Biography of Thomas Culpepper 1514-1541

Before 1514 [his father] Alexander Culpepper (age 56) and [his mother] Constance Chamberlayne (age 55) were married.

Around 1514 Thomas Culpepper was born to Alexander Culpepper (age 56) and Constance Chamberlayne (age 56).

                    Around Apr 1541 Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18) wrote to Thomas Culpepper (age 27)...
                
                    Master Culpeper,
                
                    I heartily recommend me unto you, praying you to send me word how that you do. It was showed me that you was sick, the which thing troubled me very much till such time that I hear from you praying you to send me word how that you do, for I never longed so much for a thing as I do to see you and to speak with you, the which I trust shall be shortly now. That which doth comfortly me very much when I think of it, and when I think again that you shall depart from me again it makes my heart die to think what fortune I have that I cannot be always in your company. It my trust is always in you that you will be as you have promised me, and in that hope I trust upon still, praying you that you will come when my Lady Rochford (age 36) is here for then I shall be best at leisure to be at your commandment, thanking you for that you have promised me to be so good unto that poor fellow my man which is one of the griefs that I do feel to depart from him for then I do know no one that I dare trust to send to you, and therefore I pray you take him to be with you that I may sometime hear from you one thing. I pray you to give me a horse for my man for I had much ado to get one and therefore I pray send me one by him and in so doing I am as I said afor, and thus I take my leave of you, trusting to see you shortly again and I would you was with me now that you might see what pain I take in writing to you.
                
                    Yours as long as life endures,
                
                    Katheryn.
                
                    One thing I had forgotten and that is to instruct my man to tarry here with me still for he says whatsomever you bid him he will do it.

On 21 Jun 1541 [his father] Alexander Culpepper (age 83) died at Goudhurst, Kent.

Holinshed's Chronicle. After he had béene at Yorke twelue daies, he came to Hull, where he deuised certeine fortifications. This doone, he passed ouer the water of Humber, and so through Lincolneshire, returned toward the south parts, and at Alhallowen tide came to Hampton court. About the same time, the king had knowledge that the quéene [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18)] liued dissolutelie, in vsing the vnlawfull companie of one Francis Diram (age 28), with whome she had beene too familiar before hir maraiage with the king; & not meaning to forgo his companie now in time of hir marriage, without regard had either to the feare of God, or the king hir husband, the last summer being in progresse with the king at Pomfret, the seuen and twentith of August, she reteined the said Francis Diram in hir seruice, to the intent she might vse his companie in such vnlawfull sort the more freelie: and not satisfied with him, she also vsed the vnlawfull companie of Thomas Culpeper (age 27) esquire, one of the gentlemen of the kings priuie chamber, as well at Pomfret aforesaid on the nine and twentith and last of August aforesaid, and on the first of September, as at diuerse other times and places before and after.

Before Nov 1541 King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 50) and Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18) visited Chenies Manor House, Buckinghamshire [Map]. The house was subsequently mentioned in evidence against her as somewhere she had committed adultery with Thomas Culpepper (age 27).

In Dec 1541 Francis Dereham (age 28) and Thomas Culpepper (age 27) were tried for adultery with Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18). The former for adultery before Henry and Catherine's marriage, the latter for adultery after the marriage.

Both were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Both men pleaded for mercy. Culpeper, presumably because of his former closeness to the King, received a commuted sentence of beheading only.

                    Calendar of the Manuscripts of the Marquis of Bath. 1541, November 12. Hampton. — "The Quene (age 18) saith that my lady Rocheford (age 36) hath sondry tymez made instans to her to speke with Culpeper (age 27) declaryng hym to beare her good wyll and favour, wheruppon she did at the last graunte he shuld speke with her, my lady of Rocheford affyrmyng that he desiered nothyng elles but to speke with her and that vshe durst swere uppon a booke he ment nothyng but honestye. And so he spake with hir in a litle galery at the steyer hedd at Lyncoln when it was late in the nyght about x or xj of the clok an hower and more, a nother tyme in her bedde chamber at Pomfrett and a nother tyme in my lady Rocheford chamber at York.
                
                    "Item she seith that she wold ever sey to my lady Rocheford when she moved her for hym ' alas madam this wol be spyed oon day and then we be all ondone,' wheronto my lady Rocheford wold sey ' feare not madam lett me alone I warraunt yowe.'
                
                    "Item she seith that when Culpeper was talkyng with hir my lady Rocheford wold many tymez, beyng ever by, sytt sumwhatt farre of or turn hyr bak and she wold sey to her 'For Goddes sake madam even nere us.'

Wriothesley's Chronicle. 13 Nov 1541. This yeare, the 13th daye of November, Sir Thomas Wriothesly, knight, and Secretary to the Kinge, came to Hampton Court to the Quene, and called all the ladies and gentlewomen and her servauntes into the Great Chamber, and there openlye afore them declared certeine offences that she had done in misusing her bodye with certeine persons afore the Kinges tyme, wherefore he there discharged all her househould; and the morrowe after she was had to Sion, and my Lady Bainton and 2 other gentlewomen, with certeine of her servauntes to wayte on her there till the Kinges further pleasure;^a and divers persons were had to the Tower of London, as my Lady Rochford (age 36), Mr. Culpepper (age 27), one of the Kinges Privie Chamber, with other.

Note a. A letter from the Council to Archbishop Cranmer, signifjing the King's pleasure as to the remove of Qneen Katharine Howard, and the discharge of her household, is printed in State Papers, Heniy VIII. rol. i. part ii. pp. 691-8.

Holinshed's Chronicle. [14 Nov 1541]. The morrow after she [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18)] was conueied to Sion [Map], the ladie Bainton and certeine gentlewomen and some of hir seruants being appointed to wait vpon hir there, till the kings pleasure might be further knowen. Culpeper (age 27), Diram (age 28), and others were had to the tower. Diram in his examination being charged with the familiaritie which had béene betwixt them, before she was married to the king, confessed that he and she said quéene had made a precontract togither, and that he concealed it for hir preferment in marriage to the king, after he vnderstood the king began to cast a liking towards hir.

Wriothesley's Chronicle. 01 Dec 1541. This yeare, the fyrst daye of December, was arrigned at the Guyld Hall in London Thomas Culpepper (age 27),^a one of the Gentlemen of the Kinges Pryvie Chamber, and Frauncis Dorand (age 28), gentleman, for high treason against the Kinges Majestic in mysdemeanor with the Quene,^b as appeered by thejrr inditements which they confessed,^c and had their judgments to be drawne, hanged, and quartered, the Lord Mayor sitting there as cheife, the Lord Chauncellor (age 53) on his right hand, and the Duke of Norfolke (age 68) on his left hand, the Duke of Suffolke (age 57), the Lord Privye Scale, the Earles of Sussex (age 58), of Hertford (age 41), and divers other of the Kinges Counsell, with all the judges, sittinge there also in commission the same daye.

Note a. It was alleged against Thomas Culpepper, who was a relative of the Queen, that he had on one occasion, when the Court was it Lincoln, stayed for three hours in the same room with the Queen and Lady Rochford.

Note b. Archbishop Cranmer declared to the King, on his return from his progress in the North, that he had evidence that the Queen before her marriage had been seduced by Francis Dereham, to whom she had been engaged to be married.

Note c. Francis Dereham is generally said to have confessed that he had been guilty of incontinence with the Qneen before her marriage, but, from the best evidence we possess, it seems doubtful whether Dereham confessed anything of the kind. — See State Papers, Uenry VIII. vol. i.

Holinshed's Chronicle. 01 Dec 1541. The first of December, Culpeper (age 27) and Diram (age 28) were arreigned at the Guildhall in London, before the lord maior sitting there in iudgement as chéefe iudge, hauing the lord chancellor vpon his right hand, and the duke of Norffolke vpon his left hand, the duke of Suffolke the lord priuie seale, the earles of Sussex and Hereford, with diuerse other of the councell sitting there as iudges in commission that daie: the prisoners in the end confessed the indictement, and had iudgement to die, as in cases of treason.

                    On 10 Dec 1541. At Tyburn [Map] ....
                
                    Francis Dereham (age 28) was hanged, drawn and quartered.
                
                    Thomas Culpepper (age 27) was beheaded. 
                
                    Both were buried at St Sepulchre without Newgate Church; their heads were spiked on London Bridge [Map].

