Nicholas Goudanus (also de Gouda) (c.1517–1565) was a Dutch

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

and papal diplomat.

Life

His surname was originally Floris (Florisz). He worked with

Peter Canisius Peter Canisius (; 8 May 1521 – 21 December 1597) was a Dutch Jesuit priest known for his strong support for the Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland and the British Isles. The ...

on the mission to reclaim German Protestants to Catholicism. In 1557 they had been together at the Colloquy of Worms. Goudanus went on a covert diplomatic mission, under instructions of the end of 1561 sent by

Alfonso Salmeron Alfonso (Alphonsus) Salmerón, SJ (8 September 1515 – 13 February 1585) was a Spanish biblical scholar, a Catholic priest, and one of the first Jesuits. Biography He was born in Toledo, Spain on 8 September 1515. He studied literature and phi ...

, via

Everard Mercurian Everard Mercurian (1514 – 1 August 1580) was the fourth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. Early life Born 'Lardinois' into a humble family in Marcourt, near La Roche-en-Ardenne in what is now the province of Luxembourg in 1514, in t ...

. John Hungerford Pollen, ''Papal Negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots: during her reign in Scotland 1561-1567'' (1901), pp. lii–lvi
archive.org
He arrived in Scotland on 5 July 1562, or landed earlier than that in

Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...

, having sailed in June. He was accompanied by Edmund Hay and Jean Rivat as interpreters, and had a meeting with

Mary Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

, as papal legate, at

Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has s ...

. The Queen turned down a request to send Scottish representatives to the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation at the time, it has been described as the "most ...

, then winding up. Only one of the Scottish bishops, Robert Crichton, was prepared to give him an interview; Henry Sinclair was instructed to meet Goudanus by the Queen, but refused. The mission lasted to September 1562. Goudanus left the country with some difficulty, with William Crichton who had been the advance party, and who was a relation of Robert Crichton. His report to

Diego Laynez Diego Laynez, S.J. (1512 – 19 January 1565; first name sometimes translated James, Jacob; surname also spelled Laines, Lainez, Laínez) was a Spanish Jesuit priest and theologian, a New Christian (of converted Jewish descent), and the second ...

was discouraging. One consequence of the mission was that six Scots were recruited to the Jesuits.

Notes

1517 births 1565 deaths 16th-century Dutch Jesuits Diplomats for the Holy See {{Netherlands-bio-stub