164 Sungerford. 



Sir "Walter Hungerford, the first of the name who was raised to 

 the dignity of a Baron, was Steward of the Household to King 

 Henry Y., and had by that Prince conferred on him for his valour, 

 the Castle and Barony of Hornet in Normandy ; " to hold to him 

 and his heirs male, by the homage and service of furnishing to the 

 King and his heirs at his castle of Rouen, one lance with a fox's 

 brush hanging to it." 



In the reign of King Henry VI., the same man was made High 

 Treasurer of England. Sir Walter appropriated the manor and 

 advowson of Cricklade to the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury, " to 

 keep the tall spire of that church in repair." It is a question 

 whether he built a church at Chippenham, but he certainly founded 

 a chantry there. Sir "Walter died in 1499 ; and a chapel was 

 erected to his memory in Salisbury Cathedral at a cost of £497. 

 In his character were mingled the hero, the courtier, and the de- 

 votee ; being equally celebrated for his prowess in war, for the 

 magnificence of his mansions and entertainments, and for the 

 splendour and number of his works of piety and religious institu- 

 tions. He seems to have been a finished example of a Knight of 

 the olden times. 



A son of Sir "Walter's was taken prisoner in France on one 

 occasion ; his family sent 3000 marcs to obtain his ransom, which, 

 having been received by the French, the dead body of the young 

 nobleman was despatched to his relations in England. 



When a generation or two later, another Hungerford was cap- 

 tured, his friends, remembering the former deception, inserted a 

 proviso in the letter which accompanied his ransom, to the efiect 

 " that he should be brought home alive." One or two of the 

 Hungerford family suffered death on the scafibld, from having 

 taken part in the Civil Wars of the period. Another was con- 

 demned to death for attempting to practise sorcery against the life 

 of King Henry YIII. 



A Mr. John Hungerford possessed the manor of Hungerford 

 Ingleford ; was M.P. for Scarborough, and standing counsel to the 

 East India Company. The Hungerfords were not slow to perform 

 deeds of charity. Thus, Sir Robert founded two chantries inP 



