Tudor nobility - the Dudley family

When we think of rebellions and the like, most people will be aware of the Babington plot to put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne, during the reign of Elizabeth. However, when you look at the whole Tudor dynasty, they all had their scary moments. And, in times of instability, there are always those who can make hay and a lot of money. The Dudleys were such a family.

Henry VII, victor at Bosworth Field and the first Tudor monarch, was plagued by 'pretenders', notably Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. Simnel was put to work in the kitchens, but Warbeck, a much more serious threat, was executed. By the time Henry VII died in 1509, although he had provided an heir (Arthur, who died) and the spare (Henry, who lived), the dynasty was no more secure than it had been in 1485, when he grabbed his crown, allegedly, from a thorn bush after Richard III had been killed.

A completely different man to his father, Henry VIII began his reign by executing two of his father's most rapacious money gatherers, Empson and Dudley. Ah, yes, Dudley. That name is writ large in Tudor history. Henry VII used Edmund Dudley to increase the royal coffers. Henry VIII used Edmund's son, John as a victorious soldier and Admiral. As Viscount Lisle, Dudley took part in the victory over the French at the Battle of the Solent, even though the Mary Rose was lost. He was also part of the victorious forces at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542 and became one of Henry VIII's closest friends through the final years of the king's life.

John Dudley was made Duke of Northumberland by Henry's son Edward VI and the dissent in this boy-king's reign was mainly from the factions at court wanting power. The struggle see-sawed between Dudley and Somerset, Edward's uncle and brother to Queen Jane Seymour. In this battle nothing was sacred. To save his own skin, Somerset abetted the execution of his own brother, Thomas. Robert Ket led a rebellion against the new prayer book, so dissent was not limited to the court.

When Edward died, it was Northumberland who tried to force acceptance of Jane Grey as Queen, even marrying her to his son, Guildford. Alas, this time, Dudley had chosen the losing side. When he realised he had miscalculated and that the people wanted Mary as Queen, Dudley changed sides - and religion, admitted his errors and swore allegiance to Mary. She, however, responded by having him imprisoned in the Tower.

Mary was not as bloodthirsty as she has been painted. However, as soon as she saw a portrait of Philip II of Spain, she fell deeply in love. Philip's price for coming to England was that all traitors should be executed. Wyatt, who had rebelled against the Queen was executed and, to prevent a new opposing faction having a figurehead, Jane Grey and her husband were also killed, as was Northumberland. For a time, the Dudley family went into decline. Elizabeth, childhood friend of Robert Dudley, one of Northumberland's other sons, was persona non grata at court. Mary wished to execute her, but |Philip II, with one eye on the future, forbade this and, in effect, saved the life of the one person who would cause him more problems than any other in the next 30 years.

When Mary died in November 1558, Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen and Robert Dudley became her Master of Horse. She created him Earl of Leicester. They appear from all contemporary accounts to have been emotionally close to each other throughout their entire lives, although Robert could be and frequently was, bad tempered and high-handed. He was devoted to her service and one of the most vociferous voices to call for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. These calls were finally heeded after the third plot against Elizabeth's life, the one that was possibly the most threatening, that of Babington. Mary was duly executed at Fotheringhay Castle and this led directly to the invasion in 1588 by the Spanish Armada.

News of Robert Dudley's death reached Elizabeth just as she was celebrating her victory over Spain. She was devastated and labelled his final letter to her "His last letter", keeping it with her jewels. Elizabeth was the last Tudor monarch and Robert the last Dudley courtier.