Northumberland, Henry Percy, 8th earl of

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Northumberland, Henry Percy, 8th earl of (c.1532–85). Percy's brother, the 7th earl, was involved in the 1569 rising and executed in 1572. Henry Percy, who had made a reputation in border fighting in the 1550s, remained loyal to the queen and held Tynemouth castle on her behalf. The queen wrote acknowledging his fidelity during the rebellion and he succeeded to his brother's title under the special remainder. But he spent some time in the Tower 1571–2 under suspicion of plotting with Mary, queen of Scots, and was fined and released. He was once more arrested in 1583 in connection with the Throckmorton plot to welcome a Spanish invasion. In June 1585 he was found dead in the Tower from a pistol-shot, which the coroner declared had been self-inflicted.

J. A. Cannon

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