# Thomas Culpepper — Privy Seal character guide

> Thomas Culpepper in Privy Seal by Ford Madox Ford.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Goodman, Thomas Culpepper, Culpepper, Tom Culpepper, Thomas, Goodman Thomas Culpepper, Tom, Squahre Culpepper, Squahre, T. Culpepper, Sir Thomas Culpepper, Squahre Tom, Squahre Thomas, Squahre Tom of Lincoln

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Snapshot

Katharine Howard's violent cousin, fetched from France to frighten Cardinal Pole, now summoned home to burst upon the King like a bolt from heaven.

## Who they are

Thomas Culpepper sits his horse at Smithfield among the heads and gallows, watching a friar burn while Privy Seal's agents count the hours until he reaches Greenwich. He is the weapon Cromwell has chosen: a man whose mere renown for violence drove Cardinal Pole from Paris, and who can be filled with tales that his cousin plays the King's leman. His jealousy is being manufactured for him, and he does not yet know it. Where he rides, catastrophe follows.

## Relationships

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_romantic_

Katharine Howard and Thomas Culpepper are secret lovers, engaging in a passionate but dangerous affair.

### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole)

_rivalry_

Cardinal Pole and Thomas Culpepper are rivals for Katharine Howard's affections, creating jealousy and tension.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_romantic_

Katharine Howard and Thomas Culpepper are secret lovers, engaging in a passionate but dangerous affair.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_romantic_

Katharine Howard and Thomas Culpepper are secret lovers, engaging in a passionate but dangerous affair.

### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole)

_rivalry_

Cardinal Pole and Thomas Culpepper are rivals for Katharine Howard's affections, creating jealousy and tension.

### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole)

_rivalry_

Cardinal Pole and Thomas Culpepper are rivals for Katharine Howard's affections, creating jealousy and tension.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii)

Katharine's cousin, rumored to be her lover; Cromwell plans to fetch him from France and inflame his jealousy.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i)

The target of Throckmorton's scheme; Poins awaits his arrival at the Calais gate to prevent his journey to England.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii)

Boasts of scaring Cardinal Pole from Paris and recounts being drugged and robbed by Normans. Declares his intent to marry Katharine Howard.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as having landed at Greenwich, drunk, and a threat to Katharine if he meets the King.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii)

Katharine Howard's cousin, target of Cromwell's plot; seen drunk and disorderly at Greenwich and Smithfield.

### [Part III: The Sunburst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-iii-the-sunburst)

Arrives in Calais, becoming a pawn in the larger schemes against Cromwell.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i)

Arrives at Hampton Court, eager to claim his new farms and visit his cousin Katharine Howard.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii)

Not directly present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_culpepper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters