Biography of Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 1503-1540

Paternal Family Tree: Hungerford

Maternal Family Tree: Joan Arches 1410-1497

In 1503 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury was born to Edward Hungerford and Jane Zouche (age 23) at Heytesbury, Wiltshire [Map].

Around 1518 Edward Fiennes 5th Baron Saye and Sele (age 18) and [his future sister-in-law] Margaret Danvers Baroness Saye and Sele (age 14) were married. She by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.

In or before 1520 [his future brother-in-law] Thomas Sandys 2nd Baron Sandys Vyne (age 23) and Elizabeth Manners Baroness Sandys Vyne were married. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Before 1521 [his father] Edward Hungerford and [his mother] Jane Zouche (age 40) were married.

Before 24 Jan 1522 [his father] Edward Hungerford and [his step-mother] Alice aka Agnes Cotell (age 37) were married.

On 24 Jan 1522 [his father] Edward Hungerford died.

On 24 Jan 1522 [his mother] Jane Zouche (age 42) died.

Before 1527 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 24) and Susan Danvers (age 48) were married. The difference in their ages was 25 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

Before 1527 [his son] Walter Hungerford was born to Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 23) and [his wife] Susan Danvers (age 48).

In 1527 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 24) and Alice Sandys (age 40) were married.

Before 22 Mar 1527 [his wife] Susan Danvers (age 49) died.

In 1529 [his daughter] Mary Hungerford was born to Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 26) and [his wife] Alice Sandys (age 42).

On 20 Feb 1532 [his wife] Alice Sandys (age 45) died.

In Oct 1532 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 29) and Elizabeth Hussey Baroness Hungerford (age 35) were married.

On 09 Oct 1532 [his former brother-in-law] Thomas Danvers (age 44) died at Dauntsey, Wiltshire.

Letters. Around 1536. Letter CXI. Cotton. MS. TITUS, B. I. FOL. 388. Original.

Note. The present letter, being addressed to Cromwell (age 51) as lord privy seal, must have been written between 1536 and 1540. The [his wife] writer (age 39) was the daughter of John lord Husee and the wife of Walter (age 33) the last lord Hungerford. He was afterwards attainted and beheaded at the same time with Cromwell; "which certainly," says the chronicler Hall, at the time of his death seemed to be very unquiet in his mind, and rather in a frenzy than otherwise. Perhaps his ill treatment of his wives filled up his cup of remorse.

Most piteously complaining and meekly beseeching your good and gracious lordship tenderly to consider the humble complaint and true intent of me, your most poorest and unfeigned beadswoman, Elizabeth Hungerford (age 39), now abiding as I have been long in captivity and as a prisoner within my lord's castle of Hungerford [Map], where no creature is suffered nor dare come unto me at any time, what need soever I have or shall happen unto me, for my lord's displeasure, but all only such as is by him appointed at this time, which have not only heretofore sought all the means they might to rid me in secret out of my life, but yet daily doth, as it is not unknown to all this country, if it shall please your good lordship to inquire of any gentleman or yeoman dwelling about my lord. I will except none.

And whereas my said lord Hungerford (age 33) of late, unknown to me, obtained a commission of your lordship to the intent he would have been from me divorced for mine incontinency, as he damnably hath reported to my great slander and utter confusion in world, objecting such a crime of me unto your lordship and other as I never offended in, I take God to record; and now perceiving with himself that he could not, nor yet can prove, any manner of cause on my behalf to him given to be divorced, but that I may sooner object such matters against him, with many other detestable and urgent causes, than he can against me, if I would express them, as he well knoweth. And farther, that it pleased your good lordship of your goodness and charity to advertise him at the sending forth of your commission that I should have things necessary in every behalf, as it beseemed for his own honour, and that he should depart somewhat with me yearly towards my sustentation and living; which things chiefly, as I suppose, is the very cause only at this time of his stay in this matter: for surely it may please your good lordship to understand that it will grieve him not a little to depart with one groat at any time, although I am not of myself owner of one penny, nor have any earthly friend more than your lordship in this world able to help me, or house to resort unto, or that any man will or dare speak or do for me towards your lordship, or any other, for fear of my lord's displeasure: by reason whereof now of his own presumption he hath discharged your lordship's commissioners assigned, without any exa- mination or amendment had or used of his demean- our towards me. And so am I, your most woefullest and poorest beadswoman, left in worse case than ever I was, as a prisoner alone, and continually locked in one of my lord's towers of his castle in Hungerford, as I have been these three or four years past, without comfort of any creature, and under the custody of my lord's chaplain, sir John a Lee [Note. Sir John a Leigh was made knight of the Bath in 1523, and died August 27th, 1543.- Har/. MS, 897,fol. 16.], which hath once or twice heretofore poisoned me, as he will not deny upon examination. And after that he heard say that your lordship's pleasure was that my lord Hungerford should give me yearly a pension for my honest sustentation, he then said and promised my lord that he would soon rid me for that matter, and so ease my lord of that money paying, if he might have the keeping of me again, as now he hath; and I am sure he intendeth to keep promise with my said lord, if your good lordship see not remedy in this behalf shortly, for I have none other meat nor drink but such as cometh from the said priest, and brought me by my lord's fool continually, mine old servitor, as all men in these parts knoweth. Which meat and drink, con- sidering the priest's promise made unto my lord, and his acts heretofore done unto me, as my lord well knoweth, I have oft feared, and yet do every day more than otlier, to taste either of the same meat or drink; wherefore many and sundry (times) I have been and yet am fain to drink water, or else I should die for lack of sustenance, and had, long ere this time, had not poor women of the country, of their charity, knowing my lord's demeanour always to his wives, brought me to my great window in the night such meat and drink as they had, and gave me for the love of God, for money have I none wherewith to pay them, nor yet have had of my lord these four years four groats.

