DARCY, Henry (by 1539-92/93 or later), of London; Brimham, Yorks. and Leighton Bromswold, Hunts.

Family and Education
b. by 1539, 1st s. of Sir Arthur Darcy of Brimham by Mary, da. of Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington, Surr.; bro. of Edward and Sir Francis. educ. I. Temple, adm. 16 Jan. 1556. m. (1) Catherine (d.1567), da. and h. of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt I of Leighton Bromswold, s.p.; (2) Catherine, da. of Sir John Fermor of Easton Neston, Northants., wid. of Michael Pulteney (d.1567) of Misterton, Leics., 1da. suc. fa. 3 Apr. 1561. Kntd. 21 Aug. 1565.1Date of birth estimated from age at fa.’s death, C142/129/71. Vis. Yorks. (Harl. Soc. xvi), 92; Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 20; RCHM Hunts. 179.
Offices Held

Jt. (with fa.) constable, Conisbrough castle, Yorks. 1556; sheriff, Cambs. and Hunts. 1562 – 63, 1583 – 84; j.p.q. Hunts. 1564–92/93; commr. sewers, Hunts. 1569, musters 1569, 1580, 1584, to execute Acts of Uniformity and Supremacy, dioceses of Lincoln and Peterborough 1571, for oaths, Hunts. 1592; superintendent, Kimbolton castle, Hunts. temp. Elizabeth. 2CPR, 1555–7, p. 301; 1563–6, p. 23; 1569–72, pp. 220, 225, 277; CSP Dom. 1547–80. pp. 342, 648; 1581–90, p. 152; APC, xxiii. 258.

Address
Main residences: London and Brimham, Yorks and Leighton Bromswold, Hunts.
biography text

Henry Darcy, who was no more than 19 at the time, must have owed his return for the duchy of Lancaster borough of Knaresborough to his father, a younger son of Thomas, Lord Darcy and a royal servant who held or had held a number of duchy offices. Lord Darcy himself had once been constable and steward of Knaresborough.3R. B. Smith, Land and Politics 245; Somerville, Duchy, i. 501, 506, 508, 522, 529, 530, 538; W. Wheater, Knaresborough, 210.

On 25 July 1557 Darcy was committed to the Fleet for brawling, and a week later, described as of London, he was bound with Thomas Hussey II to keep the peace. Hussey was friendly with the Fermors, a family with which the Darcys were also connected before Darcy married into it: in July 1532 Sir Arthur Darcy, Sir John Dudley, Richard Rich and Richard Fermor had stood surety for a loan made by the King to Sir Edward Seymour.4APC, vi. 131, 140; LP Hen. VIII, v.

Darcy was to inherit a large estate in Yorkshire and elsewhere from his father, but on his first marriage he settled in Huntingdonshire and disposed of much of his Yorkshire property. It is not known when he died but his name last appears on the commission of the peace during 1592/93.5PCC 17 Loftes.

Author
A.D.
Volume
Commons 1509-1558
Notes
  • 1. Date of birth estimated from age at fa.’s death, C142/129/71. Vis. Yorks. (Harl. Soc. xvi), 92; Vis. Northants. ed. Metcalfe, 20; RCHM Hunts. 179.
  • 2. CPR, 1555–7, p. 301; 1563–6, p. 23; 1569–72, pp. 220, 225, 277; CSP Dom. 1547–80. pp. 342, 648; 1581–90, p. 152; APC, xxiii. 258.
  • 3. R. B. Smith, Land and Politics 245; Somerville, Duchy, i. 501, 506, 508, 522, 529, 530, 538; W. Wheater, Knaresborough, 210.
  • 4. APC, vi. 131, 140; LP Hen. VIII, v.
  • 5. PCC 17 Loftes.