Sir Thomas Wyatt, of Allington
Castle (1521-1554)
Born 1521
Died 11 April 1554 London, Tower Hill (beheaded)
Married circa 1536
Jane Hawte, daughter of Sir Thomas Hawte
Sir Thomas Wyatt, a Catholic who had risen a year earlier to fight on
Queen Mary's behalf, was enraged like so many others when it became known
that Mary wanted to marry Philip II of Spain. As a young man Sir Thomas
had been to Spain and had detested what he had seen.
He went to the Duke of Suffolk and obtained his support on the understanding
that the imprisoned Lady Jane Grey would be put forward as a claimant against
the queen. This is what the Duke understood but
Sir Thomas Wyatt wanted to use either Lady Jane Grey or the Princess
Elizabeth as a threat to make Queen Mary abandon her marriage plans.
He started his rebellion in Kent while the Duke of Suffolk was to start
in Leicester and Peter Carew in Plymouth. The three forces would then close
in on London. However, when Lady Jane Grey's name was mentioned, some enthusiasm
for his rebellion began to fade.
On 27 January 1554 Mary sent an army under the Duke of Norfolk to Kent
but his troops deserted to Wyatt. Norfolk fled and Wyatt proceeded to Rochester.
By now, Suffolk, Wyatt and Carew were
acknowledged rebels. Wyatt then reached Gravesend and required the
custody of the Tower and of the queen's person. However, in a magnificent
speech, Queen Mary roused the people of London and it was
Sir Thomas Wyatt who was captured; and on 6 February he was taken to
the Tower. The Duke of Suffolk had been hiding in a hollow tree for two
days and nights until he was betrayed by his own men. The Duke of Suffolk
was then also taken to the Tower.
The Wyatt Rebellion cost the sixteen-year-old Lady Jane Grey her life;
she was beheaded on 12 February 1554 on Tower Green while her young husband,
Lord Guildford Dudley, was beheaded on the same day but on Tower Hill.
Her father, the Duke of Suffolk, was beheaded on 23 February 1554 and Sir
Thomas Wyatt on 11 April 1554.
Source: Leo van de Pas |