Thomas Wriothesley

The Regency Council of Edward VI

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As Henry VIII lay dying in his bedchamber in January 1547, Edward Seymour and William Paget were whispering in the gallery outside his chamber door at Westminster plotting the future. We know this is true because later Paget calls out Edward Seymour on following through on what they had discussed in the gallery that day in a later letter – the letter is also a warning to his close friend. At the point of this letter, Thomas Seymour was already dead (20 March 1549) and things [More]

Between Two Brothers: Edward and Thomas Seymour

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Unless you are an only child you are familiar with the love that siblings bear one another. The events of life, along with the meddling of others caused a rift between these two men and ultimately cost both of them their lives. The Seymour brothers, Edward and Thomas. Brothers There are instances when situations fester and cause strife between siblings that tear them apart. You know, like when one sibling critiques the parenting of another - that’s going to cause a f [More]

Members of Henry VIII’s Privy Council in 1540

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The Privy Council was a group of men who were advisers to the King. It included a variety of men including those from the religious sector to very important state offices, as you'll note from the list. After 1540 the Privy Council (19 men) worked together as a board having letters and warrants signed collectively by them. The Privy Council sat virtually every day. Within it Court and State became as one, for the Privy Council met almost exclusively at Court after the [More]