December 2 - Henry Howard is arrested

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd December 1546, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, poet, courtier, soldier and the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was arrested after Richard Southwell, his former friend, gave evidence against him. 

 

King Henry VIII had just weeks to live and was increasingly paranoid, so Southwell's 'evidence' was just what Surrey's enemies needed to bring the earl down. 

 

Find out more about the Earl of Surrey's downfall, and how his father managed to keep his head, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.

 

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, ended up being executed and you can find out more about that in Claire's video from 19th January - https://youtu.be/2oXbiq5Tj6c