Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Audley of Walden
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Posthumous portrait, 1569
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| Lord Chancellor | |
| In office 26 January 1533 – 21 April 1544 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Thomas More |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Southampton |
| Lord Keeper of the Great Seal | |
| In office 20 May 1532 – 21 April 1544 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Thomas More |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Southampton |
| Speaker of the House of Commons | |
| In office 5 November 1529 – 26 January 1533 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Thomas More |
| Succeeded by | Sir Humphrey Wingfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca. 1488 Earls Colne, Essex Kingdom of England |
| Died | 30 April 1544 (aged 56) Saffron Walden, Kingdom of England |
| Spouses | Christina Barnardiston Elizabeth Grey |
| Children | 2, including Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk |
Thomas Audley, 1st Baron Audley of Walden (around 1488 – April 30, 1544) was an important English lawyer and judge. He served as the Lord Chancellor of England from 1533 to 1544. This was a very powerful job, like being the chief justice and a top advisor to the king. Audley played a big role during the time of King Henry VIII, especially during the English Reformation, when England changed its religious practices.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Audley was born in a place called Earls Colne in Essex, England, around 1488. His father was Geoffrey Audley. It is thought that Thomas studied at Buckingham College, Cambridge, which is now known as Magdalene College.
He chose to study law and joined a famous legal society called the Inner Temple. In 1514, he became the town clerk of Colchester, which meant he was in charge of official records for the town. By November 1520, he was made a Justice of the Peace for Essex, helping to keep law and order in the area.
Rising in Parliament
In 1523, Thomas Audley was elected to Parliament to represent Essex. He continued to serve in Parliament for many years. By 1527, he was a "Groom of the Chamber," which meant he was close to the King's personal staff. He also became part of Cardinal Wolsey's household, who was a very powerful figure at the time.
When Cardinal Wolsey lost his power in 1529, Audley's career continued to rise. He became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, another important government position. In the same year, he was chosen as the Speaker of the House of Commons. As Speaker, he led the discussions in Parliament during a very important period known as the English Reformation Parliament. This Parliament made big changes, including ending the Pope's authority in England.
Becoming Lord Chancellor
In 1532, Thomas Audley was knighted, becoming Sir Thomas Audley. Soon after, he took over from Sir Thomas More as the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. This role involved looking after the King's official seal, which was used to make documents official.
On January 26, 1533, he was appointed Lord Chancellor. This made him one of the most powerful people in England, second only to the King. He supported King Henry VIII's decision to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.
Important Decisions and Changes
As Lord Chancellor, Thomas Audley played a key role in many of King Henry VIII's major decisions. He helped pass the Act of Supremacy, which made the King, not the Pope, the head of the Church of England. This was a huge change for the country.
After Anne Boleyn's marriage to the King ended, Audley helped Parliament pass a new law, the Second Succession Act. This law declared that the King's daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was not a rightful heir and made the children of Henry's new wife, Jane Seymour, the legitimate heirs to the throne.
In 1538, Thomas Audley was given the title Baron Audley of Walden. This made him a nobleman. He continued to serve the King, even when it meant enforcing strict religious rules, such as the Six Articles Act, which aimed to make everyone follow the same religious beliefs.
Supporting Education and Legacy
In 1540, Thomas Audley was made a Knight of the Garter, which is a very high honor in England. He also helped with the legal process that ended King Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves.
Thomas Audley received several large estates, including lands from monasteries that were closed down by the King. One of these was Walden Abbey in Essex. His grandson, Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, later built a grand house called Audley End on this land, named after Thomas Audley.
In 1542, he helped to restart and support Buckingham College in Cambridge, giving it a new name: the College of St Mary Magdalene (often called Magdalene College). He made sure that his family, who would own the land from Walden Abbey, would always have a special role in overseeing the college. The college's coat of arms is even based on his family's shield.
Family and Later Life
Lord Audley was married twice. His first wife was Christina Barnardiston. His second wife was Elizabeth Grey. With Elizabeth, he had two daughters. One of his daughters, Margaret Audley, later married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Their son, Lord Thomas Howard, was later given the titles Baron Howard de Walden and Earl of Suffolk.
Thomas Audley resigned from his role as Lord Chancellor on April 21, 1544. He passed away shortly after, on April 30, 1544. He was buried in Saffron Walden, where he had prepared a beautiful tomb for himself. Since he did not have any sons, his title of Baron Audley of Walden ended when he died. There is also a monument to him in the Audley Chapel at St Michael's Church, Berechurch in Essex.
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