239 JOHN DUDLEY, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.* [1502-1553.] JOHN DUDLEY, one of the most potent subjects England ever knew, was the son of the infamous Edmund Dudley, an able but corrupt lawyer, who was Speaker of the House of Commons in 1504, and a Privy-Councillor. At this period, the avarice of Henry VII. was insatiable; and Dudley, in conjunction with Sir Richard Empson, Chief Justice of the King's-Bench, instead of discountenancing the unkingly passion, devised various illegal methods of extorting money from the people, receiving poundage themselves upon the sums thus basely acquired. On the accession of Henry VIII. the people cried aloud to the King, whenever he appeared in public, for justice against these public robbers and their inferior agents; and the latter being apprehended, and set in the pillory, were stoned to death: nor would t * AUTHORITIES. Stow's Chronicle, Speed's History of England, Lloyd's State-Worthies, Hayward's Life of Edward VI., Fox's Acts and Monuments, &c., and Burnet's History of the Reformation. the populace rest satisfied, till Empson and Dudley were indicted, convicted of high treason, and beheaded in 1510.* Young Dudley was born in 1502; and it being represented to the King in 1511, that he was descended from an ancient family, who (with the exception of his father) had done honourable service to the state, he was restored in blood: but no statute is to be found for reversing the attainder, as recorded by most historians, nor could he inherit his splendid patrimony, the personal property having been confiscated to his Majesty's use, and the real estates having been bestowed upon the royal favourites. About the year 1523, however, having received an education suitable to his rank, he was introduced at court by his mother, now married again with the King's consent to Henry Plantagenet, who in her right † had been created Viscount Lisle. Dudley's advantageous personal figure and accomplishments soon recommended him to the notice of his Sovereign, who nominated him to attend his favourite, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, on his expedition to France. Here his gallant behaviour not only entitled him to the favour of his general, but procured for him likewise the honour of knighthood. For his advancement, upon his return, he appears to have relied chiefly upon his own abilities, and prudently attached himself to Wolsey, whom he accompanied to France in 1527. Soon afterward, he was *The detail of their extortions, and oppressions, the reader will find at large in Lord Bacon's ' History of Henry VII.' + She was the daughter and heiress of John Grey, Viscount Lisle. made Master of the Armory in the Tower. His hopes of preferment, however, did not hinder him from attending to his concerns in the country, where he assiduously improved his interest with the gentry, living in great hospitality, and rendering himself extremely popular among his neighbours. During Wolsey's administration, Sir John Dudley continued sedulously to pay his court to him; but as soon as he found Cromwell was gaining the ascendant, he dexterously transferred his attention to the new favourite, by whom he was appointed Master of the Horse to the Princess Anne of Cleves, on her arrival in England. In 1539, he was the first of the challengers in the triumphant tournament * * This tournament had been proclaimed in France, Flanders, Scotland, and Spain, for all strangers to try their prowess against the English knights, Sir John Dudley, Sir Thomas Seymour, Sir Thomas Poynings, Sir George Carew, and Antony Kingston and Richard Cromwell, esquires. These challengers came into the lists richly dressed, preceded by a band of knights and gentlemen, clothed in white velvet. The first day there were forty-six defendants, among whom were the earls of Surrey, Lord William Howard, Lord Clinton, and Lord Cromwell, son to the prime minister, then Earl of Essex. Sir John Dudley, by some mischance of his horse, had the misfortune to be overthrown by one Mr. Breme: he mounted again, however, and performed most gallantly. The challengers then rode in state to Durham-House, where they entertained the King, the new Queen, and the court. On the second day, Kingston and Cromwell were made knights. On the third, the challengers fought on horseback with swords, against twenty-nine defendants; Sir John Dudley and the Earl of Surrey running first with equal advantage. On the fourth, they fought on foot at the barriers against thirty defendants. In the course of these military diversions, the challengers at an immense expense entertained both Houses of Parliament, the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and their wives, and all the persons of distinction then in town; VOL. I. R held at Westminster, in which he appeared with great magnificence. The fall of Essex did not in the least affect the fortune of Sir John Dudley: who, though he successivly flattered the ministers, took care at the same time invariably to pay the highest deference to the will of the Sovereign, and thus amidst all the changes of men and measures constantly preserved his credit at court. In 1542, upon the death of his mother's second husband, he was created Viscount Lisle; and, at the next festival of St. George, he was also elected Knight of the Garter. But this was, soon afterward, followed by a much higher token of esteem and confidence; for the King, in consideration of his prudence, courage, and activity, constituted him Lord High Admiral of England for life. In 1543, he commanded a fleet of two hundred sail, with which he invaded Scotland, and in conjunction with the Earl of Hertford (commander-inchief) took Edinburgh, being the first man who entered the gates. He next embarked for France, appeared before Boulogne then besieged by King Henry VIII. in person, and by his diligence and courage greatly facilitated the capture of the place, of which the King made him Governor, with the title of his Lieutenant-General. Soon after the King had embarked for England, the Dauphin with an army of 50,000 men attempted to recover Boulogne by surprise: but he was repulsed by the Lord Admiral, with the loss of eight hun as a reward for which the King bestowed upon each of them a house and a hundred marks a-year for ever, out of the revenues of the knights of Rhodes, which by the parliament then sitting had been given to his Majesty. dred of his best troops. He did not, however, raise the siege till the month of February 1544; when Dudley, with a small body of horse and foot, successfully sallied out, took twelve pieces of cannon, and obliged the enemy, though much superior in numbers, to make a final and precipitate retreat. Francis I., being highly exasperated at the loss of Boulogne, contracted with the Italian states for a number of vessels, and having formed a fleet of two hundred sail beside galleys, gave instructions to Annebault, High Admiral of France, not only to recover it, but also to invade the English coasts. Lord Lisle however, upon his first appearance before St. Helen's, attacked him with only sixty sail, and defended himself so ably against eighteen ships of the enemy, which had been specially commissioned to beset him, that they were obliged to retire, and were quickly followed by the whole fleet. Not long afterward the English having received some troops on board, a general engagement ensued, which lasted two hours; when night coming on, the French took shelter in Havre de Grace, and thus ended their expedition. The English Admiral subsequently made descent on the coast of France, burned the town and abbey of Treport in Normandy with thirty sail of ships in the harbour, and returned home, with the loss of only fourteen men. Peace having been concluded in 1546, Dudley was appointed one of the commissioners to take the oath of Francis I. for the due observance of the treaty. In this embassy Tunstall Bishop of Durham, and Wotton Dean of Canterbury, were his collegues; and in the same year he was put in commission with several persons of distinction, for settling the |