Background
Erasmus Henry, born 2 May 1669, was the third son of John Dryden the poet, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire.
Erasmus Henry, born 2 May 1669, was the third son of John Dryden the poet, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire.
He studied at Douay, entered the novitiate of the Dominicans 1692, was ordained priest in 1694.
He was a scholar at the Charterhouse, and "elected to the university" November 1685. Dryden was at Rome in 1697, residing in the convent of the English Dominicans, and in that year was sent to the convent of Holy Cross, Bornheim, of which he was sub-prior until 1700. He then returned to England to labour on the mission in Northamptonshire.
The 5th baronet was apparently imbecile at this time and died soon after.
He was buried at Canons Ashby, 4 December 1710.