Henry Unton

was born of an ancient and gentile Family at Wadley near Faringdon in Berkshire, educated in Oriel coll. under Mr. Rich. Pygot one of that Society, left it without a degree and travelled. After his return, being esteemed a Person well qualified, had some Employment under Sir Christopher Hatton L. Chancelour, who quickly finding him to be a man of business and experience, commended him to the Queen, who in 1586. not only conferred on him the Honour of Knighthood, but sent him afterwards twice in the quality of an Embassador to the King of France, where he behaved himself right stoutly in behalf of his Mistress, particularly for some injury done to her by the Duke of Guise, an. 1592. This person, who was actually created M. of A. of this University, before he went into France, hath written,

An account of his Embassy: or, a Diary containing his Commission, Instructions, Expences, and Transactions; as also Letters from, or to, him, from July 13. an 1591. to June 12. an. 1592.—MS. in bib. Bod. He also made a Diary for his last Embassy, which continued to the time of his Death, but that I have not yet seen. He gave way to Fate in the King of France’s Camp, lying before Lafere, on the 23. March in fifteen hundred ninety and five;1595-6. whereupon his Body being conveyed into England, was buried on the 8. July following, in a Chappel joyning to the North side of the Church of Faringdon before-mentioned. Soon after was a noble Monument set over his grave, with this inscription, containing certain matters relating to him, which I have not yet mentioned. Virtuti & honori Sacrum. Henrico Vntono Eq. Aurate, Edovardi Vntoni, Eq. Aur. filio, ex Annâ Comitissâ Warwici, filiâ Edovardi de Sancto Mauro Ducis Sommersetti & Angliae Protectoris, qui optimarum artium studiis a primâ aetate in Academiâ Oxon institutus, magnam orbis Christiani partem perlustravit, ob virtutem bellicam in Zutphaniae obsidione, dignitate equestri donatus, propter singularem prudentiam, spectatum sidem, & multiplicem rerum usum iterum Legatus à Sereniss. Angliae Reginâ ad Christianiss. Regem missus in Galliam, è quâ ad celestem patriam migravit 23. Mart. an. 1596. &c. The Muses of Oxon had so great a respect for the memory of this most worthy Person, that a book of Verses on his death, came out soon after under their name, intit. Funebria nobiliss. ac praestomtiss. Eq. D. Henrici Vntoni ad Gallos bis legati regii, &c. à Musis Oxon apparata.