Hall's Chronicle. 10 Dec 1541. At this tyme the Quene (age 18) late before maried to the kyng called Quene Katheryne, was accused to the Kyng of dissolute livyng, before her mariage, with Fraunces Diram (age 28), and that was not secretely, but many knewe it. And sithe her Mariage, she was vehemently suspected with Thomas Culpeper (age 27), whiche was brought to her Chamber at Lyncolne, in August laste, in the Progresse tyme, by the Lady of Rocheforde (age 36), and were there together alone, from a leven of the Clocke at Nighte, tyll foure of the Clocke in the Mornyng, and to hym she gave a Chayne, and a riche Cap. Upon this the kyng removed to London, and she was sent to Sion [Map], and there kepte close, but yet served as Quene. And for the offence confessed by Culpeper and Diram, thei were put to death at Tiborne [Map], the tenth daie of December.

Wriothesley's Chronicle. 10 Dec 1541. And the tenth day of December the said Culpeper (age 27) and Dorand (age 28) were drawne from the Tower of London to Tybume [Map], and there Culpeper, after exhortation made to the people to pray for him, he standinge on the ground by the gallowes, kneled downe and had his head stiyken of; and then Dorand was hanged, membred, bowelld, headed, and quartered. Culpepers body buryed at St. Pulchers Church by Newegate, theyr heades sett on London Bridge.

Holinshed's Chronicle. 10 Dec 1541. The tenth of December, the said Culpeper (age 27) and Diram (age 28) were drawen from the tower vnto Tiburne and there Culpeper had his head striken off, and Diram was hanged, dismembred and headed. Culpeper's bodie was buried in S. Sepulchers church, but both their heads were set on London bridge.

Chronicle of Greyfriars. 10 Dec 1541. This year the 10th daye of December was draune from the tower to Tyborne [Thomas] Culpeper (age 27), and there was hongyd and heddyd.

Holinshed's Chronicle. 16 Jan 1542. The sixteenth of Ianuarie the parlement began at Westminster, in the which the lords and commons exhibited certeine petitions to the king. First, that he would not vex himselfe with the quéenes offense, and that she and the ladie Rochford might be attainted by parlement: and to auoid protracting of time, they besought him to giue his roiall assent thereto, vnder his great seale, without staieng for the end of the parlement. Also, that Diram and Culpeper before attainted by the common law, might also be attainted by parlement, & that Agnes duches of Norffolke, and Katharine countesse of Bridgewater hir daughter, which for concealing the said offense, were committed to the towre, and indicted of misprision, & the lord William Howard arreigned of the same, might likewise be attainted. Also, that who soeuer had spoken or doone anie thing in detestation of hir naughtie life, should be pardoned.

From 1640 to 1641 Thomas Culpepper lived at 4 5 Great Piazza Covent Garden.

                    Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. II. Acts printed in the Statutes at Large, but not entered on the Parliament Roll, viz.:—
                
                    Cap. 2 [o.n. 2]. Buying of fish upon the sea.
                
                    C. 5 [o.n. 5]. Great horses.
                
                    C. 8 [o.n. 8]. Against conjurations and witchcrafts and sorcery and enchantments.
                
                    C. 14 [o.n. 14]. Prophecies upon declaration of names, arms, badges, &c.
                
                    C. 15 [o.n. 15]. Sanctuary of Manchester to be abolished, and the sanctuary men transferred to West Chester, which is to be a sanctuary.
                
                    C. 21 [o.n. 33 in the year 37 Henry VIII.].5 Attainder of Catharine Howard and others.—Catharine Howard whom the King took to wife is proved to have been not of pure and honest living before her marriage, and the fact that she has since taken to her service one Francis Dereham, the person with whom she "used that vicious life before," and has taken as chamberer a woman who was privy to her naughty life before, is proof of her will to return to her old abominable life. Also she has confederated with Lady Jane Rocheford, widow, late wife of Sir George Boleyn, late Lord Rochford, to "bring her vicious and abominable purpose to pass" with Thomas Culpeper, late one of the King's Privy Chamber, and has met Culpeper in "a secret and vile place," at 11 o'clock at night, and remained there with him until 3 a.m., with only "that bawd, the lady Jane Rocheford." For these treasons, Culpeper and Dereham have been convicted and executed, and the Queen and Lady Rochford stand indicted. The indictments of such as have lately suffered are hereby approved, and the said Queen and Lady Rochford are, by authority of this Parliament, convicted and attainted of high treason, and shall suffer accordingly; and the said Queen, lady Rocheford, Culpeper, and Dereham shall forfeit to the Crown all possessions which they held on 25 Aug. 33 Henry VIII. The Royal assent to this Act shall be given by commission. And where Agnes duchess of Norfolk, widow, and Catharine Countess of Bridgewater, wife of Henry Earl of Bridgewater, are indicted of misprision of treason for concealing the first treasons, and lord William Howard, lady Margaret Howard his wife, Edward Walgrave, Kath. Tylney, Alice Restwold, Joan Bulmer, Anne Howard, Robert  Damporte, Malyn Tylney, Marg. Bennet, and William Assheby have been convicted of the said misprision, all of them shall forfeit their goods to the King, and be imprisoned for life, and the King shall take the revenues of their lands from 1 Oct. 33 Henry VIII. for term of their lives. To avoid doubts in future, it is declared that the Royal assent given by commission shall be valid in all cases hereafter, that any lightness of the Queen for the time being may be revealed to the King or his Council, and that an unchaste woman marrying the King shall be guilty of high treason.
                
