Thomas Brooke alias Cobham facts for kids

Thomas Brooke (1533-1578), also known as Cobham, was an English nobleman. He was involved in seafaring, secret plans, and was briefly a member of Parliament.

Thomas was the son of George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham. His family was important, owning lands like the Manor of Cobham, Kent and Cooling Castle. His brother, William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, was a powerful figure. Thomas Brooke became well-known for his adventures at sea.

Early Life and Troubles

Not much is known about Thomas Brooke's early years until 1554. At this time, he and his family faced accusations. They were thought to be involved in a rebellion led by their relative, Thomas Wyatt the Younger. Because of this, Thomas Brooke was sent to the Tower of London.

Release and New Accusations

In December 1554, Thomas was pardoned and set free. He then began working for the Earl of Pembroke. However, he soon faced more trouble. In 1557, he was called to London. He was accused of a crime against his relative, Sir Edward Warner. Despite the serious accusation, he was not punished severely. In 1558, the Privy Council (a group of royal advisors) ordered his father to send soldiers to Dover. They specifically said that Thomas should not lead these men.

A Short Time in Parliament

In 1559, Thomas Brooke briefly served as a Member of the Parliament of England. He represented the area of Rochester. This was likely due to his brother William's influence, who had become the head of the family. However, Thomas was not chosen to be a Member of Parliament again after this short period.

Seafaring Adventures and Piracy

Thomas Brooke spent a lot of his time at sea. In March 1564, the government sent out a notice to ports. They wanted to capture him. He was accused of attacking a Spanish ship in the Bay of Biscay. This ship was carrying valuable tapestries for Philip II of Spain, the King of Spain. Brooke was said to have taken the ship as a prize to Waterford.

Facing Piracy Charges

The Spanish ambassador and the owners of the cargo complained to the English government. Thomas Brooke was arrested. He claimed he had put the ship's crew safely ashore. He was then found not guilty. In August 1564, he sailed with the famous sailor John Hawkins. They traveled to Guinea and the Portuguese Indies.

However, in May 1565, Thomas was arrested again in London. This time, he was charged with piracy. There were reports that Queen Elizabeth I wanted to make an example of him. She was "minded to punish ill factors, by the example of Mr. Cobham, who is condemned to die, being a gentleman." But Thomas managed to escape serious punishment once more. By 1571, he was again accused of piracy.

Involvement in Secret Plans

Thomas Brooke also became involved in a secret plot. This was the plot of the Duke of Norfolk. He worked for John Lesley, who was the ambassador for Mary, Queen of Scots. Someone who worked for Lesley gave information about Thomas.

Imprisonment and Later Life

It is not clear exactly when Thomas Brooke was arrested. But after the Ridolfi plot of 1571, he was sent to the Tower of London again. Officials were ordered to look into his seafaring activities. He stayed in the Tower until April 1574, when he was finally released.

In 1575, he had a disagreement with the port of Dover about some goods. In November 1576, the Privy Council again ordered his arrest for piracy. By this time, it was believed he had left England for Flanders. A letter from October 1578 reported that Thomas Brooke had died.