Thomas Culpeper

Thomas Culpeper (c. 1514 – 10 December 1541) was an English courtier and close friend of Henry VIII, and was related to two of his queens, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.

Accused of adultery with Henry's young consort, Culpeper denied it and blamed the Queen for the situation, saying that he had tried to end his friendship with her, but that she was "dying of love for him".

Having bought the Higham Park estate at Bridge in Kent in 1534,[4] by 1535 Culpeper was acting for Viscount Lisle and his wife, Honor, during which time he collected a number of items for them.

He was part of the group of privileged courtiers who greeted Henry's fourth wife Anne of Cleves when she arrived in England for her marriage.

From 1537–1541, Culpeper was given several gifts, including the office of keeper of the manor at Penshurst Palace and property in Kent, Essex, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

[1] In this letter she wished to know how he was, and is troubled that he is ill. Catherine also wrote: "I never longed so muche for [a] thynge as I do to se you and to speke wyth you, the wyche I trust shal be shortely now," and "my trust ys allway in you that you wolbe as you have promysed me..."[8] These statements cause some to believe that their affair was not only one of passion, but also centred on Culpeper's political agenda.

With Henry in poor health and only his young son Edward to succeed him; being Catherine's favourite would undoubtedly have put Culpeper in a very strong political position.

If the promise Catherine mentioned was in reference to his possible knowledge about her previous sexual relationships, Culpeper could have used this as leverage to gain power and control over the Queen herself.

This says that, ``the Quene brought to passe that the said Culpepper and she mett in a secrett and vyle place, and that at an undue hower of xj [eleven] a Clocke in the night, and so remayned there with him till three of the clocke in the morninge, [and] ... afterward most falselie and traiterouselye comytted and perpetrated many detestable and adhomynable treasons..." Statutes of the Realm Vol 3 (1509-47) p. 919.Culpeper was arrested on orders from King Henry and, in December 1541, was tried for adultery alongside Francis Dereham, who was separately accused of adultery with the Queen before her marriage to Henry.

With testimony given of private meetings at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, and during the royal progress to the north of England, his fate was sealed.

Queen Catherine and Lady Rochford were both executed on 13 February 1542, and were buried in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula, within the Tower of London.

His face blazed white, his teeth shone like a dog's, he screamed and struck his dagger through the butcher's throat [someone trying to block his and Catherine's way].

He is often mentioned as having sold property to buy his impoverished cousin Catherine a proper dress and is not at all consistent with the historical record.