Only in 1432 with the succession of John de Sutton VI did the barony come to prominence for he had a long and successful career in the service of the royal court. Amongst his many appointments he held the lieutenancy of Ireland. In the Wars of the Roses he supported the Lancasterian faction under Henry VI and was imprisoned at Ludlow Castle.

In 1455 he was captured at the battle of St Albans and again imprisoned. Despite his previous loyalty to the Lancastrian cause he was soon employed on diplomatic missions for the Yorkists acting as ambassador in negotiations with Burgundy and Brittany.

John de Sutton VI survived the slaughter of these wars and died in 1487 after a long and most distinguished career.

As Lord Steward in 1422 he brought home the body of King Henry V to England, and was chief mourner and carried the standard of King Henry V at his funeral. he fought throughout the wars with France and was a firm supporter of the House of Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses. He was summoned to Parliament from 15 Feb 1439/40 by writs directed Johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi, whereby he is held to have become Lord Dudley. He was the first of his family to adopt the surname of Dudley as an alias for Sutton. He was taken prisoner with King Henry VI on 23 May 1455 at the first Battle of St. Albans, and was wounded at Blore Heath on 23 Sep 1459.