The History of the Family of

DRURY

In the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk

From the Conquest

By Arthur Campling, London, 1937
 

CHAPTER VII

Drury of Riddlesworth, co. Norfolk

The fifth son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley, co. Bucks. Was SIR DRU DRURY, who although a younger son, made a name in the Elizabethan world and founded a line of baronets which became extinct on the death of his great-grandson in 1712. Born about 1532 he appears as a gentleman usher at the Court on the coronation of the Queen 1559, and figures in the

Three years later he had pardon from Elizabeth for some offence to her. In 1562 he was returned as one of the Members of Parliament for the borough of Camelford, co. Cornwall and about 1565 he married for his first wife, Elizabeth the daughter and sole heiress of Sir Philip Calthorpe of Cockthorpe, co. Norfolk. Her mother was a Boleyn and aunt to Queen Anne, and it is likely that her near relationship to Elizabeth induced the Sovereign to retain Sir Dru in her service during all her reign. Elizabeth Calthorpe had been twice widowed, first as wife to Sir Henry Parker of Erwarton, co. Suffolk, K.B., and secondly to Sir William Woodhouse of Waxham, co. Norfolk. She brought half the manor of Riddlesworth to the Drury’s, although she had no family by Sir Dru, who on her death married again 1582 to Catherine, daughter and heir of William Finch of Linstead, co. Kent.

Dru Drury had possession of RIDDLESWORTH before 1569 for in that year it is on record that being hunting near Diss he met the 4th Duke of Norfolk and discussed with him the project of the latters marriage with Mary Queen of Scots which led to eventual attainder and execution. Dru Drury, then an esquire, was charged by act of the Privy Council 5 June 1570 to take up his abode in Norwich with a view to assist in the government of that city, and was appointed on various commissions, being knighted at Wanstead, Essex, in 1579. He was Member of Parliament for Norfolk 1584,and 21 September 1586 was present at the execution of the Babington conspirators as he sets out in his letter two days after to Lord Willoughby de Eresby:

"London, 23 September 1586 – Though I wrote very lately, I would not lose the opportunity of this messenger to assure you that I daily pray for you as for myself, that God will preserve you and give you all earthly and celestial blessings, and I trust it will not at your best leisure displease you to read these lines. Blessed be ouer good God, ouer dreade sufferen is in good helthe of body, and goethe or rydeth every fayer daye abrod, which he longe contenue, thogh in these faythelesse dayes, tyll all the myscreante conspirying traytors who soever have theyre just deserte, is wyshed by her grases faytheful servauntes.

"It was her Majesties pleasuer to commaunde me from the corte the last lordes daye to assyst the shreves of London for the execution of thes horrebull traytores, which I sawe parfourmed upon them as by thys inclosed dothe appere, who as they lyved so died. To God I leve them withoute your honers furder troble. To your lordshipes good selfe, I beseche you let me tell you it is resoulved that 33 of the nobyllete and prevy counsell etc., shall goe to the Queen of Skottes to Fortheryngam Castell to senser her accordying to the lawe made the last session of Parlament and thogh it be enough in lawe yet thought it shalbe rattified by the next Parliament, which is appoynted to begene the 15^th of the next monethe, whereat every good chrystean and loyall servaunt to our grasius sofferen and mysteres is to praye and furder by all good meanes possible that all thynges that may furder the glory of God and the contenuans of the good of ouer countery and Queen Elisabeth maye be established, an that the serpent maye no longer be kept hote in her bosome. Sir Robert Germe (Graeme) arrived here this last night, who to my heart’s comfort told me of your lordship’s well doing. I can hardly recover my late dangerous sickness, but I bless God I am much better than I was. My poor wife looks to be delivered every day."

Sir Dru Drury was sent to Fotheringhay Castle to assist in the Wardership of Mary and in that capacity was present at the execution of Her Majesty as described in Lord Burghley’s own account.

11 Nov. 1586.

Burghley to Davison. A question has arisen in the Parliament chamber whether it were convenient the two Archbishops and four other Bishops should accompany the other lords temporal in the petition to Her Majesty for execution of the Scottish Queen. Desires him to procure Her Majesty’s answer and wishes thereon; for then my Lord of Canterbury would shape his course. Has spoken with Sir Drue Drury.

February 1586-7.

