Edward
Seymour, the son of Sir John Seymour, and the brother of Thomas
Seymour,
was born in 1500. After studying at Cambridge
University, he saw military service in France in 1523. On his
return he worked for Henry, Duke of Richmond, as Master of the Horse.
Seymour's
political career improved when his sister, Jane
Seymour,
married Henry
VIII
in 1536. Seymour was given the title, the Earl of Hertford, in 1537.
Seymour returned to military duty and in 1542 served with distinction
in Scotland (1542) and in France (1545).
When
Henry
VIII
died
in 1547 Seymour was named as executor of the will. Edward
was too young to rule and Seymour
was appointed by the Council of Regency as Protector of the Realm.
He was also given the title of Duke of Somerset.
Once
he power, Seymour resumed the war in Scotland and won an important
victory at Pinkie on 10th September, 1547. However, establishing English
garrisons was highly expensive.
The Duke of Somerset was
a Protestant and he soon began to make changes to the Church of England.
This included the introduction of an English Prayer Book and the decision
to allow members of the clergy to get married. Attempts were made
to destroy those aspects of religion that were associated with the
Catholic church, for example, the removal of stained-glass windows
in churches and the destruction of religious wall-paintings.
Seymour
also showed concern for the poor and on 14 June 1549, he persuaded
Edward VI to pardoned all those people
who had torn down hedges enclosing common land. Many landless people
thought that this meant that their king disapproved of enclosures.
All over the country people began to destroy hedges that landowners
had used to enclose common land.
This
led to the Kett
Rebellion in
Norfolk. The mayor of Norwich refused
to let Kett's army enter the city. However, Robert
Kett
and his men, armed with spears, swords and pitchforks, successfully
stormed the city walls. The English government were shocked when they
heard that Kett and his rebels controlled the second largest city
in England.
Robert
Kett
formed a governing council made up of representatives from the villages
that had joined the revolt. This council then sent details of their
demands to Edward VI. Seymour
responded
by sending John
Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and
a large army to defeat Kett.
The
Privy Council became concerned that Seymour's policies were leading
to a popular uprising. In October, 1549, he was removed from power
and imprisoned in the Tower
of London.
Seymour
was released in 1550 and allowed to return to the Privy Council. Seymour
soon got involved in a conspiracy and he was once again arrested.
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was found guilty of treason and
executed on 22nd January, 1552.
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