Nice Cats of History

The Cat Who Broke Into the Tower of London

“Trixie” was the favorite cat of a guy so fashionable that he was one of the earliest boosters of Shakespeare. Then he committed a big treason.

Portrait of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (1573–1603), attributed to John de Critz

Today we will be establishing the niceness of a historical cat named Trixie Wriotheseley, reputed to be the “favorite” cat of Lord Henry Wriotheseley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton. First, the case against: the 3rd Earl of Southampton’s other “favorite” things weren’t really very nice at all!

They included the following:

1. Having an arrogant hairstyle and fighting with other Lords. (“Southampton’s hair was extremely provocative. In an altercation at court he struck Ambrose Willoughby, who, in reply, “puld of some of his locke.” Clearly, the earl’s “locke” conveyed his arrogant stance.” — Karen Ordahl Kupperman, “Indians and English: Facing off in Early America”)
2. Being super into Shakespeare, but, like, “before he got big.”
3. Treason.

But we are not here to talk about Lord Henry Wriotheseley’s incredible hair, or to re-litigate the circumstances surrounding his role in the Essex Rebellion. We are here to talk about a nice cat of history. Trixie.