Richard Layton facts for kids

Richard Layton (born around 1500, died 1544) was an important English church leader, lawyer, and diplomat during the time of King Henry VIII. He served as the dean of York and was a key helper for the King and his chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, especially during the time when monasteries were being closed down, known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Life Story

Early Years

Richard Layton was born around 1500 in Dalemain in Cumberland. He came from a large family. He was related to Robert Aske, who led a rebellion in the north, and to George Joye, another church official. Richard Layton studied at Cambridge University, where he earned degrees in law. He also became a priest. Some records suggest he worked for Thomas Wolsey, a powerful cardinal, at the same time as Thomas Cromwell.

His Career

In 1522, Layton received a church position in Stepney. He gained several other church roles over the years. By 1531, he was a qualified lawyer. He lived in different places, including East Farnham and Chester-le-Street. In 1534, he became the archdeacon of Buckingham, but he mostly stayed in London. He also became a rector in Sedgefield and Brington. He worked as a clerk for the government's Privy Council.

Helping with Church Changes

In 1533, Richard Layton began working for Thomas Cromwell to help bring about big changes in the church. He visited places like Syon Abbey. Two years later, he was involved in questioning important figures like Thomas More and John Fisher.

In 1535, after Thomas More was executed, Layton went to Oxford University with John ap Rice. They spent time examining the university and made changes to how subjects were taught and how students behaved. They also helped set up new teaching positions. Layton and Rice supported new ways of learning that were becoming popular at Oxford. They did not like the older, traditional style of education called scholasticism, which focused heavily on logic and ancient texts.

Layton famously wrote to Cromwell about removing old ideas from Oxford. He said they had "banished" an old scholar named Duns Scotus from the university forever.

Visiting Monasteries

In early 1535, King Henry VIII ordered a survey of the church's money. This survey was called Valor Ecclesiasticus, which means "church valuation" in Latin. Government officials collected information about how much money nearly all church institutions had. They checked documents and account books and reported their findings to the King.

Layton and Thomas Legh began visiting monasteries on August 1, 1535. They started at Evesham Abbey and then went to places like Bath, Bruton Abbey, Glastonbury Abbey, and Bristol. They returned to Oxford in September. Later, they visited monasteries in Sussex and Kent, including Waverley and St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. Layton almost died in a fire at St Augustine's.

After returning to London, Layton was asked to visit monasteries in the north of England. On his way, he stopped at monasteries in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire. He collected many reports of wrongdoing, and he also gained wealth for himself. He met Legh in Lichfield in December 1535 and reached York in January. He then visited monasteries in Yorkshire and Northumberland before returning to London.

The reports from Layton and his colleagues were given to Parliament in 1536. These reports helped lead to the closing of smaller monasteries. Later, during a rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace, one of the demands was for Layton to be punished.

In May 1536, Layton was involved in the trial of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's wife. He also helped put down the northern rebellions. After the rebellions ended, he was part of a group that heard confessions from those involved. From December 1536 to April 1537, he helped try the prisoners.

First Closings of Monasteries (1536)

Layton became very important in closing down traditional religious houses, starting in 1537.

In 1534, a law made Henry VIII the head of the Church in England. His first major action was to target religious houses like monasteries and convents. Starting in 1536 and increasing in 1539, he closed these places in England, Wales, and Ireland. The King took their money and property. He also made plans for the people who used to live there. This whole process was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

As a main official for the Dissolution, Layton worked in the east and south of England. He managed the surrender of many abbeys. In 1537, he became the rector of Harrow-on-the-Hill. He enjoyed falconry and growing pears there.

Second Closings of Monasteries (1539)

In 1539, Layton was given new church roles in York, including becoming the dean of York. In this role, he approved the destruction of the silver shrine of St. William.

In September 1539, he made a surprise visit to Glastonbury Abbey with two other officials. They went to question the abbot, Richard Whiting. However, Layton and the others had to arrest Abbot Whiting, who was quite old, because he did not accept their authority. Whiting was arrested and later faced serious charges in mid-November.

In the same year, Layton tried to help keep the sanctuary at Bewley open. A sanctuary was a place where people could seek protection from the law.

Later Years

In 1540, Richard Layton was one of the church leaders who examined whether King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves was valid.

Around 1543, he helped uncover a plan against Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the same year, he was chosen to be the English ambassador in Paris. However, because war with France seemed likely, he was moved to Brussels. He arrived there in December 1543. While in Ghent in February 1544, his health began to get worse.

Death

Richard Layton died in Brussels in June 1544. After he passed away, it was discovered that he had pawned some valuable silver items belonging to the church in York. The church had to buy them back.