Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule facts for kids

Thomas Bellenden (also known as Bannatyne) of Auchnoule was an important person in Scotland around the 1500s. He was born around 1485 and died around 1547. Thomas worked for King James V of Scotland as a courtier, which means he was a trusted advisor and friend to the king.

He held many important jobs, including being a Judge from 1535, the Director of Chancery from 1538 (this job involved keeping royal records), and the Lord Justice Clerk from 1539 (a top legal position). He was also part of the king's main council and even served as an ambassador to England, helping Scotland talk to its neighbor. Thomas Bellenden studied at the University of Paris and was known to support new ideas about the church, often called a Protestant sympathizer.

A Play and Church Changes (1540)

Thomas Bellenden often met with English officials who looked after the border between Scotland and England. In January 1540, he met with an English official named William Eure at a place called Coldstream. Eure wrote a letter saying that Bellenden was over 50 years old at the time.

During their meeting, Bellenden told Eure about a special play that was performed at Linlithgow Palace. The play was shown to King James V, his wife Mary of Guise, and many church leaders and advisors. It happened on a special day called the Epiphany.

The Play's Message

The play was all about making changes to the church, a big movement known as the Reformation. Eure learned more details about the play from another Scottish person who saw it. This play was very similar to a famous play by David Lyndsay called A Satire of the Three Estates. It showed some of the problems and "naughtiness" that people saw in the church at that time.

After the play, King James V spoke to the church leaders. He asked them to change their ways and stop arguing among themselves. He even joked that if they didn't, he might send some of them to his uncle, King Henry VIII of England, who had already made big changes to the church in his own country.

Bellenden also told Eure that King James V wanted to remove some churchmen from important royal jobs. He secretly asked Eure to send him copies of the English laws that had changed the Roman Catholic religion there. This shows Bellenden's interest in the Reformation ideas.

Bellenden's Influence

A famous Scottish historian, John Knox, wrote good things about Thomas Bellenden. Knox said that Bellenden helped Regent Arran become powerful in Scotland. However, Bellenden's influence lessened when Arran decided not to go ahead with the plan for Mary, Queen of Scots to marry Prince Edward of England.

Thomas Bellenden had family members who were also involved with the royal court and writing. Towards the end of his life, he even copied a famous book called the Eneados. This book was a Scottish translation of Virgil's Aeneid, a very old Roman poem, done by Gavin Douglas. The copy Bellenden made is now kept at Lambeth Palace. He signed the book, saying he finished it on February 2, 1545, along with someone named Johanne Mudy.

Ambassador to England

Thomas Bellenden traveled to London in July 1541. His job there was to discuss important matters between Scotland and England. These talks included issues about the border, Scottish merchants doing business in England, and problems with ships. He returned to Scotland in October of that year, still holding his important role as 'director of Chancellary.' In 1543, he sent information to London about the people who had murdered an English official named Thomas Trahern.

Bellenden's Family

Thomas Bellenden was the son of Patrick Bellenden of Auchnoule, who passed away in 1514, and Mariota Douglas. Mariota was a nurse to King James V when he was a baby, and Patrick worked for Margaret Tudor, the king's mother. In 1499, the family received land in Auchnoule from the Earl of Morton. This land was located in an area now known as East Calder.

Thomas had a sister named Katherine Bellenden who also worked at the royal court. She was involved with the royal wardrobe, which managed the king's clothes and other items. Katherine worked with Janet Douglas, who was married to David Lindsay of the Mount, the famous poet and playwright. Katherine Bellenden was married three times: first to Adam Hopper, then to Francis Bothwell, and finally to Oliver Sinclair, who was a favorite of the king. Thomas's brother, John Bellenden, was also a poet and translator at the court.

Thomas Bellenden married Agnes Forrester. They had several children:

• John Bellenden of Auchnoule (died 1576), who also became a Justice Clerk like his father. He married Margaret Scott.
• Katherine Bellenden (died 1578), who also worked in the royal wardrobe. She married Robert or William Craig.
• Agnes Bellenden, who married William Adamson.
• Alison Bellenden, who married John Acheson.

One of his daughters got married in October 1564. Mary, Queen of Scots and her four close friends, known as the "Four Maries," attended the wedding.