                    C. 25 [o.n. 23]. Denization of children of Thomas Poyntz, of London, grocer, William Castelyn, of London, mercer, and John Dymock, late gentleman usher, born beyond sea of wives who were not denizens.
                
                    C. 26 [o.n. 24]. Certain crafty conveyances executed by Sir John Shelton, dec., declared null.
                
                    C. 28 [o.n. 26]. That the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Chancellor of Augmentations, the Chancellor of First Fruits and Tenths, the master of Wards and Liveries, each of the General Surveyors, the treasurer of the Chamber, the treasurer of Augmentations, and the groom of the Stole, may each retain one chaplain holding one benefice with cure of souls and not resident upon it.
                
                    C. 29 [o.n. 27]. Religious persons of houses and monasteries which have been translated from their old corporations into new corporations, without being suppressed, to enjoy the benefits of the Act of 31 Henry VIII., enabling religious persons in houses suppressed to sue and be sued, &c.
                
                    C. 30 [o.n. 28]. Authority of the dean and chapter of Lichfield in making leases, &c.
                
                    C. 31 [o.n. 29]. Bishoprics of Chester and of the Isle of Man transferred from the jurisdiction of Canterbury to that of York.
                
                    C. 32 [o.n. 30]. Whitegate made a parish church separate from the parish of Over.
                
                    C. 33 [o.n. 31]. Privileges of Kingston-upon-Hull.
                
                    C. 34 [o.n. 32]. The two annual fairs granted to King's Lynn by pat.
                
                    7 July 29 Henry VIII. taken away, because of the regrating of salt fish practised there, to the detriment of Styrbridge fair, Ely fair, and other fairs in cos. Camb. and Hunts.
                
                    C. 35 [o.n. 33]. Water conduits of Gloucester.
                
                    C. 39 [o.n. 37]. Establishment of the Court of General Surveyors.
                
                    Note. 5. Received the royal assent, 11 February, Lords' Journals.

