Heir to the Wraxall and Draycot estates
Sir Henry Long (ca. 1489—1556) was born in
Wiltshire, eldest surviving son and heir of
Sir Thomas Long of Draycot, landowner, of Draycot Cerne in Wiltshire.
Contents
• 1 Political career • 2 Personal life • 3 References and further reading • 4 SourcesPolitical career
Long was appointed
High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1512, 1526, 1536 and 1542, and
High Sheriff of Somerset and
Dorset in 1538. He replaced Sir Edward Darrell when the latter died as
Member of Parliament for
Wiltshire in 1532 and was re-elected in 1552. He was also Hereditary Bailiff of Charlton Wood and Keeper of Braden Forest, east of
Malmesbury. Together with his brother
Richard, he was present at the baptism of
Prince Edward.
[1] He inherited the manor of Stock & Stockley from his father and later purchased the manor of
South Wraxall.
[2]In 1513 he was on campaign in France and was
knighted for making a gallant charge at Therouenne at
Picardy in the sight of the King, for which he was granted a new crest, consisting of a lions head with a man's hand in its mouth. In 1520 he accompanied
Henry VIII with other knights to the meeting with
Francis I of France at the
Field of the Cloth of Gold.
In 1544 Long was at the
Siege of Boulogne, having the command of 200 men, whom he raised for that expedition. His Captain was severely wounded in an unsuccessful attack on the castle, 1 September 1544.
Long's close relationship with Henry VIII paid dividends at the
Dissolution of the Monasteries, with grants of land in Wiltshire; Lyneham and Littlecote in Hilmarton, together with the rectory, great tithes and advowson of the vicarage of Lyneham, all formerly belonging to
Bradenstoke Priory. He leased the manor of Fasterne from
Catherine Parr who, after the death of her husband Henry VIII, had remarried Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of
Protector Somerset. The Protector coveted Fasterne, and negotiated with Sir Henry Long to resign his lease. When she heard of this, Catherine was highly indignant. She was not on good terms with the Protector, because he had declined to give her some valuable jewels which, as she maintained, King Henry had given her for her own. She vowed she would stop the Protector getting his hands on the Fasterne lease, and would go herself "tomorrow, Saturday, at three o’clock" to the young King Edward, and give full utterance to her feelings against the Protector, his uncle. But the formidable uncle-Protector of the realm was not to be meddled with. Whether she kept her promise, and how far she succeeded in getting the diamonds, is not clear, but Somerset succeeded in getting Fasterne. Sir Henry Long somewhat unwillingly parted with it for a sum of money and the office of Ranger of Braden Forest for his life.
Personal life
Long married firstly, Jane (or Frydeswyde), daughter of Sir John Hungerford and Margaret Blount. He married secondly, Eleanor, daughter of Sir Richard Wrottesley and Dorothy Sutton. He had several children with both his wives, including
Sir Robert Long. Sir Henry Long died 8 October 1556 and is buried at
Draycot in Wiltshire. His second wife died about 1543.