Lord William Howard

Lord William Howard (19 December 1563 – 7 October 1640) was an English nobleman and antiquary, sometimes known as "Belted Will" or "Bauld (bold) Will". Early life Howard was born on 19 December 1563 at Audley End, Essex, the fourth and last child of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk by his second wife, Margaret Audley. His older siblings were Elizabeth, who died as a child, Thomas and Margaret. His maternal grandparents were Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden and his second wife Elizabeth Grey. His paternal grandparents were Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and his wife Frances de Vere. On his father's side, William had an older half-brother, Philip Howard, who was also William's second cousin (because Philip's mother, Mary FitzAlan and Margaret Audley were first cousins). After his mother's death in January 1564, William's father married, thirdly, Elizabeth (née Leyburne) Dacre (widow of Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre and the eldest daughter of Sir James Leyburne of Cunswick). William's father, a Roman Catholic with a Protestant education, was arrested in 1569 for being involved in intrigues against Queen Elizabeth I, mainly because of the Duke's intention to marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Although he was released in August 1570, a few months later he became involved in the Ridolfi Plot, being arrested again in September 1571, when his participation in the plot was discovered. He was executed in June 1572, when William was eight years old. After Norfolk's death, William and his siblings Philip, Thomas and Margaret were left in the care of their uncle, Henry Howard, who also he took charge of their education. During this time, William and his siblings lived with their uncle at Audley End. Due to his father's execution, much of his paternal family's property was forfeited, although William and his siblings, along with their older half-brother Philip were able to recover some of the forfeited estates.