Career
Despite his apparent lack of legal qualifications, he had a successful highly career as a judge in Ireland, becoming a Baron of the Court of Exchequer and Master of the Rolls in Ireland. He also became a substantial landowner in the Pale. His principal estate was at Mornington, County Meath.
Draycott was a native of Denby in Derbyshire.
His family name probably derives from the village of Draycott, Derbyshire. Despite his later eminence as a judge, it is not clear when he was called to the Bar or indeed if he was a barrister at all.
He first appears in Ireland in 1544. His first official post was treasurer of the Lordship of Wexford, and he received a lease of Crown lands there.
Draycott rose quickly to a position of influence in the Irish administration, becoming Chief Remembrancer, a senior position in the Court of Exchequer.
He was elected to the Irish House of Commons as member for Naas in 1560. He was entrusted with a number of political missions to England, and was later a reliable supporter of Sir Henry Sidney. He was given the task of settling a controversy between the Earl of Ormond and the Earl of Desmond, and was involved in the settlement of Munster in 1567.
Draycott was granted substantial properties in Meath and Louth.
His main estate was Mornington. He also owned the manor of Donnycarney and property in Dundalk.
Draycott became a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1563 and Master of the Rolls in 1566. Although he gained a reputation for integrity, Elrington Ball queries his suitability for either office and in particular for the Mastership, since it is not clear if he had any legal qualifications.
However the Mastership was then partly an administrative office and Draycott was an efficient administrator.
lieutenant is known that one of his tasks was to peruse and sort official records. Another objection to his appointment was chronic ill-health: in 1567 Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, described him as "a very sick and a weak man". He was chosen as one of the lessees of the King"s Inn in the same year.
He died in 1572.
Despite his lack of legal training, Draycott was praised as a judge of integrity, and as a man whose service to the Crown deserved praise. Less attractive was his greed for acquiring land and willingness to help other settlers in similar transactions. Queen Elizabeth I had a personal regard for Draycott, and on his death wrote that she was sorry to have lost one whom she esteemed as a good and faithful servant, but trusted that he had exchanged this world for a better one.
