with quitting England without leaving, sharing in Jesuit plots, and claiming the dukedom of Norfolk. He was sentenced to pay £10,000 and to be imprisoned during the queen's pleasure. In July 1586, his liberty was offered to him if he would carry the sword of state before the queen went to church. In 1588, he was accused of praying, together with other Romanists, for the success of the Spanish Armada. He was tried for high treason on 14 April 1589, found guilty and condemned to death, but his sentence was not executed; Queen Elizabeth never signed the death warrant, but Howard was not told this. He was kept constantly in fear of execution, although comforted by the companionship of a dog, which served as a go-between by which Howard and other prisoners, most notably the priest Robert Southwell, could send messages to each other. Although these two men never met, Howard's dog helped them to deepen their friendship and exchange encouragement in each other's plight. One day Howard scratched into a wall of his cell these words: Quanto plus afflictiones pro Christo in hoc saeculo, tanto plus gloriae cum Christo in futuro ("the more affliction [we endure] for Christ in this world, the more glory [we shall obtain] with Christ in the next") Howard spent ten years in the Tower until his death from dysentery. He petitioned the Queen as he lay dying to allow him to see his wife and his son, who had been born after his imprisonment. He was refused. He remained in the Tower, never seeing his wife or daughter again, and died alone on Sunday 19 October 1595. He was immediately acclaimed as a Catholic Martyr. School Awards St Richard's has been awarded, by the government, a Leading Edge Status. This means that they have been recognised as an example to others in how they teach. Also St Richard's is a Fairtrade School. Performance In 2018, St Richards was ranked as second in the county for Progress 8 attainment; its rating stands as 'well above average'. References External links School's home page BBC league tables page Secondary schools in East Sussex Catholic secondary schools in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Voluntary aided schools in England Bexhill-on-Sea