{{Infobox noble, Baron , name = Henry Norris , title =

Baron Norreys The title Baron Norreys of Rycote was created in the Peerage of England by writ for Sir Henry Norris in 1572. The 2nd Baron Norreys was created Viscount Thame and Earl of Berkshire, both titles became extinct on his death. After two female heirs i ...

, image = Henry Norris 1st Baron Norris of Rycote.jpg , image_size = 240px , caption = Henry Norris, aged 60, 1585 , alt = , CoA = , more = no , succession = , reign = , reign-type = , predecessor = , successor = , suc-type = , spouse = Margery Williams , issue = Sir John Norreys
Sir

William Norreys Sir William Norreys (c. 1441 – before 10 January 1507) was a famous Lancastrian soldier, and later an Esquire of the Body to King Edward IV. Probably born at Yattendon Castle, William was the eldest son of Sir John Norreys of Ockwells and ...

Sir

Edward Norreys Sir Edward Norreys (or Norris) (died 1603) was a 16th-century Governor of Ostend and English Member of Parliament. Norreys was the third son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys and his wife, Lady Margery Williams, then of Wytham in Berkshire (no ...

Catherine Norreys
Sir Henry Norreys
Sir

Thomas Norreys Sir Thomas Norris (1556–1599) was an English soldier. He sat in the Irish House of Commons, and was made Lord President of Munster in Ireland. His last name is sometimes spelt Norreys. Family He was the fifth son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron ...

Maximilian Norreys , issue-link = , issue-pipe = , full name = , styles = , titles = , noble family = , house-type = , father = Henry Norris , mother = Mary Fiennes, Lady Norris , birth_date = {{circa, 1525 , birth_place = , christening_date = , christening_place = , death_date = {{Death date and age, 1601, 06, 27, 1525, df=y , death_place =

Rycote Rycote is a hamlet southwest of Thame in Oxfordshire. The Oxfordshire Way long-distance path passes through. Saint Michael's chapel Richard and Sybil Quartermayne, lord and lady of the manor of Rycote, founded Saint Michael's chapel as a cha ...

, burial_date = 5 August 1601{{harvnb, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 He was temporarily buried in the church at Englefield 21 June 1601 and re-interred at Rycote 5 August 1601 , burial_place = Chapel of St Michael and All Angels, Rycote , resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord, 51.73802, -1.03517, type:landmark, display=inline , religion = , occupation = English politician and diplomat , memorials = , url = , module = Norris-arms

Henry Norris (or Norreys), 1st Baron Norreys ({{circa, 1525{{spaced ndash27 June 1601){{sfn, Fuidge, 1981 of

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

, was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and

diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...

, who belonged to an old

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

family, many members of which had held positions at the English court.

Origins

He was the son of Sir Henry Norreys (d. 1536), who was

beheaded Decapitation or beheading is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and most other animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood, while all other organs are deprived of the ...

for his supposed

adultery Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...

with

Queen Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key f ...

, by his wife Mary Fiennes (1495–1531), daughter of

Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre (1472 – 9 September 1534) was an English peer and soldier, the son of Sir John Fiennes. Career He was born in 1472, the son of Sir John Fiennes (born c.1447, son of Richard Fiennes, 7th Baron Dacre born 1415) ...

(1472–1534).{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981

Early career

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 Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disag ...

, and in December 1542 his uncle Sir John Norreys of

Yattendon Yattendon is a small village and civil parish northeast of Newbury in the county of Berkshire. The M4 motorway passes through the fields of the village which lie south and below the elevations of its cluster. The village is privately owned ...

, 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 John Williams, 1st Baron Williams of Thame (c. 1500 – 14 October 1559) was Master of the Jewels and Lord President of the Council of the Welsh Marches. He was summoned to parliament as Lord Williams of Thame on 17 February 1554. Life Will ...

, 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 Knight of the shire ( la, milites comitatus) was the formal title for a member of parliament (MP) representing a county constituency in the British House of Commons, from its origins in the medieval Parliament of England until the Redistributio ...

for

in 1547.{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981 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

. The deaths of Henry's uncle (1563) and father-in-law (1559) greatly increased Henry's already considerable wealth, bringing him properties in

, where he and his wife settled, and in

.{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 These included

Sydenham Sydenham may refer to: Places Australia * Sydenham, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney ** Sydenham railway station, Sydney * Sydenham, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne ** Sydenham railway line, the name of the Sunbury railway line, Melbourne ...

and

Yattendon Castle Yattendon Castle was a fortified manor house located in the civil parish of Yattendon, in the hundred of Faircross, in the English county of Berkshire. History The site upon which Yattendon castle stood was originally occupied by a moat ...

Royal friendship

In 1553, Henry was among the King's gentlemen who witnessed the device settling the crown upon

Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey ( 1537 – 12 February 1554), later known as Lady Jane Dudley (after her marriage) and as the "Nine Days' Queen", was an English noblewoman who claimed the throne of England and Ireland from 10 July until 19 July 1553. Jane was ...

