1. Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, of whom we will speak later. 2. Thomas Seymour, who was born in the Tower. Various notarial instruments were drawn up declaring his legitimacy, namely, in November, 1580, October 30, 1589, October 21, 1590, October, 1592, October 23, 1588. In 1596 he was unwittingly brought into a plot against Elizabeth.* He had accompanied Sir John Smythe to what he imagined was a review of troops, but when the force was drawn up in a hollow square of three sides, Sir John addressed the men asking them if they would follow him or rather a better man than himself, namely, a nobleman of the blood royal, brother to the Earl of Beauchamp. He further spoke of traitors about the Court and that he desired to bring about a reformation and redress the wrongs of the people. Seymour was very angry with him and blamed him openly for making such a speech, and then rode off the field and sought the Lord Treasurer to whom he related the occurrence.† Seymour married Isabel, daughter of Edward Onley, of Catesby in Northants and died on August 8, 1600, leaving no issue. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster. Isabel survived him, dying in 1619. The Earl's second wife was Frances, daughter of William, Lord Howard of Effingham, whom he married before 1582. (Note 63.) She died on the 14th of May, 1598, without issue, and was buried in St. Benedict's chapel in Westminster Abbey. On the very spot where formerly stood the altar of the Saint, Lord Hertford erected to her memory a fine monument of various kinds * State Papers, Domestic. † State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth, Add. Wilts. Archæolog. Mag., xv, 200-1. Σ of marble. She was represented recumbent, in her robes; her head resting on an embroidered cushion, and her feet on a lion's back. The upper part of the structure consisted partly of arches and obelisks, and was ornamented with ensigns and devices. His third wife, whom he married in December, 1600, was Frances, daughter of Thomas, Viscount Howard of Bindon, and widow of Henry Pranell, citizen of London.* (Note 64.) This marriage was performed clandestinely, without banns or licence, and not in the parish church. The clergyman, Thomas Montford, was punished for performing it by being suspended for three years. This Frances was a woman of great birth and beauty, but otherwise without any great qualities, except that of good nature, even this gift being to some extent marred by her vanity and folly. Her first marriage to Pranell did not last long, and his death left her a young, rich, and beautiful widow. She was now courted by many gentlemen, amongst whom Sir George Rodney seems to have been the most favoured, but finally she consented to marry the Earl of Hertford. Rodney, thereupon, after viewing their bridal procession from a room in an inn at Amesbury, in Wilts, wrote her a set of verses in his own blood, and, after having despatched them, fell upon his sword and put an end to his existence. (Appendix E.) Her pride in her family and descent was very great, and she was fond of boasting of it, but upon such occasions the Earl of Hertford, who seems to have been greatly attached to her, used to cover her with confusion by playfully saying, "Frank, Frank, how long is it since you were married to Pranell?" At Hertford's death she became possessed of £5,000 a year, which she had persuaded him to leave her, and, after a time, married the Duke of Richmond, who appears to * Dict. Nat. Biog. + Strype, Whitgift, ii, 333, 453. Printed in Lodge's British Portraits. |