The Liz Quiz

Question 2

As a teenager, Elizabeth was wooed by an opportunistic adventurer who ended up losing his head (literally). What was his name?

1. Edward Courtenay
2. Thomas Grey
3. Edward Seymour
4. Thomas Seymour

The answer is d. Thomas Seymour.

Thomas Seymour's late sister had been Jane Seymour, mother of Henry VIII's son, Edward. Edward Seymour was also Jane's brother, and it was he who was made Lord Protector Somerset, regent to young Edward when he became king at the age of nine. There is little doubt that Thomas was jealous of his brother's power and influence over the boy king, although it was due to Somerset's position that Thomas rose as high as he did in the government, gaining the rank of Lord High Admiral.

Elizabeth was only 13 when her father died and still too young for marriage, and although the 38-year-old Seymour attempted to pursue her, he was firmly blocked by Somerset and other privy councillors. So he turned his attention to someone far more attainable: Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. Catherine already liked Thomas and would have wed him before she caught Henry's eye. Seymour had no difficulty winning her hand.

Catherine had been a very good stepmother to Elizabeth when Henry was alive, and now that he was dead she still had a significant role in the life of the young princess. By marrying Catherine, Thomas put himself in daily contact with Elizabeth.

There is some confusion as to the exact nature of the relationship between Seymour and Elizabeth. He took many opportunities to be near her, bursting into her bedroom first thing in the morning. Often Catherine would be with him when he teased the princess. There are conflicting reports about how Elizabeth felt; though gossip indicated she had a crush on him, it is also alleged that she was frightened of Seymour but was too circumspect to take flight. Catherine was rumored to be jealous of her stepdaughter, yet since she remained on friendly terms with Elizabeth, little can be made of this, either. For whatever reason, Elizabeth at last left the Seymour household.

Matters took a serious turn when Catherine died in childbirth. Now Seymour was free to pursue Elizabeth, and he did so somewhat recklessly. But this was not his only folly: he attempted to build a power base among the nobility, ingratiating himself with the king and trying to end his minority, thus displacing Somerset. Furthermore, he abused his power as Admiral, entering into collusion with pirates and splitting the proceeds of their illegal activity. He talked too freely and landed himself in the Tower.

Seymour refused to answer the charges against him, treating the council with disdain, and a bill of attainder was brought against him that condemned him to death without being allowed to speak in his defense. He died bravely, scheming to the last against his brother.

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