1521-1554

Sir Thomas "the Younger" Wyatt, the only surviving son of his father, Sir Thomas "the Elder" Wyatt and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Brooke, 3d Lord Cobham, was raised as a Catholic. When Thomas the Younger was merely fifteen, he was appointed Esquire to the Body to Henry VII and Joint Constable of Conysborough Castle in Yorkshire, a post previously held by his father and grandfather.

Thomas the Elder had become a courtier for Henry VII when he was as young as age 13. Educated at St.John's College at Cambridge, it is also said that he studied at Oxford. Thomas married Elizabeth when he was only 17. He separated from her about five years later and began filling various diplomatic posts for the king, including High Marshall of Calais.

Thomas the Elder grew up next to Anne Boleyn and it is believed that they had a romance prior to her marriage to Henry VIII in 1533 and possibly beyond. Privately, he told Henry VIII of their affair and advised Henry not to marry her.

Thomas the Elder was knighted in 1535 but fell into disfavor in 1536, in part due to his relationship with Anne Boleyn (though there is evidence that she had other lovers). He refused to publicly incriminate her and in 1536, he too was sent to the Tower of London, where he was forced to witness her execution.

Once again restored to favor, he resumed ambassadorial duties until 1541 when he was charged with treason. He received a royal pardon and died while on ambassadorial service in Sherborne.

Thomas the Elder is better known as a poet and is credited with bringing sonnets into the English language. Though he was unpublished in his lifetime, his poetry was published after his death and received great critical acclaim.

Thomas the Younger, then only sixteen years of age, in 1537, married Lady Jane Hawte, daughter of Sir William Hawte of Bishopbourne, and acquired the manor of Wavering with his bride. Together they had ten children, though only three married and left children. His godfather was the Duke of Norfolk.

As a young boy, Thomas the Younger, rarely saw his father; his father either being abroad on the King's business or at Court.

Allington Arms

As a boy, he had accompanied his father to Spain, where the elder Sir Thomas was threatened by the inquisition. This gave Thomas a hatred for the Spanish government.

With his father's death in 1542, the younger Thomas succeeded to Allington Castle and Boxley Abbey in Kent, along with several other properties. In 1542, he parted with the estate of Tarrant in Kent in favor of a natural son, Francis Wyatt, whose mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Darrel of Littlecote and in 1543, because of the huge debt he had inherited, he sold some of his outlying properties to the king.

Thomas had an impulsive temperment and more than once found himself involved in unwholesome activities. During Lent in 1543, he joined Henry Howard, earl of Surrey and some other boys in a nighttime of activity breaking windows of homes and damaging ecclesiasticl glass windows in London. When caught, and arrested, they were brought before the Privy Council and charged with acts of violence and having eaten meat during Lent. Wyatt denied the charges, while Henry Howard explained that they were merely awakining the town to a sense of sin. They were in the habit of frequenting a "house" kept by Mistress Arundel and she came to their aid at the trial. The three young men were sent to prison in the Poultry but were later removed to the Tower. Wyatt remained in the tower until 3 May that year.

In the fall of 1543, Wyatt joined volunteers raised by Surrey, at his own expense, to take part in the siege of Landrecies in alliance with Charles V of Spain in Flanders. Here he came to further dislike the Spaniards.

Wyatt performed admirably, suffered a minor wound and was commended by Thomas Churchyard for his service. In 1544, Wyatt joined in the siege of Boulougne and in 1545 he was given his own command of one thousand footmen. He was later created Commander of the fortress of Boulogne and served as such for seven years.

Surrey became governor of Boulougne and joined the council on 14 Jun 1545. Writing to Henry VII, he highly praised Wyatt' performance in the war. He remained at Boulougne until it surrendered in 1550. In November of 1550, he was named a commissioner to delimit the English frontier in France but due to ill-health, he was unable to continue.

He earlier joined the Duke of Suffolk, when the Duke attempted to enthrone his niece, Lady Jane Grey following the death of Edward VI.

After his war service, he retired to Allington and was knighted in 1547.

Wyatt remained uninvolved in politics until at first supporting the accession of Mary I "Bloody Mary". He later opposed the marriage of Mary to Philip of Spain, claiming that the marriage would be an outrage to England's honor. There was much fear in England that a marriage of Mary and Philip would allow for the domination of England by Spain. This fear was shared by Protestants and Catholics alike. The marriage of Mary and Philip was announced 15 Jan 1553-1554, though word of the marriage had leaked out long before the formal announcement.

