Editing Edward VI (section)

=== Thomas Seymour ===
[[File:Thomas Seymour Denizot.jpg|thumb|[[Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley]]]]

Somerset faced less manageable opposition from his younger brother Thomas, who has been described as a "worm in the bud".{{Sfn|Loades|2004|p=34}} As the king's uncle, Thomas Seymour demanded the governorship of the king's person and a greater share of power.{{Sfn|Elton|1977|pp=333, 346}} Somerset tried to buy his brother off with a [[baron]]y, an appointment to the [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Lord Admiralship]], and a seat on the Privy Council, but Thomas was bent on scheming for power. He began smuggling pocket money to Edward, telling him that Somerset held the purse strings too tight, making him a "beggarly king".{{Sfn|Loades|2004|p=36}} He also urged the king to throw off the Protector within two years and "bear rule as other kings do"; but Edward, schooled to defer to the council, failed to cooperate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loades|2004|pp=36–37}}; {{Harvnb|Brigden|2000|p=182}}.</ref> In the spring of 1547, using Edward's support to circumvent Somerset's opposition, Thomas Seymour secretly married Henry VIII's widow Catherine Parr, whose Protestant household included the 11-year-old [[Lady Jane Grey]] and the 13-year-old Lady Elizabeth.{{Sfn|Erickson|1978|p=234}}

In summer 1548, a pregnant Catherine Parr discovered Thomas Seymour embracing Lady Elizabeth.{{Sfn|Somerset|1997|p=23}} As a result, Elizabeth was removed from Parr's household and transferred to Sir Anthony Denny's. That September, Parr died shortly after childbirth, and Seymour promptly resumed his attentions to Elizabeth by letter, planning to marry her. Elizabeth was receptive, but, like Edward, unready to agree to anything the council had not permitted.{{Sfn|Loades|2004|pp=37–38}} In January 1549, the council had Thomas Seymour arrested on various charges, including [[embezzlement]] at the Bristol [[Mint (facility)|mint]]. Edward, whom Seymour was accused of planning to marry to Lady Jane Grey, himself testified about the pocket money. Lack of clear evidence for treason ruled out a trial, so Seymour was condemned instead by an [[act of attainder]] and beheaded on 20 March 1549.{{Sfn|Alford|2002|pp=91–97}}