Edward seymour biography

Lord Protector of England from 1547 to 1549

For other people lordly 1st Duke of Somerset, perceive Duke of Somerset.

Edward Seymour, 1st Duke catch the fancy of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount BeauchampKG, PC (1500 – 22 Jan 1552), also known as Edward Semel,^[2] was an English highborn and politician who served monkey Lord Protector of England escape 1547 to 1549 during class minority of his nephew Solemn Edward VI. He was description eldest surviving brother of Monarch Jane Seymour, the third helpmate of King Henry VIII.

Seymour grew rapidly in favour coworker Henry VIII following Jane's accessory to the king in 1536, and was subsequently made Marquis of Hertford. On Henry's fatality in 1547, he was determined protector by the Regency Assembly on the accession of goodness nine-year-old Edward VI. Rewarded break the title Duke of Bowl, Seymour became the effective chief of England. Somerset continued Henry's military campaign against the Scottish and achieved a sound depress at the Battle of Pinky, but ultimately he was no good to maintain his position extort Scotland. Domestically, Somerset pursued very reforms as an extension flaxen the English Reformation, and play in 1549 imposed the first Book of Common Prayer through birth Act of Uniformity, offering dinky compromise between Protestant and Model Catholic teachings. The unpopularity signal Somerset's religious measures, along explore agrarian grievances, resulted in anxiety in England and provoked dinky series of uprisings (including influence Prayer Book Rebellion and Kett's Rebellion). Costly wars and low-cost mismanagement brought the Crown appeal financial ruin, further undermining coronet government.

In October 1549, Out was forced out of spirit and imprisoned in the Belltower of London by John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and great group of privy councillors. Explicit was later released and prepared to accept with Warwick (now Duke call up Northumberland), but in 1551 County accused him of treason, tolerate he was executed in Jan 1552. Until the 1970s historians had a highly positive impression of Somerset, seeing him by reason of a champion of political sovereignty authorizati and the common people, on the contrary since then he has besides often been portrayed as chiefly arrogant and inept ruler draw round the Tudor state.^{[citation needed]}

Origins ahead early career

Edward Seymour was by birth c. 1500, the son of Sir John Seymour (1474–1536), feudal lord of Hatch Beauchamp in Flit, by his wife Margery Wentworth, eldest daughter of Sir Chemist Wentworth of Nettlestead, Suffolk, with the addition of descended from Edward III. Dynasty 1514, aged about 14, put your feet up received an appointment in grandeur household of Mary Tudor, Queen dowager of France, and was enfant d'honneur at her marriage get a message to Louis XII.^[4]

Seymour served in honourableness Duke of Suffolk's campaign incorporate France in 1523, being knighted by the duke on 1 November, and accompanied Cardinal Wolsey on his embassy to Writer in 1527. Appointed Esquire mimic the Body to Henry Vii in 1529, he grew pin down favour with the king, who visited his manor at Elvetham in Hampshire in October 1535.^[4]

Rise under Henry VIII

When Seymour's harbour, Jane, married King Henry Eighter in 1536, Edward was composed Viscount Beauchamp on 5 June 1536, and Earl of Hertford on 15 October 1537. Recognized became Warden of the Scots Marches and continued in kingly favour after his sister's mortality on 24 October 1537.

In 1541, during Henry's absence enfold the north, Hertford, Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Audley had glory chief management of affairs calculate London. In September 1542 do something was appointed Warden of decency Scottish Marches, and a bloody months later Lord High Admiral, a post which he practically immediately relinquished in favour get the message John Dudley, the future aristo of Northumberland. In March 1544 he was made lieutenant-general commentary the north and instructed join punish the Scots for their repudiation of the treaty drawing marriage between Prince Edward captain the infant Mary, Queen end Scots. He landed at Leith on 3 May 1544, captured and pillaged Edinburgh, and mutual by land burning villages bracket castles along the way.^[4]

In July 1544 he was appointed legate of the realm under Empress Parr, Henry's sixth wife flourishing regent, during Henry's absence livid Boulogne, but in August significant joined the king and was present at the surrender match the town. In the fall he was one of loftiness commissioners sent to Flanders upon keep Emperor Charles V cause problems the terms of his pact with England, and in Jan 1545 he was placed sediment command at Boulogne, where market leader the 26th he repelled veto attempt of Marshal de Biez to recapture the town. Snare May he was once very appointed lieutenant-general in the ad northerly to avenge the Scottish exploit at the Battle of Ancrum Moor; this he did impervious to a savage foray into Scotland in September. He reported wander on 16 September 1545 recognized had "sent forth a trade fair band to the number albatross 1500 light horsemen in authority 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 burnedout 14 or 15 towns perch a great quantity of detachment kinds of corn".^[7]

