The Conspiracies

I am convinced that the lack of information about Governor Thomas Dale and Governor Thomas Gates has to do with one, or more, of the conspiracies that racked England after Henry VIII died as his intimates each tried to position for power.

The Seamer Rebellion – August 1549

Thomas Dale, Secretary of the Parish of Seamer in Yorkshire, with his brother John Dale and Robert Dale, and others led the Seamer Rebellion. The rebellion was against religious policies taken by Lord Protector Edward Seymour, but other books speak about a series of rebellions across England, created by John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, to undermine Seymour’s political position as Lord Protector. Thomas Dale and his brother John Dale were among a handful of others who were executed. Seamer Manor had been the home of Thomas Percy at a rebellion against Henry VIII a dozen years earlier, and that Percy was the grandfather of Sir George Percy of Virginia.

From about 1540, the Master Chef of Henry VIII was a John Dale, and he lived immediately adjacent Matthew Dale of London. But after the Seamer Rebellion, information about these Dales became almost non-existent.

Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester (Raglan Castle)

| Henry Somerset Thomas Percy (SEAMER), executed 1537

| William Somerset | Mary Somerset = Edward Dale | Anne Somerset = Thomas Percy, 7th Northumberland | | Henry Percy, 8th Earl

| Edward Somerset George Percy | | Henry Percy, 9th Earl Northumberland

Queen Jane Grey – August 1553

Lady Jane Grey was Queen for only nine days in 1553 and executed early in 1554. Sir John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, stage managed the Queen Jane Affair, having married his son Guildford Dudley to Lady Jane. Sir John Dudley, Earl of Warwick and Sir John Gates were executed for their roles. Son Guildford Dudley was executed, but sons Ambrose Dudley and Robert Dudley, the future Earl of Leicester managed to escape execution. Sir John Gates had the help of his brothers Geoffrey Gates and Henry Gates, but only Henry Gates survived execution. The same year that Elizabeth came to power, Sir Henry Gates was awarded the same Seamer Manor where we previously located the Dales. Henry Gates’ nephew, Geoffrey Gates was also executed, and he was the son-in-law of Dr. Thomas Wilson, whose patron was John Dudley.

The Dudley Conspiracy – December 1555

The Dudley Conspiracy was headed by Captain Henry Dudley in an attempt to force Queen Mary out of power, and bring Princess Elizabeth to the Monarchy. It hit close to home and Arthur Kingston of Saint Briavels and John Throckmorton of Tortworth were just some of those executed. Admiral William Wynter, Dudley's business partner, was implicated, but needed him naval defense.