On This Day (22 January) in 1554, Robert Dudley, the 21-year-old son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death.

Following the Privy Council abandoning their support for Jane Grey, and proclaiming Mary I Queen of England, Robert was taken into custody on 20 Jul 1553, after being apprehended by local forces at King's Lynn; he had been in Norfolk, trying to gather support in the ill-fated coup, led by his father, in the attempt to place their sister-in-law Jane on the English throne, in place of Mary. Following his capture, Robert was taken to Framlingham Castle, where he appeared before Mary, asking her for mercy. This was unsuccessful, as Robert was taken back to London, where along with his brothers John, Ambrose, Henry ('Harry') and Guildford, he was held at the Tower of London. Initially he was held with his younger brother and husband of Jane, Guildford, in the Bell Tower; however, they soon joined their eldest brother John in the Beauchamp Tower, along with Ambrose and Harry, who had been housed in the nearby Coldharbour Gate Tower. Their father was held separately in St Thomas's Tower, until he was quickly executed on 22 August 1553, following a trial at Westminster Hall,

Jane Grey, along with Guildford, Ambrose and Harry, underwent their trial at London's Guildhall in November 1553, following which all were found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. However, Robert was not tried at this time, as his 'crimes' had been committed in Norfolk, not London, and so local evidence was required.
On 09 January 1554, a hearing was initially held at Norwich's Shire House; a gathered panel heard that Robert had 'fortified' Kings Lynn, and along with his father and "other traitors" had treacherously proclaimed Jane Grey as queen the previous July. Feedback from this hearing was given to London's Lord Mayor, Thomas White, who subsequently arranged a formal trial at the City of London's Guildhall.

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