Biography of Thomas Wriothesley 1488-1534

On 29 Oct 1485 King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 28) processed from Tower of London [Map] to Westminster Abbey [Map]. Ahead of him marched the heralds and serjeants-at-arms, the Esquire of the Body, the King's Secretary Richard Fox (age 37), almoner Christopher Urswick (age 37), the mayor of London and the Garter King of Arms. Also ahead of him were Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 50), John de la Pole 1st Earl Lincoln (age 23), John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford (age 43) and William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley (age 59). Following behind were the only two Dukes: Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 53), created the day before, and John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 43).

Before 1488 Thomas Wriothesley was born to John Writhe in Colatford, Wiltshire. The location of Colatford is unclear; either near Castle Combe, Wiltshire or Cricklade, Wiltshire [Map].

In 1489 Thomas Wriothesley (age 1) was appointed Wallingford Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in the service of Prince Arthur Tudor (age 2).

In 1491 Thomas Wriothesley (age 3) accompanied King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 33) to Brittany [Map].

In 1504 [his father] John Writhe died.

On 26 Jan 1505 Thomas Wriothesley (age 17) was appointed Garter King of Arms. Around this time he changed his surname from Writhe to Wriothesley as did his brother [his brother] William Wriothesley (age 16).

On 08 May 1508 [his son] Charles Wriothesley was born to Thomas Wriothesley (age 20).

                    After 21 Apr 1509 Thomas Wriothesley (age 21), who wasn't present, made a drawing of the death of Henry VII (deceased). The drawing shows those present and in some cases provides their arms by which they can be identified. From top left clockwise:                

                    Bishop Richard Foxe (age 61).
                
                    Two tonsured clerics.
                
                    George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 22).                

                    Richard Weston of Sutton Place (age 44).                

                    Richard Clement of Ingham Mote (age 27).                

                    Matthew Baker Governor of Jersey.
                
                    John Sharpe of Coggleshall in Essex.
                
                    Physician holding urine bottle.
                
                    William Tyler.
                
                    Hugh Denys.
                
                    William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19) closing the King's eyes. There is doubt as to whether the person shown is William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19) given his age of around nineteen at the King's death. He appears to be holding a Staff of Office although sources state he wasn't appointed Gentleman Usher, in which role he would have a Staff of Office, until Henry VIII's Coronation in Jun 1509.                

                    The Arms below him are Quarterly 1 Lozengy argent & gules (FitzWilliam); 2 Arms of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu 3 Quartered 1 possibly Plantagenet with white border ie Holland 2&3 Tibetot, 4 Unknown, overall a star for difference indicating third son. William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19) was his father's third son, and his mother was Lucy Neville (age 41) daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu. It appears correct that the person represented is William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19). William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19) was the childhood companion of Henry VIII (age 17).                

                    Physician holding urine bottle.
                
Richard Weston of Sutton Place: 
          he and Anne Sandys were married.
         
          In 1465 he was born.
         
          In 1541 he died.
         
Matthew Baker Governor of Jersey: 
          From 1486 he was appointed Governor of Jersey.
         
          In May 1513 he died in Bermondsey Abbey.

                    In Jun 1520 Henry VIII (age 28) hosted Field of the Cloth of Gold at Balinghem [Map].                

                    Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset (age 42) carried the Sword of State.                

                    Bishop John Stokesley (age 45) attended as Henry VIII's chaplain.
                
                    Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye (age 36), Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 42), Anthony Poyntz (age 40), William Coffin (age 25), William "Great" Courtenay (age 43), Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 37), William Paston (age 41), William Denys (age 50), Richard Cecil (age 25), William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton (age 37), Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 22), John Mordaunt 1st Baron Mordaunt (age 40), Henry Guildford (age 31), Marmaduke Constable (age 40), William Compton (age 38), William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy (age 42), Thomas Cheney (age 35), Henry Willoughby (age 69), John Rodney (age 59), John Marney 2nd Baron Marney (age 36), William Sidney (age 38), John de Vere 14th Earl of Oxford (age 20), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 49), Edmund Walsingham (age 40), William Skeffington (age 55) and Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West (age 63) attended.                

                    William Carey (age 20) jousted.                

                    William Sandys 1st Baron Sandys Vyne (age 50) organised.
                
                    Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford (age 15) attended.                

                    Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham (age 50), Robert Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby 10th Baron Latimer (age 48), Anthony Wingfield (age 33), William Scott (age 61), Thomas Wriothesley (age 32), Bishop Thomas Ruthall (age 48), Margaret Dymoke (age 20) and Edward Chamberlayne (age 36) were present.