The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Paternal Family Tree: Bardolf
Maternal Family Tree: Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison
Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley was born to Thomas Bardolf 2nd Baron Bardolf and Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf.
In September 1304 [her grandfather] Hugh Bardolf 1st Baron Bardolf [aged 44] died. His son [her father] Thomas [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Baron Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
In 1306 John Northwoode and [her mother] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 17] were married.
In 1331 [her father] Thomas Bardolf 2nd Baron Bardolf [aged 48] and [her mother] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 42] were married. She by marriage Baroness Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
Before 23rd August 1334 [her brother-in-law] Adam Welles 3rd Baron Welles [aged 30] and [her sister] Margaret Bardolf Baroness Welles [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Welles.
In 1345 [her sister] Margaret Bardolf Baroness Welles [aged 32] died.
Before 6th March 1345 William Morley 4th Baron Marshal 3rd Baron Morley [aged 26] and Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley were married.
Before 1349 [her brother] John Bardolf 3rd Baron Bardolf [aged 34] and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Damory Baroness Bardolf [aged 30] were married. She by marriage Baroness Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
On 23rd November 1349 [her mother] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 60] died at Ruskington.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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Around 1354 [her son] Thomas Morley 5th Baron Marshal 4th Baron Morley was born to [her husband] William Morley 4th Baron Marshal 3rd Baron Morley [aged 35] and Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley. He married (1) before 3rd April 1374 his half sixth cousin Joan Hastings Baroness Marshal and Morley and had issue (2) before 10th June 1380 Elizabeth Unknown Baroness Marshal Baroness Morley (3) before 21st October 1390 his fourth cousin once removed Anne Despencer Baroness Hastings, Marshal and Morley, daughter of Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh and Elizabeth Burghesh 3rd Baron Burghesh.
On 11th December 1357 [her father] Thomas Bardolf 2nd Baron Bardolf [aged 75] died. His son [her brother] John [aged 43] succeeded 3rd Baron Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
In 1360 [her father-in-law] Robert Morley Baron Marshal, 2nd Baron Morley died. In 1360 His son [her husband] William [aged 41] succeeded 4th Baron Marshal, 3rd Baron Morley. Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley by marriage Baroness Marshal, Baroness Morley.
On 29th July 1363 [her brother] John Bardolf 3rd Baron Bardolf [aged 49] died at Assisi. His son [her nephew] William [aged 13] succeeded 4th Baron Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk. Agnes Poynings Baroness Bardolf by marriage Baroness Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
Before 3rd April 1374 [her son] Thomas Morley 5th Baron Marshal 4th Baron Morley [aged 20] and [her daughter-in-law] Joan Hastings Baroness Marshal and Morley [aged 17] were married. They were half sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1379 [her husband] William Morley 4th Baron Marshal 3rd Baron Morley [aged 60] died. He was buried at Austin Friars, Norwich [Map]. In 1379 His son Thomas [aged 25] succeeded 5th Baron Marshal, 4th Baron Morley. Joan Hastings Baroness Marshal and Morley [aged 22] by marriage Baroness Marshal, Baroness Morley.
Before 10th June 1380 [her son] Thomas Morley 5th Baron Marshal 4th Baron Morley [aged 26] and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Unknown Baroness Marshal Baroness Morley were married. She by marriage Baroness Marshal, Baroness Morley.
On 23rd November 1386 Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley died. She was buried at Austin Friars, Norwich [Map].
Engravings of Sepulchral Brasses Volume 1. Sir Bryan and Lady Stapleton, at Ingham, 1438.
Blomefield's Norf, ix. 321. Gough's Sepulch. Monum. i. 119.
Sir Bryan, son of the late-mentioned Sir Miles and Ela Stapleton, was, according to Blomefield, born in 1378. In the registers of the Order of the Garter, given by Anstis, in his second volume, I find a Sir Bryan Stapleton, one of the knights of that order, from the seventh to the fourteenth of Richard II but what relation he bore to the knight of the same name, at Ingham, I do not know. The latter married Cecilia, daughter of Lord William Bardolf, whom he survived two years. In their effigies, which, till within twenty years, lay on the north side of the chancel, there is nothing remarkable, excepting that the knight is the first who has steel flaps to his cuirass instead of mail tasses,1 and his lady has the beginning of the mitre head-dress. The care too which has perpetuated the memory of the knight has perpetuated that of his dog also, whose name, Yai, is recorded on the monument. Above the canopy was Stapleton impaling Ufford; Lord Bardolf, Azure, three cinquefoils pierced or, impaling Barry of six, a bend over all, Lord Ponyngs, perhaps; and Stapleton impaling Bardolf.
The the inscription the date of his death, 1438, is lost.
Note 1. The tasses were never of mail, but sometimes what was termed a petticoat of mail was at a later period attached to the lowest tace. These are indeed the tuiles in their incipient state, and as there are four hinges, it seems probable that the artist forgot to put the dividing line between them.—S.R.M.
Note 2. Drawn by John Sell Cotman [aged 33] in 1816.
Bryan Stapleton: Bryan Stapleton and Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley were married. Around 1379 he was born to Miles Stapleton at Ingham, Norfolk. On 7th August 1438 Bryan Stapleton died.
Bryan Stapleton and Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley were married.
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Bardolf 
GrandFather: Hugh Bardolf 1st Baron Bardolf
Great x 1 Grandmother: Juliane Gournay
Father: Thomas Bardolf 2nd Baron Bardolf
Cecily Bardolf Baroness Marshal and Morley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Pierre Grandison
GrandFather: William Grandison 1st Baron Grandison
Mother: Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf
GrandMother: Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison