Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameEdward Seymour 
[60, Somerset article, Vol XII, pp. 69-70], [54, His own sub-article], [60, Hertford article, Vol VI, p. 507]
[60, Somerset article, Vol XII, pp. 69-70], [54, His own sub-article], [60, Hertford article, Vol VI, p. 507]Birth24 Sep 1561, Tower of London
Deathca 13 Jul 1612, Wick, Wilts
Burial21 Jul 1612, Great Bedwyn, Wilts
General1st s. dvp. Styled Lord Beauchamp.
FatherEdward Seymour Earl of Hertford (1537-1621)
MotherKatherine Grey (1540-1568)
DNB Main notes for Edward Seymour
Co-subject: Seymour, Edward, Lord Beauchamp
Dates: 1561-1612
Active Date: 1601
Gender: Male
Article
The eldest son, Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp 1561-1612, was born in the Tower on 24 Sept. 1561 (the exact date, in Hertford's writing, is given in a bible used by the earl in the Tower, and now at Longleat). He owes his importance to inheriting the Suffolk claim to the royal succession [see Seymour, Catherine]. On 22 Dec. 1576 he matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford, but did not graduate. In June 1582 he married, without his father's consent, Honora, daughter of Sir Richard Rogers of Bryanstone, Dorset. He was, as a matter of course, visited with Elizabeth's displeasure, and confined within his father's house, whence he petitioned Walsingham to be released (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1581-90, pp. 61, 70). Repeated appeals on his behalf were also brought before William Aubrey [q.v.], master of requests, to set aside the declaration of the invalidity of his mother's marriage. Though these appeals were without result, he was always styled Lord Beauchamp, a title to which he had no right unless he were of legitimate birth (cf. ib. 1591-4, p. 121). In 1596 he and his brother Thomas were implicated with Sir John Smith (d. 1600?) [q.v.] in some treasonable proceedings in Essex; but, beyond a severe examination, no proceedings were taken against him. The leniency with which father and son were treated was attributed to the existence of a considerable party in favour of his claims to the succession, including, it was said, Cecil, Ralegh, Lord Howard of Effingham, and others (ib. Addenda, 1580-1625, pp. 406-8). According to Lady Southwell, Beauchamp's name was suggested as successor to Elizabeth on her deathbed, and she replied, ‘I will have no rascal's son in my seat, but one worthy to be a king’ (cf. Cornhill Mag. March 1897). Apart from the doubt of his legitimacy, he was by act of parliament rightful heir to the throne for a year after James I's accession, until that monarch's title was settled by statute; but he was generally considered unfit to be a king, and no voice was raised in his favour. The appeal for a decision in favour of his legitimacy was again considered soon after James's accession (see Sir Julius Cæsar's report of proceedings in Cotton MS. Caligula, C. xvi. f. 412, which is mutilated), but apparently without success; and on 14 May 1608 Beauchamp obtained a patent in which Hertford was not mentioned as his father, to the effect that he and his heirs should become earls of Hertford and barons of parliament immediately on Hertford's death. Beauchamp, however, predeceased his father in July 1612, being buried at Wick on the 21st, and afterwards removed to a tomb in Salisbury Cathedral (Epitaphs, p. 37). He had three sons: (1) Edward (1587-1618), who matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford, on 16 April 1605, graduated B.A. 9 Dec. 1607, married on 1 June 1609 Anne, third daughter of Robert Sackville, second earl of Dorset [q.v.], was made K.B. 3 Nov. 1616, but predeceased his grandfather without issue, and was buried on 15 Sept. 1618; (2) William, afterwards second duke of Somerset [q.v.]; and (3) Francis, baron Seymour of Trowbridge [q.v.].
Dates: 1561-1612
Active Date: 1601
Gender: Male
Article
The eldest son, Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp 1561-1612, was born in the Tower on 24 Sept. 1561 (the exact date, in Hertford's writing, is given in a bible used by the earl in the Tower, and now at Longleat). He owes his importance to inheriting the Suffolk claim to the royal succession [see Seymour, Catherine]. On 22 Dec. 1576 he matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford, but did not graduate. In June 1582 he married, without his father's consent, Honora, daughter of Sir Richard Rogers of Bryanstone, Dorset. He was, as a matter of course, visited with Elizabeth's displeasure, and confined within his father's house, whence he petitioned Walsingham to be released (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1581-90, pp. 61, 70). Repeated appeals on his behalf were also brought before William Aubrey [q.v.], master of requests, to set aside the declaration of the invalidity of his mother's marriage. Though these appeals were without result, he was always styled Lord Beauchamp, a title to which he had no right unless he were of legitimate birth (cf. ib. 1591-4, p. 121). In 1596 he and his brother Thomas were implicated with Sir John Smith (d. 1600?) [q.v.] in some treasonable proceedings in Essex; but, beyond a severe examination, no proceedings were taken against him. The leniency with which father and son were treated was attributed to the existence of a considerable party in favour of his claims to the succession, including, it was said, Cecil, Ralegh, Lord Howard of Effingham, and others (ib. Addenda, 1580-1625, pp. 406-8). According to Lady Southwell, Beauchamp's name was suggested as successor to Elizabeth on her deathbed, and she replied, ‘I will have no rascal's son in my seat, but one worthy to be a king’ (cf. Cornhill Mag. March 1897). Apart from the doubt of his legitimacy, he was by act of parliament rightful heir to the throne for a year after James I's accession, until that monarch's title was settled by statute; but he was generally considered unfit to be a king, and no voice was raised in his favour. The appeal for a decision in favour of his legitimacy was again considered soon after James's accession (see Sir Julius Cæsar's report of proceedings in Cotton MS. Caligula, C. xvi. f. 412, which is mutilated), but apparently without success; and on 14 May 1608 Beauchamp obtained a patent in which Hertford was not mentioned as his father, to the effect that he and his heirs should become earls of Hertford and barons of parliament immediately on Hertford's death. Beauchamp, however, predeceased his father in July 1612, being buried at Wick on the 21st, and afterwards removed to a tomb in Salisbury Cathedral (Epitaphs, p. 37). He had three sons: (1) Edward (1587-1618), who matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford, on 16 April 1605, graduated B.A. 9 Dec. 1607, married on 1 June 1609 Anne, third daughter of Robert Sackville, second earl of Dorset [q.v.], was made K.B. 3 Nov. 1616, but predeceased his grandfather without issue, and was buried on 15 Sept. 1618; (2) William, afterwards second duke of Somerset [q.v.]; and (3) Francis, baron Seymour of Trowbridge [q.v.].