Sir John Mason

Sir John Mason rose in the feudal world by virtue of his intelligence and hard work from a humble family to become one of the most esteemed persons to four different English monarchs.

Mason was born to a cowherd but it was his uncle Thomas Rowland II (alias Pentecost), the Abbot of Abingdon, who educated him. Mason graduated from Oxford University in 1521 and was made a Fellow of All Souls after what he became King's Scholar in Paris.in 1531, he was given the parish church of Kyngeston in the diocese of Salisbury, and has also entered the diplomatic service. In 1530’s he went on a number of diplomatic missions through France, Spain, Italy, and Netherlands.

During the next decade his career continued to flourish; he became Clerk to the Privy Council in 1542, Master of the Posts and Secretary of the French Tongue in 1544. In 1545 he was licensed to import French wares, and visited the court of Philip, Duke of Bavaria. Mason was made Knight of the Carpet in 1547, and a Dean of Winchester in 1549. In the 1550’s he served as Ambassador to France, and at the Holy Roman Emperor's Court in Brussels. Mason also held many other offices such as Master of Requests and Clerk of Parliament, Chancellor of Oxford University, Treasurer of the Chamber, Member of the Parliament, and others. For his services Mason received grants of land in Middlesex, Berkshire and Kent. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) (the fourth monarch whom he served) he had the direction of foreign policy.