Robert Howard

Sir Robert Howard KB (cJanuary 159822 April 1653) was an English landowner, member of parliament, and Royalist soldier. He was involved in a scandal when his mistress Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck, was found guilty of adultery and was twice summoned to explain her pregnancy with his son to the Court of High Commission. John was generally believed to be insane, and the marriage had taken place over vehement objections from her mother.

The result of the affair was a son born in October 1624 at Cripplegate who was initially called Robert Wright, but who would go on to take the name of Villiers and was finally known as Robert Danvers. Frances's brother-in-law the Duke of Buckingham had the pair brought before the Star Chamber on charges of adultery. Frances Villiers was found guilty. Howard was made a prisoner of the Fleet prison and excommunicated for refusing to answer questions at the trial. Frances, Lady Purbeck, was fined and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and to do penance – but she fled abroad.

Howard was again fined. This time he had to pay 952 pounds to recover the lands that were sequestered in punishment.

In 1648, Howard finally married (Frances Villiers had died in 1645). His wife was Catherine Nevill, a daughter of Henry Nevill, 9th Baron Bergavenny and his second wife Catherine Vaux, and they had three children. Howard died on 22 April 1653 at the Hall in the Forest

Danvers Howard's probable illegitimate son Robert was recognised by his mother's husband as his son and heir. He became 2nd Viscount Purbeck, after the first Lord Purbeck's death on 18 February 1657; but Robert renounced his claim to the title in 1658. He was again declared Viscount Purbeck by the House of Lords in 1660, but was declared not entitled to the honour in 1678, on the grounds that his birth was illegitimate. Upon marriage Robert took the name of his wife and became known as Robert Danvers.