Herbert of Shurland, in the Isle of Shepey in Kent, 4 Maii, 1605, 3 Jac. I. Earl of Pembroke, October 11th, 1551, 5 Edw. VI. and Earl of Montgomery May 4th, 1605, 3 Jac. I.

Arms. Party per pale, Azure and Gules, three lions rampant, Argent.

Crest. On a wreath, a wyvern with wings elevated, Vert, holding in its mouth a sinister hand couped at the wrist, Gules.

Supporters. On the dexter side, a panther guardant, Argent, spotted of various colours, with fire issuing out of his mouth and ears, his ducal collar, Azure. On the sinister, a lion Argent, gorged with a ducal coronet, Gules.

Motto. Ung je serviray.

Chief Seat. At Wilton in the county of Wilts.

THE descent of this great and illustrious family is set forth under the title of Howard Duke of Norfolk, vol. i. p. 108, where it is observed, that Thomas the fourth Duke, marrying to his second wife Margaret, daughter and sole heir to Thomas Lord Audley, of Walden, Knight of the Garter, had issue Lord Thomas Howard, heir to his mother's estate.

By inquisition taken at Waltham in Hertfordshire, September 30th, 1572, after the death of the said Margaret, it appears, that she died on January 10th, in 6 Eliz. seised of the manor of Braughing, with the rectory of the church, and advowson of the vicarage; and of several tenements in Ware, with the wharf; and three pieces of meadow in Hoddesdon and Broxborne; the manor of Tryers with the appurtenances in Broxborne, the manors of Comebury, Giberack, and rectory of Layston and Aylesborne, and the advowson of the vicarage; the manors of Westmill, and advowson of the church, and Horemeade Parva, and advowson of the church, all in Hertfordshire; and that Lord Thomas Howard was her son and heir, and of the age of eleven years, one month, and ten days, at his mother's decease.

Which Lord THOMAS HOWARD, FIRST EARL OF SUFFOLK, by act of parliament in 27 Eliz. b was restored in blood; and in 1588, being in that memorable engagement of the Spanish Ar

C

Cole's Esc. lib. v, p. 440, in Bibl. Harley.

Journal of Parl.

Camden's Eliz. in Hist. of Eng. vol ii. p. 546, 547.

mada, was at sea knighted for his good services therein, by the lord high admiral. In 34 Eliz. he had the command of a squadron of ships, sent out for attacking the Spanish plate fleet, homeward bound, from America; but after six months stay at Flores, one of the isles of Azores, his men being most of them sick, and Alphonso Basccano, being sent out with fifty-three ships, to convoy home their American fleet, attacked him so unexpectedly, that (as Camden recites) Howard, in the Admiral, and the rest of the English ships, had much ado to get out to sea; and Sir Richard Granville, in the Queen's Revenge, being sent in between the island and the Spanish fleet, he fought them with such courage for fifteen hours, that even his enemies admired his bravery, &c. And Camden gives the following account of the Lord Thomas Howard: "That depending more on his courage than strength, he had a great mind to venture into the midst of the enemy's fleet; but so far was the master from consenting to it, that he said he would first leap overboard, before the Queen's ship should be exposed to so palpable an hazard; nor did the rest think it proper to fight against such apparent odds and danger; and with little or no probability of rescuing their friends: for, to venture five ships against fifty-three of the enemy's, besides the extravagance of the action, would, in their opinion, be nothing else but to augment the glory of Spain, by weakening England; and at the expense of a great many lives besides. However, he, and the rest, especially Sir Thomas Vavasor (who assisted the Revenge for two hours together) fought bravely, as long as they had the advantage of the wind, and did all that could be expected from men of courage, till the night parted them. The English made themselves an ample amends for the loss of the Revenge, by taking several Spanish ships."

In the 39 Elize in that fleet commanded by Charles Howard, lord high admiral of England, this Thomas Lord Howard led the third squadron; the admiral himself leading the first, the Earl of Essex the second, and Sir Walter Raleigh the fourth: this fleet took the town and castle of Cadiz, and the Lord Thomas Howard particularly signalized himself in the taking thereof. On his return, he was the same year summoned to parliament, by the title of LORD HOWARD OF Walden.

d Camden's Eliz. in Hist of Eng. vol. ii. p. 565.
Journal of Parl. 39 Eliz.

e Ibid. p. 591, 593.

