Sir George Throckmorton
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Sir George of Coughton Throckmorton as played by Michael Grennell
UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES
DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES
PHOTOS
Sir George of Coughton Throckmorton as played by Michael Grennell
b. about 1489, died 6 August 1552 | ||
| Character's backstory: George was the first of his line to sit in Parliament. His family is one of the oldest Catholic family's in the UK to this day. His father, Sir Robert, had been soldier, courtier, and Councillor to King Henry VII. Sir George fought with his father in the French War of 1513 and was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Sir George dealt with the ups and downs of Cardinal Wolsey, the relationship was a strained one as the Cardinal dissolved many of Sir George's inheritance into his own college at Oxford. Cardinal Wolsey was in constant negotiations with Sir George over what the Cardinal felt was deserving of Sir George in respect to land and positions at court. Sir George Throckmorton opposed the King's break with Rome. Of the King's divorce and pending marriage to Anne Boleyn, Sir George said that the King had 'meddled with both the mother and the sister'. A fascinating exchange actually happened between King Henry and Cromwell as Sir George was summoned to an interview. Sir George had the courage to tell King Henry exactly why he should not marry Anne Boleyn: "I told your grace I feared if ye did marry Queen Anne, your conscience would be more troubled at length for that it is thought ye have meddled with the mother and sister." Lord Cromwell had him imprisoned in the Tower for refusing the Oath of Supremacy, where he was preparing to lay down his life for the same principles as Bishop Fisher, and Sir Thomas More, professed. Despite his afflictions, he was present at the Coronation of Anne Boleyn. In the series, Sir George is shown discussing the King's 'Great Matter' with Sir Thomas More. Sir George was eventually freed, but his view on religion and other matters did not change. Before 1536 was out, Throckmorton was in worse trouble. He had come to London in November to transact legal business and falling in with an old friend, Sir John Clarke, who had rashly discussed the demands of the rebels in the North; whereas Throckmorton had only seen the printed answer to the Lincolnshire rebels, Clarke had a manuscript account of Aske's new demands and sent Throckmorton a copy of it. Throckmorton met Thomas Vachell who convinced him of the danger of possessing the document, which he thereupon burned at Reading. Passing the night at Englefield, he received a further warning and then went on to Henry Bourchier, the Earl of Essex's house where he learned the full story. Both he and Essex were soon in the Tower. Cromwell then sat out to collect all possible evidence of their treasonable behavior. For a while both his life and Essex's hung in the balance. The charges, however, could not be sustained and Throckmorton was released. When Throckmorton was again taken into custody, his wife appealed for advice to her half-brother Sir William, Baron Horton Parr, who may have persuaded him to make a confession. Upon the marriage of her niece, Catherine Parr, to King Henry VIII, Queen Catherine secured places in her household, at court, or other households for Lady Throckmorton's sons Sir Nicholas, Sir Clement, Kenelm, Sir John, and George. All of her sons were members of Parliament at one time and had active roles in the succeeding reigns of Mary and Elizabeth. He consistently opposed the changes in religion, and although the vast majority of his 19 children and 112 grandchilden were ardent Catholics, there were some who were staunch Protestants, including his sons Clement, who founded a puritan family branch, and Sir Nicholas, who was unfortunate enough to be an avid champion of Protestantism during the reign of Mary I (although it is written that his Protestantism was said to wax and wane). Sir Nicholas went on to be a minor player in the court of Queen Elizabeth, bringing her the ring as proof of her sister's death, and acting as an emissary to Mary, Queen of Scots. Sir George, like Bishop Tunstall, even after defying King Henry VIII survived Henry's reign, dying in 1552. Sir George was the one to construct most of the family seat where the family has been for over 600 years; the current Baronet Throckmorton's are vested at Coughton Court in Warwickshire. Much of what he built can still be seen today; the Gatehouse, the Great Hall which displays coat of arms, the monument in the chapel, and more. Gentility: Knight, courtier Position: High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Worcester; Justice of Peace in Warwickshire, Buckingham, Worcester; Esquire of the body; Steward of Thomas Seymour, among others; Member of Parliament as knight of the shire of Warwickshire. Personality type: Strong Catholic beliefs Signature look: Endearing trait(s): survivalist, persistent Annoying trait(s): stubborn |    Click EasyEdit to update this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? <a href="../#signin" target="_self">Sign in</a> or <a href="../accountnew" target="_self">Sign up</a>.)
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CHARACTER CONNECTIONSFamily members: Father: Sir Robert of Coughton Throckmorton, son of Sir Thomas and Margaret Olney Mother: Catherine Marrow, daughter of William and Catherine Rich Step-Mother: Elizabeth Russell Brothers: Nicholas, Anthony, Richard Sisters: Ursula, Elizabeth, Mary Half-siblings: Michael, Robert, Elizabeth, John Marriage(s): Wife: Hon. Katherine Vaux, daughter of Sir Nicholas Vaux, 1st Baron Vaux of Harroweden and Hon. Elizabeth FitzHugh. By her mother, Katherine was the maternal half-sister of Sir Thomas Parr, and thus maternal-aunt to Queen Catherine Parr, Anne Parr, and William Parr. Children: Sir Robert of Coughton, Sir Kenelm, Sir Clement, Sir Nicholas, Sir John, Anthony, George, Thomas, Katherine, Amy, Elizabeth, Katherine, Mary, Anne, Margery, Elizabeth, Margaret, and presumably five stillborn daughters. | Friends: Sir Thomas More Bishop Gardiner Queen Catherine Parr Anne Parr William Parr Richard Rich, his kinsmen. Enemies: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex |
UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES
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DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES
PHOTOS
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