Henry Norreys, 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote

Henry Norris, 1st Lord (Baron) Norris, so created by writ of summons 6 May 1572 (and restored in blood by Act of Parliament 1575/6, following an earlier Act of Parliament of 1539 restoring him in blood and to him such of his father's property as had not been forfeited to the Crown or had belonged to his attainted great-uncle Viscount Lovel), of Rycot, Oxon; b c1525, MP Berks 1547-52 and Oxon 1571-2, knighted 1566; Ambassador to France 1566-71; Porter Outer Gate and Keeper Armoury Windsor Castle c1580; Lord Lt Berkshire and Oxon 1587-99. [Burke's Peerage]

Henry Norris (or Norreys), Baron Norris (1525 – 7 May 1601) belonged to an old Berkshire family, many members of which had held positions at the English court. He was the son of Sir Henry Norreys, who was beheaded for his supposed adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn, and Mary Fiennes (c. 1495-1531), daughter of Thomas Fiennes, Lord Dacre.

Burke" states that Norreys or Norris (same) were distinguished Lancashire family through Sir Wm. Norris, who m--Joan Molyneux, heiress of Speke, dau--of Sir John Molyneux of Sefton. A family as the first wife of Sir Thos. Gerrard; and by this marriage he had Richard Gerrard of the "Ark and Dove" to Md., and Cup Bearer to King James Ist, also of ST. CLEMENT'S MANOR, Md. Thomas Norris, M.P., for Liverpool, m--............?, had dau--and heiress, m--Lord Sidney eauclerk.

All Norris descendants of this branch are Norris-Eltonhead lineage, descended from Norris of Bray, Lord Norris of Rycoat, and Norris of Davyhulne; the younger sons of the House of Speke--Norris of Bray in Berkshire so highly distinguished in the reigns of the Plantagenets and Tudors and who eventually became Barons Norris. The family settled in Lancaster, at Sutton; long before Henry IIIrd of England

BARONY OF NORREYS OF RYCOTE (I)

HENRY NORREYS, or NORRIS, of Rycote, Oxon, son and heir of Henry NORRIS, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber (beheaded (d1) 17 May 1536), by Mary, daughter of Thomas (FIENNES), LORD DACRE Of the South, was born about 1525; M.P. for Berks, 1547-52, and for Oxon, 1571-72; Commissioner for musters of horses, co. Oxon, 1565; knighted 6 September 1566 at Rycote. Ambassador to France, 1566-71. He was summoned to Parliament from 6 May 1572, by writs directed Henrico Norrys de Rycott Chl'r, whereby he is held to have become LORD NORRIS, and took his seat on the 8th. An Act passed in the Parliament of 1539, Cap. 22, for his restoration in blood, and restitution to him of his attainted father's estates, "except such as have been forfeited to the Crown, or were lands of Sir Francis, late viscount Lovell," was followed by an Act (1575/6) restoring him in blood. In or about 1580 he was appointed Porter of the Outer Gate of Windsor Castle, and Keeper of the Armoury there. One of the Lords at the trial of William, Lord Vaux, 1581. Lord Lieutenant cos. Oxon and Berks, 1587-99. He was created M.A. at Oxford, 11 April 1588. Captain of light horse in the Queen's bodyguard, July 1588. He was summoned as a peer upon the trial of Philip, Earl of Arundel.

He married Margaret, younger of the two daughters and coheirs of John (WILLIAMS), LORD WILLIAMS of Thame, by his 1st wife, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Thomas BLEDLOW. She died December 1599 (d2). He died at Rycote, 27 June, and was buried there, 10 August 1601 (e). M.l. to both in Westminster Abbey. [Complete Peerage IX:643-5, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(d1) On a charge of adultery with Anne Boleyn [wife of Henry VIII].

(d2) In May 1554, the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, and Queen Mary's prisoner, passed one night at Rycote, when Sir John Williams, the father of Lady Norreys, stoutly took her part against Sir Henry Bedingfield, her custodian, and refused to allow her to be intimidated, asserting that "her grace might and should in his house be merry". Lady Norreys' friendship with the Queen, who was in the habit of addressing her affectionately as "My Crow," in allusion to her dark complexion, was of very long standing. On the Queen's visit to Rycote in Sep 1592, she was received with mumming, and in one of the 'Speeches delivered to her Majesty' is a reference to Lady Norreys' constant fear for the safety of her soldier sons: "Ther deathes, the rumour of which hath so often affrighted the Crowe my wife, that her hart, hath bene as blacke as her feathers. . . And although, nothing be more unfit to lodge your Maiestye, then a Croew neste". By Sep 1599 Lady Norreys' fears had been realized, and the Queen showed her sympathy by recalling their sole survivng son, Sir Edward Norris, Governor of Ostend, "as we know that it would stay your sorrow to see him that is in foreign parts".

