Biography of Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire 1579-1622

On 6th July 1579 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire was born to [his father] William Norreys [age 31] and [his mother] Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln.

On 27th December 1579 [his father] William Norreys [age 31] died.

On 20th October 1586 [his step-father] Henry Clinton 2nd Earl Lincoln [age 45] and [his mother] Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln were married. She by marriage Countess Lincoln. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Richard Morrison and [his grandmother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford [age 60]. He the son of Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln and Ursula Stourton Baroness Clinton. They were fifth cousins.

On 28th April 1599 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 19] and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 15] were married. She the daughter of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [age 49] and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. He the son of William Norreys and Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 13th January 1601 [his grandmother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford [age 75] died. She was originally interred at St Marys Church, Watford. The monument was probably moved when the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies was extended in 1906. Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 21] inherited £3000.

Marble altar tomb chest with flat vertical pilaster strips; on sides and ends are shields with arms. Recumbent effigy of alabaster, coloured in robes of a peeress with ruff and close fitting cap. At the left and right of the tomb chest, on little stands, are two kneeling male figures in armour, carved in full relief, both facing West, thought to represent her grandsons Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and - Francis, Lord Norreys and Sir Charles Morrison Bt.

On 27th June 1601 [his grandfather] Henry Norreys [age 76] died at Rycote, Oxfordshire [Map]. His grandson Francis [age 21] succeeded 2nd Baron Norreys of Rycote. [his wife] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 17] by marriage Baroness Norreys of Rycote. Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire inherited the Rycote and Wytham estates. His title to his estates was challenged by his uncle, Sir Edward Norreys, but the latter died in 1603, whose estates also passed to Lord Norreys.

Around 1603 [his daughter] Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote was born to Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 23] and [his wife] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 18]. She married 27th March 1622 Edward Wray, son of William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu, and had issue.

On 24th June 1604 [his father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford [age 54] died at his home in King Street Covent Garden. His son [his brother-in-law] Henry [age 11] succeeded 18th Earl of Oxford.

In 1609 [his illegitimate son] Francis Rose was born illegitimately to Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 29] and Sarah Rose.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 1.199. [2nd May 1610] The Lord Treasurer [age 46] hath sent over his secretarie Kirkham to take order to furnish the Lord Cranbourne [age 19] with all necessaries to follow the French king in this journy, and more of our court gallants talke of taking the same course yf the viage hold. Indeed yt were fitter they had some place abrode to vent theyre superfluous valour then to brabble so much as they do here at home: for in one weeke we had three or fowre great quarrells, the first twixt the earles of Southampton [age 36] and Mongomerie [age 25] that fell out at tennis, where the racketts flew about theyre cares, but the matter was taken up and compounded by the King without further bloudshed, but the matter was not so easilie ended twixt younge Egerton eldest¹ sonne to Sir John [age 59], and one Morgan [age 34] a lawiers sonne of goode state: the first beeing left dead in the feild, and the other sort hurt, and yet cannot be bailed nor dispensed withall but that he lies still by yt in Newgate. The Lord Norris [age 30] likewise went into the feild with Peregrin Willoughby [age 26] upon an old reckening, and hurt him daungerously in the shoulder.

Note 1. McClure has this as 'James' rather than 'John'. He was a younger son.

On 4th July 1611 [his mother] Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln died.

In 1612 [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby [age 36] was created Lord Mann.

Around October 1613 Peregrine Bertie [age 29] fought a duel with Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 34]. The second time they had duelled - see Letters of John Chamberlain.

In 1615 Peregrine Bertie [age 31] and Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 35] were involved in an affray in a churchyard in which Francis killed a man called Winwood, servant to Bertie's father, Lord Willoughby de Eresby, and he was convicted of manslaughter, but pardoned by the king.

On 28th January 1621 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 41] was created 1st Earl Berkshire, 1st Viscount Thame. [his wife] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 36] by marriage Countess Berkshire.

Around February 1621 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 41] was imprisoned at Fleet Prison [Map] for attacking, or insulting, Emanuel Scrope 1st Earl of Sunderland [age 36] in the House of Lords in the presence the future King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [age 20].

On 29th January 1622 Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire [age 42] shot himself with a crossbow at Rycote, Oxfordshire [Map]; probably deliberately in view of his having a year before been imprisoned for attaching Emmanuel Scrope [age 37] at the House of Lords in front of the future King Charles. He died two days later.. He was buried at Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire [Map]. His daughter Elizabeth [age 19] succeeded 3rd Baroness Norreys of Rycote. Earl Berkshire and Viscount Thame extinct. Francis Rose [age 13] inherited the manors of Weston-on-the-Green and Yattendon. Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote inherited the Rycote and Wytham estates.

Before 1631 Hugh Pollard 2nd Baronet [age 27] and [his former wife] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 46] were married. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford. They were second cousin twice removed.

Around January 1631 [his former wife] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [age 46] died. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

[his father] William Norreys and [his mother] Elizabeth Morrison Countess Lincoln were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Richard Morrison and [his grandmother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford. They were fifth cousins.