Simon Renard

Portrait by Anthonis Mor

**Simon Renard** (born 10 January, 1513) also known as **Simon Renard de Bermont** is a Burgundian diplomat serving as the ambassador of the Emperor Charles V in England. He quickly rose through the ranks of provinical administration of the Free County of Burgundy and gained the attention and favor of his early patrons, the Granvelle family, as well as the Emperor and his sister, Mary of Hungary. In his tenure as resident ambassador in England, he gained prominence as a rising star of the imperial civil service.

## Biography

### Youth

Simon was born on the 10th of January, 1513 in Vesoul, a major town of the County of Burgundy. His father was Thiébaud Renard, a notable jurist from a well-established urban family of Burgundy. His mother, Jeanne Blaigney, was the daughter of a minor landholding family. Simon was the second child and eldest son of the family, and great stock was put in his future as a result.

He received a humanist education from hired tutors in his youth, becoming acquainted with Latin language and literature, philosophy and rhetoric. Destined for the law, he attended university first at Dole, where he became friends with the humanist scholar Gilbert Cousin as well as the future cardinal Otto Truchsess von Waldburg. Simon then continued his studies at Louvain, where he became acquainted with Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, the son of the eminent councilor of Charles V, Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle. He received his degree of Doctor of Law in 1533, after which he returned to his native Burgundy.

### Early career

After returning to Vesoul, Simon's career as a lawyer prospered and he was rather quickly in Vesoul and he became favored by the President of the Parliament, Hughes Marmier, who was impressed by Simon's intelligence and avidity for his work. It was by his reccomendation to the Emperor, that in 1538 Simon was made Lieutenant-General of the Bailiwick of Amont, an office which Marmier had himself once held.

In his station as Lieutenant-General of Amont, Simon became further ingratiated with the local notables, including those in Besançon, where he reconnected with Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, now Bishop of Arras, was well on his way to a successful career in the clergy at the lead of his father. Through this connection, Simon became known to the imperial court and attracted the attention of Charles V himself, who summoned Simon to serve as a diplomat and advisor to the recently formed Council of Trent in 1542. Simon performed well in his tasks under the Bishop of Arras and was well commended by the Bishop and the Emperor rewarded him with the offices of *conseiller* and *maistre aux requestes ordinaire.*

Simon continued to work alongside the Bishop of Arras and garner a reputation as a reliable and enthusiastic servant of the Emperor. In 1545, he moved with his family to Brussels, where he was appointed to the Council of State of the Low Countries, one of three such organs of state created in the Burgundian holdings of the Emperor over a decade prior. In addition, Simon was also ennobled by letters patent of the Emperor that same year, being made a Knight of the Golden Spur and Lord of Bermont.

In late 1546, the health of the Emperor's resident ambassador in England, François van der Delft, was in decline and he had petitioned both the Emperor and his regent in the Low Countries, Mary of Hungary, to retire from his post. When it became clear that King Henry VIII's health was also in decline, Mary gave in with Charles' permission and dispatched Simon as van der Delft's replacement in London. The appointment was not a prestigious one, and Simon, with no knowledge of English, was hoping that it would only last for a few months until a more permanent solution could be found.

### Ambassador to England

Upon his arrival in London on 26 January 1547, Simon discovered that van der Delft had died several days prior and that King Henry was very nearly on his deathbed. From London, he made haste to Hampton Court, and was witness to the events surrounding the king's death and the ascension of his son, Edward. In the scurry of affairs, Simon became an invaluable agent for the Emperor at the court of England and thus his station as ambassador became permanent. Although Simon was dismayed at the lack of preparation afforded to him and the poor state of his finances in England, his efforts as a negotiator and keen reporter proved to impress the Emperor and the Queen Dowager.

## Marriage and children

In 1543, Simon married Jeanne Lullier of Besançon, daughter of Nicolas Lullier, seigneur de Raucourt, and Guyotte d'Orchamps. They have three children:

* Françoise Renard (28 June 1544 – Present)
* Jeanne Renard (10 August 1545 – Present)
* Eleonore Renard (7 June 1547 – Present)

## Titles, styles, honors, and offices

### Titles

* Doctor of Law (Latin: *Juris Doctor*)

* Lord of Bermont (French: *Seigneur de Bermont)*

### Styles

* 20 April, 1545 — Present: His Lordship, the Lord of Bermont (French: *Sa Seigneurie, Sieur de Bermont*)

### Honors

* 20 April, 1545 — Present: Knight of the Golden Spur (Latin: *equites aurati Sancti Romani Imperii*)

### Offices

* Lieutenant General of the Bailiwick of Amont (French: *Lieutenant général du Bailliage d'Amont*)
* Master of Requests Ordinary (French: *maistre aux requestes ordinaire)*
* Councilor of the Council of State of the Low Countries (French: *Conseiller du conseil d'etat des pays-bas*)
* Imperial ambassador to England