At this time he seems to have incurred some suspicion of popish views. He was sworn master extraordinary in chancery on 10 October 1580, and master in ordinary in chancery 10 February 1585. In 1584 he was consulted as to the best mode of defending the revenues of the church against an apprehended confiscation by the crown under cover of a writ of "melius inquirendum". An opinion drawn up by him on this occasion, in which he advises the collection of evidence to prove that "the tenth part of the fruits of the land is not possessed by the clergy", and certain propositions in the nature of argument to strengthen the case, are preserved in Strype's "Annals". He died shortly before Christmas 1589, and was buried in the church of St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street, London. Drury married Mary, daughter of Sir Richard Southwell of Woodrising, Norfolk, by whom he had issue four sons and two daughters. He lived at Brett's Hall, in the parish of Tendring, Essex. His wife survived him, and married Robert Forth, LL.D., civilian. His eldest son, John, was knighted in 1604. See also Robert Drury (1587–1623) another son.