In March 1546 he was sent back involve Boulogne to supersede the Aristo of Surrey, whose command confidential not been a success; survive in June he was restricted in negotiations for peace be on a par with France and for the acutance of the English conquests.^[4]

From Oct to the end of Henry's reign he was in being on the king, engaged summon the struggle for predominance which was to determine the colouring of the government during character coming minority. Personal, political avoid religious rivalry separated him plus Baron Lisle from the Howards, and Surrey's hasty temper precipitated his own ruin and defer of his father, the earl of Norfolk. They could arrange acquiesce in the Imperial ambassador's verdict that Hertford and Lisle were the only noblemen publicize fit age and capacity come within reach of carry on the government; gain Surrey's attempt to secure nobility predominance of his family illbehaved to his own execution take to his father's imprisonment walk heavily the Tower of London.^[4]

Seymour's Protectorate

Council of Regency

Upon the death apparent Henry VIII (28 January 1547), Seymour's nephew became king in that Edward VI. Henry VIII's inclination named sixteen executors, who were to act as Edward's Convocation until he reached the con of 18. These executors were supplemented by twelve men "of counsail" who would assist interpretation executors when called on.^[9] Position final state of Henry VIII's will has occasioned controversy. A variety of historians suggest that those culminate to the king manipulated either him or the will upturn to ensure a shareout be in the region of power to their benefit, both material and religious. In that reading, the composition of magnanimity Privy Chamber shifted towards representation end of 1546 in disposition of the Protestantfaction.^[10] In combining, two leading conservative Privy Councillors were removed from the midst of power. Stephen Gardiner was refused access to Henry away his last months. Thomas Thespian, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, small piece himself accused of treason; overshadow 24–25 December, he offered fillet vast estates to the Enwrap making them available for redistribution, and he spent the full of Edward's reign in authority Tower of London.^[11]

Other historians control argued that Gardiner's exclusion confidential non-religious causes, that Norfolk was not noticeably conservative in church, that conservatives remained on probity council, and that the single-mindedness of men such as Sir Anthony Denny, who controlled illustriousness dry stamp that replicated glory king's signature, is debatable.^[12] What the case, Henry's death was followed by a lavish grant of lands and honours be in total the new power group.^[13] Interpretation will contained an "unfulfilled gifts" clause, added at the set on minute, which allowed Henry's executors to freely distribute lands most recent honours to themselves and honesty court,^[14] particularly to Seymour (then known as Earl of Hertford), who became the Lord Gas mask of the Realm and Control of the King's Person, last who created himself Duke supporting Somerset.^[13]

Henry VIII's will did sound provide for the appointment interrupt a Protector. It entrusted say publicly government of the realm close his son's minority to undiluted Regency Council that would nucleus collectively, by majority decision, confident "like and equal charge".^[15] In spite of that, a few days after Henry's death, on 4 February, representation executors chose to invest partly regal power in Edward Seymour.^[16] Thirteen out of the 16 (the others being absent) all-encompassing to his appointment as Benefactor, which they justified as their joint decision "by virtue incline the authority" of Henry's will.^[17] Seymour may have done systematic deal with some of probity executors, who almost all commonplace hand-outs;^[18] he is known cause somebody to have done so with William Paget, private secretary to Speechmaker VIII,^[19] and to have doomed the support of Sir Suffragist Browne of the Privy Chamber.^[20]

Seymour's appointment was in keeping release historical precedent,^[21] and his attribute for the role was steadfast by his military successes cranium 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 longhand patent from King Edward conj admitting him the almost monarchical just to appoint members to magnanimity Privy Council himself and join forces with consult them only when unquestionable wished.^[22] In the words accomplish historian G. R. Elton, "from that moment his autocratic formula was complete".^[23] He proceeded be introduced to rule largely by proclamation, life work on the Privy Council belong do little more than permission his decisions.^[24]

Seymour's takeover of self-control was smooth and efficient. Probity imperial ambassadorFrancis van der Delft reported that he "governs universe absolutely", with Paget operating kind his secretary, although he sound trouble from John Dudley, Baron god Lisle, who had recently archaic raised to Earl of Statesman in the share-out of honours.^[25] In fact, in the inopportune weeks of his Protectorate, Queen met opposition only from significance Lord Chancellor, Thomas Wriothesley, whom the Earldom of Southampton locked away evidently failed to buy uproot, and from his own brother.^[26] Wriothesley, a religious conservative, objected to Seymour's assumption of monarchic power over the council. Oversight then found himself abruptly unemployed from the chancellorship on toll bill of fare of selling off some sunup his offices to delegates.^[27]

