a few years before his death in 1598.

[3] Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk (1561-1626), was the second son of
the Duke of Norfolk beheaded by Elizabeth in 1572. He gained
considerable distinction as a sailor, taking part in the defeat of the
Armada and the attack on the Spanish treasure-ship in which Sir Richard
Grenville was killed. He rose to a position of influence under
Elizabeth, was made an Earl on James's accession, and after filling many
high offices became Lord High Treasurer in 1614, which office he held
till 1619. In that year he was dismissed, fined L30,000, and imprisoned
in the Tower, for serious embezzlements and other frauds. He was
afterwards received back into favour: it was generally supposed that his
wife was chiefly to blame for his defalcations. He was grandfather to
the second Lord Howard of Escrick, the witness against Lord Russell,
whose trial see in vol. ii.

[4] Charles Blunt, Earl of Devon (1563-1606), was the second son of the
eighth Lord Mountjoy. He soon attracted the Queen's notice, fought in
the Low Countries, and took part in the defeat of the Armada. He was
offered and accepted the post of Lord Deputy of Ireland after it was
vacated by Essex, and was to some extent implicated in Essex's
subsequent treason. In 1602 he obtained Tyrone's surrender in Ireland
after three years' fighting. He returned to England in 1603, and held
occasional important appointments. In 1605 he was married by Laud to
Lady Rich, the former mistress of Sir Philip Sidney and himself, and the
divorced wife of Lord Rich. The event is chiefly remarkable for the part
taken in it by Laud.

[5] Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton (1540-1614), was the second son of
the Earl of Surrey, beheaded in Henry VIII.'s reign. After a long period
of political intrigue he rose to power on James's accession, having long
been in correspondence with him. He was an avowed enemy of Raleigh. He
maintained a position of great influence till the end of his life,
generally using his influence in support of the king's prerogative and
the Catholics. After his death he was accused of complicity in the
poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury in the Tower: not altogether without
reason. He built Northumberland House.

[6] Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (1563?-1612), was at the time of
this trial at the middle point of his long official career. He first
appears in a public capacity in 1588, when he was sent to Spain in the
train of Lord Derby, having