Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury
Encyclopedia
Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury (1503 – 28 July 1540), created Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury in 1536, was the son and heir of Sir Edward Hungerford, and his first wife, Jane de la Zouche. He was born in 1503 at Heytesbury
in Wiltshire
, England
.
. In 1529 he was granted permission to alienate part of his large estates. On 20 August 1532 John, Lord Hussey of Sleaford
, whose daughter was Hungerford's third wife, wrote to Sir Thomas Cromwell stating that Hungerford wished to be introduced to him. A little later Hussey informed Cromwell that Hungerford desired to be sheriff of Wiltshire
, a desire which was gratified in 1533. Hungerford proved useful to Cromwell in Wiltshire, and in June 1535 Cromwell made a memorandum that Hungerford ought to be rewarded for his well-doing. On 8 June 1536 he was summoned to parliament as Lord Hungerford of Heytesbury.
In 1540 he, together with his chaplain, a Wiltshire clergyman, named William Bird, who was suspected of sympathising with the pilgrims of grace of the north of England
, was attainted by act of parliament. Hungerford was charged with employing Bird in his house as chaplain, knowing him to be a traitor; with ordering another chaplain, Hugh Wood, and one Dr. Maudlin to practise conjuring to determine the king's length of life, and his chances of victory over the northern rebels; and finally with committing unnatural offences, and so becoming the first person executed under the Buggery Act of 1533.
He was beheaded at Tyburn on 28 July 1540, along with his patron Cromwell. Hungerford is stated before his execution to have "seemed so unquiet that many judged him rather in a frenzy than otherwise."
(d. 1516), accompanied Sir Walter to Scotland in 1503; served in the English army in France in 1513, when he was knighted at battle of Tournai; was sheriff for Wiltshire in 1517, and for Somerset and Dorset in 1518. In 1520 he attended Henry VIII
at the Field of the Cloth of Gold
; died on 24 January 1522, and left his surviving wife sole executrix.
Walter's mother was his father's first wife, Jane, daughter of John, Lord Zouche of Haryngworth. His father's second wife was Agnes, widow of John Cotell. She had (it afterwards appeared) strangled her first husband at Farleigh Castle on 26 July 1518, with the aid of William Mathewe and William Inges, yeomen of Heytesbury, Wiltshire, and seems to have married Sir Edward almost immediately after burning the body. Not until Sir Edward's death were proceedings taken against her and her accomplices for the murder. She and Mathewe were then convicted and were hanged at Tyburn
on 20 February 1524; she seems to have been buried in the Grey Friars' Church in London. An interesting inventory of Lady Hungerford's goods, taken after her trial, is printed in "Archæologia", xxxviii. 353 sq.
Lord Hungerford married thrice: (1) to Susan, daughter of Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey; (2) in 1527, to Alice, daughter of William, Lord Sandys
; and (3), in October 1532, to Elizabeth, daughter of John, lord Hussey
. His treatment of his third wife was remarkable for its brutality. In an appeal for protection which she addressed to Cromwell about 1536, she asserted that he kept her incarcerated at Farleigh for three or four years, made some fruitless attempts to divorce her, and endeavoured on several occasions to poison her. After his execution, she became the wife of Sir Robert Throckmorton.
Hungerford left two sons, and two daughters, all apparently by his third wife. The eldest Sir Walter Hungerford
(1532–1596), was known as "the Knight of Farley" and the younger, Sir Edward, a gentleman-pensioner to Queen Elizabeth I, was twice married, but died without issue in 1607. He left to his widow (d. 1653) a life interest in the estates, with remainder to his great-nephew, Sir Edward
(1596–1648), son of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton
, Oxfordshire.
Heytesbury
Heytesbury is a village in Wiltshire, England, in the Wylye Valley, about three miles south of Warminster.-History:...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Walter was nineteen years old at his father's death in 1522, and soon afterwards appears as squire of the body to Henry VIIIHenry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. In 1529 he was granted permission to alienate part of his large estates. On 20 August 1532 John, Lord Hussey of Sleaford
John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford
John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford was Chief Butler of England from 1521 until his death...
, whose daughter was Hungerford's third wife, wrote to Sir Thomas Cromwell stating that Hungerford wished to be introduced to him. A little later Hussey informed Cromwell that Hungerford desired to be sheriff of Wiltshire
High Sheriff of Wiltshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Wiltshire.Until the 14th century the shrievalty was held ex officio by the castellans of Old Sarum.-To 1400:*1066: Edric*1067-1070: Philippe de Buckland*1085: Aiulphus the Sheriff*1070–1105: Edward of Salisbury...