"Sunday at night, Robert Beale cam to Fodrynghay, and communicated the Commission to hym and Sir Dru Drury, and because Sir Amias Paulett was not hable to ryde, Sir Dru Drury and Mr. Beale went on Monday to the Erl of Shruewsbury, being but 6 myles of, impartyng to hym the Commission, whereuppon the Erle resolved to repayre to Fodrynghay. Ther they went to the Scots’ Quene, and, in presence of hir own servants, the Commission was red to hir, and afterwards she was moved to prepare hirself ageynst the next day to dye, and hir fault recited to hir, the procedyng in hir cause also declared, in what form of law and what honer the same was passed, the necessite that forced hir Majesty not to deny to hir prople justyce, for the publick peace of the relme, the new Conspyracies discovered sence the Lord Buckhurst had bene with hir to move hir to be prepared for deth; and for comfortyng of hir soule she was offred to have ether the Bishop or Deane of Peterborogh to instruct hir. To all this she crossed hir brest, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holly Ghost, and sayd she was redy to dy inthe Catholyck fayth which hir Auncestors had professed, from which she wold not be removed.

"She denyed to be culpable for destroying of hir Majesty, and, thogh she forgave them that war the procurors of hir deth, yet she dowted not but that God wold tak vengeance therof. And being remembered the manifest proves to the contrary, and also of hir ij servants’ depositions, Nau and Curle, being hir secretories, directly condemning hir and themselves, as prove therto, she sayd she wold accuse non, but that, when she was deade, it wold appeare how indifferntly she had bene delt withall, and inquired what was become of her said ij servants. And then the Erles departed from hir, and committed the custody of hir and hir folk to the chardg of Sir Amyce Paulet and Sir Dru Drury, as before they had it.

"Wednesday 8. The Erles returned to the Castle, wher the Shyrytt of the shyre was, and than he, with other gentilmen, was sent to hir, to bryng hir from hir Chamber down to the hall wher the 2 Erles war, and ther also with them Mr. Henry Talbott, Sir Amyce Paulett, Sir Dru Drury, Robert Beale, and of the gentilmen of the country adjoynyng, Sir Edward Montagu with his eldest son, Sir Richard Knightly, Mr. Thomas Brudnell, Mr. Robert….vell, Mr. Robert Wyngfeld, Jhon Wyngfled, Mr. Robert Forest, Mr. Reynar, Mr. Benjamin Pigott, and the Deane of Peterborogh and sondry others.

"Whan she cam to the hall, there came with hir Mr. Melvill, his Master of howshold, hir physicion, hir surgeon, and hir pothecary. At the stayre foot leadying into the Hall she pawsed, and sayd to Mr. Melvill these words, "As thow has bene an honest servant to me, so I pray the to contynew to my son, and comend me unto hym. I have not impugned his relligion, not the relligion of others, but wish hym well, and as I forgeve all that have offended me in Scotland, so I wold he shuld also do, and beseche God that he wold send hym his holly Spirit and Illuminat hym." Melvill answered that he wold do it, and wold beseche God at this instant to assist hir with his Spirit. Than she also required to have some of hir women, namyng Mrs. Cule and Kenedy, who both cam also to hir, and than she cam up to a scaffold that was provyded in the upper end of the Hall. And the Commission being redd in hir own hearying, the Dean of Peterborogh began to offer some speche, as an admonition to hir to dye in the fear of God and in charity; she required hym to forbeare from furder speche, for she was so resolutely mynded, and that the prayers of that Company wold little avayle hir, yet, nevertheless, by the order of the Erles, the Deane had provyded a godly prayer, which, being redd, was repeated by all the auditory; the substance was that it wold please Almighty God to send hir his Holly Spyrit and grace, and to pardon hir all hir offences, and of his Mercy to receave hir into his heavenly and everlastying kyngdon, and finally to bless the Queen’s Majesty, with many other most charitable lyke requests to Almighty God to comfort the said Scott Queen the Howre of hir death.

"Durying this publyck prayer she kneled on hir knees and sayd a privat prayer to this effect: She besought God to send her his Holly Spyritt, and that she trusted to receave hir salvation in his blood, and by his grace to be receaved into his kyngdon, requiryng also God to forgyve hir enemyes as she forgave them, and to turn his wrath from this land, and to bless the Queen Majesty that she might serve hym; and lykwise she required God to be mercifull to hir son, and have compassion on the Church, and although she was not worthy to be hard; yet she had a confidence in his Mercy, and prayed all the saynts to praye to hir Savior to receave hir. And than, torning to hir servants, she also required them to pray for hir, that hir savior would receave hir, and to the executioners she sayd that she pardoned them, and sayd she was glad that the end of all hir sorrows war so neare. And hearyng hir women to weape and cry, she willed them to hold ther peace, and than she kissed them, and had them depart from the scaffold. And so than she kneled down, havying a kyrcheff tyed about hir eies, and receaved the strok of death by beheadyng. This execution was doone about xi. of the clock on the Wednesday, being the viijth of February anno Domini 1580."

F. S. E. Drury possesses a picture of Mary Queen of Scots of the school of Clouet which tradition says was presented to Sir Dru Drury by the Queen. The picture represents the Queen as a young woman and was presumable painted soon after the death of Francis II.

