In 1591, through the good offices of the earl of Essex, Unton was sent as ambassador to Henry IV of France; he became very friendly with this king and accompanied him on a campaign in Normandy before he was recalled to England in June 1592.[3]
After his death, his body was returned to England and buried at All Saints' Church in Faringdon.[5] In his honor John Dowland composed "Sir Henry Umptons Funerall", one of the pieces in the "Lachrimae or Seven Teares" suite.
His widow, Dorothy (née Wroughton), later married to Sir George Shirley, 1st Baronet, and was known as Dame Dorothy Shirley.[6]
Unton Memorial Portrait
Shortly afterwards his widow, Dorothy Unton, commissioned an unknown artist to paint a very unusual portrait of Unton. In addition to showing the sitter as he appeared shortly before his death, the painting also uses a narrative style to show ten other important events in his life. The series begins with his birth, includes his study at Oxford, travels in Italy, campaigning in the Low Countries, his embassies in France, and ends with his impressive funeral procession.[7]