And thus, my singular good lord, I am like to perish I fear me very soon, unless your good lord- ship, moved with pity and compassion, will command my said lord Hungerford, now being in London as I believe, to bring me before your lord- ship; and also the said priest, sir John h Lee; by whom your lordship, upon his examination, shall perceive many strange things of my lord's demean- our: and to the intent that I may, upon causes rea- sonable, be divorced from my said lord, or else require him to suffer me to come out of prison. And then will I come up on foot with some poor body unto your lordship, for the security of ray life, if it may please you to condescend thereunto, as I shall most humbly beseech your good lordship, for surely I will not longer continue this wretched life with him; I had rather destroy myself, or beg my living from door to door. And therefore, on the reverence of Jesus Christ, let not his fair, crafty, and subtle tongue longer defraud your good lordship in this matter. But require his lordship to send for me, and safely to be brought before your lordship, without farther delay; or else to command some other man at your lordship's pleasure to fetch me from him. And in so doing I shall be most bounden to pray, as I do evermore, to God for the preservation of your honourable estate long to endure.

By your most bounden beadswoman,.

Elizabeth Hungerford.

On 08 Jun 1536 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 33) was created 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury. [his wife] Elizabeth Hussey Baroness Hungerford (age 39) by marriage Baroness Hungerford of Heytesbury.

Execution of Thomas Cromwell

Chronicle of Greyfriars. 28 Jul 1540 ... and the 28th day of July was he [Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl Essex (age 55)] and Lorde Walter Hungerforthe (age 37) beheaded at at Tower Hill, Cromwell for treasone and lord Hungerforthe for buggery.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1540. 28 Jul 1540. This yeare, the 28th dale of Julie Sir Thomas Crumwell (age 55), Earle of Essex, was beheaded at the Tower Hill, and Walter Lord named Hungerforde (age 37) was beheaded with him, also for treason of boggery,d their heades sett on London Bridge, and their bodies were buried within the Tower of London; they were condemned by the whole bodie of this last Perliament,e Thomas Cromwell for heresie, treason, I and fellonie, and extortion.f

Note d. Lord Hungerford (age 37) at the hour of his death seemed so unqoiet that many judged him rather frenzied than otherwise; he suffered, as it was said, for buggery. Stow.

Note e. The unanimity of Parliament is attested by the entries on the Journals, "Hodie (June 19) lecta est pro secundo et tertio, villa attincturs Thorns Comitis Essex, et communi omnium procerum tunc prssentium concessu, nemine discrepante, expedita est."

Note f. The summary process of an attainder without a trial, which Crumwell had first devised against the aged Countess of Salisbury (age 66), was resorted to against himself. He was declared by his peers a manifold traitor and detestable heretic, but his real crime was having urged his royal master, as a means of advancing his grand Protestant scheme, to solicit the hand of Anne of Cleves.

On 28 Jul 1540 Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury (age 37) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He, together with his chaplain, a Wiltshire clergyman named William Bird, Rector of Fittleton and Vicar of Bradford, 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 offences forbidden by the 1533 Buggery Act.

Hall's Chronicle 1540. 28 Jul 1540. The twenty and eighth day of July, as you have heard before in this year, was the Lorde Cromwell (age 55) beheaded, and with him likewise was beheaded the Lord Hungerford of Heytesbury (age 37), which certainly at the time of his death, seemed to be very unquiet in mind and rather in a frensy then otherwise.

Around 1542 Robert Throckmorton (age 29) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Hussey Baroness Hungerford (age 45) were married. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 23 Jan 1554 [his former wife] Elizabeth Hussey Baroness Hungerford (age 57) died.

[his son] Edward Hungerford was born to Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury and Alice Sandys.

Royal Ancestors of Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 1503-1540

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 14 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Son of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Louis "Lion" VIII King France

Royal Descendants of Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 1503-1540

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 1

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 3

Ancestors of Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 1503-1540

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Hussey

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 2nd Baron Hungerford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Peverell

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor or Catherine Peverell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Botreaux 2nd Baron Botreaux

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Botreaux 3rd Baron Botreaux

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth St Lo Baroness Botreaux

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaumont 4th Baron Beaumont 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beaumont Baroness Botreaux 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandFather: Walter Hungerford 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Moleyns

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Moleyns 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beaumont 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Moleyns 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Moleyns Baroness Hungerford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Father: Edward Hungerford 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Thomas Bulstrode

GrandMother: Jane Bulstrode

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Norreys

Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Norreys

Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Zouche 3rd Baron Zouche Harringworth 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Zouche 4th Baron Zouche Harringworth 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Zouche 5th Baron Zouche Harringworth 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Zouche 6th Baron Zouche Harringworth 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard St Maur

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice St Maur Baroness Zouche Harringworth

GrandFather: John Zouche 7th Baron Zouche Harringworth 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Plumpton

Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Plumpton

Mother: Jane Zouche 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Dynham

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Dynham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Courtenay 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Muriel Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Dynham 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Lovell 5th Baron Lovel, Baron Holand 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Lovell 6th Baron Lovel 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Holland 3rd Baroness Holand, Baroness Lovel 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Philippa Lovell 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

GrandMother: Joan Dynham Baroness Zouche Harringworth 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Arches of Eythrop

Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Arches