On this day in history, 16th January 1549, Thomas Seymour allegedly broke into Edward VI’s residence at Hampton Court Palace. It is said that as he entered the King’s apartments, he disturbed the King’s beloved spaniel who then barked at him. Seymour shot the dog, a noise which alerted a guard who then confronted him and captured him. Seymour was arrested and taken to the Tower of London.
Thomas Seymour was accused of trying to kidnap the King and also plotting to marry Edward’s half-sister, Elizabeth, and put her on the throne. All in all, he was charged with 33 separate accounts of treason and when his brother, Edward Seymour, Protector Somerset, could not bring himself to sign his death warrant, his nephew, Edward VI, could.
Thomas Seymour was executed on the 20th March 1549 and you can read more about his downfall and execution in The Execution of Thomas Seymour.
Related posts:
16 January 1549 – Thomas Seymour, the Young King and the Spaniel
Thomas Seymour – A Man with Much Wit and Very Little Judgement
Thomas Seymour’s Execution – 20 March 1549
The Execution of Thomas Seymour
Thomas Seymour
Thomas Seymour
The Execution of Edward Seymour – 22nd January 1552
Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour – Part Two
Mary Seymour, Daughter of Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour
Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour – Part One
Execution of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset – 22 January 1552
Edward VI is Crowned King – 20 February 1547
This has always seemed to me an act of such misguided recklessness – even by Thomas Seymour standards! He must have completely taken leave of his senses to do such a thing. And did he really think he would get away with it? As was famously said a few months later ‘a man of much wit but little judgement’ (or words to that effect). Poor fellow.
I think he went mad with ambition. He hated his brother Edward with a passion and wanted all of the power for himself; he must’ve simply snapped, because there’s no way I can possibly see a happy outcome to his plan. On a side note, I’ve always felt equally sorry and fascinated for the young King Edward VI. Tom Seymour was his favorite uncle, always adored by his nephew, and yet when Edward S. couldn’t sign the execution warrant the King could. I can’t imagine doing that.
The Seymour family must have been a crazy gene in there somewhere, The whole plot makes no sense, How could he think he could have used a shotgun and not be heard? I feel more sorry for the dog than I do for him. But I have to agree with Eliza that I could not imagine signing a death warrant for my crazy old uncle. Maybe putting him in a nice safe place but when it comes to the Seymour family, common sense does not seem to apply, or compassion.
Oh, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. In what deluded, crazy world was this EVER going to be a good idea?
LOL, Kari.
I have also wondered and been amazed by this craziness. I think he thought Edward was so fond of him that he would never put him to the axe but dang, he shot the boy’s DOG!!! Probably the only comfort and love the boy had!! It was just plain nuts. I do think he was the type that Elizabeth continued to love and admire–he sort of set a pattern. Essex was just as ambitious and just as crazy–pulling his sword on the QUEEN???
And Dudley was certainly handsome and ambitious,t oo. I guess he had “younger son syndrome” 🙂