Henry Long

Sir Henry Long (ca. 1489–1556) was born in Wiltshire, the eldest surviving son and heir of Sir Thomas Long of Draycot, landowner, of Draycot Cerne in Wiltshire. Political 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. He inherited the manor of Stock & Stockley from his father and later purchased the manor of South Wraxall. In 1513 he was on campaign in France and was knighted for making a gallant charge at Therouenne, 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 on 1 September 1544.