Queen Mary Tudor	King Philip of Spain

In 1553, Wyatt received an invitation from Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, to attend a secret meeting of conspirators who opposed the marriage of Queen Mary and Philip, held at the town house of the Duke of Suffolk, in London. Among those attending, the three brothers of Suffolk and Sir Edmund Warner, brother-in-law of Lord Cobham, Sir Wyatt's step father. They chose Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and a rejected suitor of Queen Mary, as the leader, with the goal of depsing Mary and making Elizabeth Queen in her place with Courtenay as her prospective husband. Courtenay was a vain, self-seeking and untrustworthy person. Wyatt was invited to the third meeting, where it was agreed that Wyatt should raise Kent.

Courtenay was to raise Devonshire; Sir James Croft was to raise the region of the Severn and Suffolk; while his brothers were to raise Warwickshire, Leicestershire and the Midlands. The four contingents would then march towards London simultaneously. The French ambassador, de Noailles, promised French support when he saw the rebellion had the support of the people, whereupon an army under Visdame would land on the east coast of Scotland and both Calais and Guienne in France would be attacked as well. The conspirators had ask de Noailles for Naval support bud had made the stipulation that no Frenchman would actually land on English soil. The uprising was planned for 18 March.

Of the conspirators only William Thomas, Clerk to the Privy Council under Edward VI was a strong Protestant. Sir William Carew was a maritime adventurer. William Winter, former surveyor of the Navy represented maritime interests. Most of the rest served under Northumberland- Sir James Croft was Deputy in Ireland. Sir William Pickering was an ambassador in Paris. Sir Edward Rogers was a Gentleman of the Privy Council. Sir Edward Warner was Lieutenant of the Tower. Others, as Sir Thomas Wyatt, came from courtly families. Crofts and Sir Nicholas had regular access to Queen Mary.

Courtenay was afraid to journey to Devon and chose instead to remain at court. Carew, a rash and reckless character, raised his standard when Courtenay failed to arrive at Devon. Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor, heard of the uprising and called Courtenay for an interview. From Coutenay, Gardiner extracted most, if not all, of the plan. Meanwhile, Carew, unpopular in Devon, failed to incite the people of Devon and raised only seventy men. Carew then paniced and fled to France.

Meanwhile, the conspirators in London failed to discover that Carew had abandoned them, though they did learn of Courtenay's betrayal. Wyatt hurriedly left London for Allington, realizing that time was now essential.

Wyatt called a meeting at Allington Castle on 22 Jan 1553-1554. The meeting was attended by Robert Rudstone of Boughton Mouches, Sir Henry Isley of Sundridge and Farningham, Henry and Thomas Vane/ Fane of Tonbridge, George and Thomas Cobham of Cowling castle (cousins of Wyatt), Sir George Harper of Chart, Walter Mantell of Canterbury, Edward Wyatt (Thomas Wyatt's natural son) along with others. All totaled, Wyatt only managed to entice thirty gentlemen to join him. The conspirators agreed that the insurrection should take place 25 Jan. Wyatt sent details of the plan to the Duke of Suffolk but they were intercepted by government agents.

In Maidstone, 25 Jan was market day. The church bells rang and a procomation was read announcing the insurrection. The procomation was also read in other Kentish towns of Melfrod, Mailing, Ashford and Milton Regis. The Mayor of Canterbury remained loyal to Mary as did the Mayor of Rochester. Recruits assembled at Penenden Heath, Boxley and the great rallying point of Maidstone.

Under his command were 1,500 men, with another five thousand who promised adherence later. Wyatt, after capturing the town without opposition, made his headquarters at Rochester, where cannon and ammuniction were secretly sent by agents in London. Batteries were built to command the passage of the bridge at Rochester, as well as the opposite bank of the river.

When the Queen heard of Wyatt's action, a procomation was issued offering Wyatt and his followers a pardon if they disbanded within twenty-four hours. Royal officers were sent to detain any who would join Wyatt at Rochester. One such group, led by an insurgent named Anthony Knevet, was broken up by Sir Robert Southwell, sheriff of Kent, when Southwell ambushed Knevet. Another such group, led by Sir Henry Isley, was defeated by Lord Abergavenny. Citizens of Canterbury refused to join Wyatt.