Sir Dru Drury was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London in 1596, his warrant for the office being as follows:

"Having had former experience of your continued faith, duty and good discretion, we have therefore made choice of you to take the care of our Tower of London during our pleasure, willing and commanding you to receive the keys of our said Tower, with all the further charge that shall be delivered you by the Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain of our household, the Lord Cobham and the Lord Buckhurst, whom we have authorised to deliver the same."

Endorsed:

"Copy of his Majesty’s letter to the L. Treasurer, L. Chamberlain, Lord Cobham and L. Buckhurst, to displace Sir Michael Blunt, Lieutenant of the Tower; and to deliver the charge thereof to Sir Dru Drury."

"The Queen to the Officer of Exchequer. The Lieutenant of the Tower has usually received the following allowances: 200l. a year for himself; 16d. a day and 24l. 6s. 8d. a year for the gentleman porter; 8d. a day and 18l. 3s. 4d. a year to each of the 30 warders; with 53s. 4d. for wood; total 592l.; and the keepers of the Gatehouse, sums directed by Privy Council, for the keeping of prisoners under their charge. You are to pay the said allowances to Sir Drue Drury, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Morice Pickering, keeper of the Gatehouse, and the sums allowed for diet of prisoners, with detalcation of 26s. 8d. for fees of the clerks of the signet and privy seal, which they used to receive when the said warrants were paid by privy seal."

A holograph letter from Sir Dru Drury to Sir Robert Cecil is:

"I did the last night at 8 of the clock receive a letter from Mr. Wade, one of the clerks of her Highness’s Privey Council, signifying that her Majesty’s pleasure was I should search Mr. Peter Wentworth’s chamber for the copies of his book touching on the establishment of the succession of the imperial crown of this realm, with all secrecy; which I have this morning executed accordingly, and can find but one of them. I did further charge him, upon his soul’s pain and of his allegiance, whether he had any more copies. He confidently protested, No. Which book I send you by the bringer hereof; and although I am nothing at ease, yet I may not but render you my most hearty thanks for your so friendly care which I understand from yourself and other my friends you have for my enlargement; and pray your continuance, and then I do assure myself by my good Lord Treasurer’s fuderance and yours, it shall very speedily be affected of my dread sovereign’s often assured behests. For without the cause be removed shortly, I do assure you I dare not expect long life; which though I have many years vowed to her Majesty, yet if God would I would most willingly depart with it to her Highness’s more advantage and less discomfort to others. Whatsoever it please her Grace to do with me, my hearty prayers to God and my heart and all my parts hath never nor shall while I breathe be but her Grace’s to dispose of."

Sir Dru Drury’s issue by his second wife were an only son Dru born 1586 (after of Riddlesworth, baronet) and two daughters. Elizabeth, the eldest, born 1584 seems to have met with misfortune. She married firstly 1602 Sir Thomas Wingfield of Letheringham, co. Suffolk (died 22 January 1609/10), and secondly Henry Reynolds of Belstead, co. Suffolk. A letter from her father to Sir Julius Caesar, knight, March 1614/15 refers to her condition.

Ann, the second daughter, married 27 August 1604 Sir John Deane of Maplestead, co. Essex. Frances, the third daughter, born 1585, god-daughter to Queen Elizabeth, married 1607 Sr. Robert Boteler of Watton Woodhall, co. Herts. Catherine Drury, their mother, died 13 September 1601 and was buried at Linstead, co. Kent, her paternal home.

Sir Dru Drury’s will was dated 7 July 1623 and proved 31 May 1627.

An illuminated pedigree roll drawn up for Sir Dru Drury about 1590 was for many years among the muniments of Major R. A. Godwin-Austen of Shalford, co. Surrey, and is now by his kindness in the possession of F. S. E. Drury.

SIR DRU DRURY, only son of the lieutenant of the Tower, was born 1588, succeeded at RIDDLESWORTH and was returned as Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford, co. Norfolk 1624. He was Commissioner for Subsidies for that county 1625-6 and was created baronet 1627. He married at Lawford, co. Essex 28 June 1608, Ann, eldest daughter, and co-heir of Edward Waldegrave of Lawford, esquire, by which match the other half of Riddlesworth came to the Drury’s. (She survived him and remarried Sir Peter Gleane of Hardwick, co. Norfolk.) Their issue was Dru, eldest son, who succeeded as second baronet, Waldegrave, Robert, Henry, Elizabeth, and Anne (all died in infancy) William born 1615 and died 1653, unmarried. His will was dated 3 October 1653, proved 13 January following. Katherine born 1621, the only daughter surviving, married Henry Brampton of Blo Norton, co. Norfolk.

Sir Dru Drury’s will was dated 23 January 1630/1 and proved 31 October 1632.

SIR DRU DRURY, second baronet of RIDDLESWORTH, succeeded his father 1632 was born 17 January 1611/2, and died before 23 February 1651 before completing his composition as a Royalist delinquent.

He married firstly, Susan, daughter of Isaac Jones of London and sister and co-heir of Sir Samuel Jones of Courteen Hall, co. Northants, by whom he had issue Robert, who succeeded as third baronet, Dru, who died without issue, and an only daughter Diana married to Sir William Wake, baronet of Blisworth, co. Northants, in whose family the Courteen Hall property descended to its present owner, Sir Hereward Wake, baronet.

Sir Dru Drury married a second wife, Mary, whose will was dated 12 November 1647, then of Maidstone, co. Kent, proved 11 February 1650/1. She had a grant of administration of her husband’s estate in 1647.

SIR ROBERT DRURY, third and last baronet of RIDDLESWORTH, succeeded his father, being then under age and in the guardianship of his uncle Sir Samuel Jones. He was born 1634 and was a scholar at Eton College 1658. He had the misfortune to kill one John Powell, and being convicted of manslaughter 27 March 1669 made forfeiture of Riddlesworth, which was granted 14 March 1670 to Elizabeth, widow of Frederick, lord Cornwallis.

An enquiry into the circumstances of Powell’s death was made at Bury St. Edmunds 20 February 1667/8, when it was found that:

"Robert Drury late of Knettishall co. Suffolk baronet, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but by the instigation of the devil, 5 February 20 Chas.II (1667/8), at Knettishall upon a certain John Powell then and there being in the peace of God and of the King, feloniously, wilfully and of malice aforethought, made an assault, and the said Robert Drury with a certain sword, in English called ‘a Tucke’ of the value of 20s., held in his right hand, struck the said John Powell upon the left side of his body between his ribs, giving him a mortal wound, half an inch long and two inches deep, of which same mortal wound the said John Powell then and there instantly died, and thus the said Robert Drury the aforesaid John Powell in manner and form aforesaid then and there feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought killed and murdered, against the peace of the said lord King and the dignity of his Crown;

"Whereupon a precept of non omittas quia carpert was issued to the sheriff of Suffolk (to take the said Robert Drury to answer);

"and now to wit…21 Chas. II (1669) at the General Gaol Delivery held at Bury St. Edmunds, comes the said Robert Drury baronet in his own person and he is committed to Thomas Bla…kerby esquire, the sheriff, and by the sheriff is brought to the bar in his own person, and being asked what he wishes to say touching the premises, he says that he is not guilty thereof, and thereof puts himself upon the country for good or for ill; therefore immediately there some jurors thereof, and having been sworn, they, to wit Reginald Williams, Thomas Golding, Henry Coppinger, William Styles esquires, Matthew Crotherwood, Robert Sharpe, Thomas Buckle, William Catton gentlemen (and others) say upon oath that the said Robert Drury is not guilty of murder as in the said indictment is alleged, nevertheless he is guilty of the felony and homicide specified in the indictment. Thereupon the said Robert Drury, being asked what he has to say why the common course of law should not proceed against him, seeks benefit of clergy in that behalf to be allowed. And he is allowed benefit of clergy and is to be cauterized "felo’ as in such case is provided."

Sir Robert Drury married thrice, firstly to Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Edward Dunston of Worlingham, co. Suffolk, secondly Eleanor, daughter of Samuel Harsnet of Fransham Magna, co. Norfolk. She was killed in a hurricane 27 November 1703. Thirdly, Diana, daughter of George Violet of Pinkney, co. Norfolk, esquire, who survived him and was buried at Riddlesworth 16 August 1744.

Sir Robert Drury was buried there 1 May 1712 aged 78 without issue, the baronetcy becoming extinct.

In Riddlesworth Church are several memorials. One is an altar tomb of black and white marble against the south wall of the Chancel to the memory of Sir Robert Drury, baronet, son of Dru Drury, baronet, who died 27 April 1712, with the arms of Drury impaling Violet. Another to Eleanor, 2nd wife of Sir Robert, killed in the hurricane of November 27, 1703, and to "the pious and virtuous Mrs. Mary Fisher whose soul took her flight to Heaven in the furious Hurricane. This monument of respect is dedicated by her true and faithful lover Antony Drury of Mendham co. Norfolk gent."

Against the north wall of the Chancel is a Monument to Sir Dru Drury, Knight, third son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley, Knight, died 29 April 1617. His effigy is in armour in a kneeling posture. Another altar tomb against the north wall is to the memory of Sir Dru Drury, first baronet.

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