to learning, wisdom,
fortitude, munificence, and affability. Yet all these excellencies of
character, could not prevent his falling a sacrifice to the jealousy
of the Peers, or as some say to the resentment of the King for his
attempting to wed the Princess Mary; and by these means to raise
himself to the Crown. History is silent as to the reasons why the
gallantries he performed for Geraldine did not issue in a marriage.
Perhaps the reputation he acquired by arms, might have enflamed
his soul with a love of glory; and this conjecture seems the more
probable, as we find his ambition prompting him to make love to
the Princess from no other views but those of dominion. He married
Frances, daughter to John Earl of Oxford, after whose death he
addressed Princess Mary, and his first marriage, perhaps, might be
owing to a desire of strengthening his interest, and advancing his
power in the realm. The adding some part of the royal arms to his own,
was also made a pretence against him, but in this he was justified by
the heralds, as he proved that a power of doing so was granted by some
preceeding Monarchs to his forefathers. Upon the strength of these
suspicions and surmises, he and his father were committed to the Tower
of London, the one by water, the other by land, so that they knew
not of each other's apprehension. The fifteenth day of January next
following he was arraigned at Guildhall, where he was found guilty by
twelve common jurymen, and received judgment. About nine days before
the death of the King he lost his head on Tower-Hill; and had not that
Monarch's decease so soon ensued, the fate of his father was likewise
determined to have been the same with his sons.

It is said, when a courtier asked King Henry why he was so zealous in
taking off Surry; "I observed him, says he, an enterprizing youth; his
spirit was too great to brook subjection, and 'tho' I can manage him,
yet no successor of mine will ever be able to do so; for which reason
I have dispatched him in my own time."

He was first interred in the chapel of the Tower, and afterwards in
the reign of King James, his remains were removed to Farmingam in
Suffolk, by his second son Henry Earl of Northampton, with this
epitaph.

Henrico Howardo, Thomae secundi Ducis Norfolciae filio primogenito.
Thomae tertii Patri, Comiti Surriae, & Georgiani Ordinis Equiti Aurato,
immature Anno Salutis 1546 abrepto. Et Franciscae Uxoris ejus, filiae
Johannis Comitis Oxoni