Pt. 9: Drurys of Riddlesworth

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Arms of Drury of Riddlesworth

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Sir Dru Drury of Riddlesworth and Lynstead, as we have seen, was a trusted knight of Queen Elizabeth and was called on by her for a crucial mission in 1586. After Queen Mary's death, there was some dispute as to whether the rightful heir to the throne was Elizabeth or her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was Catholic and Elizabeth Protestant, and the country was again divided along religious lines. In any case, Mary would have been the successor to Elizabeth, which Elizabeth considered a threat. Mary and her supporters were suspected of plotting to overthrow Elizabeth. Elizabeth sent Sir Paulet and Sir Dru Drury to arrest Mary and bring her to Fotheringhay, where they stood guard over her until her execution. Sir Dru had a front-row seat as a witness to the beheading. At one point, Elizabeth wrote to Sir Paulet and asked him and Sir Dru Drury to murder Mary, to save Elizabeth the embarrasment of executing her own cousin. They refused, enraging the queen.

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Right: Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. According to Antonia Fraser, author of Mary, Queen of Scots, although she detested Sir Paulet, "she much prefered the relative sympathy and compassion showed by her other jailer, Sir Drury." The execution on 8 Feb 1587 was a final blow to Catholics in England and secured Elizabeth's position.

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Sir Dru Drury's son, Dru (1588-1632), was created a baronet in 1627 and was a member of Parliament. he married Ann Waldegrave, and their son Dru passed the baronetcy to their son Robert. Sir Robert Drury, bart. (1634-1712)married first Elizabeth Dunston, second Diana Vilet, and third, Elinor Harsnet. They are buried in St. Peter's Church in Riddlesworth, shown below.

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Ledger slabs in Riddlesworth Church. Above left: Tomb of Elinor Harsnet Drury, wife of Sir Robert Drury, Bart. (1634-1712), the great-grandson of Sir Dru Drury. Above right: Tomb of Mary Fisher, dedicated by "her true and faithful lover", Anthony Drury of Medham (d. 1748). Both women were killed in "Ye Furious hurricane" on November 27, 1703, when a chimney caved in on them in bed. Below, arms of Sir Robert Drury, Bart. and his second wife, Diana Vilet (left) and Elinor Harsnet Drury.

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Right: Altar tomb of Robert Drury, Bart. (1634-1712), son of Dru Drury, Bart. (1611/12 - 1650/51). The baronetcy died out when Sir Robert died without issue.

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