ABSTRACT
After his arrival in England in July 1554 Philip of Spain pursued a policy of pragmatic conciliation with Edward VFs Protestant courtiers. Even Ambrose and Robert Dudley were invited to take part in a grand Anglo-Spanish tournament held in December. The death (on 15 or 22 January) of their mother, the Duchess of Northumberland, also removed an awkward reminder of John Dudley's abortive attempt to seize power over the English throne. With her sons finally pardoned on 22 January but still attainted, the Duchess had been convinced during her final illness, as her will stated, that 'none of my children shall inherit the degree I die in'. She appointed Sir Henry Sidney as her chief executor, a legal gesture offering another indication of his largely untainted emergence from the Lady Jane Grey conspiracy. She thanked Queen Mary and Philip for 'showing mercy' to her three sons who had recently been allowed some small grants from her remaining estates. She also left 200 marks each to her daughter, Mary Dudley Sidney, and to her grandson, Philip. Although she requested a modest interment, Sir Henry Sidney organized a grand funeral procession and erected a monument to her memory in the parish church at Chelsea.1
