Thomas Magnus facts for kids
Thomas Magnus (born around 1463 or 1464, died 1550) was an important English churchman, administrator, and diplomat. He worked for the king and helped manage important affairs, both in England and with other countries.
Life of Thomas Magnus
Thomas Magnus held many important jobs during his life. In 1504, he became the Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire, which is a high position in the church. From 1509 to 1519, and again from 1524 to 1527, he went on special trips called diplomatic missions. This meant he represented England in other countries, helping to keep peace and make agreements.
In 1520, he was at a famous meeting called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. This was a grand event where the kings of England and France met. Around the same time, he became a Privy councillor, which meant he was a trusted advisor to the king. Also in 1520, he earned a special degree called a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
Thomas Magnus continued to take on many roles. He was a canon of Windsor from 1520 to 1549 and a Prebendary of Lincoln Cathedral from 1522 to 1548. These were also church positions. In 1523, he became the paymaster for the army and treasurer for wars in the north of England. He also looked after St Leonard's Hospital, York starting in 1529. Around 1530, he founded a school called the Thomas Magnus Grammar School in Newark.
Thomas Magnus died on August 18, 1550. He was buried in Sessay in the North Riding of Yorkshire. His tombstone says he was the archdeacon of the East Riding and the parson (priest) of that church.
Diplomatic Mission to Scotland
Thomas Magnus was a key diplomat, especially in Scotland. In 1524, he and another diplomat, Roger Radclyff, traveled to Edinburgh. They had to wait for permission from King Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey, and also for a safe-conduct from Scotland.
When they arrived in Edinburgh on October 29, 1524, they went to Holyroodhouse. On All Saints' Day, they gave letters to King James V and his mother, Margaret Tudor. After a church service, Magnus and Radclyff gave King James a sword and a coat made of cloth-of-gold, which were gifts from Henry VIII. King James put on the special coat right away!
Magnus visited Margaret Tudor in March 1525. He brought important news that the French king, Francis I of France, had been defeated at the Battle of Pavia. He also had a letter from Henry VIII that made Margaret Tudor cry for a long time. In April, Magnus reported that King James V had told him he would rather be in England with his uncle (Henry VIII) than in Scotland. Margaret Tudor agreed with this idea.
Magnus was in Scotland again in August and September 1525. He wrote about how King James V received a silver dagger as a gift from the Duke of Albany. James immediately gave the dagger away to someone nearby, which seemed like an insult to the Duke. Magnus also noted that French ambassadors were made to wait for days in Leith, instead of getting a grand welcome. Magnus thought this showed that Scotland was moving away from French influence and a treaty that planned for King James to marry a French princess. In 1528, he even discussed the idea of King James V marrying Princess Mary, who was Henry VIII's daughter.
