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: Howard
Before 1740 [his father] Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk (age 19) and [his mother] Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 21) were married.
On 15th March 1746 Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk was born to [his father] Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk (age 25) and [his mother] Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 27).
On 1st August 1767 Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 21) and Marion Coppinger were married. He the son of Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk (age 46) and Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 49).
On 6th April 1771 Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 25) and Frances Scudamore Duchess Norfolk (age 21) were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk. Shortly after their marriage she exhibited signs of mental instability and spent the rest of her life confined to Holme Lacy House, Herefordshire [Map]. He the son of Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk (age 50) and Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 52).
On 20th September 1777 Edward Howard 9th Duke of Norfolk (age 91) died. Earl Norwich and Baron Howard of Castle Rising extinct. His second cousin [his father] Charles (age 56) succeeded 10th Duke Norfolk, 21st or 28th Earl Arundel, 11th Earl Surrey, 8th Earl Norfolk, 18th Baron Maltravers, 18th Baron Arundel. [his mother] Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 59) by marriage Duchess Norfolk. Baron Furnivall, Baron Talbot, Baron Strange Blackmere, Baron Mowbray and Baron Segrave abeyant.
On 24th November 1784 [his mother] Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk (age 66) died.
Around 1785 Thomas Gainsborough (age 57). Portrait of Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 38).
On 17th August 1785 [his illegitimate son] William Woods Howard was born illegitimately to Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 39).
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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On 31st August 1786 [his father] Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk (age 65) died. His son Charles (age 40) succeeded 11th Duke Norfolk, 22nd or 29th Earl Arundel, 12th Earl Surrey, 9th Earl Norfolk, 19th Baron Maltravers, 19th Baron Arundel. [his wife] Frances Scudamore Duchess Norfolk (age 36) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
On 20th September 1790 [his illegitimate son] Henry Frederick Stephenson was born illegitimately to Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 44).
On 16th December 1815 Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 69) died. His third cousin Bernard (age 50) succeeded 12th Duke Norfolk, 23rd or 30th Earl Arundel, 13th Earl Surrey, 10th Earl Norfolk, 20th Baron Maltravers, 20th Baron Arundel. Elizabeth Belasyse Duchess Norfolk (age 45) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
1816. James Lonsdale (age 38). Portrait of Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk.
1819. James Lonsdale (age 41). Portrait of Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk looking over the Wye Bridge [Map] and Hereford Cathedral [Map].
On 22nd October 1820 [his former wife] Frances Scudamore Duchess Norfolk (age 70) died without issue. She was buried at St Cuthbert's Church, Holme Lacy [Map].
After a prolonged legal battle Edwyn Francis Scudamore-Stanhope 2nd Baronet (age 26) inherited Holme Lacy House, Herefordshire [Map]. He being a descendant of Mary Scudamore Lady Bridges, daughter of James Scudamore, who married Giles Brydges 1st Baronet: John Brydges 2nd Baronet, James Brydges 8th Baron Chandos. James Brydges 1st Duke Chandos. John Brydges to Catherine Brydges who married Edwyn Francis Stanhope and were the parents of Henry Edwin Stanhope 1st Baronet who was the father of Edwyn Francis Scudamore-Stanhope 2nd Baronet.
[his illegitimate son] Matthew Gibbon Howard was born illegitimately to Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk and Mary Ann Gibbon.
[his illegitimate son] Edward Gibbon Howard was born illegitimately to Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk and Mary Ann Gibbon.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Dacre Countess Arundel 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Howard 15th or 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Howard 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arundel and Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gervase Clifton 1st Baron Clifton 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Darcy 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Henry Charles Howard 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Tattershall
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Tattershall
Father: Charles Howard 10th Duke of Norfolk 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Mary Aylyward
Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: John Brockholes
Mother: Catherine Brockholes Duchess Norfolk 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Michael Johnson of Tursell Hall in County Durham
GrandMother: Mary Johnson 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Eure 2nd Baron Eure 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Eure of Bradley in County Durham 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dymoke 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Eure of Elvet and Kelloe in County Durham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bowes of Streatlam
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Bowes 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Scrope 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Eure 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England