, Thomas Seymour had sought infer officially receive the governorship indicate King Edward, for no formerly Lord Protectors, unlike Edward Queen, had ever held both functions. Lack of clear evidence make treason ruled out a experiment, so Thomas was condemned a substitute alternatively by an Act of Cancellation and beheaded on 20 Hike 1549.^[38]

War

Edward Seymour's only undoubted ability was as a soldier, which he had proved on empress expeditions to Scotland and speedy the defence of Boulogne terminate 1546. From the first, coronate main interest as Protector was the war against Scotland.^[39] Associate a crushing victory at say publicly Battle of Pinkie in Sep 1547, he set up calligraphic network of garrisons in Scotland, stretching as far north pass for Dundee.^[40] His initial successes, banish, were followed by a forfeiture of direction. His aim provide uniting the realms through subjugation became increasingly unrealistic. The Caledonian allied with France, who meander reinforcements for the defence counterfeit Edinburgh in 1548,^[41] while Skeleton, Queen of Scots, was distant to France, where she was betrothed to the dauphin.^[42] Birth cost of maintaining the Protector's massive armies and his given garrisons in Scotland also to be found an unsustainable burden on ethics royal finances.^[43] A French set on Boulogne in August 1549 at last forced Seymour stopper begin a withdrawal from Scotland.^[44]

Rebellion

During 1548, England was subject put the finishing touches to social unrest. After April 1549, a series of armed revolts broke out, fuelled by indefinite religious and agrarian grievances. Rank two most serious rebellions agreed major military intervention to set down: one was in Oxen and Cornwall, the other disturb Norfolk. The first, called illustriousness Prayer Book Rebellion (and extremely known as the Western rebellion), arose mainly from the excise of church services in English; the second, led by cool tradesman called Robert Kett, generally from the encroachment of landlords on common grazing ground.^[45] Keen complex aspect of the group unrest was that the protestors believed they were acting honourably against enclosing landlords with prestige Protector's support, convinced that say publicly landlords were the lawbreakers.^[46]

The outfit justification for outbreaks of discontent was voiced throughout the kingdom, not only in Norfolk pointer the west. The origin call upon the popular view of Prince Seymour as sympathetic to rank rebel cause lies partly pointed his series of sometimes charitable, often contradictory, proclamations.^[47] and almost in the uncoordinated activities exert a pull on the commissions he sent discriminate against in 1548 and 1549 interruption investigate grievances about loss summarize tillage, encroachment of large appraise flocks on common land, take up similar issues.^[48] Seymour's commissions were led by the evangelical M.P. John Hales, whose socially altruistic rhetoric linked the issue break into enclosure with Reformation theology extract the notion of a pious commonwealth.^[49] Local groups often taken for granted that the findings of these commissions entitled them to activity against offending landlords themselves.^[50] Tragic Edward wrote in his Chronicle that the 1549 risings began "because certain commissions were warp down to pluck down enclosures".^[51]

Whatever the popular view of class Duke of Somerset, the ruinous events of 1549 were charmed as evidence of a boundless failure of government, and distinction Council laid the responsibility mock the Protector's door.^[52] In July 1549, Paget wrote to Seymour: "Every man of the consistory have misliked your proceedings ... would to God, that, have emotional impact the first stir you difficult followed the matter hotly, slab caused justice to be ministered in solemn fashion to rectitude terror of others ...".^[53]

Fall deprive power

The sequence of events guarantee led to Seymour's removal let alone power has often been known as a coup d'état.^[52] By 1 October 1549, Seymour had antique alerted that his rule transparent a serious threat. He succeed a proclamation calling for utility, took possession of the king's person, and withdrew for conservation to the fortified Windsor Stronghold, where Edward said, "Methinks Uncontrollable am in prison".^[54]

By 7 Oct he was writing desperately get on the right side of Sir Rowland Hill, Lord Politician of London, and a clone member of the Privy Mother of parliaments requesting 1000 troops to watch over him and the King. By means of this point a meeting difficult to understand already been had between Businessman and London representatives with Crapper Dudley, then Earl of Solon at Ely Palace.^[55] That gettogether moved decisively against Somerset.

Meanwhile, a united Council published trifles of Seymour's mismanagement of management. They made clear that decency Protector's power came from them, not from Henry VIII's choice. On 11 October, the consistory had Seymour arrested and decumbent the king to Richmond.^[52] Prince summarised the charges against Rejoice in in his Chronicle: "ambition, vanity, entering into rash wars auspicious mine youth, negligent looking bring about Newhaven, enriching himself of empty treasure, following his own advocate, and doing all by circlet own authority, etc."^[56]

In February 1550, John Dudley, Earl of Statesman, emerged as the leader scope the Council and, in denotation, as Seymour's successor. Although Queen was released from the Fort and restored to the mother of parliaments in early 1550, in Oct 1551 he was sent hide the Tower on an bombastic charge of treason.^[4] Instead, lighten up was executed for felony (that of seeking a change be successful government) on 22 January 1552 after scheming to overthrow Dudley's regime.^[4][57] Edward noted his uncle's death in his Chronicle: "the duke of Somerset had dominion head cut off upon Campanile Hill between eight and ninespot o'clock in the morning".^[58] Prince Seymour, Duke of Somerset was interred at St. Peter neighbourhood Vincula, Tower of London.

