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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 6th May 1861 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley was born at Knockmaroon. He was educated at Clifton College Bristol, Jesus College, Cambridge University and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
On 15th March 1879 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 17) was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 6th West York (London Gazette 14 March 1879 p2140).
On 20th September 1879 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 18) was promoted to Lieutenant (London Gazette 19 September 1879 p5550).
On 29th July 1882 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 21) was transferred from the 3rd Battalion the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) to the 4th Dragoon Guards (London Gazette 28 July 1882 p3515).
On 7th March 1888 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 26) promoted to Captain (London Gazette 23 March 1888 p1779).
On 5th March 1891 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 29) was seconded for service with the Ordnance Store Department.
On 13th July 1891 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 30) was made deputy-assistant commissary-general of ordinance.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 3rd March 1892 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 30) and Evelyn Everard Hutton (age 32) were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square.
On 17th February 1895 [his daughter] Violet Kathleen Brinkley was born to Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 33) and [his wife] Evelyn Everard Hutton (age 35) at Tongham, Surrey. She married 1929 Joseph Crosland Graham.
On 16th February 1898 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 36) was promoted to major in the 4th Dragoon Guards.
On 19th February 1902 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 40) retired after which he also served as Chief Constable for Lincolnshire.
On 31st July 1903 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (age 42) died.
On 4th August 1903 Charles Michael Edgeworth Brinkley (deceased) was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Abbots Leigh. Some letters from Charles Brinkley are held in the Denbighshire Record Office. DD/PR/69vi has a letter from Charles M.E. Brinkley in Queenstown, to his future wife, Evelyn Hutton, Bath, regarding voyage to Ireland in April 1891 and DD/PR/69(xxxix-lxiii) has letters from Charles M.E. Brinkley to his wife in Bath, relating to his voyage on SS Arabia from India in 1900, and a voyage to Madeira in 1903.
On 17th July 1937 [his former wife] Evelyn Everard Hutton (age 77) died.