Statutes of the Realm Volume 3 Chapter 21. In theyre moste humble wyse besechen your most royall Ma^tethe Lordes spiritual and temporal and all other your moste loving and obedient Subjects the Commons of this your moste highe Courte of Parliament assembled; That where, besydes any Mannes expectacion, suche chaunce hath happenyd, by M^resKatheryne Haward whiche your Highnes tooke to your Wief, bothe to your Ma^tie chieflie and so consequentlie to us all that the lyke we thinke hathe scarse be seen, the lykelyhoods and apparences being so farre contrarye to that whiche by evydent and due profe is now founde trewe; First, that it wooll please your Ma^tie to take it in suche parte as therby arryse not to us all a greater inconvenience, whiche is the trouble of your hart and unquietnes of your mynde, for that shulde be a shortenyng of that whiche we all shulde repente and moste desyre the contrarye; Secondelie, that it wolde please your Ma^tie to pardon all your loving Subjects which syns theys matiers came to theyre knowledge have detested and abhorryd her for this facte bothe in woorde maner and deade, and of woords utteryd by them of her and her adherents not maintenable in your lawes, considering that they did and doo it oonlie for the greate zeale and love that they bere to your Ma^tie and the abhomynacion of the detestable facte; Thirdelye that synnes it pleased your Ma^tie uppon those lyklye outward apparaunces to take the saide M^res Katheryne Howard to your Wief and Quene of your most excellent goodnes, and for a godlie purpose, and allso moste liberallye to endue her with greate possessions, for the maintenance of the same, thinking and taking her at that tyme to be chaste and of pure cleane and honest lyving, the contrarye wherof is now dulye proved bothe by her owne confession and others also, And that allso shee after the mariage betwene your Ma^tie and her, tooke most trayterouslye to her service the same person with whome she used that vicious lyef before, whose name was Fraunces Dereham, and used him in many secret conferences and messagges after, as by his confession and attaindor dothe more plainlie appere; calling allso to her service in rowme of Chamberer a woman whiche was pryvie to her naughtie lief before, wherby she hathe shewed a greate apparaunce and in manner a dew prof of will to retorne to her olde and abhomynable lief with the forsaide persone; and yet she not satisfied with thies abhomynable carnall desyres, the ende wherot how penllous it was and might have been to your Ma^tie and persone were harde to expresse, hathe allso synnes that tyme most traytorouslye confederated herself with the Ladye Jane Rocheford wydowe, late wief of George Boleyn Knight late Lorde Rocheforde, to bring her vicious and abhomynable purpose to passe with Thomas Culpepper Esquier late oon of the Gentlemen of your Grace's privye Chambre, by whose meanes the Quene brought to passe that the saide Thomas Culpepper and she mett in a secrett and vyle place, and that at an undue hower of a xj a Clocke in the night, and so remayned there with him till three of the Clocke in the morninge, none being with them but that Bawde the Ladye Jane Rocheford, by whose meanes Thomas Culpepper came thither, and there they all three and at other conferencf togyther afterward most falselie and traiterouselye comytted and perpetrated many detestable and adhomynable treasons, to the most fearefull pill and daunger of the distrucén of your most royall pson and to thuttre losse disheryson and desolacdn of this your Realme of England, if God of his infinite goodenes had not in due tyme brought the saide treasons to light; of and for whiche treasons beinge nanifestelie and plainlie proved, aswell by the confession of the saide Quene and other the saide parties as by dyverse other witnesses: and profes, the saide Fraunces Dereham and Thomas Culpep have been lawfullye and truely and according to the lawes of the Realme convycted and attainted, And the saide Quene and Jane Lady Rocheford be lawfully indyted, insomuche that Thoms Culpep and Fraunces Dereham have justlie suffered therfore paines of Death accordyng to theyre merytes as by the Record¢ therof more plainlie at lardge may appere: It may therfore please your Highnes of your most excellent and accustumable goodnes, and for the entier love favo' and hartye affection that youre Ma^tie hath allwaies hertofore borne and yet beryth to the comen welthe of this your Realme of Englande, and for the conservacyon of your most excellent Highnes and posteryte, and of the good peax unitie and rest of us yo^r most bounden and obedient Subject, to graunte and assente at the most humble desyer and peticion of yo^r loving and obedient Subjects the Lordes spiritual and temporal and the Commons in this present parliament assembled, That this theyre lawfull indytements and attaindors of suche as have latelie sufferyd may be approved by thauctoritie of this present parliament: And that it nay be enacted that the saide Quene Katheryne and Jane Ladye Rocheford, for theyre saide abhominable and detestable treasons by theym and every of theym most abomynablie and trayterouslie comytted and doon against yo^r Ma^tie and this your Realme, shalbe by thaucthoryte of this pnt parliament convicted and attainted of Highe Treasone; and that the same Quene Katheryne and Jane Lady Rocheford and eyther of them shall have and suffre paynes of Death losse of goode catalls debts fermes and all other things as in cases of Highe treason by the lawes of this your Realme hath been accustumed graunted and gyven to the Crowne: And also that the saide Quene Katheryne Jane Ladye Rochford Thomas Culpep and Fraunces Dereham, and every of theym, shall lose and forfaite to your Highnes and to your heyres all suche right tytle interest use and possession, whiche they or any of them had the xxv^th daye of August in the xxxiij^th yere of your reygn or any tyme sythens, of in or to all suche theyre Hono's manours meases lands tenements rents reversions remaynders uses possessions offices rights condicions and all other theyre hereditament of what names natures or qualities soever they be; and that all suche rights title interest use and possession, whiche they or any of them had or of right ought to have the saide xxv^th daye of August or any tyme sythen, of in or to the same Hono's castells manours meases land tefitf rent reversions remayndoures uses possessions office rights comodities and hereditament, by thauctorytie aforsaide shalbe demed vested and judged to be in thactuall and reall possession of your Ma^tie, without any office or inquisicion therof hereafter to be taken or founde according to the comen lawes of this your Realme.

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Biography of Thomas Culpepper 1514-1541

Ancestors of Thomas Culpepper 1514-1541