William Drury (dramatist) facts for kids

William Drury was an English writer who lived in the 1600s. He wrote plays, which are also called dramas.

Who Was William Drury?

William Drury was a well-educated English gentleman. He was known for being very smart and knowledgeable.

Why Was He Imprisoned?

For a time, William Drury was held in prison in England. This was because he followed the Catholic religion, which was sometimes difficult in England during that period.

How Did He Get Released?

Around the year 1616, Drury was set free. A very important person helped him: Count Gondomar. Count Gondomar was the ambassador from Spain to London, meaning he was Spain's official representative in England.

What Did He Do After Prison?

After his release, in October 1618, William Drury started a new job. He became a teacher at the English College at Douay. Here, he taught students about poetry and how to speak well (rhetoric).

What Did William Drury Write?

William Drury wrote three plays. They were all written in Latin and were performed for audiences. People really enjoyed his plays! They were first shown privately inside the college's dining hall, called the refectory. Later, they were performed publicly in the college's main courtyard, known as the quadrangle.

His Famous Plays

Here are the names of his plays:

• Alvredus sive Alfredus: This play was a mix of tragedy and comedy. It was performed three times at the English College in Douay in 1619. It tells the story of Alfred the Great, a famous English king, and how he saved his people. This play was printed in Douay in 1620. At the end of the book, there was also a poem about a special story of the Eucharist (a religious item) found by bees.
• Mors: This play was more like a funny show or a farce. It was printed along with Alvredus in Douay in 1620. In this play, the characters of Death and the Devil are the main stars! A writer named Francis Douce really liked this play and wrote good things about it.
• Reparatus, sive Depositum: This was another play that mixed tragedy and comedy. It was first published with his other two plays in a collection called ‘Dramatica Poemata’ in Douay in 1628. It was printed again in Antwerp in 1641.