# Magister Udal — Privy Seal character guide

> Magister Udal in Privy Seal by Ford Madox Ford.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the magister, The Magister Udal, Magister, Udal, the Magister Udal, The magister, the Magister

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Snapshot

The most learned man in the islands, a scholar who loves warmth, a full stomach, a comfortable woman and a good book, and dreads refusing Privy Seal.

## Who they are

Magister Udal was sent to Paris to Latinise letters between Wyatt and the French, a reward for a play he wrote for Cromwell, and he groans at leaving behind his many loves. Now he sits in the Widow Annot's kitchen, belly full of carp and ale, reading Lucretius, while his wife orders him to London to make himself Sir Chancellor. He protests, threatens a ladle, and surrenders, because she is the better man. Comic, cowardly, and useful to everyone, he is the novel's rueful witness to its intrigues.

## Relationships

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_friendship_

Magister Udal is a loyal friend and tutor to Katharine Howard, often acting as her confidant and ally.

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_psychological_

Magister Udal is manipulated and used by Thomas Cromwell as a pawn in political schemes.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_friendship_

Magister Udal is a loyal friend and tutor to Katharine Howard, often acting as her confidant and ally.

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_psychological_

Magister Udal is manipulated and used by Thomas Cromwell as a pawn in political schemes.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_friendship_

Magister Udal is a loyal friend and tutor to Katharine Howard, often acting as her confidant and ally.

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_psychological_

Magister Udal is manipulated and used by Thomas Cromwell as a pawn in political schemes.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Rising Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-i-the-rising-sun)

A scholar navigating the dangerous court environment.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i)

The magister is in Paris, having completed his work Latinising letters. He is torn between his desires and his obligations, ultimately marrying the Widow Annot.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii)

Now married to the Widow Annot, Udal enjoys a comfortable life in Paris but is pressured by his wife to return to England and seek high office.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iii)

Reveals his hatred for Cromwell, his spying for Privy Seal, and his conflicted feelings about his marriage to the Widow Annot.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v)

Brought into Throckmorton's plot; hesitates but eventually reveals the Cleves papers.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vi)

Brought by Throckmorton below stairs with news of the envoy from Cleves to France and copies of the envoy's letters.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii)

Writes the forged letter from Cleves in swift Latin; rewarded with ten crowns a quarter.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as having lied for Katharine in the Cleves matter.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as having brought news from Paris via his sweetheart Margot Poins.

### [Part III: The Sunburst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-iii-the-sunburst)

Involved in Paris, later marries the Widow Annot, reflecting the intertwining of personal and political lives.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii)

Not directly present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/magister_udal
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters