Sir Robert Drury

  General Notes:

Sir Robert Drury was knighted by King Henry VII on 17 June 1497, after the battle of Blackheath, and was present at the funeral of the young Prince Henry in 1511, where, amongst the list of mourners, he is included as one of the Knights to bear the canopy. He was an executor of the will of John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, who died in 1513. On the fly-leaf thereof are signatures of "Robertus Drury, miles" and "Willelmus Drury, miles."

Between June 1510 and February 1513 inclusive he was engaged with various colleagues in the attempt "to pacify the Scottish border by peaceful methods and to obtain redress for wrongs committed

He was elected to speaker of the House of Commons on 4 October 1495.

He was elected knight of the shire (MP) for Suffolk in 1491, 1495 and 1510, acting as Speaker of the House in 1495.

He served as as a canopy-bearer for the funeral of Prince Henry, son of King Henry VIII in 1511.
He served as as executor to the will of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford from 1512 to 1513.
He served as as a witness at the marriage of Princess Mary on 9 October 1514 in England.
"was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520.

His dwellings included a house in College Street, Bury St. Edmunds and a 'place' in the parish of St. Clement Dane, London, which later gave its name to Drury Lane.

The will of Sir Robert Drury:

"The Testament of me Sir Robert Drury Knight…1 May 23 Henry VIII (1531)…to be buryed in the Chaunsell of seynt Mary Churche in Bury by my First wife…my executors my son William and my son Robert…my lady Greye my wife my daughter Jermyn and her husband to be as supervysors…a thousande masses to be saide for the weale of my soule…every man and his wife and wedow dwelling in Whepstede Lawshull Moche Hornyngesherth, Brokleygh and Newton…to have eight pence. Also I geve to my saide wife 2 cruetis of silver a masse boke and a vestment wherein is the Assumpcion of our blissed lady with the albe and other things that belong to the same 2 spervers of silke now hanging in my owne chamber and all the beddinge in the same chamber And all the cofers that shalbe ther at tyme of my deceace And the beddinge and hangings of my Maidys chamber And all the beddinge and hanginge with the sparver wher my son Butler was wonte to lie And all my beddis counterpoyntis stuff and plate whiche my saide wife brought with her to me And 2 counterpoyntis of tapstre which afore her comynge were wonte to lye on the beddis in my owne chamber sixe carpet cusshens of the beste that she shall chose 3 cusshens of crymsen velvet sigure with one cusshen of silke quylted one long pillow of black velvet one other longe pillowe of blue saten embrodred. And all her Aparrell with her cheynes brouches and Rings that she hathe used to were. Also I bequethe to my saide wife 6 pair of good shetis and 4 pair shetes for yomen to lie in 6 pair of good blanketes 3 brasse pottes and 2 spittis. And I geve to my son William all the beddinge and hanginge in his owne chamber. And the cofers in the same And all the Evydences concernying all the hereditaments whiche I have willid hym and the bokis which the same be in. Also I…bequethe to my said son William all the hanginge that hangeth in the gret chamber the parlour and the hall. All my bedding and hanginge in the chaple chamber And the chamber over the gate the garden chamber the grene chanmber and the corner chamber at my place in Hausted. And all the cofers in the gret chamber the chapell chamber the chamber over the gate and the corner chamber. And all the carpetis usually belonging to the same or to any of them. And all burdis stoolis and cheirs being within any of the saide chambers the hall and the parlour and my beddis that yomen lie on when strangers come whereof one is in the corner chamber and 2 without next the saide chamber and one next to the garden chamber. The gret Copper the Bruying fattis and all the bruying vessells 3 of my gret bras pottis and 2 gret Rackis of yron and 3 Spittis at his choyse. And I will also that my said son William have my cheyne with my crosse and halfe my Aparrell. Any my son Robert the other halfe. And my son William to have the first choise And my son Robert to have the seconde choise of every garment. Item I…bequethe to my saide son Robert all my hangings, beddinge & stuffe of householde which shalbe at my place in seynt Clements parrishe in london in tyme of my deceace. Item I will that my son Robert have 2 cruetis of silver a masboke and a portnos of wreten hande a vestment 2 fetherbeds 2 bolster 2 counterpoynts 2 coverlights 2 pair of banketis and 4 pair of shetis nowe being in Hausted wherof the saide 2 beddis be in the wardrope when he goithe to householde. Item I will that my said son Robert shall have my beste bedde of tawny clothe of bawdkyn with counterpoynts and cutens belonging to the same. And all the beddis and hangings in his owne chamber and in his maidis chamber with the cobordis and cofers therein And all my hangings and steynedclothis counterpoynts and beddis of saie and of clothe in the wardrope over my son Williams chamber whiche shalbe ther in tyme of my departure. And I will that every of (my) doughters have a stonding cuppe gilt and covered to the value of 10 marks newe made…And I will that Robert Alyngton my daughter Ursulas son when he comythe to the Age of 21 yeris have a gilte cuppe coverid price 10 marcs sterling. The Residewe of all my goodis and stuffe of housholde…I geve unto my son William excepte alwey my money plate catall and dettis. And also I will that my wife have my whight Amblying gelding my sompter horse and 2 of hir naggis And...all my Sheepe whiche shalbe at my departure in Tuddenham. And if it shall fortune that ther be not 400 at my departure my Son William to make them up of suche wethers as I have bequethide hym Item I will that…my wife have l 40 in money delyverid hir after my deceace…and my house in the college strete in Bury to hir heires and Assignes forever in full satisfaction of all claims.

My son William…sheepe…at Feltwell Downham Elveden Nedham Higham Wordwell Lyvermore my son Robert…sheepe at Riddlesworth Euston & Barnham…my wife’s estate in my manors…in Tuddenham and Aubrewyks…which she hath in jointure…William Mynsterchamber to have my tenement in Chevyngton…to the parson of Hausted for my tithes pay other 6s. 8d." Proved 8 Feb. 1535/6.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to Anne Jerningham, 1530.

• Marriage: to Ann Calthorpe.

Robert married Lady Ann Calthorpe, daughter of Sir William Calthorpe and Elizabeth Stapleton. (Lady Ann Calthorpe was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, died on 11 January 1536 and was buried in January 1536 in St Marys Church, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.)