Lord Guilford Dudley

His father was Regent of the kingdom after the execution of Lord Protector Edward Seymour , first Duke Of Somerset , during the reign of King Edward VI Of England . On Edward's death, Northumberland feared the accession of the King's half-sister, the Catholic Lady Mary (future Mary I of England). The Duke of Northumberland had the order of succession changed, so Lady Jane Grey would be proclaimed Queen after the death of the King.

In order to ensure the security of the kingdom against Catholic rule, he had married Lady Jane to his son Guilford on May 15 , 1553 .

Within days of king Edward's untimely death, Jane was hastily proclaimed queen, and against her own better judgement officially ruled for nine (or thirteen) days. However, after continued unrest in the Country, Jane was deposed by Henry Grey, Duke Of Suffolk who pronounced Mary Queen of England. Jane and Guilford were moved from the Royal apartments to the Gentleman Gaoler's lodgings. Mary agreed to spare their lives, and for a year they lived in the Tower, with substantial freedom. However, after Thomas Wyatt's Rebellion of 1554 , Mary saw Jane and Guildford as targets for potential future rebellions against her. After some hesitation, Mary signed the Death Warrant .

Guilford was escorted by guards to Tower Hill, where he was publically executed. His body was carried to the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, in the grounds of the Tower of London. On seeing the body from her window, Jane is alleged to have cried, "Oh Guilford, Guilford." He was buried in the chapel with Jane.

Guilford's unfortunate brothers, John , Ambrose , Robert and Henry , along with their mother, were also for a while incarcerated in the Tower, but were subsequently pardoned.

A cell wall in the Tower of London contains a carving of the word "IANE." (The letter "J" did not come into common use until the 18th Century and was frequently signified by an "I" before this.) The carving is believed to have been done by Guilford while imprisoned, perhaps pining for his wife, or his mother (also called Jane).

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Lord Guilford Dudley