Page "John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland" Paragraph 14

Dudley consolidated his power through institutional manoeuvres and by January 1550 was in effect the new regent.

On 2 February 1550 he became Lord President of the Council, with the capacity to debar councillors from the body and appoint new ones.

He excluded Southampton and other conservatives, but arranged Somerset's release and his return to the Privy Council and Privy Chamber.

In June 1550 Dudley's heir John married Somerset's daughter Anne as a mark of reconciliation.

Yet Somerset soon attracted political sympathizers and hoped to re-establish his power by removing Dudley from the scene, " contemplating ", as he later admitted, the Lord President's arrest and execution.

Relying on his popularity with the masses, he campaigned against and tried to obstruct Dudley's policies.

His behaviour increasingly threatened the cohesion vital within a minority regime.

In that respect Warwick would take no chances, and he now also aspired to a dukedom.

He needed to advertise his power and impress his followers ; like his predecessor, he had to represent the King's honour.

His elevation as Duke of Northumberland came in October 1551 with the Duke of Somerset participating in the ceremony.

Some days later Somerset was arrested, while rumours about supposed plots of his circulated.

He was accused of having planned a " banquet massacre ", in which the Council were to be assaulted and Dudley killed.

Somerset was acquitted of treason but then, in January 1552, executed on charges of felony for raising a contingent of armed men without a licence.

While this was technically lawful, these events contributed much to Northumberland's growing unpopularity.

Dudley himself, according to a French eyewitness, confessed before his own end that " nothing had pressed so injuriously upon his conscience as the fraudulent scheme against the Duke of Somerset ".