, a desire which was gratified in 1533. Hungerford proved useful to Cromwell in Wiltshire, and in June 1535 Cromwell made a memorandum that Hungerford ought to be rewarded for his well-doing. On 8 June 1536 he was summoned to parliament as Lord Hungerford of Heytesbury.
In 1540 he, together with his chaplain, a Wiltshire clergyman, named William Bird, who was suspected of sympathising with the pilgrims of grace of the north of England
Pilgrimage of Grace
The Pilgrimage of Grace was a popular rising in York, Yorkshire during 1536, in protest against Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, as well as other specific political, social and economic grievances. It was done in action against Thomas Cromwell...
, was attainted by act of parliament. Hungerford was charged with employing Bird in his house as chaplain, knowing him to be a traitor; with ordering another chaplain, Hugh Wood, and one Dr. Maudlin to practise conjuring to determine the king's length of life, and his chances of victory over the northern rebels; and finally with committing unnatural offences, and so becoming the first person executed under the Buggery Act of 1533.
He was beheaded at Tyburn on 28 July 1540, along with his patron Cromwell. Hungerford is stated before his execution to have "seemed so unquiet that many judged him rather in a frenzy than otherwise."
Family
Walter Hungerford, was the only child of Sir Edward Hungerford (d. 1522). Edward, son and heir of Sir Walter HungerfordWalter Hungerford of Farleigh
Sir Walter Hungerford of Farleigh fought for Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He served on the Privy Council for both Henry VII and Henry VIII.-Biography:...
(d. 1516), accompanied Sir Walter to Scotland in 1503; served in the English army in France in 1513, when he was knighted at battle of Tournai; was sheriff for Wiltshire in 1517, and for Somerset and Dorset in 1518. In 1520 he attended Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
at the Field of the Cloth of Gold
Field of the Cloth of Gold
The Field of Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guînes and Ardres, in France, near Calais. It was the site of a meeting that took place from 7 June to 24 June 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. The meeting was arranged to increase...
; died on 24 January 1522, and left his surviving wife sole executrix.
Walter's mother was his father's first wife, Jane, daughter of John, Lord Zouche of Haryngworth. His father's second wife was Agnes, widow of John Cotell. She had (it afterwards appeared) strangled her first husband at Farleigh Castle on 26 July 1518, with the aid of William Mathewe and William Inges, yeomen of Heytesbury, Wiltshire, and seems to have married Sir Edward almost immediately after burning the body. Not until Sir Edward's death were proceedings taken against her and her accomplices for the murder. She and Mathewe were then convicted and were hanged at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
on 20 February 1524; she seems to have been buried in the Grey Friars' Church in London. An interesting inventory of Lady Hungerford's goods, taken after her trial, is printed in "Archæologia", xxxviii. 353 sq.
Lord Hungerford married thrice: (1) to Susan, daughter of Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey; (2) in 1527, to Alice, daughter of William, Lord Sandys
William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne
William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne was an English Tudor diplomat, Lord Chamberlain and favourite of King Henry VIII....
; and (3), in October 1532, to Elizabeth, daughter of John, lord Hussey
John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford
John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford was Chief Butler of England from 1521 until his death...
. His treatment of his third wife was remarkable for its brutality. In an appeal for protection which she addressed to Cromwell about 1536, she asserted that he kept her incarcerated at Farleigh for three or four years, made some fruitless attempts to divorce her, and endeavoured on several occasions to poison her. After his execution, she became the wife of Sir Robert Throckmorton.
Hungerford left two sons, and two daughters, all apparently by his third wife. The eldest Sir Walter Hungerford
Walter Hungerford (Knight of Farley)
Sir Walter Hungerford, of Farley , was an English landowner called "the Knight of Farley".-Biography:Hungerford was granted land by Edward VI in 1552, and in 1554 was restored by Queen Mary to the confiscated estate of Farley, in Somerset, when the attainder on his father, Walter Hungerford, 1st...
(1532–1596), was known as "the Knight of Farley" and the younger, Sir Edward, a gentleman-pensioner to Queen Elizabeth I, was twice married, but died without issue in 1607. He left to his widow (d. 1653) a life interest in the estates, with remainder to his great-nephew, Sir Edward
Edward Hungerford (roundhead)
Sir Edward Hungerford , parliamentarian; eldest son of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton; K.B., 1625; High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1631; M.P., Chippenham, 1620, and in Short Parliament and the Long Parliament. Colonel of a regiment in the Parliamentary army. Occupied and plundered Salisbury in...
(1596–1648), son of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton
Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton
Sir Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton , was a religious controversialist. He was knighted in 1608, and was deputy lieutenant of Wiltshire until 1624, when he resigned the office in favour of his eldest son Sir Edward.-Biography:...
, Oxfordshire.