1. Simon Renard, Sieur of Bermont and Lieutenant of Aumont or Amont, was a Burgundian diplomat who served as an advisor to Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II of Spain, who were counts of Burgundy.
19 Facts About Simon Renard
1. 2.
Simon Renard was ambassador of Spain in France and England.
3.
Simon Renard is generally known as Renard, and was from the town of Vesoul.
4.
In France in 1549, Simon Renard took information from several informants, three of whom he called Mars, Mercury, and the Captain.
5.
Simon Renard joined Jean Scheyfve and his colleagues as ambassadors in London when Edward VI of England was dying.
6.
Simon Renard wrote to Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, Bishop of Arras, describing Scheyfve's jealousy of his leading role during audiences with Mary I of England as spokesman and minute-taker.
7.
Simon Renard noted that Princess Elizabeth, Mary's half-sister, and Lady Lennox, Mary's preferred heir, were seated together in a window above.
8.
Simon Renard's litter was open to show herself to the people, and her pale face had a proud expression to hide her vexation, or as Renard put it, "pour desguyser le regret qu'elle a".
9.
The council rather than Mary, said Simon Renard, had arranged Elizabeth's removal.
10.
Simon Renard remained in England negotiating the marriage of Queen Mary I with the future King Philip II of Spain.
11.
Philip, who unlike his father had never liked or trusted Simon Renard, dismissed him in the following year.
12.
Simon Renard trusted few if any of her English councillors: as she later said, "she could scarcely see any one of them who had not done her an injury or would fail to do so again if the opportunity presented itself".
13.
Simon Renard thought Princess Elizabeth should be feared for she had the "power of enchantment".
14.
Simon Renard was unhappy with the role of Parliament in the English constitution, but Mary was resolved to follow her father's policy of ruling with the advice and consent of Parliament.
15.
When it became clear that Philip and Mary's marriage would be childless, Simon Renard reversed his previous policy and urged Mary to reconcile with Elizabeth and recognise her as heir presumptive.
16.
Deeply though Simon Renard distrusted Elizabeth, he was even less happy at the prospect of the throne passing to the next heir, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was shortly to be married to Francis II of France, and was thus wholly identified with French interests.
17.
Simon Renard was finally recalled from England at his own request in the autumn of 1555, although he continued for some time afterwards to advise the Emperor on English affairs.
18.
Simon Renard has been praised by historians for his intelligence, patience, subtlety and diplomatic skill.
19.
Simon Renard's coat-of-arms was red with a gold chevron, charged with three silver crescents.