62 THE HISTOEY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



three of the hunt-servants in their annual allowance for their 

 summer and winter liveries. 



Sir Robert Dudley, Baron Denbigh, Earl of Leicester, 

 etc., fifth and sixth Master of the Household branch of the Royal 

 Buckhounds, tem'p. Edward VI. (appointed November 11, 1551) 

 and, secondly, temp. Elizabeth (May 28, 1572— September 4, 

 1588), fourth son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and 

 Jane, daughter of Sir Edward Guildeford, knight, was born 

 about the year 1532. Having been introduced at the Court of 

 Edward VI., where his father at the time was in high favour, 

 young Dudley met with a cordial reception, and a brilliant 

 career lay before him. On August 15, 1551, he was sworn one 

 of the six Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to the King. In about 

 three months afterwards, when his father resigned his post of 

 Master of the Buckhounds, Robert, his son, obtained the honour 

 of knighthood, and on November 11 he became fifth Master of 

 this branch of the Royal pack which his father apparently 

 relinquished in the young courtier's favour. How long he held 

 the Mastership under Edward VI. we have not been able to 

 ascertain. It is, however, safe to conclude that in consequence 

 of his father's treason, attainder, and execution, his son's 

 connection with the Buckhounds had, for the present, ter- 

 minated on the accession of Queen Mary. Immediately after 

 Queen Mary's accession, in July 1553, Sir Robert Dudley was 

 committed to the Tower, and on January 15 following he was 

 arraigned of High Treason, confessed the indictment, and 

 was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. But he was 

 soon after pardoned ; the Queen restored him in blood, received 

 him into favour, and made him Master of Ordnance, at the 

 siege of St. Quintain. In this service he remained abroad for 

 some time. On his return to England he seems to have lived 

 in comparative retirement with his first wife, the unfortunate 

 Amy Robsart, and to have given himself up, in a great measure, 

 to the enjoyment of those rural sports in which he was so 

 proficient. On the death of Queen Mary, in November 1558, 

 Sir Robert Dudley rode to Hatfield, " mounted on a snow-white 

 steed, being well skilled in riding a managed horse," and paid 



