Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk wed Norfolk's other niece, Catherine Howard, as his fifth wife. As a result of this marriage, for a time, Norfolk enjoyed political prominence, royal favour, and material rewards. However, when Queen Catherine's premarital sexual indiscretions and her alleged adultery with Sir Thomas Culpeper were revealed to King Henry VIII by Archbishop Cranmer, the King's wrath turned on the Howard family, who were accused of concealing her misconduct. Queen Catherine Howard was condemned by a bill of attainder and was later executed on 13 February 1542. Several other members of the Howard family were sent to the Tower, including Norfolk's stepmother,
Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom following were all known to be disabled when serving as MPs: Sir Francis Bryan, MP for Buckinghamshire in 1529, 1539, 1542 and 1545, who lost an eye in a tournament in 1526. William Page, MP for Bridport in 1559, Oxford 1562–67, and Saltash 1571–81, who had a hand cut off in lieu of execution for distributing a political pamphlet in 1579. John Stubbs or Stubbe, MP for Great Yarmouth 1588–89, who also had right hand cut off in lieu of execution for publication of the same pamphlet as Page in 1579. Hugh Bethell, MP for East Riding of Yorkshire 1654–56