Robert Drury (speaker) - Legacy

Legacy

Two splendid books once owned by Sir Robert Drury have survived. One, a fine Latin MS of the Vulgate, written by an English scribe early in the 13th century, is now in the library of Christ's College, Cambridge. Some blank leaves at the end have been used to record the marriages and progeny of the children of Sir Robert Drury. The first group of entries was made at the end of 1527; subsequent entries carry on the records of the growth of the family until 1566. The other book is the finest and most famous of all Chaucer MS, the Ellesmere manuscript of The Canterbury Tales now in the Huntingdon Library. At the top of a preliminary fly-leaf is written "Robertus Drury, miles", and below a list of his children: "William Drury, miles, Robertus Drury, miles, Domina Jarmin, Domina Jarningham, and Domina Allington."

Of his daughters by Anne Calthorpe, Ursula married Sir Giles Alington, Knt., of Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. Sir Robert Drury's Will is very extensive and detailed, and mentions "Robert Alyngton my daughter Ursula's son" as being under age at the time of writing. (Drury's sons William and Robert are also mentioned). Another daughter, Anne, married George Waldegrave (ca. 1483 – 8 July 1528) of Smallbridge, Suffolk, from whom descend the Earls Waldegrave, as well as a branch of the Higham of Higham Green and Denham family. She married Sir Thomas Jermyn, Knt.,(ca. 1500 – 1552) of Rushbrooke, Suffolk, from whom descend that family (includes the Jacobite peer) as well as the Crane family of Chilton, later baronets.

Sir Robert Drury's magnificent tomb can be found in the main processional aisle in St.Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Sir Robert's son (mentioned in his Will), Sir William Drury, Knt., of Hawstead, M.P.,P.C.,(c1500-1558), married Elizabeth Sothill (1505–1575) a granddaughter of another Speaker of the House of Commons, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Richard Empson, Knt.,(d.17 August 1510).