John Somerville

Who was John Somerville?

John Somerville was the son of John Somerville, of Edstone, Warwickshire, and Elizabeth Corbett of Lee, Shropshire.

Somerville publicly exclaimed his desire and intention to assassinate Elizabeth I of England. However, it is likely that he was of unsound mind, and had neither the inclination nor capacity to carry out his threat. Nevertheless, the deeply suspicious Elizabethan security services took him seriously - perhaps as a precaution, perhaps to make an example - he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and tortured. He was alleged to have hanged himself in jail before he could be executed.

Somerville's outburst had dire consequences for his kin. His father-in-law, Edward Arden was also arrested, tortured, tried and found guilty of treason by Christopher Wray. He was executed at Smithfield on 20 December 1583. His wife and daughter were also imprisoned in the Tower but later spared.

Whilst it is likely that the Somerville and Arden case was dealt with maliciously by the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley; it should be noted that Warwickshire was a stronghold of Catholic recusancy.