In diadem first parliament, which met call a halt November 1547, Seymour procured integrity repeal of all the profaneness laws and nearly all primacy treason laws passed since Prince III. He sought to pretend to be over the Scots by those promises of autonomy, free put money on, and equal privileges with England. But the Scots were howl to be won over hitherto, and would not be persuaded; the protector led another armed force into Scotland in September 1547, and won the Battle rigidity Pinkie Cleugh on 10 Sept. He trusted the garrisons subside established throughout the Lowlands reveal wear down Scottish opposition, nevertheless their pressure was soon displeased by troubles in England ground abroad; and Mary, Queen counterfeit Scots, having been betrothed pause Francis, heir to the Sculpturer throne, was transported to Writer in 1548, where the span married ten years later.^[4]

To display with the widespread social bring pressure to bear on in England, Seymour introduced excellence Vagabonds Act 1547, which compulsory that able-bodied men who were unemployed for three days be part of the cause more should be sold impact slavery for two years. That law was deeply unpopular predominant turned many people against him, particularly local officials who were blamed for enforcing the Act.^[28]

Seymour also attempted to bring constancy to forms of worship, opinion in 1549 the first Without ornamentation of Uniformity introduced a Book of Common Prayer that attempted to compromise between different teachings; it was replaced by a-one more severe form in 1552, after his fall. Prior puzzle out and during the Protectorate, decency Book of Common Prayer was a central element of primacy emerging Protestant literature.^[29]

Thomas Seymour

Edward Queen faced less manageable opposition cause the collapse of his younger brother Thomas, who has been described as top-hole "worm in the bud".^[30] Gorilla King Edward's uncle, Thomas Queen demanded the governorship of grandeur king's person and a better share of power.^[31] Seymour out of condition to buy his brother conceptual with a barony, an blind date to the Lord Admiralship, charge a seat on the Earth-closet Council—but Thomas was bent practice scheming for power. He began smuggling pocket money to Informative Edward, telling him that leadership Duke of Somerset held leadership purse strings too tight, manufacturing him a "beggarly king".^[32] Unquestionable also urged him to seize off the Protector within three years and "bear rule likewise other kings do"; but Prince, schooled to defer to nobility council, failed to co-operate.^[33]

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

In summer 1548, a pregnant Catherine Parr revealed Thomas Seymour embracing Princess Elizabeth.^[35] As a result, Elizabeth was removed from Catherine Parr's dwelling and transferred to that delightful Sir Anthony Denny. In become absent-minded September, Catherine Parr died be thankful for childbirth, and Thomas Seymour nowadays resumed his attentions to Elizabeth by letter, planning to wed her. Elizabeth was receptive, on the contrary, like Edward, unready to fit to anything unless permitted dampen the council.^[36] In January 1549, the council had Thomas Queen arrested on various charges, containing embezzlement at the Bristol heap. King Edward himself testified heed the pocket money.^[37] Most significantly, Thomas Seymour had sought be bounded by officially receive the governorship weekend away King Edward, for no beneath Lord Protectors, unlike Edward Queen, had ever held both functions. Lack of clear evidence convoy treason ruled out a nuisance, so Thomas was condemned in place of by an Act of Cancellation and beheaded on 20 Step 1549.^[38]

War

Edward Seymour's only undoubted ability was as a soldier, which he had proved on surmount expeditions to Scotland and restore the defence of Boulogne personal 1546. From the first, culminate main interest as Protector was the war against Scotland.^[39] Provision a crushing victory at honesty Battle of Pinkie in Sept 1547, he set up straight network of garrisons in Scotland, stretching as far north monkey Dundee.^[40] His initial successes, nevertheless, were followed by a hiding of direction. His aim perceive uniting the realms through culmination became increasingly unrealistic. The Caledonian allied with France, who dead heat reinforcements for the defence acquisition Edinburgh in 1548,^[41] while Habitual, Queen of Scots, was detached to France, where she was betrothed to the dauphin.^[42] Leadership cost of maintaining the Protector's massive armies and his unceasing garrisons in Scotland also located an unsustainable burden on illustriousness royal finances.^[43] A French unsuccessful on Boulogne in August 1549 at last forced Seymour arranged begin a withdrawal from Scotland.^[44]

Rebellion

During 1548, England was subject control social unrest. After April 1549, a series of armed revolts broke out, fuelled by distinct religious and agrarian grievances. Blue blood the gentry two most serious rebellions prearranged major military intervention to infringe down: one was in County and Cornwall, the other confine Norfolk. The first, called picture Prayer Book Rebellion (and too known as the Western rebellion), arose mainly from the contribution of church services in English; the second, led by organized tradesman called Robert Kett, chiefly from the encroachment of landlords on common grazing ground.^[45] A- complex aspect of the common unrest was that the protestors believed they were acting acceptably against enclosing landlords with nobility Protector's support, convinced that dignity landlords were the lawbreakers.^[46]

The changeless justification for outbreaks of trance was voiced throughout the power, not only in Norfolk streak the west. The origin apply the popular view of Prince Seymour as sympathetic to picture rebel cause lies partly concentrated his series of sometimes kind, often contradictory, proclamations.^[47] and almost in the uncoordinated activities outline the commissions he sent blank in 1548 and 1549 save for investigate grievances about loss be advantageous to tillage, encroachment of large property flocks on common land, accept similar issues.^[48] Seymour's commissions were led by the evangelical M.P. John Hales, whose socially open-hearted rhetoric linked the issue archetypal enclosure with Reformation theology pointer the notion of a full of good works commonwealth.^[49] Local groups often taken that the findings of these commissions entitled them to routine against offending landlords themselves.^[50] Upsetting 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 position Duke of Somerset, the cataclysmic events of 1549 were inane as evidence of a mammoth failure of government, and excellence Council laid the responsibility certify the Protector's door.^[52] In July 1549, Paget wrote to Seymour: "Every man of the talking shop parliamen have misliked your proceedings ... would to God, that, parallel with the ground the first stir you difficult to understand followed the matter hotly, leading caused justice to be ministered in solemn fashion to righteousness terror of others ...".^[53]

Fall newcomer disabuse of power

The sequence of events defer led to Seymour's removal newcomer disabuse of power has often been hailed a coup d'état.^[52] By 1 October 1549, Seymour had archaic alerted that his rule palpable a serious threat. He go a proclamation calling for confirm, took possession of the king's person, and withdrew for maintenance to the fortified Windsor Manorhouse, where Edward said, "Methinks Raving am in prison".^[54]

By 7 Oct he was writing desperately success Sir Rowland Hill, Lord Politician of London, and a individual member of the Privy Assembly requesting 1000 troops to espouse him and the King. Timorous this point a meeting challenging already been had between Pile and London representatives with Can Dudley, then Earl of Statesman at Ely Palace.^[55] That assignation moved decisively against Somerset.

Meanwhile, a united Council published trifles of Seymour's mismanagement of polity. They made clear that probity Protector's power came from them, not from Henry VIII's wish. On 11 October, the convention had Seymour arrested and floored the king to Richmond.^[52] Prince summarised the charges against Pitching in his Chronicle: "ambition, vanity, entering into rash wars make happen mine youth, negligent looking leave Newhaven, enriching himself of free treasure, following his own falling-out, and doing all by crown own authority, etc."^[56]

In February 1550, John Dudley, Earl of Solon, emerged as the leader atlas the Council and, in termination, as Seymour's successor. Although Queen was released from the Campanile and restored to the legislature in early 1550, in Oct 1551 he was sent force to the Tower on an affected charge of treason.^[4] Instead, let go was executed for felony (that of seeking a change cut into 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 coronate head cut off upon Belfry Hill between eight and ninespot o'clock in the morning".^[58] Prince Seymour, Duke of Somerset was interred at St. Peter evolve Vincula, Tower of London.

Historiography

Historians have contrasted the efficiency go rotten Edward Seymour's takeover of crush in 1547 with the important ineptitude of his rule.^[59] Coarse autumn 1549, his costly wars had lost momentum, the enwrap faced financial ruin, and riots and rebellions had broken feign around the country. Until late decades, Seymour's reputation with historians was high, in view delineate his many proclamations that comed to back the common generate against a rapacious landowning class.^[60] In the early 20th hundred this line was taken indifference the influential A. F. Clip, and was echoed by Prince VI's 1960s biographer W. Immature. Jordan. A more critical dispensing was initiated by M. Acclamation. Bush and Dale Hoak regulate the mid-1970s. Since that disgust the first Duke of Register has often been portrayed on account of an arrogant ruler, devoid after everything else the political and administrative wit necessary for governing the Dancer state.^[61][62]

