Elizabeth Howard, Duchess of Norfolk
Lady Elizabeth Stafford entered the world around 1497 as the eldest daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Her family tree reached deep into the royal house of York through her paternal grandmother, Lady Catherine Woodville. This woman was the sister of Queen Elizabeth Woodville and the sister-in-law of King Edward IV of England. Her grandfather Henry Stafford had been executed for treason in 1483 by King Richard III. The same fate awaited her own father when he was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1521 for treason against King Henry VIII. Elizabeth lived at home until at least 1508 where she received an education. The poet John Skelton described her as a friend of the muses and his particular patron. She came to court in 1509 as a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon. That relationship became a lifelong friendship that would define much of her future political stance.
Before the 8th of January 1513, fifteen-year-old Lady Elizabeth married Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was already in his late thirties and the widower of Anne, daughter of King Edward IV. Earlier she had been promised to Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland. Years later in a letter dated the 28th of September 1537, Elizabeth recalled their mutual devotion. Her father tried to persuade Surrey to marry one of his other daughters but he insisted on taking only her. Elizabeth brought him a dowry of 2,000 marks and was promised a jointure of 500 marks annually. Surrey apparently never kept that promise. They had five children together and appeared bonded by mutual love as late as 1524 when he became Duke of Norfolk. Elizabeth served at court daily for sixteen years while her husband fought in wars or went to Ireland between 1520 and 1522.
In 1527 Norfolk took a mistress named Bess Holland who lived openly at Kenninghall. The Duchess described this woman variously in letters as a bawd, a drab, and a churl's daughter who had washed her nursery for eight years. During this period Norfolk refused to give up his mistress and resolved to separate from his wife. Elizabeth wrote of physical violence claiming he pulled her out of bed by the hair after she gave birth to Mary. He dragged her through the house and wounded her with a dagger. In three separate letters to Thomas Cromwell she repeated accusations that Norfolk set his women to bind her until blood came out of her fingers' ends. She claimed they pinnacled her and sat on her breast until she spit blood yet he never punished them. On the 23rd of March 1534 Norfolk forced a separation riding all night before locking her in a chamber. He took away all her jewels and apparel sending her to Redbourn in Hertfordshire where she received only £200 annually.
Late in 1530 it was noted that the Duchess secretly conveyed letters to Queen Catherine from Italy concealed inside oranges. Catherine passed these messages to the Imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys. At one point the Duchess told Chapuys that her husband confided Anne would be the ruin of all their family. In 1531 she was exiled from court at Anne Boleyn's request for declaring loyalty to Catherine too freely. When Anne was crowned queen on the 1st of June 1533, Elizabeth refused to attend the ceremony from the love she bore to the previous Queen. The Duchess quarrelled over Anne's insistence that Mary Howard should marry Henry FitzRoy, Henry VIII's illegitimate son. Graves claims Anne won favor by arranging brilliant matches but Weir suggests the Duchess stopped plotting restoration of Queen Catherine and returned to court. Her political stance remained clear despite the personal cost of alienating the new royal couple.
Forsaken by almost everyone, Elizabeth remained obdurate during her confinement. Norfolk attempted to persuade her to agree to a divorce offering jewels and household goods which she rebuffed. She received little or no support from her own family. Her eldest son and daughter became estranged from her while her brother condemned her behavior. On the 3rd of March 1539 she wrote to Cromwell expressing her despair after years of silence from her husband. He had sent kind letters with no reply so she declared in a letter dated the 30th of December 1536 that she would never sue to the King again. At some time before 1547 her brother sent one of his daughters to live with her whom she treated very generously. This reconciliation came only after years of isolation where she faced virtual imprisonment without financial security or emotional support from those who shared her bloodline.
On the 12th of December 1546 both Norfolk and Surrey were arrested and sent to the Tower. Surrey displayed royal arms and insignia in his own heraldry which constituted high treason. Norfolk acknowledged he concealed these false acts on the 12th of January 1547 offering his lands to the King. His family including the Duchess gave evidence against him yet Surrey was beheaded on the 19th of January 1547. Norfolk was attainted by statute without trial on the 27th of January 1547 though the dying King's death saved him from execution. He remained in the Tower throughout Edward VI's reign until released and pardoned by Queen Mary I in 1553. In Mary's first parliament between October and December 1553, his attainder was declared void restoring him to the dukedom. He died at Kenninghall on the 25th of August 1554 and was buried at St. Michael's Church at Framlingham in Suffolk. The Duchess was not named in his will despite their long history together.
In July 1557 she officiated as godmother at the baptism of her great-grandson Philip Howard holding the child over a gold font kept in the Treasury. This font normally served only for royal children baptisms. Elizabeth Howard died the 30th of November 1558 at Lambeth where she was buried in the Howard chapel within the Church of St Mary-at-Lambeth. Her brother wrote a brief but heartfelt epitaph describing her as both far and near a mother sister and friend most dear. She had two sons and three daughters including Henry Howard Earl of Surrey who married Frances de Vere. Katherine Howard married Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby before dying March 1530. Mary Howard wed Henry FitzRoy on the 28th of November 1533 though they had no issue. Thomas Howard became Viscount Howard of Bindon living until 1582. Lady Muriel died young leaving behind a complex family legacy that survived the political storms of the Tudor era.
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Common questions
Who was Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk?
Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk was an English aristocrat born around 1497 as the eldest daughter of Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Her family tree reached deep into the royal house of York through her paternal grandmother Lady Catherine Woodville.
When did Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk marry Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey?
Before the 8th of January 1513 fifteen-year-old Lady Elizabeth married Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey who was already in his late thirties and the widower of Anne daughter of King Edward IV. They had five children together and appeared bonded by mutual love as late as 1524 when he became Duke of Norfolk.
Why did Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk separate from her husband Norfolk?
In 1527 Norfolk took a mistress named Bess Holland who lived openly at Kenninghall which led to a separation on the 23rd of March 1534 when Norfolk forced it upon her. He locked her in a chamber taking away all her jewels and apparel sending her to Redbourn in Hertfordshire where she received only £200 annually.
How did Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk support Queen Catherine of Aragon?
Late in 1530 it was noted that the Duchess secretly conveyed letters to Queen Catherine from Italy concealed inside oranges passed to the Imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys. In 1531 she was exiled from court at Anne Boleyn's request for declaring loyalty to Catherine too freely and refused to attend Anne's coronation ceremony on the 1st of June 1533.
When did Elizabeth Howard Duchess of Norfolk die and where is she buried?
Elizabeth Howard died the 30th of November 1558 at Lambeth where she was buried in the Howard chapel within the Church of St Mary-at-Lambeth. Her brother wrote a brief but heartfelt epitaph describing her as both far and near a mother sister and friend most dear.