Anthony Draycot facts for kids
Anthony Draycot was an important church leader and lawyer in England a long time ago. He lived during the time of Queen Mary in the 1500s. He held a powerful position as a "chancellor" in the church. During this time, there were big disagreements about religion, especially between Catholics and Protestants. Anthony Draycot was known for his role in these religious events, which are written about in a famous book called Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
Anthony Draycot's Life
Anthony Draycot came from a place called Staffordshire in England. He studied at Oxford University, where he became the head of two colleges, White Hall and Pirye Hall. He earned important degrees in church law, becoming a "doctor" in 1522.
Over the years, Anthony Draycot held many different jobs in the church. He was a vicar in Hitchin, a rector in Cottingham, and an "archdeacon" in two areas, Stow and Huntingdon. An archdeacon is a senior church official who helps the bishop manage a part of the church's area.
In 1547, he was part of a special group that helped create rules for how people should pay church taxes, called "tithes," in cities. He also served as a rector in several other churches, including Wirksworth, North Wingfield, Kettering, and Grindon.
Anthony Draycot also worked as a "chancellor" for two important bishops, John Longland and Ralph Baine. As a chancellor, he helped manage the church's legal and financial matters. He was involved in actions against Protestants during Queen Mary's reign. In 1553, he was part of a group that helped bring back Bishop Edmund Bonner to his position.
When Queen Elizabeth I came to power, she introduced a new rule. This rule was called the oath of supremacy, and it meant people had to promise that the Queen was the supreme head of the church in England. Anthony Draycot refused to take this oath. Because of his refusal, he lost almost all his church jobs, except for one rectory in Draycot. In 1560, he was held in the Fleet Prison. He was later allowed to leave prison and died at his family's home in Draycott in the Moors on January 20, 1571.
