Thomas Stafford (rebel)

Thomas Stafford
Noble family	Stafford
Father	Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford
Mother	Ursula Pole
Born	c. 1533 England
Died	28 May 1557 (aged 23–24)

The Hon. Thomas Stafford (c. 1533 – 28 May 1557) was the ninth child of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Ursula Pole. He was involved in two rebellions against Queen Mary and was executed for treason in 1557.

Early life

Thomas Stafford was the ninth child and second surviving son of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Ursula Pole. Little is known of his early life, first being mentioned in 1550 as he traveled to Rome, where he associated with his uncle Reginald Cardinal Pole. He spent three years in Italy before travelling to Poland, obtaining the recommendation of King Sigismund Augustus who requested Mary restore him to the Dukedom of Buckingham.^[1]

Rebellion

Augustus's appeal appeared to have no effect. When Stafford returned to England in January 1554 he joined the rebellion led by Thomas Wyatt; this arose out of concern of Mary's determination to marry Philip II of Spain. The rebellion failed and Thomas was captured and briefly imprisoned in the Fleet Prison before fleeing to France. There, he intrigued with other English exiles and continued to promote his claim to the English throne.^[1]

On 18 April 1557 (Easter Sunday) Stafford sailed from Dieppe with two ships and over 30 men. Landing in Scarborough on 25 April 1557, he walked into the unprotected Castle and proclaimed himself Protector of the Realm,^[2] attempting to incite a new revolt by denouncing the Spanish marriage, railed against increased Spanish influence and promised to return the crown ‘to the trewe Inglyshe bloude of our owne naterall countrye’.^[1][3][4] Stafford claimed he had seen letters at Dieppe showing that Scarborough and 12 other castles would be given to Philip II and garrisoned with 12,000 Spanish soldiers before his coronation.^[5] Three days later, the Earl of Westmorland recaptured the castle and arrested Stafford and his companions.

Death

Stafford was beheaded for treason on 28 May 1557 on Tower Hill, after imprisonment in the Tower of London. Thirty-two of his followers were also executed after the rebellion.^[6]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Thomas Stafford (rebel)

Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Stafford               Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham                       Margaret Beaufort               Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham                             Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers               Catherine Woodville                       Jacquetta of Luxembourg               Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford                                   Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland               Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland                       Eleanor Poynings               Lady Alianore Percy                             William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke               Lady Maud Herbert                       Anne Devereux               Thomas Stafford                                         ??               Sir Geoffrey Pole                       ??               Sir Richard Pole                             Oliver St. John               Edith St. John                       Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso               Ursula Pole                                   Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York               George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence                       Cecily Neville               Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury                             Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick               Isabella Neville                       Anne de Beauchamp

References

1. Thomas Stafford, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, accessed 17 January 2010
2. John Cole, Scarborough Guide, accessed 17 January 2010
3. Scarborough Castle, English Heritage accessed 17 January 2010
4. The borough of Scarborough British History Online, accessed 17 January 2010
5. Strype, John, Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. 3 part 2, (1822), 67-9, 513-519, prints Stafford and Mary's proclamations, & names 31 of Stafford's party, and where executed.
6. Strype, John, Ecclesiastical Memorials, (1822), 69.