A Groom of the Stool and Tudor Survivor You've Never Heard of - Sir Thomas Heneage - The Tudor Society

On this day in Tudor history, 21st August 1553, Sir Thomas Heneage died a natural death just days after he'd congratulated a victorious Queen Mary I. He was quite the survivor. He began his career in the household of Cardinal Wolsey, but then transferred to King Henry VIII's privy chamber, surviving his former master's fall and rising to the position of groom of the stool. Then, despite his Catholic faith, he served in Edward VI's privy chamber, and rode to Ipswich during the succession crisis of 1553 to congratulate Mary when it became clear she was victorious against Queen Jane. Survival at the Tudor court wasn't about luck, it was about timing, tact, and knowing when to step forward... and when to step back...