Lot Essay
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, 1st Earl of Northampton (1536-1572), son of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, succeeded his grandfather as Duke and Earl-Marshall in 1554. He was appointed commissioner to enquire into the Scottish affairs 1559-60. He was appointed Knight of the Garter in 1559 and Privy Councillor in 1562. He contributed towards the completion of Magdalene College, Cambridge. With the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots in England a proposal was made that she should marry the Duke of Norfolk. The plan was backed by the Northern Catholic Earls and the purpose was to restore Catholicism which would have led to the deposition of Elizabeth I. The Queen learnt of the plot and Norfolk was imprisoned in the Tower of London 1569-70. In 1571 he was involved in a further plot to marry Mary, the Ridolfi plot, where by a rebellion was to be aided by a foreign invasion, Elizabeth was to be deposed and Mary made Queen. Norfolk was executed for treason in 1572.