Sir William Drury

  General Notes:

Sir Willian Drury first wife died in child birth in 1517 and with his second wife he had four sons and thirteen daughters. He was knighted on 25 June 1528 and was present with his father for a reception for Lady Anne of Cleves, as Grooms of the Privy Chamber.

From the tombstone in Hawstead Church, Suffolk:

Here lieth clothed now in earth Sir William Drury, knight, Such one as whilst he lived here was loved of every wight, Such temperance he did retain, such prudent courtesy, Such noble mind with justice joined such liberality As fame itself shall sound for me the glory of his name Much better than this metal mute can aye pronounce the same. The leventh of frosty Janyver, the year of Christ, I find, A thousand five hundred fifty-seven his vital thread untwined, Who yet doth live and shall do still in hearts of them that knew him; God grant the slips of such a stock in virtue to ensue him.

The will of Sir William Drury:

Will of Sir William Drurye, knight (25 December 1557)…to be buried within the Churche of Hawstead by my first wif…ordeyne myn executor Elizabeth my wif and speciallye desire Sir Richard Riche, Knight Lorde Riche to be a supervisor and geve unto him…a gilte cuppe with a blue flower in the topp…

Also I geve to my said wif, thirtie payer of good sheets, six fetherbedds, two of them be in myn owne chamber; and I geve unto the same Elizabeth my wif, the sparvers and hangings of the same two beddes; and usually occupied and hanging over and aboute the same two beddes; and also the hangings aboute myn owne chamber, and the hangings in the maydens chamber, where Elizabeth Holt did lye. Also I geve unto my said wyf six pillowes of downe, one trussing cofer, and the cofer of walnott tree and one great shipp cofer, and six carpet cushinnes, the best she will chose; and one cushinn of silke wrought with the nedill; three cushines of sattin paned; one carpitt for a cupbord of those which were of her owne making.

And also I will that she shall have all her chaines and jewelles, with all her appareill belonging unto her, And also I will that my saide wif have the second vestiment with the albe, and all that belongeth to it for a preest to singe in. And I will that my saide wif shall have the reasonnable wearing and occupying of all other my beddes, sparvers, hangings for beddes, curtaines, plate, cofers chestes, sheetes table cloothes, and naprye, and hangings for chambers, and all other hangings whatsoever they be, or shall happen to be, at the tyme of my decease, until such tyme as my heire shall accomplish his full age of 21 years; and then to be left for the fu;rniture of my house at Hawstead, except such as shall herafter in this my present testament be otherwise devised; so as my dettis be paid and discharged, and other legacies in this my present testament fulfilled. Also I will that the said heire at his full age have my best vestiment, with the albe, and all that belongeth to it, and the best aulter clothe, and all the residew of the vestiments and aulter clothes, with the stuff in the chapell, except such as I have before bequethed to my said wif. And also I geve unto my said heire, at his full age, all the evidences of myn inheritances, which shall remayne, descend, and come to him, with the boxes whe-rin the same evidences, or any parcel of them, be. And I geve and bequeth to my said wif two brass potts, two spits, a kettill, and two posnets; and I bequeth to my said heire, at his full age, all the residew of my brass potts, with the residew of my spitts, with racks of yron to tourne spitts in, two kettills, and a panne, with a garnishe of my best vessill. (Garnish of vessill was a service of pewter or some other metal.) And I will that my said wif shall have one other garnishe of my best vessill next that; provided always, and I will that all suche stuffe of householde, plate, goods, and chattales as I have afore geven to my saide heire, to be delivered to him at his said full age. And I will, geve, bequeth, and assigne unto my said wif, the mannors of Hawstead Newton and Sidolsmere, which late were my fathers Sir Robert Drurye, knight, or any other to his use.

…My daughter dame Marye Corbett to have in farme scite of the manor of Hawsted…to Dorothy Drurye…rent…out of my manor of Whepstede…and the manor of Bradfield…late purchased of Lord Willoughby of Persham…and rent out of the manor of Lawshull which our sovoraine ladie Queen Mary lately gave unto me…to my wife lands…called Ingeham with the Grange called Hencote.

. …Whereas I have obtained and bought of the King and Queene’s Majesties the wardeship and marriage of Robert Drurye Cousyn and heire of John Drurye late of Rougham in the countye of Suffolk esquire declared to the intent that marriage shoulde be had betwixt hym and Elizabeth my daughter…to Henry Drurye Thomas Drurye and Robert Drurye sonnes of my said sonne Robert Drurye deceased the manor of Hawcombye…co. Lincoln, the said Sir William hath set his seale of Arms the day and yere first above written." Proved 29 April 1558.

William's wife Elizabeth died in 1575 and was buried on 20 May 1575.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to Joan St. Maur, Abt 1516.

• Marriage: to Elizabeth Sotehill, Abt 1521.