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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On 13th October 1817 [his father] Benjamin East [aged 21] and [his mother] Elizabeth Wright [aged 18] were married.
On 15th December 1844 Alfred East was born to Benjamin East [aged 48] and Elizabeth Wright [aged 45] at Lower Street, Kettering. He was their youngest child. Alfred attended the local grammar school and took up his father's occupation as a shoe clicker before becoming a commercial traveller in boots & shoes and was a partner in Charles East & Co., shoe manufacturers at Kettering.
In 1871 Alfred East [aged 26] was boarding at 5 Queen Street, St George's, Glasgow and studying at the Glasgow School of Art, later studying at Académie Julian and L'Ecole Des Beaux Arts, under William-Adolphe Bougereau (1825-1905), in Paris.
In 1874 Alfred East [aged 29] and Sarah Annie Heath [aged 29] were married.
In 1876 [his mother] Elizabeth Wright [aged 77] died.
In 1882 [his father] Benjamin East [aged 86] died.
. Around 1885. Alfred East [aged 40]. "An English Farmstead".
. 1897. Alfred East [aged 52]. "The Sleepy River Somme".
In 1899 Alfred East [aged 54] was elected Associate of the Royal Academy.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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. Around 1903. Alfred East [aged 58]. "Château Gaillard [Map]".
In 1906 Alfred East [aged 61] was elected President of the Royal Society of British Artists, which position he held until his death.
1907. Philip de László [aged 37]. Portrait of Alfred East [aged 62].
In 1910 Alfred East [aged 65] was knighted.
. 1912. Alfred East [aged 67]. Self-portrait.
. Before 1913. Alfred East [aged 68]. "Kirkstall Abbey, West Yorkshire [Map]".
In 1913 Alfred East [aged 68] was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy.
On 28th September 1913 Alfred East [aged 68] died at his London residence in Belsize Park.