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Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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Paternal Family Tree: Mercia
Maternal Family Tree: Ealdgyth Mercia 1024-1066
1063 Death of King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn
1066 Coronation of King Harold
Around 1024 Ealdgyth Mercia was born to [her father] Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia.
In or before 1049 [her future husband] King Harold II of England (age 26) and Edyth "Swanneck" Swannesha (age 23) were married. He the son of Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex (age 47) and Gytha Countess Kent and Wessex.
On 15th April 1053 Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex (age 52) died. His son [her future brother-in-law] Leofwine (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Kent. His son [her future husband] Harold Godinson (age 31) succeeded 2nd Earl Wessex.
Before 1056 [her son-in-law] Osbern St John 2nd Baron Burford (age 15) and [her daughter] Nest verch Gruffydd Cadelling Baroness Burford were married. She the daughter of [her future husband] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 31).
Around 1057 [her husband] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales was appointed King Wales.
Around 1057 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 33) were married. She the daughter of Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia. He the son of Llywelyn ap Seisyll King Gwynedd King Powys King Deheubarth and Angharad ferch Maredudd.
Around 31st August 1057 [her grandfather] Leofric Earldorman Mercia died at Kings Bromley, Staffordshire [Map]. His son [her father] Ælfgar succeeded Earldorman Mercia.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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In 1058 [her future husband] King Harold II of England (age 36) was created 1st Earl Hereford.
Around 1060 [her father] Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia died.
In 1063 [her brother-in-law] Bleddyn ap Cynfyn King Gwynedd King Powys succeeded King Gwynedd.
On 5th August 1063 [her husband] Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales was killed. The Ulster Chronicle states that he was killed by Cynan ab Iago King Gwynedd in 1064, whose father Iago had been put to death by Gruffydd in 1039.
In October 1065 [her brother] Morcar Earl Northumbria was appointed Earldorman Northumbria.
In January 1066 King Harold II of England (age 44) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42) were married. She the daughter of Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia. He the son of Godwin 1st Earl Kent and Wessex and Gytha Countess Kent and Wessex.
In or after January 1066 [her son] Harold Godwinson was born to [her husband] King Harold II of England (age 44) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42).
On 6th January 1066 [her husband] King Harold II of England (age 44) was crowned II King of England having been selected by the Witan at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Harold quick to be crowned the day after the death of Edward the Confessor.
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. September 1066. [her husband] Harold (age 44) reigned nine months and as many days. The earls [her brother] Edwin and [her brother] Morcar, who had withdrawn with their troops from the battle on hearing that he was dead, went to London, and sent off their sister, queen Elgitha (age 42), to Chester; but Aldred, archbishop of York, and the earls just mentioned, with the citizens of London and the seamen, were desirous to proclaim Edgar (age 15) the etheling king, he being nephew of king Edmund Ironside; and promised that they would renew the war under his banner. But while many were preparing to go forth to battle, the earls withdrew their support, and returned home with their army.
On 25th September 1066 [her husband] King Harold II of England (age 44), supported by the brothers [her brother] Edwin Earl of Mercia and [her brother] Morcar Earl Northumbria, defeated the Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge at Stamford Bridge [Map].
King Harald Hardrada III of Norway (age 51) was killed. His son Magnus (age 18) succeeded King Norway.
Harold's brother, fighting against Harold, [her brother-in-law] Tostig Godwinson Earl Northumbria (age 40) was killed.
On 3rd October 1066 [her brother] Edwin Earl of Mercia was appointed Earldorman Mercia when [her brother-in-law] Tostig Godwinson Earl Northumbria (deceased) was rejected by the Northumbrians for having acted against the law.
On 14th October 1066 the Norman army led by King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 38) defeated the English army of [her husband] King Harold II of England (age 44) at the 14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings fought at Senlac Hill Hastings. Aimery Thouars (age 42), Ralph de Gael 2nd Earl East Anglia (age 24), Eustace II Count Boulogne (age 51), William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford (age 46), Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche, William Warenne 1st Earl of Surrey, Raoul Tosny, Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan (age 26), Hugh Grandesmil (age 34), Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (possibly), Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 35) and Bishop Odo of Bayeux fought for William.
King Harold II of England was killed. Earl Wessex, Earl Hereford extinct.
[her brother-in-law] Leofwine Godwinson 2nd Earl Kent (age 31) was killed. Earl Kent extinct.
His brothers [her brother-in-law] Gyrth Godwinson Earl East Anglia (age 34) and Engenulphe Aigle (age 56) were killed.
Around November 1066 [her son] Ulf Godwinson was born to [her former husband] King Harold II of England (deceased) and Ealdgyth Mercia (age 42).
