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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Around 1735 Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard was born. She was possibly the daughter of a tailor in Bond Street in London.
After 1750. Joshua Reynolds [aged 26]. Portrait of Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 15].
Around 1760 Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 25] was working as a prostitute with clients including William Petty 1st Marquess Lansdowne [aged 22].
In 1764 Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 29] commenced an affair with Augustus Henry Fitzroy 3rd Duke Grafton [aged 28]. FitzRoy kept Parsons at his townhouse and took her to the opera offending society's standards.
On 23rd March 1769 Augustus Henry Fitzroy 3rd Duke Grafton [aged 33] and Anne Liddell Duchess Grafton [aged 32] were divorced when he discovered she was pregnant by her lover John Fitzpatrick 2nd Earl Upper Ossory [aged 23] whom she subsequently married. Plans to marry his mistress Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 34], if they existed, were undermined by the discovery he discovered she was having an affair with John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset [aged 23].
1771. George Willison [aged 30]. Portrait of Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 36] in Turkish Dress.
On 18th January 1772 William Maynard 4th Baronet [aged 51] died. His son [her future husband] Charles [aged 19] succeeded 5th Baronet Maynard of Walthamstow in Essex.
On 30th June 1775 Charles Maynard 1st Viscount Maynard [aged 85] died. Baron Maynard of Wicklow, Baron Maynard of Estaines ad Turrim Little Easton extinct. His third cousin once removed [her future husband] Charles [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Viscount Maynard of Easton Lodge in Essex, 2nd Baron Maynard of Much Easton in Essex. Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 40] by marriage Viscountess Maynard of Easton Lodge in Essex.
On 24th September 1776 Charles Maynard 2nd Viscount Maynard [aged 24] and Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 41] were married.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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In 1784 Anne aka Nancy Parsons Viscountess Maynard [aged 49] became interested in Francis Russell 5th Duke Bedford [aged 18]. She and her husband Charles Maynard 2nd Viscount Maynard [aged 31], and Francis Russell 5th Duke Bedford spent the winter of 1785/1786 in Nice.
On 10th March 1824 [her former husband] Charles Maynard 2nd Viscount Maynard [aged 71] died. His nephew Charles [aged 37] succeeded 3rd Viscount Maynard of Easton Lodge in Essex, 3rd Baron Maynard of Much Easton in Essex, 6th Baronet Maynard of Walthamstow in Essex.