154: Wulfhatt and the Seymours. 
Another discovery of considerable interest as connected with the 
touching misfortunes of this eminent historical couple, I made by 
the very merest accident. 
I was one day very busy working by myself in arranging papers 
in the Old Library, at the top of Longleat House, and I happened 
to be trying to fasten together two sheets of a pedigree which had 
parted company. All tables being covered with piles of papers, I 
laid it on the floor. Old vellum that has been rolled up close for 
perhaps 200 years, is, I must assure you, a very obstinate and re- 
bellious article to deal with. So, having gummed together the edges 
of the two sheets, kneeling with one knee on one corner, the other 
knee on a second corner, and one hand on a third, I wanted a weight 
to keep down the fourth. I was within a yard or so of the book- 
shelves, but I was afraid to get up from my position, because, if I 
had, my pedigree would most certainly have sprung up after me. 
So, looking out for some shabby old volume that would take no great 
harm by a tumble on to the floor, I spied one without any binding, I 
gave a desperate jerk, could just hook it with the tip of my forefinger, 
and down it came. As it came down, a loose leaf flew out to a distance. 
I did not look to see what the book was till it had done its duty. 
I then examined it, and found it was a small French Bible, having 
the motto of the Seymour family, “ Foy pour devoir,” written at the 
top of the title page, and the name “ E. Hertford,” written at the 
bottom. On picking up the loose leaf, I found that the little book 
was actually the very Bible used by the Earl of Hertford and Lady 
Katharine Grey in the Tower of London ; and on the loose leaf were 
written by the Earl the entries of the births of the two sons, Edward 
Lord Beauchamp and Thomas Seymour ; followed by a truly pathetic 
prayer, in French, for God’s blessing on them, and that Queen 
Elizabeth’s heart might be moved to have pity on the poor parents. 
Appendix, No. xiii.) 
The Queen resented most deeply the slight put upon herself by this 
secret marriage, and she did all she could to pronounce it, and the 
issue, illegitimate. The person she was most offended with was 
‘Lady Katharine, on account of her being so near in that line of 
succession, which the Queen detested ; though Lady Katharine 
