The Seymours of Wolf Hall

Although the Seymours arrived with the Normans, it is with Jane, Henry VIIIs third queen, and her brothers Edward, Duke of Somerset, and Thomas, Lord Seymour of Sudeley that they became prominent. Jane bore Henry his longed-for son, Edward VI, and both her brothers achieved prominence through her. Her brother Edward was central to Henrys activities in Scotland and became Lord Protector for the young king, his nephew, a hugely powerful position. Thomas married Henrys sixth wife, Catherine Parr, and after her death in 1548 aimed to marry Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I), with whom he had flirted when she was in Catherines care, and for this he was executed for high treason. Edward fell foul of his fellow councillors and was also executed. Edwards son was restored to the title of Lord Hertford by Elizabeth I, but was sent to the Tower when it emerged that he had secretly married Jane Greys sister, Catherine, who was Elizabeths protestant heir. Both her marriage and pregnancy were an affront to the queen. This is the epic rise and fall of the family at the heart of the Tudor court and of Henry VIIIs own heart; he described Jane as my first true wife and left express orders to be buried next to her tomb at Windsor Castle. The family seat of Wolfhall or Wolf Hall in Wiltshire is long gone, but it lives on as an icon of the Tudor age.