Frances Howard, Countess of Surrey

He took up a military career which culminated in his appointment in 1545 as commander at Boulogne, with the title of Lieutenant-General of the King on Sea and Land.

Late in 1546, while Frances was expecting her fifth child (Margaret), her husband fell from favour, when he was charged with placing the arms of Edward the Confessor in the first quarter of his shield, an heraldic impropriety which was absurdly deemed to constitute a claim to the throne.

He was accused of treason and, despite the lack of any real evidence, beheaded on Tower Hill on 19 January, a victim of court politics.

[3] The 3rd Duke was saved by the death of Henry VIII; but he remained imprisoned in the Tower of London with most of his property and titles forfeit to the Crown.

Mary FitzRoy appointed protestant John Foxe, the famous martyrologist, and scholar Hadrianus Junius to educate the children.

Her daughter Jane's husband, Charles Neville, the Earl of Westmorland, had also conspired against Queen Elizabeth in 1570 and had to leave England in a hurry because he could expect to be executed if he was caught.

By 1600, he was again among the leading advisors to the next English king, James I. Frances de Vere died 1577 at Earl Soham, in the neighbouring village to Framlingham, Suffolk.

In 1614 her son Henry had a monument erected in St Michael the Archangel's Church, Framlingham for his father, in which he placed not only his remains but also those of his grandfather and mother.

Frances Howard, Countess of Surrey, sketch by Hans Holbein the Younger , Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, c. 1535
Frances' husband ‘The Poet Earl of Surrey’ , 1546, a rare English Mannerist portrait by a Flemish immigrant.
Frances' daughter Margaret with her son Lord Scrope , painting Englisch School , late 16th century
Tomb of Henry Howard and Frances de Vere displaying the Howard and De Vere families coats of arms . Their two sons and three daughters kneel at the Head and foot of the tomb. Painted alabaster, 1614 [ 6 ]