Frances Howard, Countess of Surrey facts for kids
Frances Howard, Countess of Surrey (born de Vere; around 1517 – 30 June 1577) was an important lady in Tudor England. She was the daughter of John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford. Frances first married Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, a famous poet and nobleman. After his death, she married Thomas Steyning.
Frances came from a very old and powerful family, the de Veres. Her father was the Earl of Oxford and had a lot of influence at the royal court.
Contents
Frances's Marriage and Family Life
In 1532, Frances married Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Both were only 14 years old at the time. They started living together in 1535. Henry's father was Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, another very powerful nobleman.
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The families of Frances and Henry had a long history. They had even fought on different sides in the Wars of the Roses. Frances's father supported the new Protestant religion. Henry's father, the Duke of Norfolk, was a leading Catholic nobleman.
Henry Howard's Career
Frances's husband, Henry, traveled to France in 1532. He went with King Henry VIII and his cousin, Anne Boleyn. Henry Howard later became a soldier. In 1545, he was made a commander in Boulogne, France.
Frances at Court
Frances herself went to the royal court. In 1536, she was one of the main people at the funeral of Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was King Henry VIII's first wife.
Frances and Henry's Children
Frances and Henry had five children together:
- Jane Howard, Countess of Westmorland (born between 1533 and 1537). She married Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland.
- Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk (born 10 March 1536). He became a powerful duke.
- Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton (born 25 February 1540). He never married.
- Katherine Howard, Baroness Berkeley (died 7 April 1596). She married Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley.
- Margaret Howard, Baroness Scrope of Bolton (born 1547). She married Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton.
Frances made sure her children received a good education. They were taught at the family's castle in Kenninghall.
Challenges and Changes
In 1542, Henry Howard and his father faced difficulties. Their relative, Catherine Howard, who was King Henry VIII's fifth wife, was executed.
Henry Howard's Downfall
Late in 1546, Frances was expecting her fifth child. At this time, her husband Henry fell out of favor with the King. He was accused of plotting against the King. Henry was tried in January 1547. Despite little proof, he was found guilty and executed on 19 January. He was only 28 years old. Henry was the last person executed during King Henry VIII's reign.
Frances gave birth to her daughter Margaret after her husband's execution.
Children's Care and Education
After Henry's death, Frances's children were taken from her. They were placed in the care of other noble families. A year later, the children were allowed to live together. They were looked after by their aunt, Mary FitzRoy, Duchess of Richmond and Somerset. She was Henry's sister. Mary made sure the children had good teachers.
Frances's Second Marriage
In 1553, Frances married again. Her second husband was Thomas Steyning. They had two children, Henry and Mary. Mary Steyning later married Charles Seckford.
Frances lived in Suffolk until her death in 1577. She watched the lives of her children from her first marriage from a distance.
Her Children's Later Lives
Frances's oldest son, Thomas Howard, became the Duke of Norfolk in 1554. He was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also one of England's wealthiest landowners. Thomas was close to Queen Elizabeth.
However, like his father, Thomas also faced trouble. He was accused of plotting with Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary wanted to become Queen of England. Queen Elizabeth forgave Thomas once. But he continued to plot against the Queen. In 1572, Frances had to witness her son Thomas being executed.
Frances's daughter Jane also faced difficulties. Her husband, Charles Neville, was involved in a plot against Queen Elizabeth in 1570. He had to leave England quickly. Jane stayed in England.
Frances and Henry's second son, Henry, also corresponded with Mary, Queen of Scots. He was sent to prison but later became an important advisor to King James I.
Frances's Legacy
Frances de Vere died in 1577 in Suffolk. In 1614, her son Henry built a monument for his father in St Michael the Archangel's Church, Framlingham. He placed his father's remains there, along with those of his grandfather and his mother, Frances. Frances rests beside her first husband.