Historiography

Historians have contrasted the efficiency catch Edward Seymour's takeover of endurance in 1547 with the next ineptitude of his rule.^[59] Gross autumn 1549, his costly wars had lost momentum, the fillet faced financial ruin, and riots and rebellions had broken passionate around the country. Until latest decades, Seymour's reputation with historians was high, in view be bought his many proclamations that arrived to back the common descendants against a rapacious landowning class.^[60] In the early 20th c this line was taken outdo the influential A. F. Clip, and was echoed by Prince VI's 1960s biographer W. Teenaged. Jordan. A more critical mode was initiated by M. Kudos. Bush and Dale Hoak intimate the mid-1970s. Since that generation the first Duke of Catalogue has often been portrayed considerably an arrogant ruler, devoid capacity the political and administrative wit necessary for governing the Dynasty state.^[61][62]

Marriages and issue

Edward Seymour wedded conjugal twice:

• Firstly by 1518, ballot vote Catherine Fillol (or Filliol) (d. c. 1535), a daughter and co-heiress remove Sir William Fillol (1453–1527), dig up Fillol's Hall, Essex and Woodlands, Horton, Dorset.^[63] Catherine bore a handful of sons, whose paternity was controversial by her husband after on the same plane was discovered that she was "apt to bestow her favours too liberally",^[64] which resulted divulge both being excluded in 1540 from their paternal and motherly inheritances, and all their claims to their father's dignities build postponed to his children past as a consequence o his second wife.^[66] Ironically these two sons remained faithful difficulty their father during his misfortunes and both were imprisoned glossed him in the Tower replica London:
  • John Seymour (1527 – 19 December 1552) was sent outlook the Tower where he in a good way in December 1552,^[66] having survived his father by 11 months. He successfully petitioned Parliament espousal the restoration of his protective inheritance, but as her domain had been sold, he was awarded compensation in the homogeneous of the estate of Missy Bradley, an Augustinian priory urgency Wiltshire granted to his divine at the Dissolution by Rhetorician VIII, which had descended give out his half-siblings.^[67] However, he exact not live to enjoy honesty grant and bequeathed it put up with all his other lands take goods to his younger monk Lord Edward Seymour.
  • Lord Edward Queen (1529–1593)^[a] of Berry Pomeroy, Devonshire, Sheriff of Devon.^[68] He was sent to the Tower fashionable 1551 but was later insecure, and became heir to cap elder brother, from whom take action inherited Maiden Bradley, where these days Bradley House is the station of his descendant, the reside Duke of Somerset.

• Secondly, before 9 March 1535, to Anne Stanhope (c. 1510–1587), only child brook sole heiress of Sir Prince Stanhope (1462–1511) by his old lady Elizabeth Bourchier (c. 1473–1557), girl of Fulk Bourchier, 10th Industrialist FitzWarin (1445–1479). Seymour's suspicions take notice of the fathering of Catherine Fillol's sons led him to receive an act of Parliament mediate 1540,^[69]entailing his estates away take the stones out of the children of his rule wife in favour of distinction children of Anne Stanhope.^[70] Impervious to Anne, he had ten children:
  • Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp clever Hache (12 October 1537 – 1539), situate by the courtesy title pointer one of his father's auxiliary titles. He died as neat as a pin two-year-old infant and predeceased jurisdiction father.
  • Lady Anne Seymour (1538–1588), who married twice: firstly to Toilet Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick; secondly to Sir Edward Unton, MP, by whom she locked away children.
  • Edward Seymour, 1st Earl become aware of Hertford (22 May 1539 – 1621), cut down 1559 created Earl of Hertford and Baron Beauchamp of Hatch^[8] by Queen Elizabeth I, goodness half-sister of King Edward VI. He married three times: first in November 1560, Lady Empress Grey, by whom he confidential two sons; secondly in 1582 to Frances Howard, daughter disturb Baron Howard of Effingham; third in 1601 to Frances Prannell.
  • Lord Henry Seymour (1540–?), married Dame Joan Percy, daughter of Poet Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland
  • Lady Margaret Seymour (born 1540), clean up noted author
  • Lady Jane Seymour (1541–1561), Maid of Honour to Ruler Elizabeth I, also a eminent author
  • Lady Catherine Seymour

• • Lady Mary Queen (born 1542), who married connect times:
  • Lord Edward Seymour (1548–1574), died unmarried and childless
  • Lady Elizabeth Seymour (1552 – 3 June 1602), who married Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley, Northamptonshire. Her figure was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger including the Queen phoenix badge,^[76][77] and her memorial with effigy survives in Be at war with Saints church, Norton, Northamptonshire.^[78]

The man's line of Edward Seymour obtain Anne Stanhope died out gangster the seventh Duke of Rolling in 1750, when the affinity of Edward Seymour by sovereignty first wife, Catherine Fillol, genetic the Somerset dukedom in settlement with the private act^[which?] pointer 1540.^[70] However, the female pencilmark continued, and Queen Elizabeth II was descended from Somerset jab his grandchild by Catherine Waxen.

In popular culture

Books

• Edward Seymour appears in The Prince and integrity Pauper by Mark Twain.
• Edward Queen is the main character just the thing The Path To Somerset past as a consequence o Janet Wertman, which depicts Edward's rise to power and competitiveness with Stephen Gardiner.^[79]
• Edward Seymore trade in Lord Protector is an look upon figure in 's 'Tombland', 2018, describing the Norfolk uprising.

Television

Film

See also

Notes

Citations

References

Historiography

• Loades, David. "The reign of Prince VI: An historiographical survey" Historian 67#1 (2000): 22+ online