Seymour was an ambitious unstable man. He was Edward’s uncle... and he was jealous of his brother’s position as guardian to the young King. He was fond of his wife but he had an inappropriate attraction towards her 14 year old charge. He began to flirt with the young Elizabeth, and she seems to have been embarrassed but also excited by her step father’s behaviour. Katherine Parr turned a blind eye for a time, hoping that her husband would stop his foolish behaviour. if she tried not to notice it. Katherine was pregnant for the first time and under strain.
Her husband was on bad terms with his brother Edward and there were disputes with Edward Seymour and his wife…about her status.
When Katherine caught Thomas in an embrace with Elizabeth,
she finally acted... She remained fond
of her – but sent her away to another house, to keep her out of Thomas’
way. Elizabeth seems to have remained close
to her, and they wrote to each other when she had moved. A few months later, Katherine died in childbirth,
having given birth to a daughter, Mary who probably died in infancy.
Now Thomas was free again and he seems to have begun to plot
to take over control of King Edward, who liked him better than his other uncle,
the Lord Protector. He also seemed
eager to renew his attentions to Elizabeth, in hopes of marrying her. Elizabeth avoided getting entangled with him…
though her governess, Kat Ashley teased her about her old suitor being free to
marry…
In 1549 Seymour was arrested and details emerged about his
foolish flirtation with Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s governess and another servant,
Thomas Parry were arrested and she knew she was in danger of being considered guilty
of involvement in Thomas Seymour’s plots. However young as she was, she coolly and stubbornly
refused to admit anything. When Seymour
was executed, in March 1549, she is reputed to have said “This day died a man
with much wit and very little judgement.”
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