Edward Seymour

Jane Seymour's eldest brother

Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp (1500 – ), son of Sir John Seymour, brother to Jane and Tom, of Wolf Hall, Wiltshire.

The story so far…

Week 11: 'Alas, What Shall I Do For Love?' (Part 2) / Early Mass

In Calais, Cromwell plays chess with the elder brother Seymour. Cromwell beats him.

Week 14: Devil’s Spit / A Painter’s Eye

When he hears the news of his daughter’s birth, the king doesn’t even ask about Anne.

‘It hardly matters, does it?’ Edward Seymour, saying brutally what everyone is thinking.

Jane Seymour: “my brother Edward smiled last week.” His wife is dying, and he is looking forward to having a new one. And keeping her away from his father.

Cromwell notices the king dancing with Lizzie Seymour, “his hand lingering on her waist.” He lends Edward some money, “on very favourable terms.” He, Cromwell, is hedging his bets.

Week 18: Falcons

Edward Seymour, the heir, has a long head, a serious expression, a clean fierce profile: a handsome man. He is well-read if not scholarly, applies himself wisely to any office he is given; he has been to war, and while he is waiting to fight again he acquits himself well in the hunting field and tilt yard. The cardinal, in his day, marked him out as better than the usual run of Seymours; and he himself, Thomas Cromwell, has sounded him out and found him in every respect the king’s man.

At Wolf Hall, Edward and Cromwell have a re-match of the chess game Edward lost in Calais. This time, Edward seems to want to talk about religion and politics. He asks about Anne and the spread of the true religion. He loses the game.

Week 19: Crows (Part 1)

The court drop in at Edward Seymour’s house at Elvetham. Cromwell makes sure that Jane Seymour is there.

If they play this carefully, Edward Seymour will rise within the court, and give him an ally where allies are scarce. At this stage, Edward needs advice. Because he, Cromwell, has better business sense than the Seymours. He will not let Jane sell herself cheap.

Edward hints that he knows something about George and Anne Boleyn, but cuts his point short, frowning. He puts his brother down, telling him he is no gallant gentleman. But Tom just grins.

Perhaps, he had thought, I should scribble an aide-memoire for the Seymour boys, so they are clear on what presents Jane should and should not accept. The rule is simple: jewellery yes, money no. And till the deal is done, let her not take off any item of clothing in Henry’s presence. Not even, he will advise, her gloves.

Week 20: Crows (Part 2)

Edward on Jane: ‘The king will need a companion. But we do not push her in his way. Let it be as Cromwell here has advised. Henry has seen her. He has formed his intent. Now, she must avoid him. No, she must repel him.’

Week 23: The Black Book (Part 2)

Cromwell speaks to the Seymours, privately yet plainly. ‘You Seymours should not raise your hopes,’ he says. Edward counsels his sister: do not mention the late Katherine in the king’s presence.

When the Seymours see their sister kiss the king’s letter, they are ecstatic! Tom knocks off Edward’s hat and both men smile.

Edward is grave, serious, yet he is ready to unfold his thoughts to you.

Week 24: The Black Book (Part 3)

Edward Seymour comes to see Cromwell. He wants in on any conspiracy. He wants to know what the plan is. So Cromwell tells him.

The Boleyns ‘will fight’, Seymour warns Cromwell. ‘The Boleyns if they go down will take us with them. I have heard of serpents that, though they are dying, exude poison through their skins.’

Week 27: The Book of Phantoms (Part 3/5)

At Carew’s house in Surrey, ‘prudent Edward’ is teaching Jane how to enter a room. He tells Cromwell he should have a bishop. Cromwell tells him he should have been pope.

Week 29: The Book of Phantoms (Part 5/5) / Spoils

Edward Seymour ferries between his sister and the king during the last days of Anne Boleyn. After the queen is dead, he is promoted to Viscount Beauchamp.

Week 31: Salvage (Part 1/3)

At court, Edward looks ‘discreetly joyous.’ He tells his brother to quieten his voice as the family quizzes Jane on her maidenhead. When Jane is coy, Edward tells Cromwell that he, Cromwell, will have to speak to the king.

Week 32: Salvage (Part 2/3)

Edward Seymour appears on the king’s council, although he hasn’t been properly sworn in. He is there to advise the king as his brother. He appears a little exasperated with the king’s new councillor, Richard Riche. ‘I wish you were in Utopia.’

It is an awkward meeting for Edward. His brother, the king, feels despondent. He has no heirs. But, ‘if the king has nothing, where does that leave sister Jane, where does that leave the family of Wolf Hall?’

Week 36: Augmentation

The Seymour family is augmented. ‘Edward Seymour seeks out the company of black-gowned savants to learn how he can be useful to the realm.’ He shows Cromwell his wall of ancestors, going back generations and all looking like him.

Week 41: The Image of the King (Part 1/2)

The court attend his daughter’s christening at Chester Place. Seymour is trying to keep hold of his London house, which belongs to the bishopric. As the happy news spreads across Europe, Cromwell makes a proposal to Edward to unite their two families: ‘We can make an alliance in blood, as well as in the council chamber.’

Edward agrees to marry his sister Bess to a Cromwell. But which Cromwell?

Week 42: The Image of the King (Part 2/2) / Broken on the Body

The Cromwells visit the Seymours at Twickenham. Edward does not mention the mistake over who was to marry his sister.

In August, Edward is involved in a confrontation between the Cromwell-Seymour clan and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Surrey accused Edward of marrying his sister into vile blood.

After the birth of his nephew, the future king Edward VI, Seymour becomes the Earl of Hertford.

Week 43: Nonsuch

At the burning of John Forrest, ‘Edward Seymour looks as if he will spew.’

Week 48: Twelfth Night

Edward Seymour writes to offer his support for the Cleves marriage. The king’s visit to Wolf Hall has reassured him that his family ‘will lose no pre-eminence’.