Perhaps the best work on linking Matthew Howard's family back to the Duke of Norfolk Howards is the following book:

Moss, James E., "Providence Ye Lost Towne At Severn", Maryland Historical

Society, Baltimore, Maryland, 1976

The bulk of the book can be categorized as historical - deals

with the Howards and related families; Mr. Moss provides a great deal of

historical and genealogical background in the back of his book. This is well worth

locating via inter-library loan.

LORD THOMAS HOWARD.....

James E. Moss' "Providence Ye Lost Towne At Severn" ... Mr. Moss' research links the ancestry of Matthew Howard (of Maryland) to Lord Thomas Howard (circa 1513 - 1537) and his wife, Lady Margaret Douglas (1515 - 1578). Lord Thomas Howard was the son of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443 - 1524), and his second wife, Agnes Tilney (? - 1545). He was the secretary to the infant Princess, later Queen, Elizabeth. While he was the secretary to the infant Princess, Thomas Howard met and fell in love with Princess Margaret Douglas, daughter of Queen Margaret of Scotland (sister of King Henry VIII). Margaret was the First Lady-in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth.

   On Easter Day, 16 April 1536, they became betrothed.  In England at that time, a betrothal was the equivalent of marriage, although it was customary to formalize the marriage with a church wedding, this was not required until the Council of Trent in 1563.

  The marriage did not set well with the King, Henry VIII.  Because Henry VIII did not have a male heir, any male issue from this marriage would be a potential successor to the throne.  Accordingly, Henry VIII had Thomas Howard imprisoned in the Tower of London on 8 July 1536 and charged with High Treason.  The charge of High Treason would crush any claim that Lady Margaret might have to the throne and mark any of her children as illegitimate. One cannot underestimate the Tudor desire to destroy Lady Margaret's claim to the throne of England.  It was a particularly touchy issue for the Tudors, especially if Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth were declared illegitimate by the Church as a result of Henry VIII's divorce of Catherine of Aragon. 

  Lady Margaret, refusing to abandon her husband which, per the Royal Marriage Act, would have secured her freedom, was also sent to the Tower on 18 July.  Being "overcome with worry and melancolia" ... i.e., pregnant ...the King's physician, Dr. Cromer, recommended that Lady Margaret be moved to Syon House, a monastery.  She was transferred from the Tower on 10 November. It is here that her son, Robert, was born.  Apparently, his birth was known to but a few and he was sent to his Uncle Thomas's estate to be raised as his son.  Note that Thomas Howard had another brother from a different mother also named Thomas.

  Subsequently, Queen Jane Seymore bore Henry VIII a son, Edward VI, and the threat to the Tudor succession was removed.  Lady Margaret was restored to her honors and returned to court.  Unfortunately, her husband Thomas soon thereafter died of natural causes in the Tower.  

  Robert Howard was the only child of Lord Thomas Howard and Princess Margaret Douglas.  He was raised quietly by his uncle, Thomas Howard at Brockdish Manor, Burston, Norfolk County, as his son until the Tudor threat was removed by the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603 and the ascension of James IV of Scotland onto the English throne as James I.

  He resided at Brockdish Manor until the fall of 1585.  He then moved to Pelham Manor, Kenninghall, Norfolk County, located approximately 30 miles southwest of Norwich, Norfolk County. 

Robert Howard's descendents were recognized by James I after his succession to the throne.

Locations:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=52.40534~1.141087&style=h&lvl=18&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&where1=Burston%2C%20England&cid=9488ED7E2F937D0D!255&encType=1