Sir John Norreys was an important member of the English court during the reign of the House of Tudor.
Background
Probably born at Yattendon Castle, John was the eldest son of Sir Edward Norreys (d 1487) and Lady Frideswide Lovell, sister and heiress of Lord Lovell. 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.
Career
The Norreys family members often held positions of importantance at the English court. The estates included major residences such as Yattendon Castle and Ockwells and minor lands like Norreys Manor in Wokingham. In 1517, John murdered one John Enhold of Nettlebed in unknown circumstances.
He was fined 1,000 marks and had to surrender Ockwells.
John 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. Described as "a rank papist", he was later promoted to be chief usher of the privy chamber to Queen Mary Tudor. He retired to Ashampstead upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth.
In 1520, John entertained King Henry VIII, his Queen Catherine of Aragon, and the lady-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn, at Yattendon Castle.
Membership
Her brother, Edward Braye (d 1558), was a Member of Parliament.