General Notes

English soldier and politician, son of Henry Howard, earl of Surrey. Thomas
inherited the dukedom from his grandfather the 3d duke of Norfolk. In 1559
he commanded an English army sent to Scotland, and in 1568 he became
president of the commission appointed by Elizabeth I, queen of England, to
investigate the affairs of Mary, queen of Scots. The following year he was
arrested and imprisoned, by order of Elizabeth, for plotting to marry Mary,
who was at that time in his custody. After his release in 1570 he began
negotiations with Philip II of Spain in regard to a plan for a Spanish
invasion of England. the plot was discovered in 1571, and he was arrested
and beheaded the following year.