Dru Drury (courtier)

Sir Dru or Sir Drue Drury (1531?–1617) was an English courtier.

Early life

Drury was probably born in 1531 or 1532, the fifth but third surviving son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Edmund Brudenell and was a younger brother of Sir William Drury.

Public life

Throughout the reigns of Elizabeth and James I he was gentleman-usher of the privy chamber. He seems to have kept in the good graces of the queen, except on one occasion ^[1]. In September 1579 he received the honour of knighthood at Wanstead, Essex ^[2]. In November 1586 he was sent to Fotheringay to assist Sir Amias Paulet in the wardership of Mary Queen of Scots ^[3]. He was nominated lieutenant of the Tower in 1595/6.

Drury, whom Camden describes as a sincere, honest man, and a puritan in his religion ^[4], died at his seat, Riddlesworth, Norfolk, 29 April 1617, aged about eighty-six, though on his monument the age of ninety-nine is absurdly given ^[5]. His will of 7 July 1613 was proved in P.C.C. 31 May 1617 (registered 39, Weldon).

Private life

He married, firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Calthorpe, and widow of Sir William Woodhouse of Waxham, Norfolk; she brought him a moiety of Riddlesworth. In 1582 he married for his second wife Catherine, daughter and heiress of William Finch of Linsted, Kent, acquiring with her the manor of Sewards in that parish, and Perry Court at Preston in the same county. By this lady he had an only son, Drue Drury, who was created a baronet on 7 May 1627, and three daughters: Elizabeth, wife of Sir Thomas Wingfield, but afterwards wife of Henry Reynolds; Anne, wife of Sir Robert Boteler; and Frances.

Some interesting letters from Drury and his second wife to Sir Julius Cæsar, written in 1588, 1596, and 1603–14, are to be found in the Lansdowne and Additional MSS. in the British Museum.

Drury is to be distinguished from a Drue Drury of Eccles and Rollesby, Norfolk, who married Anne, daughter and coheiress of Thomas, sixth baron Burgh of Gainsborough, and was knighted at Whitehall 23 July 1603, before the coronation of the king ^[6].

References

1. ^ Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1547–80, p.170
2. ^ Metcalfe, A Book of Knights, p.133
3. ^ Cal. State Papers, Scottish Ser., ii. 1015, 1018
4. ^ ‘Annals of Elizabeth,’ in Kennett, Hist. of England, ii. 501
5. ^ Le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana, i. 59
6. ^ Metcalfe, A Book of Knights, p.147

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Drury, Dru (1531?-1617)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.