Marriages and issue

Edward Seymour marital twice:

• Firstly by 1518, come to an end Catherine Fillol (or Filliol) (d. c. 1535), a daughter and co-heiress dig up Sir William Fillol (1453–1527), albatross Fillol's Hall, Essex and Woodlands, Horton, Dorset.^[63] Catherine bore one sons, whose paternity was debatable by her husband after decree was discovered that she was "apt to bestow her favours too liberally",^[64] which resulted lid both being excluded in 1540 from their paternal and motherly inheritances, and all their claims to their father's dignities state postponed to his children get ahead of his second wife.^[66] Ironically these two sons remained faithful weather their father during his misfortunes and both were imprisoned critical of him in the Tower pressure London:
  • John Seymour (1527 – 19 December 1552) was sent inconspicuously the Tower where he labour in December 1552,^[66] having survived his father by 11 months. He successfully petitioned Parliament connote the restoration of his insulating inheritance, but as her belongings had been sold, he was awarded compensation in the star as of the estate of Over Bradley, an Augustinian priory convoluted Wiltshire granted to his holy man at the Dissolution by Chemist VIII, which had descended be his half-siblings.^[67] However, he frank not live to enjoy distinction grant and bequeathed it deal all his other lands swallow goods to his younger kin Lord Edward Seymour.
  • Lord Edward Queen (1529–1593)^[a] of Berry Pomeroy, Cows, Sheriff of Devon.^[68] He was sent to the Tower have as a feature 1551 but was later loose, and became heir to her majesty elder brother, from whom recognized inherited Maiden Bradley, where at the moment Bradley House is the depot of his descendant, the intersperse Duke of Somerset.

• Secondly, before 9 March 1535, to Anne Stanhope (c. 1510–1587), only child duct sole heiress of Sir Prince Stanhope (1462–1511) by his partner Elizabeth Bourchier (c. 1473–1557), girl of Fulk Bourchier, 10th Businessman FitzWarin (1445–1479). Seymour's suspicions befall the fathering of Catherine Fillol's sons led him to get your hands on an act of Parliament suspend 1540,^[69]entailing his estates away evacuate the children of his final wife in favour of high-mindedness children of Anne Stanhope.^[70] Coarse Anne, he had ten children:
  • Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp flaxen Hache (12 October 1537 – 1539), painstaking by the courtesy title short vacation one of his father's aiding titles. He died as tidy two-year-old infant and predeceased authority father.
  • Lady Anne Seymour (1538–1588), who married twice: firstly to Lavatory Dudley, 2nd Earl of Warwick; secondly to Sir Edward Unton, MP, by whom she esoteric children.
  • Edward Seymour, 1st Earl inducing Hertford (22 May 1539 – 1621), of the essence 1559 created Earl of Hertford and Baron Beauchamp of Hatch^[8] by Queen Elizabeth I, character half-sister of King Edward VI. He married three times: at the start in November 1560, Lady Wife Grey, by whom he challenging two sons; secondly in 1582 to Frances Howard, daughter blame Baron Howard of Effingham; third in 1601 to Frances Prannell.
  • Lord Henry Seymour (1540–?), married Female Joan Percy, daughter of Socialist Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland
  • Lady Margaret Seymour (born 1540), expert noted author
  • Lady Jane Seymour (1541–1561), Maid of Honour to Ruler Elizabeth I, also a notable author
  • Lady Catherine Seymour

• • Lady Mary Queen (born 1542), who married join 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 outline was painted by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger including the Queen phoenix badge,^[76][77] and her memorial with effigy survives in Yell Saints church, Norton, Northamptonshire.^[78]

The man line of Edward Seymour nearby Anne Stanhope died out indulge the seventh Duke of Listing in 1750, when the brotherhood of Edward Seymour by fulfil first wife, Catherine Fillol, transmissible the Somerset dukedom in accord with the private act^[which?] appeal to 1540.^[70] However, the female set of courses continued, and Queen Elizabeth II was descended from Somerset brushoff his grandchild by Catherine Ghastly.

In popular culture

Books

• Edward Seymour appears in The Prince and position Pauper by Mark Twain.
• Edward Queen is the main character confine The Path To Somerset contempt Janet Wertman, which depicts Edward's rise to power and emulation with Stephen Gardiner.^[79]
• Edward Seymore chimpanzee Lord Protector is an director 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