Robert Hungerford, Lord Moleyns and 3rd Baron Hungerford

Robert Hungerford was the eldest son of Robert 2nd Baron Hungerford. Robert’s year of birth is not entirely clear from biographers, with various dates given between 1423 and 1431. He married Eleanor Moleyns, heiress to William, Lord Moleyns. Robert was subsequently summoned to parliament as Lord Moleyns by right of his wife. He then inherited the Barony held by his father, Robert 2nd Baron Hungerford, upon his death in 1459.

Clash with the Paston Family over Gresham

In 1448 Robert Hungerford stated his claim to the Manor and Castle of Gresham. The basis of the claim was via his wife. Gresham had, however, been passed to the Paston Family. Lord Moleyns, as Robert was at the time, engaged in a violent campaign to seize control of the land. This included an assault on Margaret Paston. The matter was eventually dealt with through legal process after two years of intimidation: with the property being returned to the Paston family. The series of events is described on the This is Paston website.

Robert Hungerford, then Lord Moleyns, later 3rd Baron Hungerford, seized Gresham in 1448. — Gresham Church, Manor disputed by Lord Moleyns and the Paston Family

Royal Councillor

From 1450, Robert 2nd Baron Hungerford was involved in dispensing justice on behalf of the Royal Council. As revolts broke out, Robert was commissioned to lead investigations into insurrection against the Crown. This included oyer and terminer commissions in the wake of the Cade Revolt [1450], and in the aftermath of the Standoff at Dartford [1452].

Ransom of Robert Hungerford

Robert Hungerford spent most of the 1450’s as a captive of the French. Having joined the campaign to attempt to regain control of Gascony in 1452, he was captured at the Siege of Chastillon and held for ransom. The sum for which he was ransomed was an enormous one, some £7966 [an average knights annual earnings was roughly £40 per year and Ducal income rarely went above £5000 per annum at the time].

The ransom was raised through monies from the Hungerford estates, from mortgaging elements of those estates, via licences to export wool to France, and, in 1460, mortgaging his wifes assets and surrendering his own properties. Lord Hungerford was imprisoned in France 1459. Surities from Medici financiers enabled his release, though a large portion of the ransom was still to be paid.

Robert 3rd baron Hungerford and the Wars of the Roses

Robert’s father died in 1459. As such, Robert translated from the title he held by right of his wife [Moleyns] to the one inherited from his father. It did little to ease the financial burden of the ransom payments but did make him a more senior noble.

As such, Robert Hungerford was one of the nobles entrusted with the safety of the Tower of London in 1460. When the Yorkist lords from Calais landed in force and lay siege to the Tower of London, Lord Hungerford was, with Lord Scales, responsible for the defences.

Following the Yorkists taking control of the Tower of London, Robert Hungerford secured a licence to travel overseas. He is known to have reached Florence, Italy. He was, however, back in England in early 1461. He fought at Towton, then fled to the north east with the Lancastrian royal family. Robert was part of the garrison at Alnwick that resisted the Earl of Warwick. From here he fled to France, before returning in 1463 to resume an active role in Lancastrian resistance to the Yorkists.

The return to north east England saw Robert 3rd Baron Hungerford take to the field in the Battle of Hexham. He survived the battle but was captured shortly afterwards. Robert was taken to Newcastle as a prisoner, where, on 18 May 1464, he was beheaded as a traitor.