France to mediate ‘for composing the warres between the latter and the emperor’ (Instructions in Harl. MS. 353, f. 127).
In anticipation of Edward's death, and with the object presumably of supporting Northumberland's coup d'état, he was on 18 May 1553 licensed to retain, over and above his menial servants, fifty persons, gentlemen and yeomen, wearing his cognisance. He attached his name to the will settling the crown on Lady Jane Grey, and only four days before his death Edward, who breathed his last in his arms, made him a grant of the manor and borough of Wotton Bassett in Wiltshire.
Sidney was one of the first to forsake the cause of his father-in-law, and having the day following Queen Mary's proclamation given in his adhesion to her, he managed to escape the fate that befell his wife's family and to retain his position at court, though ‘neither liking nor liked as he had been.’ He apparently accompanied John Russell, earl of Bedford, and other noblemen to Spain in April 1554, for the purpose of obtaining a ratification of the marriage articles between Philip and Mary, but also with the ulterior object of enlisting the sympathy of the former on behalf of his brothers-in-law, the Dudleys. His prudent behaviour was rewarded on 8 Nov. by a confirmation of all the grants made to him and his father by Edward; and on the birth of his eldest son, on 30 Nov., the king, in order to show him greater honour, stood godfather to the child, bestowing on him the name of Philip.
In the following spring his youngest sister, Frances, became the second wife of Thomas Radcliffe, third earl of Sussex; and when the latter, having been appointed lord deputy of Ireland, sailed for Dublin in May 1556, Sidney, at his own solicitation, accompanied him in the capacity of vice-treasurer and member of the Irish council. He took part in Sussex's expedition that summer against the Scots settlers in Antrim, and boasted of killing in single combat one of their most redoubtable champions, a certain ‘James Mack O'Nell,’ as he calls him, but not to be confounded with James MacDonnell, elder brother of Sorley Boy, the head of the clan. In the following April he was despatched to court for fresh supplies of money and ammunition, returning to Ireland at the beginning of July, in time to assist in a second expedition into Ulster, in the course of which he effected a landing in Rathlin Island, and ‘spoiled the same, all mankind, corn, and cattle on it.’ On 4 Dec. 1557 Sussex repaired to England, and next day Sidney and Archbishop Curwen were created lords justices during his absence. But by a fresh commission, dated 18 Jan. 1558, Sidney was on 6 Feb. sworn sole lord justice. During the winter, in pursuance of Sussex's policy of reducing the central districts, he invaded Ferical, expelled its chief, O'Molloy—a supporter of Donough O'Conor, the head of the confederacy—cut passes through his country, and destroyed whatever had escaped destruction on former raids. Lack of money prevented him from taking such steps as he regarded necessary for the safety of the country; but profiting by the example of Sir Anthony St. Leger [q. v.], he managed, by cessing the Pale and forbidding the exportation of corn from it, to provision the forts of Philipstown and Maryborough; and when, on 27 April, he surrendered the sword to Sussex, he certainly left the government in no worse condition than he had received it. In June and July he attended the deputy through the west parts; and when Sussex, in September, embarked on his expedition against the Hebridean Scots, Sidney was constituted lord justice till his return in November. But the news of Queen Mary's death recalled the deputy to England in December, and Sidney was again entrusted with the sword during his absence (Cal. Carew MSS. i. 278–9). He was confirmed in his office by Elizabeth. Shortly afterwards, in consequence of the death of Con O'Neill, earl of Tyrone [q. v.], Shane O'Neill openly assumed the title of the O'Neill, as he had long practically possessed the power. Sidney displayed great tact in holding him in check until Elizabeth determined whether or not to recognise him as Con's legitimate successor. Sussex, who preferred to remain at court, urged Sidney's appointment as viceroy; but the arrangement did not meet with Elizabeth's approval, and in August 1559 Sussex returned to Ireland. In the meantime Sidney was appointed lord president of the marches of Wales. Accordingly he surrendered the vice-treasurership to his brother-in-law, Sir William Fitzwilliam [q. v.], and left the country. During his tenure of the vice-treasurership he had done excellent service by taking efficient steps for the better preservation of the Irish records.
As president of Wales Sidney fixed his residence at Ludlow Castle in Shropshire, but, his duties being light, he contrived to spend much of his time at court. He held the office without interruption till the end of his life, and towards the close of it, when reviewing his government, he was able to say with pride that ‘a better people to govern than the Welsh, Europe holdeth not.’
Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, when aspiring to the hand of Queen Elizabeth, found a staunch ally in his brother-in-law,
