Sir John Norreys or Norris (c. 1481 – 21 October 1564) was a gentleman usher daily waiter at the English court during the reign of the House of Tudor.David Loades, Mary Tudor (Basil Blackwell, 1989), p. 192. He is thought to be the author of a treatise describing the roles of servants of the chamber.Fiona Kisby, 'Religious Ceremonial at the Tudor Court', Religion, Politics, and Society in Sixteenth-Century England (Cambridge, 2003), p. 7.
Family Probably born at Yattendon Castle in Berkshire, John was the eldest son of Sir Edward Norreys (d. 1487) and Lady Frideswide Lovell, sister and heiress of Lord Lovell. He was named after his great-grandfather Sir John Norreys, who had established this branch of the Norreys family as extensive landowners in the county of Berkshire. The Norreys family members often held positions of importance at the English court.
John's father Edward, the eldest son and heir of Sir William Norreys, had taken part in the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487, dying shortly afterwards. John was then his grandfather's heir, and succeeded to the Norreys family estates upon the old man's death in 1507. The estates included major residences such as Yattendon Castle and Ockwells and minor lands like Norreys Manor in Wokingham.
Murderer In 1517, John murdered one John Enhold of Nettlebed in unknown circumstances. He was fined 1,000 marks and had to surrender Ockwells in return for a pardon obtained on his behalf by his brother Henry. His uncle, Sir Thomas Fettiplace, took possession of Ockwells.
Marriage John married Elizabeth Braye (born c. 1490), daughter of John Braye of Eaton Bray, whose family was as important in England as the Norreys family. Elizabeth's brother, Edmund Braye (d. 1539), was the 1st Baron Braye, a title created for him in 1529. Her brother, Edward Braye (d. 1558), was a Member of Parliament. The couple was childless.
Gentleman usher daily waiter John Norris rose in favour at Court, perhaps with the help of his mother, and became the Esquire of the body of King Henry VII, and later the usher of the outer chamber to both King Henry VIII and King Edward VI.
On 17 August 1520, John entertained King Henry VIII and his Queen Catherine of Aragon at Yattendon Castle.Walter Money, The History of the Ancient Town and Borough of Newbury (Oxford, 1887), p. 202. As a New Year's Day gift in 1539, Norris gave Henry a dozen fine handkerchiefs.Maria Hayward, "Gift Giving at the Court of Henry VIII", Antiquaries Journal, 85 (2005), p. 167. Henry VIII appointed him keeper of Ashridge Park, and woodward and warrener in the Lordships of Cookham and Bray.Walter G. Richardson, The Report of the Royal Commission of 1552 (West Virginia University Library, 1974), p. 79.
At the coronation of Edward VI, Norreys and another usher, William Ransford, wore robes in the procession to represent the Duchy of Gascony and Guyenne. Their presence represented the English claim to these territories.John Gough Nichols, Narratives of the Reformation (London: Camden Society, 1859), p. 162. During the service in Westminster Abbey the four ushers carried Edward in a portable chair.Agnes Strickland, Lives of the bachelor kings of England (London, 1861), p. 244.
Described as "a rank papist" by Edward Underhill,John Gough Nichols, Narratives of the Reformation (London: Camden Society, 1859), pp. 161-162. he was promoted to be chief usher of the privy chamber to Queen Mary Tudor.Antiquarian Repertory, 4 (London, 1809), p. 651. He served at her coronation at Westminster Abbey and at her wedding at Winchester Cathedral. As chief usher, he was asked to build the dais and stages and decorate the cathedral with hangings and tapestry.John Gough Nichols, Chronicle of Queen Jane (London: Camden Society, p. 134.
On the accession of Queen Elizabeth, Norreys was summoned to Hatfield House. He then retired from court to Ashampstead.Henry Alfred Napier, Historical Notices of the Parishes of Swycombe and Ewelme (Oxford, 1858), p. 340.
Norreys seems to be the author of a manuscript treatise on ceremonial for fellow Gentleman Ushers produced at this time. The work includes a description of the coronation of Anne Boleyn, and a diagram of the stage at the wedding of Mary I at Winchester.Fiona Kisby, 'Religious Ceremonial at the Tudor Court', Religion, Politics, and Society in Sixteenth-Century England (Cambridge, 2003), pp. 7, 10, 16: Nicola Clark, Gender, Family, and Politics: The Howard Women, 1485-1558 (Oxford, 2018). The treatise refers to the care and use of textiles at court.Eleri Lynn, Tudor Textiles (Yale, 2020), pp. 75-76. The manuscript was formerly attributed to Henry Norris.Thomas Thorpe, Catalogues of Manuscripts, Letters, and Autographs, 1826–1840, part VI (London, 1832), p. 101 no. 574.
Nephews and nieces When John's younger brother, Sir Henry Norreys, was beheaded in 1536 for his supposed adultery with the queen, Anne Boleyn, John and his wife, Elizabeth, took over the care of Henry's orphaned children Henry and Mary. Having no legitimate children of his own, John was licensed to settle his estates in reversion on his nephew in December 1542.
References David Nash Ford's Royal Berkshire History: Sir John Norreys (d. 1563)
External links Sir John Norreys Family tree