Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England episode 261, The Trouble with Mary.

This week folks, you shall hear about two things. After a few preambles, the first of our

Ambles proper is what I consider to be the low point in Krammer's career.

Once we have shed tears for the great man, I'll move discreetly on to leave him thinking

about what he's done. And in the second amble, talk about how Mary responded to the Edwardian

regime. You can expect flexibility, tact and political skill in great absence, but defiance

into courage in abundance. So, in 1549 Dudley had proved himself the master of the political game.

First, very quickly, I had a question that made it clear that I had not been clear. Due to that

extraordinarily annoying habit of referring to our political leaders by their title, when I talk

about John Dudley, I'm referring to the Earl of Warwick, who will also then acquire the title

of the Duke of Northumberland in the future. I realise I don't help because I'm a bit inconsistent

in mind the mancature, this week I seem to call him John Dudley all the time, when I should

probably be calling him Warwick. Sorry, and all. And in fact, that would be a feature of Dudley's

talents. He was a much more impressive politician than was Somerset. And in a way, to the political

nation, he was much safer. So not for Dudley, the rabble-rousing, and frankly, slightly embarrassing

desire to negotiate with the poor. Dudley was much more consensual. He followed the principal,

that if you need to present a proposal to the council, make sure that you know exactly what

the outcome will be before you take it there. Dudley was good at that behind the scenes, where

Somerset would impose or bypass Dudley would consult flatter stroke. Might sound a little bit gross,

but a politician's job after all is to get things done. However, we should not mistake

consensual and political for friendly. Dudley seems to have had a parallel talent for getting

up people's noses. He was liable to hector and bully, table-thump. It would not help him

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