Nicholas Wotton: dean and diplomat

This study is an account of the life and career of Dr. Nicholas Wotton, a sixteenth-century cleric and diplomat. Primarily remembered for his work in the latter category, his career made him at the least a supporting figure in many of the significant events of his century. There are essentially three subdivisions within this biography; the first two chapters trace the rise of the Wotton family from relative obscurity to a position of national prominence. The middle segment reconstructs Dr. Wotton's critical years of service to his country, the 1540's and 1550's, re-examining from his unique perspective many well-rehearsed historical events. The final chapters address the questions of a character assessment, Wotton's achievements and his position within a study of the diplomatic history of sixteenth-century England. The sixteenth century witnessed increased implementation of modern concepts of international diplomacy; thus, a review of the diplomatic papers of the time is relevant not only to this century but also creates a foundation from which to study later diplomatic developments. Nicholas Wotton, though only one of many sixteenth-century English diplomats on whom little previous research has been done, is a good example with which to begin, for in his life and career is reflected the sense of transformation from the Medieval to the modern which equally describes his century.