.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 After the succession crisis, Queen Mary did not hold this act against him, approving his appointment as the butler of

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

later in that same year. In 1554, he was assigned to guard Princess Elizabeth at

Woodstock Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15–18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, 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.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 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.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 Elizabeth visited the couple at their estate

, Oxfordshire, on numerous occasions; in September 1566 on her return from

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, during which she

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

ed Henry;{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981 in 1568, 1570, 1572, and in September 1592, on another journey from

. Upon the death of their son, Sir

John Norreys John Norreys may refer to: *Sir John Norris (soldier) or Norreys (c. 1547–1597), the son of Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys, a lifelong friend of Queen Elizabeth *Sir John Norreys (Keeper of the Wardrobe) for Henry VI of England (c. 1400–1466) ...

, 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.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124

Later career

In 1561, Norris was made

High Sheriff of Oxfordshire The High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'. The title of High Sheriff is therefore much older ...

and

. In the autumn of 1566, he was appointed Ambassador to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

by the queen. He was recalled in August 1570 and replaced by Sir

Francis Walsingham Sir Francis Walsingham ( – 6 April 1590) was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 20 December 1573 until his death and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Born to a well-connected family of gentry, Wals ...

. By way of recompense for his services abroad, he was summoned to the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

, as

of Rycote, on 8 May 1572.{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981 In October 1596, Henry was created

Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Oxfordshire. Deputy lieutenants A deputy lieutenant of Oxfordshire is commissioned by the Lord Lie ...

.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 He already held the same office for

.{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981

Marriage and issue

Henry married Margery (or Margaret), (1521 – December 1599), daughter of

, sometime between December 1542 and 26 August 1544. They were the parents of seven children. His six sons all distinguished themselves as soldiers.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 * Sir John Norreys (1547 – 3 July 1597) * Sir

(1548 – 27 December 1579

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

) * Sir

(c. 1550 – October 1603 Englefield), Governor of

Ostend Ostend ( nl, Oostende, ; french: link=no, Ostende ; german: link=no, Ostende ; vls, Ostende) is a coastal city and municipality, located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerk ...

in 1590. * Catherine Norreys (c. 1553 – ), married Sir

Anthony Paulet Sir Anthony Paulet (1562–1600) of Hinton St George, Somerset, was Governor of Jersey from 1588 until his death in 1600. Origins He was born at Hinton St George, Somerset the eldest son of Sir Amias Paulet (1532–1588) by his wife Margaret He ...

, Governor of the Isle of Jersey about 1583 in Rycote, Oxfordshire. * Sir Henry Norreys (1554–1599), fought in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and then in

, where he died. * Sir

(1556–1599),

Lord President of Munster The post of Lord President of Munster was the most important office in the English government of the Irish province of Munster from its introduction in the Elizabethan era for a century, to 1672, a period including the Desmond Rebellions in Munste ...

* Maximilian Norreys (c. 1557 – September 1593), killed in

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

while serving under his brother, John.

Death and burial

Henry died on 27 June 1601,{{sfn, Fuidge, 1981 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.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124 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.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124

Monument

Both he and his wife are commemorated by the

monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...

erected in honour of them and their six sons in St. Andrew's Chapel in

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

.{{sfn, Chisholm, 1911, p=756 Life-size

effigies An effigy is an often life-size sculptural representation of a specific person, or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certai ...

of Lord and Lady Norreys lie beneath an elaborate canopy supported by marble

pillar A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression (physical), compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column i ...

s and they are surrounded by kneeling figures of their children.{{sfn, Lee, 1895, pp=122–124

Notes

{{Reflist

References

* {{cite EB1911, wstitle=Norris, Henry Norris, Baron , volume=19, page=756 * {{cite book, last=Fuidge , first=N. M. , editor=Hasler, P. W. , chapter=Norris, Sir Henry I (c.1525-1601), of Rycote, Oxon. and Bray, Berks. , title=Members. The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1558–1603 , chapter-url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/norris-sir-henry-i-1525-1601 , year=1981 , publisher=Historyofparliamentonline.org , access-date=26 March 2014 Attribution: *{{DNB , last=Lee, first=Sidney , wstitle=Norris, Henry (1525?-1601), volume=41, pages=122–124

External links

{{Commons category
Sir Henry Norreys (1525–1601)
A biography
Henry Norris, Lord Norris
Family tree
Sir Henry Norreys
Find A Grave {{S-start {{s-off {{s-bef , before=John D'Oyley {{s-ttl , title=

High Sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire This is a list of Sheriffs of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. One sheriff was appointed for both counties from 1248 until the end of 1566 (except for 1258–1259), after which separate sheriffs were appointed. See High Sheriff of Berkshire and High Sh ...

, years=1562–1563 {{s-aft , after= Richard Wenman {{s-bef , before=Unknown {{s-ttl , title=

Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. Since 1689, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Berkshire. Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire *Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk 1545–22 August 1545 *Edw ...

and

, years=1586–1601 , with= Sir Francis Knollys 1586–1596 , with2= Sir William Knollys 1596–1601 {{s-aft , after= Sir William Knollys {{s-reg, en {{s-new, creation {{s-ttl , title=

, years=1572–1601 {{s-aft , after= Francis Norris {{S-end {{DEFAULTSORT:Norreys, Henry Norris, 1st Baron 1525 births 1601 deaths Ambassadors of England to France 1 16th-century English diplomats High Sheriffs of Berkshire High Sheriffs of Oxfordshire Lord-Lieutenants of Berkshire Lord-Lieutenants of Oxfordshire People from Thame People from Yattendon Members of the Parliament of England for Berkshire Henry, Baron 1st English MPs 1547–1552 English MPs 1571 English knights Knights Bachelor 16th-century English nobility