Thomas Seymour Thomas Seymour was handsome, bold, energetic, charming, clever and boisterous. He managed to gain the approval of the young King Edward and was forgiven for the secret marriage to the rich Queen Dowager, Katharine Parr. Katharine, Thomas Seymour and the fourteen year old Princess Elizabeth all lived in the same household at the Admiral's property at Sudeley Castle. By November 1547 Katharine Parr became pregnant. Katharine was deliriously happy. And so was Elizabeth. For the first time in her young life she was living in a happy family unit. Katharine treated her like a daughter. Thomas Seymour treated her in a different way... Teenage Scandal of Princess Elizabeth Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth became friends. Thomas was reported to have paid morning visits to Elizabeth, in her bedchamber, before she was dressed. There was romping, laughing and giggling. Elizabeth was very flattered. She was receiving attention from a handsome, older man. No one knows how far these romps went. Seymour was reported to have extended this 'playfulness' in the presence of his wife and the servants. There was a report of Seymour slashing and ripping the gown of Elizabeth in the gardens of the house. Talk started - gossip increased. Elizabeth denied any scandal or bad behaviour. But things had gone too far and early in 1548 Elizabeth leaves Katherine Parr's household under questionable circumstances. There appeared to be no animosity between Katharine and Elizabeth. Neither were comfortable with the conduct of Seymour and it is possible that Elizabeth was sent away for her own protection. Elizabeth wrote to Katharine affectionately after she left her household. Katharine gave birth to a girl named Mary at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire a short time later on 30 August but died shortly after on 5 September of puerperal fever. The Scandal of between Princess Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour is investigated Despite the rumours Thomas Seymour applied to be a suitor of Elizabeth after the death of Katharine. His suit was rejected by the Privy Council. Seymour continued to plot for power and was arrested for treason. Elizabeth was implicated with the plots and the scandal surrounding Seymour and Elizabeth merited investigation. Kat Ashley and Thomas Parry were arrested on January 21 and questioned in the Tower about the relationship between Seymour and Elizabeth. There was even rumours that Elizabeth was pregnant by Thomas Seymour and that she had gone to the house of Thomas Parry to give birth to the child. Elizabeth was questioned but swore she was still a virgin and nothing was proved. Kat Ashley was released from the Tower on 26 February. Elizabeth confidently withstood all interrogation from Sir Robert Tyrwhit and obtained a public announcement in order to maintain her reputation. Her frustrated interrogator reported of her: "she hath a very good wit and nothing is gotten of her but by great policy." Thomas Seymour was found guilty of High Treason and executed on March 10 1549. The scandal terrified the young Elizabeth and taught her a valuable lesson. From the time the scandal erupted Elizabeth dressed in a sombre fashion and behaved in a prim and virtuous fashion as befitted a virtuous Protestant young lady. Elizabeth Feigns illness |