Biography of Robert Drury 1567-1607

Robert Drury Trial and Execution. 20th February 1607. On Friday, being the 20. day of February, in the forenoone, my Lord Mayor, Maister Recorder, and other of his Maiesties Iustices of the peace, sitting at the Sessions house in the old Baily, by vertue of his highnesse commission of Oyre and Terminer, for Goale deliuerie, for London, and the County of Middlesexe: Robert Drewrie (age 40) Priest, and a Fryer of the Benedictine Order, was brought before the Bench. His Enditement, according to forme of Lawe in that case made and prouided, was openly read vnto him: whereunto he pleaded not guiltie, but (for his tryall) did put himselfe vpon God and his Country, then was a verie sufficient Iurie impannelled for him, to whom (in effect) these speeches were deliuered.

Robert Drewrie the Prisoner standing at the Barre, had traytorously, wilfully, and in contempt of the Statute made to the contrarie, departed our of this land, wherein he was borne, and at Valcdolid in Spayne, (where by Parsons meanes, a Seminary for English Students was erected, as the like were at Rome and Rhemes) hadde bin kinde a Priest by the Bishop of Leon, by authority deriued from the Pope. Sithence which time, he had returned back into this land, to reconcsle, seduce, and withdraw his maiesties subiects, from their naturall dutie, loue, and allegeance, to a forraigne seruice and obedience.

Hauing libertie graunted to speake, and answere for himselfe what he could, Robert Drewrie very shallowly sought to insinuate, that if it were treason in him to be a Priest, then it was the like in Saint Augustine, S. Bernard, and other reuerend Fathers of the Church, who receiued their Priest-hood by authority from God, and so did he presume to haue doone the like, for the saluation of his owne Soule, and many others beside, which purposely he came hether to do, acording to his office and function. His sillie suggestion was presently reprooued, that notwithstanding the great difference beetweene his Priest-hoode, and that of the Fathers before named, yet Priest-hood solie was not imputed to him for Treason, for that profession, (though neither liked nor ••lowed by vs) he might vse and exercise in the .... beyond the Seas, keeping himselfe there, but .... heere within his maiesties Kingdome, where .... he, and all other of his ranke, did very well kno• & therefore could not plead any ignorance there .... that sundry good and sufficient lawes heeretof•• made, had enacted it to be treason, for any .... borne to forsake his natiue dutie, and being .... Priest by authority deriued from the Pope, to .... home again into this land, and (in meere conten• of the King and his la•es) to reconcile, seduce, .... alienate loyall Subiects harts, from loue, iust ••gard and dutie to their Soueraigne, and sub•••ting them in obedience to a forraigne gouernme•• Drewrie made answer, he could not, neither .... he deny, but that he came hether to exercise the ••fice of a Priest, according as he had alreadie do•• in winning of soules: but he would not admit, .... he had seduced any, or in any sort diswaded th•• but only for the good of their soules. Being af•••ward vrged with his maiesties great mercy, .... had to him and all other of his coate, granted .... generall pardon, and why he did not (according .... the Proclamation) depart the land when it wa• expresly cōmaunded: he made answer, that he .... meanes, when it was prooued to him: that only did the King allow such conuenient tras••ting, but also enabled them with mony, and th•••fore his stay, could not be otherwise, but meere•• traytorous contempt of the kings lawes: wh••• to he could make no reply.