58 HENRY HOWARD: THE EARL OF SURREY

ity with his customary discretion. He fully understood that the
sympathies of the Howards were with the demands of the
people of the north. But he also knew the Howard tradition of
adherence to established authority. The Duke of Norfolk and
his son were given no opportunity to disregard this tradition.
First the Privy Council wrote to the Duke and to Surrey, order-
ing them to raise and equip horsemen to assist in suppressing
the rebellion. Then the King ordered the Duke to send Surrey
to lead these forces north, the Duke himself to remain at home
to ensure the loyalty of the family. This was merely the King's
discreet way of reminding Norfolk that his lands and estates
were in the control of his King. The Duke protested vigorously
against this distrust, as Henry VIII had doubtless intended that
he should do. The order was changed. The Duke was placed in
command of the troops with instructions to move to the north.
It was made plain in the orders, however, that Surrey must
remain at home.19

The Duke set out for the rebellion by way of Lincolnshire on
1 1 October. At the same time he wrote to the Council requesting
that his eldest son be permitted to accompany him. Without
awaiting a reply, Surrey started with his father. The Council,
not yet entirely satisfied of the loyalty of the Howards — or not
wishing to take the slightest risk of their loyalty — promptly
denied this permission. The Duke of Norfolk was ordered "to
cause [Surrey] to stay where he shall be on the receipt of this,
without marching further forward/5 as the traitors had gone
home.20 The latter part of this statement was merely to excuse
the retention of Surrey at Cambridge. The Lincolnshire rebels
had dispersed, but a far more serious outbreak was affecting
nearly the whole of Yorkshire. The Duke was ordered to pro-
ceed north with his forces. He did so, but received little support.
The movement of troops was difficult in those days, and facili-
ties for their swift transportation were entirely lacking. Norfolk
apparently had no choice but to arrange terms with the rebels.
Without much fighting, on 7 October he concluded an armistice
with them.

., xi, 58o, 601,602.
20 lbid.t 701; see also 659, 727, 864; S.P., Henry VIII, I, ii, 63.