The Princes in the Tower by Philippa Langley

Author:Philippa Langley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Published: 2023-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

John Norris (Norreys) (d. 10 October 1485?)

Norris (Norreys) of Yatenden, Berkshire,88 was an Esquire of the Body of Edward IV (with Walter Hungerford).89 On 11 January 1482, a pardon was issued to Norris and a gentleman of London, John Russe.90 It is not known if John Russe was any relation to Robert Russe, one of the conspirators in London on 22 July 1483.

At Edward IV’s funeral, Norris took part in the short procession from St Stephen’s Chapel to Westminster Abbey. By 23 May 1483, he was made Esquire of the Body of Edward V.91 This appointment was probably made, or at least confirmed, by Richard of Gloucester, as Protector. By 1 August 1483, John and Sir William Norris were named in a commission for Berkshire.92 In Leicester, on 23 October, during the autumn uprising, Norris is named with others, including his brother, Sir William, in a proclamation requiring their capture or surrender with pardon.93

On 10 February 1484, John Norris was commanded to the king’s presence. It seems Norris was quickly apprehended by John Howard, or handed himself in, as he received a general pardon only two days later on 12 February 1484 and escaped attainder.94 Sir William also received a pardon, but it failed to pass the Great Seal.95

A John Norris was dead by 2 July 1491,96 but he may have been the John Norris who died on 10 October 1485.97 On 3 July 1495, during Richard of York’s invasion at Deal in Kent, a ‘John Norrys’ was captured and later executed. Described as a Yeoman (gentleman landowner), this may have been Edward IV’s Esquire of the Body.98

Norris and his family were connected by marriage to John Howard. In January 1467, following the death of his first wife, Howard married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Chedworth. Margaret had previously been married to John Norris senior. John Norris junior seems to have acted as a London agent for Howard in the magnate’s shipping business, selling some of Howard’s ships and dealing with the sale of freight.99 It is therefore possible that Howard might have recommended Norris as an attendant and guard of the sons of Edward IV in the Tower. If so, Norris may have known or heard something about the removal of Richard, Duke of York, and his journey abroad.

Norris may have also recounted his knowledge of the elder boy’s ‘melancholic words’ to family members. Did these family members (Sir William and Edward) then interpret the elder boy’s distress as something sinister and lend their support to Henry Tudor? Or was the family simply returning to its former Lancastrian allegiance? Sir William Norris had been knighted by Henry VI before the Battle of Northampton and was not one of Richard of Gloucester’s ‘frendys’.100 It is also possible that John Norris fought with Howard at Bosworth, thereby the family would ensure that whoever won the day, the family would prosper.

The Norris family was also linked to Francis Lovell by marriage: Lovell’s sister, Frideswede, was married to Edward Norris, the son of Norris’ elder brother, Sir William.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.