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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After November 1066 Ealdgyth Mercia (deceased) died.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy. And, after Gryffydd1, king of the Welsh, had been slain by the sword of his enemies, Harold took to himself Gryffydd's beautiful widow Ealdgyth, daughter of the noble earl [her father] Ælfgar. In those days, a comet appeared in the direction of Circius2, which, with three rays stretched far out, illuminating a great part of the southern heavens for fifteen nights, and, as many said, signified the change of some kingdom.
... Grithfridi quoque regis Wallorum, postquam hostilis eum gladius peremit, pulchram conjugem Aldith, præclari comitis Algari filiam, sibi uxorem junxit. In diebus illis, in parte Circii cometes apparuit, quæ tribus radiis longius protensis, maximam partem Austri per spatium quindecim noctium illustravit et mutationem, ut plurimi asseruerunt, alicujus regni designavit.
Note 1. Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, around 1010-1063. Chronicon ex Chronicis, Page 166: "Griffyth, king of Wales, was slain by his own people, on the nones of August [5th August 1063], and his head and the beak of his ship, with its ornaments, were sent to earl Harold, who, shortly afterwards, presented them to king Edward. The king then gave the territories of the Welsh king to his brothers Blethgent and Rithwalon, and they swore to be faithful to him and Harold, and promised to be ready to obey their orders by sea and land, and that they would faithfully pay whatever was paid before from that country to former kings."
Note 2. 'Circius'. A reference to the north-north-west wind. The comet being Halley's Comet which has a cycle of around 76 years. The comet is noticed in numerous sources around the world including William of Malmesbury, Book 2, Chapter 13: "Soon after a comet, a star denoting, as they say, change in kingdoms, appeared trailing its extended and fiery train along the sky. Wherefore a certain monk of our monastery, by name Elmer, bowing down with terror at the sight of the brilliant star, wisely exclaimed, 'Thou art come! a matter of lamentation to many a mother art thou come; I have seen thee long since; but I now behold thee much more terrible, threatening to hurl destruction on this country."
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[her daughter] Nest verch Gruffydd Cadelling Baroness Burford was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia. She married before 1056 Osbern St John 2nd Baron Burford, son of Richard Fitzscrope 1st Baron Burford, and had issue.
[her son] Idwal Cadelling was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia.
[her son] Maredudd Cadelling was born to Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales and Ealdgyth Mercia.
William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber [1]
Elizabeth Burgh Queen Consort Scotland [1]
Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal [2]
Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [2]
Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland [1]
King Richard III of England [5]
Anne Neville Queen Consort England [15]
King Henry VII of England and Ireland [4]
Queen Anne Boleyn of England [17]
Queen Jane Seymour [17]
Catherine Parr Queen Consort England [19]
Queen Catherine Howard of England [16]
Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [5]
Jane Grey I Queen England and Ireland [27]
Maximilian "The Great" Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria I Elector Bavaria [5]
Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress [5]
Marie de Medici Queen Consort France [5]
Ferdinand of Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [10]
George Wharton [144]
Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain [10]
Anna of Austria Holy Roman Empress [10]
John George Wettin Elector Saxony [5]
Frederick William "Great Elector" Hohenzollern Elector Brandenburg [5]
Eleonora Gonzaga Queen Consort Bohemia [10]
Maria Leopoldine Habsburg Spain Queen Consort Bohemia [10]
Hedwig Eleonora Queen Consort Sweden [5]
Charlotte Amalie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [5]
Louise of Mecklenburg Güstrow Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [5]
Maria Anna Neuburg Queen Consort Spain [10]
Joseph I Holy Roman Emperor [10]
Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor [10]
Adolph Frederick King Sweden [5]
President George Washington [10]
King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [10]
Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England [5]
Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [10]
Marie Sophie Hesse-Kassel Queen Consort Denmark and Norway [15]
Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England [10]
Frederick William III King Prussia [5]
Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover [10]
Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina [10]
King Christian I of Norway and VIII of Denmark [15]
Frederick William IV King Prussia [10]
Frederick VII King of Denmark [25]
Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark [30]
King Christian IX of Denmark [15]
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [20]
Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway [25]
Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [55]
King Edward VII of the United Kingdom [55]
Maria Christina of Austria Queen Consort Spain [15]
Brigadier-General Charles Fitz-Clarence [607]
Victoria Mary Teck Queen Consort England [30]
Frederick Charles I King Finland [30]
Constantine I King Greece [15]
Alexandrine Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [40]
Victoria Eugénie Mountbatten Queen Consort Spain [70]
Louise Mountbatten Queen Consort Sweden [85]
Ingrid Bernadotte Queen Consort Denmark [65]
Philip Mountbatten Duke Edinburgh [100]
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom [2553]
Carl XVI King Sweden [135]
Queen Consort Camilla Shand [845]
Diana Spencer Princess Wales [7435]
Great x 1 Grandfather: Leofwine Mercia
GrandFather: Leofric Earldorman Mercia
Father: Ælfgar Earl of Mercia and East Anglia
GrandMother: Godgifu aka Lady Godiva