worcester

Thomas Percy, the Earl of Worcester, was born sometime around 1344.  He was the son of Henry, Third Lord Percy, and Mary Plantagenet, making him the younger brother of Henry Percy, the Earl of Northumberland, and uncle to Henry's son Hotspur.  Nonetheless, Thomas is sometimes confused with Northumberland's younger son, also named Thomas Percy, who died well before Richard's abdication and Henry's accession.

Thomas, like the rest of his family, was very involved in English politics, acting as both a warrior and a statesmen.  He fought in several wars in France and Spain and was appointed Admiral of the Fleet of the North in 1378.  King Richard II created him Earl of Worcester in 1397, but only a little while later, Thomas would betray him to aid Henry Bolingbroke.  Worcester  was, by this time, serving as Richard's Lord Steward, and so he accompanied him on his ill-fated expedition to Ireland.  Upon return, however, he left Richard's side, breaking his staff of office and dismissing the royal household, and went to join with his family and the rest of the rebels. 

After Henry became King, Worcester was appointed Steward of South Wales and also served as tutor to Henry's eldest son, the Prince of Wales.  Displaying the same changeable affections at the rest of his family, Worcester soon enough went again from loyal subject to enraged rebel.  He fought at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 and was captured.  Two days after the battle, the King had Worcester beheaded for treason.  His head was displayed on London Bridge until December, when it was finally laid to rest with his body at Shrewsbury Abbey.

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