Wyatt, meanwhile encouraged his followers by assuring them that he daily expected support from France (promised him by the French ambassador). The government, knowing that the King of France was known to be preparing eighty ships to land eighteen companies of foot soldiers in England, was closely watching de Noailles. Meanwhile, de Noailles sent a messenger to France, who first met with Wyatt at Rochester and as soon as he left Rochester, he was intercepted by men disguised as rebels. In reality they were men of Lord Cobham who immediately transferred the messenger to Bishop Gardiner in London, who had secretly promised Cobham a pardon if he changed sides. Wyatt also announced false reports of uprisings elsewhere in the country. Some of Wyatt's followers sent the council offers to return to their duty and by the end of January, Wyatt's hopes seemed dashed.

 

Hope resumed when the government ordered the Duke of Norfolk to march from London upon Wyatt's main body with a command of white-coated guards under Sir Henry Jerningham. This gave Wyatt an advantage. The duke was followed by five hundred Londoners, hastily collected by Captain Bret, afterwards joined by the sheriff of Kent. The government force was inferior to Wyatt's and included many who were sympathetic to Wyatt's cause. As soon as they came in contact with Wyatt's forces, the majority of them joined Wyatt with cries of "A Wyatt A Wyatt, we are all Englishmen". The government's troops were forced to flee towards Gravesend leaving behind guns, treasure and baggage.

Wyatt then led a group of four thousand armed men towards London, camping in Blackheath on 29 Jan 1553-1554. In words immortalized by Tennyson, Wyatt is supposed to have said just before setting out for London:

The government, stalling for time, sent Wyatt, then in Dartford, a message inviting him to state his demands. While in Dartford, Wyatt received news that the Duke of Suffolk, along with the Midland contingent, had been defeated and that Suffolk had been captured while hiding in a hollow tree. Wyatt was now alone in the rebellion.

On 1 Feb 1554, Mary went to Guildhall and addressed the citizens of London on the need to meet the danger Wyatt posed to the city and Wyatt was proclaimed a traitor.

The next morning, over twenty thousand men enrolled to protect the city. That same day, Wyatt entered Southwark. At Southwark, Wyatt spent a day and a night attempting unsuccessfully to get his guns and men across the Thames, as London Bridge had been cut. His followers were alarmed at the news of the events in London and many deserted.

Wyatt, unable to cross the Bridge of London, was forced to evacuate Southwark and turning south, he moved towards Kingston, arriving 6 Feb 1554. The day was wet and dark, the roads a mass of mire, dung and water-filled pits. It took the rebels ten hours to cover ten miles. Leaving Kingston behind them, they came to the marshy flat lands of Brentford, where the rain continued heavily and more men began to desert.

Wyatt then devised a plan to surprise Ludgate, capturing St.James Palace enroute, where Mary had taken refuge. His plan was betrayed to the government by Harper, who had deserted Wyatt at Kingston, and a council of war decided to allow him to advance upon the city and then press him on all sides. On 7 Feb, Wyatt moved through Kensington to Hyde Park where he encountered a sharp skirmish. With a diminished following, he made his way past St.James and proceeding by Charing Cross where Courtenay was with the Queen's men. Upon seeing the rebels approach, Courtenay took flight to Whitehall.

Wyatt reached Ludgate at 2 AM on the morning of 8 Feb, where he met a closed gate. The gate at Ludgate was an extremely old gate with six foot thick walls. Wyatt was dependent upon his London friends to open the gate for him but from within the gate, there were no sounds of revolt. His rearguard was cut off and dispersed and Wyatt had no means of forcing the gate. Unable to assault the gate, Wyatt, his numbers continually dwindling, Wyatt, now with only sixty men, retreated to Temple Bar where he was met by a powerful contingent. A contest lasted nearly an hour when a herald called upon him to stop and shouted out that the Queen might be merciful if there was no more bloodshed. Wyatt interpreted this as an offer of pardon, though the herald had no power to grant a pardon. Sir Maurice Berkeley appeared unarmed and confirmed what the herald had offered. Recognizing that his cause was lost, Wyatt surrendered his sword to Berkeley and mounted up behind him. Only forty men had been killed during the skirmish. The Knevetts, Alexander Brett and young Cobham also surrendered. Wyatt's actions would later be known as "Wyatt's Rebellion".

Wyatt and his supporters were taken to the Privy Council at Westminster where Wyatt was committed to the Tower, like his father and grandfather before him. He was then taken by barge to the Tower. Wyatt's supporters were locked in the prisons of Marshalsea, the King's Bench and the Tower but there was not room for all of them and many were lodged in churches, crowded together until the gallows could be erected for their hanging. Wyatt was joined in the Tower 9 Feb by George Cobham, Lord Cobham, Anthony Knevett, Hugh Booth, Thomas Fane, Sir George Harper and the small youth, Edward Wyatt, Wyatt's natural son. These were later joined by the Duke of Suffolk, Sir James Croft, Sir Henry Isley, Sir Gawer Carew, the two Culpeppers, Cromer and Thomas Rampton. Conditions were so crowded in the Tower that the churchmen: Cramner, Ridley and Latimer, had to share the same cell.

Every member of the Grey and Dudley families was in the tower expecting the death penalty. Both Gardiner and Renard insisted that the Queen show no mercy and death was the sentence for harboring a rebel, with the result that hundreds were handed over by tavern keepers and others.

Courtenay was sent to the Tower 9 Feb and on the 10th, prisoners concerned in the rebellion were arraigned. Forty-two Kentish men were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. By that evening eighty to one hundred bodies were swinging at the gates of the city. Even St.Paul's had its dangling bodies. The French ambassador, de Noailles, wrote that "every cross road presented the horrid spectacle of suspended humans corpses." Lord Dudley, Jane Grey's husband, was beheaded on the 2d at Tower Hill and Lady Jane Grey immediately afterwards on Tower Green. Wyatt himself witnessed her execution from the window of his cell at White Tower.

On the 13th a great batch was dealt with and two were gibbeted at Cheapside, one quartered at Aldgate, three hanged at Leadenhall, one hanged and quartered at Newgate, three hanged at Holborn, three at Bermondsy Street, three at St.George's, four at Charing Cross.

On the 14th, more rebels, commoners, were put to death, the bodies left hanging for twenty-four hours. Afterwards, their remains were sent to Newgate where they were parboiled, quartered and the heads and bodies hanged over the gate. The slaughter went on throughout the 15th with the execution of more commoners.

At Westminster, ten of Wyatt's chief men were condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. On the 16th, Brett and twenty other prisoners were carried into Kent by Sir Robert Southwell, as sheriff, and housed at Maidstone Jail until they were hanged at Maidstone, Rochester and Sevenoaks. Maidstone lost its charter, which was not restored until 1559 when it was restored by Queen Elizabeth.

Wyatt was arraigned at Westminster 14 March of high treason, along with Sir Edward Hastings and Master Bourne, the Queen's secretary. During Wyatt's trial, every effort was made to force him to implicate Princess Elizabeth, including the rack. His wife was sent for and promised his life if she could make him confess Elizabeth's involvement but Wyatt refused to implicate her. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered and subjected to fresh tortures in hopes he would implicate Elizabeth. Wyatt's execution was due largely to pressure exerted by Bishop Gardiner and Simon Renard, the Spanish Ambassador. He was not brought from the Tower for execution until 11 April.

On the 23d, the Duke of Suffolk and father of Lady Jane Grey, was beheaded and on the 19th, Thomas Cobham and little Edward Wyatt were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Lord Cobham had been released with Sir William Cobham and George Cobham on the intercession of Count d'Edgmont.

Wyatt was beheaded 11 Apr 1554 and all of his properties were confiscated and shared among the greedy nobles who frequented the court. At the scaffold on Tower Hill, Wyatt made a speech in which he accepted full responsibilty for his acts and exhonorated Elizabeth's involvement.

After removing his doublet, he shook hands with the officials present, tied his own handkerchief over his eyes and laid his head on the block. His head was severed in one stroke.

His body was drawn and quartered and the next day his head was hung on Hay Hill, beside Hyde Park, while his limbs were distributed in various quarters of the town. Londoners struggled to dip their handkerchiefs in his blood. On 17 April, his head was stolen, presumably by friends.

Lord Thomas Grey (Suffolk's brother) was executed (hanged) on 14 Feb and William Thomas on 18 May. There were seventy-one certain executions in all. In some cases, the local authorities simply "forgot" until the panic died down.

Generally, the higher the social status of the rebel, the more lenient the treatment. Winter, Warner, Rogers and Arnold were never brought to trial at all and received pardons in due time. Carew and Gibb (Devon Rising) were brought to the Tower later but were released. Crofts was tried, convicted but pardoned two years later. Throgmorton was released in January 1555.

Allington Castle

Queen Elizabeth later restored Boxley to Wyatt's eldest legitimate son, George. Allington Castle was given to Sir John Astley, Master of the Crown Jewels.

During the rebellion, only one mansion was sacked and what his supporters took was paid for. No prisoners were slaughtered. Some prisoners were released on parole, which they promptly broke. Those supporters who were faint hearted were allowed to go without harrassment.

Sir Thomas Wyatt became a martyr to the national cause in England.