Temple.
_Lord Hungerford_ (Vol. iv., p. 345.).--The story of the device of a
toad having been introduced into the armorial bearings of the
Hungerfords, in memory of the degradation of some member of the family,
is, in every way, nonsensical. "Argent, three toads sable" is certainly
one of their old quarterings; as may be seen upon one of the monuments
in the chapel at Farleigh Castle near Bath. But it was borne by the
Hungerfords for a very different reason. Robert, the second Lord, who
died A.D. 1459, had married the wealthy heiress of the Cornish family of
_Botreaux_: and this has one of the shields used by _her_ family, being
in fact nothing more than an allusion, not uncommon in heraldry, to the
name. This was spelled variously, _Botreaux_ or _Boterelles_: and the
device was probably assumed from the similarity of the name of the old
French word _Botterol_, a toad: (see Cotgrave) or the old Latin word
_Botterella_. The marriage with the Botreaux heiress and the assumption
of her arms, having taken place _many years before_ any member of the
Hungerford family was attainted or executed (as some of them afterwards
were), Defoe's story falls to the ground.
I take this opportunity of adding, that, having been for many years a
collector of materials for a more methodical and accurate account of the
Hungerford family and their property, than has hitherto appeared, and
having completed the arrangement of what I have been able to collect, if
any of your readers or correspondents should have it in his power to
refer me to any sources of illustration, or to inform me of the
existence of anything that might throw light on the subject--such as old
deeds, seals, wills, entries in parish registers, family portraits, or
the like--they would be rendering a kind service.