William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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Close Rolls Edward IV Edward V Richard III 1476-1485 is in Close Rolls Edward IV Edward V Richard III.
16th May 1483. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's servant Henry Duke of Buckingham (age 28), of the offices of chief justice and chamberlain in South and North Wales, constable of the castles and counties of Kermerdyn and Cardigan, the castles of Abrustwith, co Cardigan, and Denevour in South Wales, the castle and town of Tonebigh, co. Pembroke, the castle and lordship of Kylgarvan in South Wales, the castle and town of Llan Stepham in South Wales, the lordship of Wallewynscastell in South Wales, the lordship of Westhaverford in South Wales, constable, steward, and receiver of the castle, lordshiop and manor of Uske, the castle and lordship of Carlion, the castle, lordship and manor of Dynas, the castle and a moiety of the lordship of Ewyas Lacy [Map], the castles, lordships and manors of Belth,Clifford, Radnore, Melenyth, Montgomery, Dynbigh, Elvell and Narberth, the castle, lordship and manors of Wygmore [Map] and Holt [Map] in the marches of Wales, and the lordship and manor of Bromfield [Map] in the same marches, steward and receiver of the lordships and manors of Norton, Knyghton, Raydor, Guerthrenyon, Comotoyder, Glasbury, Weryfreton, Cherbury, Terthic, Halcetur, Kadewyn, Newton, Kyry in the marches.
20th May 1483 King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant to the king's kinsman Henry Duke of Buckingham (age 28), of the supervision and power of array of the king's subjects in the counties of Salop, Hereford, Somerset, Dorset and Wilts. By p.s.
20th May 1483 King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's servant William Hastings (age 52), knight, of the office of master and worker of the king's moneys and keeper of the exchange within the Tower of London [Map], the realm of England and the town of Calais according to the form of certain indentures, receiving the accustomed fees. By p.s.
30th June 1483 King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Commission to the king's kinsman John duke of Norfolk (age 58), to execute the office of steward of England at the king's coronation. By K.
30th June 1483 William Catesby (age 33) was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map] Grant for life to William Catesby, esquire, of the office of Baron of the Exchequer, receiving the accustomed fees at the Exchequer or the receipt of the Exchequer, with all rights, profits and commodities. By p.s.
15th July 1483 Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 28) was appointed Constable of England. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's kinsman Henry, Duke of Buckingham, of divers specified offices and powers in North and South Wales and the marches.
The like to the same of the office of constable of England, with the accustomed fees. By p.s.
25th July 1483. John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk (age 58) was appointed Lord Admiral of all England Ireland and Aquitaine. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's kinsman Henry, duke of Norfolk, of the office of admiral of England, Ireland and Aquitaine, with certain specified powers and the accustomed fees. By p.s.
14th August 1483 Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell (age 27) was appointed Chief Butler of England. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's kinsman Francis Lovell, knight, Viscount Lovel, the king's chamberlain, of the office of Chief Butler of England, void by the death of Anthony, late earl Rivers, receiving fees of 100l yearly from the customs and prises of wines and other issues of his office, with all other profits. By p.s.
23rd October 1483 King Richard III of England (age 31). Leicester, Leicestershire [Map]. Precept to the Sheriff of Devon to issue a proclamation (English) denouncing Thomas Dorset, late Marquess of Dorset (age 28), who holds unshameful and mischievous woman called Shore's wife in adultery, Sir William Noreys (age 42), Sir William Knevet (age 43), Sir Thomas Bourghchier of Barnes, Sir George Broun, knights, John Cheyne, John Noreis, Walter Hungerford, John Russh and John Harecourt of Staunton, who have assembled the Person by the comfort of the great rebel the late duke of Bukyngham (age 29) and bishops of Ely and Salisbury, and offering rewards for their capture and pardon for all who withdraw from them. By K.
28th October 1483 King Richard III of England (age 31). Leicester, Leicestershire [Map]. General commission of array to the king's kinsman Francis Lovell, Viscount Lovel his chamberlain, for the resistance of the rebel Henry, duke of Buskingham. Mutilated. By K. by word of mouth.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 5th November 1483 King Richard III of England (age 31). Bridport, Dorset [Map]. Commission of array in Wales to the king's kinsman William, Earl of Huntingdon (age 32), and James Tyrrell (age 28), knight, for the resistance of the rebels. By K. by word of mouth.
The like to James Tyrell, knight.
9th March 1484 King Richard III of England (age 31). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's servant Robert Brackenbury of the office of Constable of the Tower of London and £100 yearly for his wages from the issues of the manors or lordships of Wrottell, Haveryng, Boyton, Hadlegh, Raylegh and Rocheford, co Essex, and Tunbrich, Penshurste, Middleton and Merdon and the hundred of Middleton, co Kent, with arrears from 17 July last, in lieu of a grant to him by letters patent of that date surrendered. By p.s.