[6] Under the young King Edward VI, Henry's father became Lord President of the Privy Council and de facto ruled England from 1550 to 1553.
[14] For more than a year, the Imperial ambassador Jehan de Scheyfye had been convinced of Northumberland being engaged in some "mighty plot" to settle the Crown on his own head.
[17] In fact, it was Henry's youngest brother, Guildford Dudley, who had recently been married on King's favourite cousin Lady Jane Grey.
[18][19] Lady Jane was to ascend the English throne after the King's death, according to Edward's will, headed "My Devise for the Succession", in which he bypassed his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
On the whole, the brothers' release was brought about by their mother and their brother-in-law Henry Sidney, who successfully lobbied the Spanish nobles around England's new co-ruler and king consort, Philip of Spain.
[25] Out of prison Henry, Ambrose and Robert Dudley took part in one of several tournaments held by Philip to celebrate Anglo-Spanish friendship.
[26] Also in January 1555, Dudley's mother died, leaving Henry some money, which Queen Mary allowed him to inherit despite his attainder.