| Nationality | John Dudley earl of Warwick (1527?–1554), nobleman, was probably born in 1527 in Sussex, the third but first surviving son of Northumberland and his wife. He was made a knight of the Bath on 20 February 1547 and was styled Viscount Lisle from 1547 to 1551, then earl of Warwick. Warwick was more of a courtier than a soldier and was criticized for keeping light company and amassing debts, which, his parents felt, was to his discredit. His wardrobe account survives for the years 1545 to 1551, listing, among other things, an impressive collection of books for a young man studying the new learning, including 'thone part of Tullie', 'a tragedie in english of the unjust supremacie of the bushope of Rome', 'a Greek grammar' and 'a Terence' (Bodl. Oxf., Add. MS C 94, fols. 13r–14r). From 20 April 1551 to November 1552 he was master of the buckhounds and on 28 April 1552 was appointed master of the horse for life. With his father he was named lord lieutenant of Warwickshire on 16 May 1552 and again on 24 May 1553. Having signed the letters patent settling the crown on Jane on 16 June 1553 he accompanied Northumberland's expedition against Mary and was arrested and tried with him. He was found guilty of treason and condemned to death but his life was spared though his titles were forfeited. During his time in the Tower, where he was lodged in the Beauchamp Tower, he was permitted to walk on the leads, 'being crased for want of ayer', and carved a rebus on the wall of his cell (APC, 1554–6, 72). Underneath it he wrote an unfinished inscription:
Yow that these beasts do wel behold and se
May deme with ease wherefore here made they be
With borders eke wherein [there may be found]
4 brothers names who list to serche the ground.
Lindsay, 176–7
John Dudley was released shortly before 20 October 1554, when he was placed in the custody of his brother-in-law, Sir Henry Sidney (1529–1586), at Penshurst in Kent, and died there the following day. His widow, Anne, daughter of Somerset and his wife, Anne, suffered from bouts of madness and died late in 1587. Northumberland's third surviving son, Lord Henry Dudley (1531?–1557), soldier, was probably born at Dudley in Worcestershire or in Sussex. Little is known about him. In 1553 he married Margaret (1540–1564), daughter and coheir of Thomas Audley, Baron Audley of Walden, and his second wife, Elizabeth. On 27 September 1557 Dudley died from disease or wounds resulting from the siege of St Quentin and his widow later married, as his second wife, Thomas Howard, fourth duke of Norfolk; she died on 10 January 1564. |