The year after, the Spaniards making preparations for a descent on Ireland, the Queen, to prevent or divert their design, sent out a fleet consisting of one hundred and twenty ships, divided into three squadrons; the first commanded by the Earl of Essex, the second by the Lord Thomas Howard, and the third by Sir Walter Raleigh. This fleet was ordered to steer to Ferrol, and the Groyne, to surprize the Spanish fleet in their harbours, and to intercept the Indian fleet at the Azores. Camden has given a particular account of the expedition, and of a quarrel between the Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh; and that the Lord Thomas Howard interposed in favour of Raleigh, that he might not be severely treated, and persuaded him withal to acknowledge his fault; which he presently did, and thereupon, with the cashiered officers, was received again into favour.

b

On his return to England, he was installed one of the Knights of the Garter, on May 24th, 1597, and his plate of installation, which is remaining in the chapel of St. George at Windsor, in the ninth stall, calls him Thomas Earl of Suffolk, Baron of Waldea, and grand treasurer of England; but it is evident he was not created Earl of Suffolk, or constituted treasurer of England, till King James ascended the throne; whereby it is plain, that the plate was set up some years after his installation.

In 1601, the 44th of Eliz. he was one of the commanders of those forces that besieged the Earl of Essex in his house, which obliged him to surrender: and on February 19th following, he sat as one of the peers on the trials of the Earls of Essex and Southampton, bearing then the title of Lord Howard of Walden; and was at that time constable of the Tower of London, as Camden recites.

On the accession of King James,' meeting his Majesty at Theobalds, in May 1603, before he came to London, he was sworn of the privy-council there; and on July 21st, following, m was advanced to the honour of EARL OF SUFFOLK. He was also appointed one of the commissioners for making Knights of the Bath, at the coronation of the King; and the next year one of the commissioners for executing the office of Earl Marshal of England.

1 Camden's Annals of King James, in Hist. of Eng. vol. ii. p. 641.

Orig. 1 Jac. p. 5. Rot. 23.

In 1605, being lord chamberlain of his Majesty's household, he was employed (together with Lord Mounteagle, who had given the first alarm) to make a strict search about the parliament house; the consequence of which (through their vigilance) was, the discovery of the powder-plot, the detection of the conspirators, and the preservation of the King and parliament.

The discovery has by the strangest flattery been attributed to the sagacity of the King, when Lord Salisbury himself gives the following clear account of it in a letter to Sir Charles Cornwallis, dated November 9th, 1605.

"As soon," says he, "as Lord Monteagle imparted the letter to me, being loath to trust my own judgment alone," &c. "I imparted the letter to the Earl of Suffolk, lord chamberlain, to the end I might receive his opinion; where, upon perusing the words of the letter, and observing the writing, that the blow should come without knowledge who hurt them,' we both conceived," that it could not be more proper than the time of parliament, nor by any other way like to be attempted than with powder, while the King was sitting in that assembly; of which the lord chamberlain conceived more probability, because there was a great vault under the said chamber, which was never used for any thing but for some wood and coal, belonging to the keeper of the old palace." It was thought fit not to impart it to the King till three or four days before the session; when the letter was accordingly shewn him; and it was agreed that nothing should be done till the night before the sittings. On that evening Lord Suffolk, taking Lord Monteagle with him, undertook, as lord chamberlain, to see all the places ready for the King's person, and embraced that opportunity of viewing the vault; when the well-known discovery ensued.

Carte thinks it not improbable, that even Cecil might have received some intimation of it from some of the secular priests whom he favoured. Carte, vol. iii. p. 757

• Winwood's Mem vol. ii. p. 171.

Ibid. What shall we say to the flattery of Sanderson, who tells us, that Salisbury, being doubtful of the construction of the letter, and imparting it to the King, "the King conceived the letter not to be contemned, the stile quick and pithy, not usual with libels, and judged the words, terrible blow,' &c to be meant by gunpowder, joining thereto the other words, for the danger s past,' &c. to be meant sudden and quick danger, as the blaze of paper by fire. This was the most happy construction," &c. Sanderson's Life of King James, p. 324. Even Arthur Wilson, not so partial to this monarch, falls into a similar error. But what is still more extraordinary, the preamble of the act