(e) Of his six sons, all "martial and brave men", Sir Edward Norris alone survived. . . .[Note: William, son and heir apparent, and perhaps other sons, had children who survived and carried on the line, even though they themselves died before their father.]

------------------------------------------

Sir Henry Norris of Rycote County Oxford, was made Ambassador to France for 14 years, during Queen Elizabeth's reign. Later he was summoned to Parliament under the title of Henricus Norris de Rycote Chancellor, 1572-97. He m--Margary Williams, co-heir of John Lord Williams of Thane, and acquired Manor of Rycote. His fourth child, Sir Henry Norris, was progenitor of the Norris family, father of Sir Henry Norris of Va.

The early years of Henry's life are obscure. His mother had died in 1531, and his father was beheaded in 1536, leaving him and his younger sister Mary orphans. The children were brought up by their childless uncle, Sir John Norreys. Henry's patrimony was restored to him by an Act of 1539 by King Henry VIII, and in December 1542 his uncle Sir John Norreys of Yattendon, was licensed to settle his estates in reversion on Henry, who was his ward, and on Margery, the younger daughter of John Williams, Baron Williams of Thame, and their heirs. The couple must therefore have been betrothed by this date. Henry's prospects were bright. He was made a Knight of the Shire for Berkshire in 1547. His wife, Margery, was the coheir of her wealthy father, who had become treasurer of the court of augmentations and who was continuing to acquire land in Berkshire. The deaths of Henry's uncle (1563) and father-in-law (1559) greatly increased Henry's already considerable wealth, bringing him properties in Oxfordshire, where he and his wife settled, and in Berkshire. These included Rycote, Sydenham and Yattendon Castle.

In 1553, Henry was among the King's gentlemen who witnessed the device settling the crown upon Lady Jane Grey. After the succession crisis, Queen Mary did not hold this act against him, approving his appointment as butler of Poole later in that same year. In 1554 he was assigned to guard Princess Elizabeth at Woodstock. Elizabeth believed his father had died for his loyalty to her mother, Queen Anne, and brought him and his wife into her trusted circle, were he would stay for the remainder of his life. In November 1565, on the occasion of the third marriage of Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, another member of Elizabeth's trusted circle, Henry participated in a tournament in the Queen's presence. Elizabeth visited the couple at their home twice; in September 1566 on her return from Oxford, during which she knighted Henry, and in September 1592, on another journey from Oxford. Upon the death of their son, Sir John Norreys, who was a distinguished soldier in Elizabeth's armies, the queen sent a stately letter of condolence to "my own dear crow", as the Queen still affectionately called Margery.

In 1561, he was made High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In the autumn of 1566, he was appointed Ambassador to France by the queen. He was recalled in August 1570 and replaced by Sir Francis Walsingham. By way of recompense for his services abroad, he was summoned to the House of Lords, as Baron Norreys of Rycote, on 8 May 1572. In October 1596, Henry was created Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. He already held the same office for Berkshire.

Henry married Margery (Margaret) Williams of Rycote, Oxfordshire (1521 - December 1599) sometime between December 1542 and 26 August 1544. They were the parents of seven children. His six sons all distinguished themselves as soldiers. Sir John Norreys (1547 - 3 July 1597) Sir William Norreys (1548 - 27 December 1579 Ireland) Sir Edward Norreys (c. 1550 - October 1603 Englefield), Governor of Ostend in 1590. Catherine Norreys (born c. 1553), married Sir Anthony Paulet, Governor of the Isle of Jersey about 1583 in Rycote, Oxfordshire. She is the 12th Great Grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales. Sir Henry Norreys (1554–1599), fought in the Netherlands and then in Ireland, where he died. Sir Thomas Norreys (1556–1599), Lord President of Munster Maximilian Norreys (c. 1557 - September 1593), killed in Brittany while serving under his brother, John.

Henry died on 7 May 1601, having outlived his wife and five of his children, and was temporarily buried, on the 21 May, in the church at Englefield, where his son Edward was living. Finally, on the 5 August, he was re-interred at Rycote, in a vault beneath the chapel of St Michael and All Angels, in the grounds of Rycote House. His will was dated 24 September 1589.

