1535, Southwell was High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. It was in 1536 that his portrait was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger. He was a witness in the trial of Sir Thomas More, where he claimed not to have heard the details of the damning conversation between Richard Rich and the accused. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1539 as knight of the shire for Norfolk and knighted in 1540. After the death of James V of Scotland, Southwell went to Edinburgh in January 1543 to negotiate with the Scottish lords. Southwell was a principal accuser of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who was arrested in December 1546 on charges (very likely trumped up) of threatening the succession of Prince Edward by displaying the lions of England in his personal coat of arms. Following the arrest of Surrey's father, Thomas Howard, third duke of Norfolk, Southwell was one of three royal commissioners (along with Sir John Gates and Wymond Carew) sent to seize and inventory the Howards' possessions. He was one of the assistants to the executors of the will of Henry VIII. Southwell was one of the signatories of The Will of King Edward the Sixth, and His Devise for the Succession to the Crown. He was appointed to the Privy Council on 12 March 1547, although he was removed from the full council the following year. He was reappointed by Mary I of England. Southwell was described as the driving force behind the plan to marry Elizabeth I of England to Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon. He was re-elected to represent Norfolk again in 1542, 1553 and twice in 1554. He was Master of the Armoury from 1554 to 1559. Notes References External links Biography, details of which are taken from the History of Parliament Edward VI's Will and Device for Succession ODNB entry 1500s births 1564 deaths People from Wymondham High Sheriffs of Norfolk High Sheriffs of Suffolk English MPs 1539–1540 English MPs 1542–1544 English MPs 1553 (Mary I) English MPs 1554 English MPs 1554–1555 Members of Lincoln's Inn Members of the Privy Council of England English courtiers Knights Bachelor Members of the Parliament of England for Norfolk Court of Mary I of England Richard