The Arrest of Edmund Dudley - 24 Apr 1509

Richard Empson, Henry VII and Edmund Dudley. English School, 16thc. ©Belvoir Castle

Edmund Dudley, esq. was the grandson of John Dudley, 1st Baron Sutton - a courtier and diplomat, who after switching from the Lancastrian to the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses, joined the court of Edward IV and was appointed as 'Constable of the Tower of London'. Edmund. who was born during the 30-year domestic conflict, despite being the son of the second son (John Dudley), received a gentleman's education; he also reportedly attended Oxford (although left before completing his degree), and then entered into the Inns of Court, to study the law.

In 1503, Edmund was introduced to King Henry VII by Sir Reginald Bray, the 'Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster', one of the most influential men in Henry's administration. Following Bray's death later in the year, the king started to rely on Edmund on legal matters, and subsequently his career accelerated; in January 1504, he was nominated as Speaker to the House of Commons, and by July 1506, was made President of the King's Council. Edmund, along with Sir Richard Empson, were not popular figures within the King's administration, who in the last 2 years of Henry's reign had emerged as the most prominent figures with subsequent close contact with the king (Penn, 2011). Since 1504, Edmund's work had managed to increase the Crown's income by half, by measures such as collecting debts and placing taxes. Significant amounts of money were coming through himself at his house (and workplace) - a large two-storey house which stood on the corner of Walbrook and Candlewick Streets, in the heart of the City of London - before going into the Crown's purse (Paul, 2022).

'Henry VII on his deathbed' from Wriothesley’s Heraldic Collections, Vol 1:Book of Funerals ©British Library

In the winter of 1508-09, Henry VII's health began to deteriorate; no longer having the open patronage of the King, Edmund began to become isolated, due to many senior officials and nobleman being victim to his money-collecting methods. When Henry VII passed away at Richmond Palace on 21 April 1547, Edmund was not present, despite being identified by Henry VII as one of the executors of his will. Henry's death and the ascension of his son, as King Henry VIII, was not initially formally announced for days, and it appears that Edmund himself was also unaware of the change in monarchy (and subsequently the country's government) (Paul, 2022) And his enemies, who were now in positions of power in a new administration, would take advantage of this..

Guildhall, City of London. 1761. ©Royal Academy of Arts

On 24 April 1509, Edmund Dudley was arrested from his home at Candlewick Street, and taken to the Tower of London, on charges of constructive treason:

"Charges that Edmund Dudley, late of London, Esquire, as a false traitor &c, on the 22nd of April, 1 Hen VIII, at London, in the parish of St Swithin, in the ward of Candlewickstreet, falsely, feloniously and traitorously conspired, imagined and compassed how and in what manner be, with a great force of men and armed power, might hold, guide and govern the King and his Council, against the wishes of the King...and totally deprive the King of his Royal liberty; and to make and move discords, divisions and dissensions amongst the Magnates and Councillors of the King and his kingdom..."

Edmund Dudley underwent trial on 12 July 1509 at the Guildhall, City of London, pleading 'not guilty' to the charges set against him; however, he was subsequently found guilty on 18 July of high treason, and was sentenced to death and returned to the Tower of London. to await his fate. During his imprisonment within the Tower, he wrote petitions to the new king, with other lobbying for his release, including former brother-in-law Sir Andrew Windsor. It was also reported that he made preparations to attempt an escape from the tower, In this time, Edmund also used his experience and wrote 'The Tree of Commonwealth' - a treatise in support of absolute monarchy intended as a guide for the new young king, which included criticisms of Henry VII's decision making and government (Penn, 2011).

Following Edmund's arrest in April 1509, his family appear to have left the home in Candlewick Street shortly after; an inventory taken in August 1509 showed no evidence of children's belongings in the property (although they did find many weapons, including crossbows and arrows). (Paul, 2022). Prior his arrest, 'Candelwykestrete' was a busy family home, with Edmund residing with there with his second wife Elizabeth Grey, their three sons (John, Andrew and Jerome), his saughter Elizabeth (from his first marriage), and even his former mother-in-law Lady Elizabeth Lytton following the death of her second husband in 1505. This house, in addition to other property owned by Edmund (including in the Midlands) was seized by the Crown, following his conviction and execution. (Paul, 2022). His eldest son John (who would later rise to the Dukedom of Northumberland) was placed under the wardship of Sir Edward Guildford, whilst his widow Elizabeth went on to marry Arthur Plantagenet, Edward IV's illegitimate son and Henry VIII's half-uncle, in 1511.

Edmund Dudley was executed, by beheading, on Tower Hill on 17 August 1510, 16 months after his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Sir Richard Empson, his co-accused was also executed on the same day; Empson was executed first due to being of a higher social status. (Paul, 2022) identifies that this would have spared Empson the indiginity of seeing another man executed, and having to walk and place himself in his co-condemned's blood. Edmund was subsequently buried at Blackfriars Priory, whilst Empson was buried at Whitefriars.

Further reading: Paul, J. (2022). The House of Dudley: A New History of Tudor England. London: Penguin. Penn, T, (2011). Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England. London: Penguin.