The Tudor Society

24 October 1537 – Death of Queen Jane Seymour

Claire Ridgway

On this day in history, 24th October 1537, Queen Jane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII and mother of the future Edward VI, died at Hampton Court Palace. She died twelve days after giving birth to little Edward and it is thought that she died of puerperal fever, a postpartum infection.

Here are some primary source accounts of her illness and death:

"Today the King intended to remove to Asher, and, because the Queen was very sick this night and today, he tarried, but he will be there tomorrow. "If she amend he will go and if she amend not he told me this day he could not find in his heart to tarry." She was in great danger yesternight and to day but, if she sleep this night, the physicians hope that she is past danger. Hampton Court, xxiiiiith (sic) day of October." Sir John Russell to Thomas Cromwell, 24th October 1537

"Yesterday afternoon the Queen had "an naturall laxe," by reason of which she seemed to amend till toward night. All night she has been very sick, and rather "appears" than amends. Her confessor has been with her this morning, and is now preparing to minister the Sacrament of Unction. Hampton Court, Wednesday, 8 a.m." Earl of Rutland, Bishop of Carlisle and others to Cromwell, 24th October 1537

"But Lorde what lamentacion shortly after was made for the death of his noble and gracious mother quene Iane, which departed out of this life the fourtene day of Octobre, next folowyng: and of none in the Realme was it more heauelier taken then of the kynges Maiestie himself, whose death cause the kyng imediatly to remoue into Westminster wher he mourned and kept him selfe close and secret a great while [...]" Edward Hall, Hall's Chronicle

"This yeare, the 14 of October, beinge Weddnesday, Queene Jane departed this lyfe, lyeinge in childe bedde, about 2 of the clocke in the morninge, when she had reigned as the Kings wife, beinge never crowned, one yeare and a quarter." Charles Wriothesley, Wriothesley's Chronicle

You will notice that 14th October is given as her date of death in the chronicles of Hall and Wriothesley, but this is due to an error. As I noted in an article over at The Anne Boleyn Files, the editor of Wriothesley's Chronicle points out that this is an error in the transcription of the chronicles because Sir John Russell's letter, which is still extant, is dated 24th October and also Wriothesley says that she died on a Wednesday and the 14th was a Sunday. He also points out that Cecil's Journal gave the correct date.

Here are more resources on Jane Seymour:

Notes and Sources

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