Background
He was the son of Christopher Dunn, of Addington, Kent. The Lord of the Manor was Thomas Watton (1547–1622), married to Martha Roper, a great-granddaughter of Sir Thomas More.
He was the son of Christopher Dunn, of Addington, Kent. The Lord of the Manor was Thomas Watton (1547–1622), married to Martha Roper, a great-granddaughter of Sir Thomas More.
Dunn came from a fairly wealthy Catholic family. All parish records give the name as Dunn. (Calendar of State Papers Domestic, 1603–1610).
In "A brief account of the many Rebellions & Conspiracies against Queen Elizabeth et cetera et cetera", Henry Dunne is described as clerk in the Office of First Fruits and Tenths.
(Calendar of State Paper, Domestic, 1581–1590). Henry Dunn"s final address from the scaffold and his execution were recorded in the Calendar of Scottish Papers, 1547–1603, educated
William K. Boyd, Volume IV, 1586-1588 under: 1586 September 21: Confession of Salusburie and others
Participant of Dunn"s address follows:
"I lyved here joyfullie and pleasantlie under her majestie, and tenne weeks agoe I mette with Anthonie Babington, who toulde me of all his treasons and devises, & he urged me thereunto to give my consent, but I refused and disswaded him also.
Then he toulde me that I was one whom he loved well, & therefore he woulde bestowe me wem (Signal, Image, Communications). And soe urged me againe. And to confes a truthe, I said I would doe the best I coulde and consented." At the end of his confession, in which he used the word "sorrowfull" four times, he begged: "Last of all I hastelie aske my prince forgiveness & I praie she & one & all maie be eternized with eternall blessedness." He then politely refused to say the Lord"s Prayer in English and intoned it in Latin before being "thrown off the ladder, where he hanged until he was thoroughlie dead".
Henry Dunn"s father had also been examined, on 10 August 1586, but he denied any knowledge of the affair and was exonerated.