Both he and his wife are commemorated by the monument erected in honour of them and their six sons in St. Andrew's Chapel in Westminster Abbey. Life-size effigies of Lord and Lady Norreys lie beneath an elaborate canopy supported by marble pillars and they are surrounded by kneeling figures of their children.[1]

Henry Norris (or Norreys), 1st Baron Norreys (c. 1525 – 27 June 1601) of Rycote in Oxfordshire, was an English politician and diplomat, who belonged to an old Berkshire family, many members of which had held positions at the English court.

He was the son of Sir Henry Norreys (d. 1536), who was beheaded for his supposed adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn, and Mary Fiennes (1495–1531), daughter of Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre (1472–1534).

The early years of Henry's life are obscure. His mother had died in 1531, and his father was beheaded in 1536, leaving him and his younger sister Mary orphans. The children were brought up by their childless uncle, Sir John Norreys. Henry's patrimony was restored to him by an Act of 1539 by King Henry VIII, and in December 1542 his uncle Sir John Norreys of Yattendon, was licensed to settle his estates in reversion on Henry, who was his ward, and on Margery, the younger daughter of John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame, and their heirs. The couple must therefore have been betrothed by this date.

Henry's prospects were bright. He was made a Knight of the Shire for Berkshire in 1547. His wife, Margery, was the coheir of her wealthy father, who had become treasurer of the court of augmentations and who was continuing to acquire land in Berkshire. The deaths of Henry's uncle (1563) and father-in-law (1559) greatly increased Henry's already considerable wealth, bringing him properties in Oxfordshire, where he and his wife settled, and in Berkshire. These included Rycote, Sydenham and Yattendon Castle.

In 1553, Henry was among the King's gentlemen who witnessed the device settling the crown upon Lady Jane Grey. After the succession crisis, Queen Mary did not hold this act against him, approving his appointment as the butler of Poole later in that same year. In 1554, he was assigned to guard Princess Elizabeth at Woodstock. Elizabeth believed his father had died for his loyalty to her mother, Queen Anne, and brought him and his wife into her trusted circle, where he would stay for the remainder of his life.

In November 1565, on the occasion of the third marriage of Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, another member of Elizabeth's trusted circle, Henry participated in a tournament in the Queen's presence.

Elizabeth visited the couple at their estate Rycote, Oxfordshire, on numerous occasions; in September 1566 on her return from Oxford, during which she knighted Henry; in 1568, 1570, 1572, and in September 1592, on another journey from Oxford. Upon the death of their son, Sir John Norreys, who was a distinguished soldier in Elizabeth's armies, the queen sent a stately letter of condolence to "my own dear crow", as the Queen still affectionately called Margery.

In 1561, Norris was made High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In the autumn of 1566, he was appointed Ambassador to France by the queen. He was recalled in August 1570 and replaced by Sir Francis Walsingham. By way of recompense for his services abroad, he was summoned to the House of Lords, as Baron Norreys of Rycote, on 8 May 1572.

In October 1596, Henry was created Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire.[4] He already held the same office for Berkshire.

Henry married Margery (or Margaret), (1521 – December 1599), daughter of John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame, sometime between December 1542 and 26 August 1544. They were the parents of seven children. His six sons all distinguished themselves as soldiers.

• Sir John Norreys (1547 – 3 July 1597)
• Sir William Norreys (1548 – 27 December 1579 Ireland)
• Sir Edward Norreys (c. 1550 – October 1603 Englefield), Governor of Ostend in 1590.
• Catherine Norreys (c. 1553 – ), married Sir Anthony Paulet, Governor of the Isle of Jersey about 1583 in Rycote, Oxfordshire.
• Sir Henry Norreys (1554–1599), fought in the Netherlands and then in Ireland, where he died.
• Sir Thomas Norreys (1556–1599), Lord President of Munster died in Ireland
• Maximilian Norreys (c. 1557 – September 1593), killed in Brittany while serving under his brother, John.
• Edward was relieved of his post in Ostend by the Queen. She sent him home as all of his brothers had died as soldiers and Elizabeth wanted her friend Margery to have one of her sons by her. Margery died soon afterwards in 1599 and the Queen wrote off £2,000 of their debt.

Henry died on 27 June 1601, having outlived his wife and five of his children, and was temporarily buried, on 21 May, in the church at Englefield, where his son Edward was living. Finally, on 5 August, he was re-interred at Rycote, in a vault beneath the chapel of St Michael and All Angels, in the grounds of Rycote House. His will was dated 24 September 1589.

Both he and his wife are commemorated by the monument erected in honour of them and their six sons in St. Andrew's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.[3] Life-size effigies of Lord and Lady Norreys lie beneath an elaborate canopy supported by marble pillars and they are surrounded by kneeling figures of their children.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Norris,_1st_Baron_Norreys