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: St John
In 1879 Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke was born to Beauchamp St John 17th Baron St John [aged 34].
On 2nd November 1887 [her uncle] St Andrew St John 16th Baron St John [aged 47] died. His brother [her father] Beauchamp [aged 42] succeeded 17th Baron St John of Bletso, 14th Baronet St John of Woodford in Northamptonshire.
On 4th December 1902 George Lawson Johnston 1st Baron Luke [aged 29] and Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 23] were married.
On 7th June 1905 [her son] Ian Lawson Johnston 2nd Baron Luke was born to [her husband] George Lawson Johnston 1st Baron Luke [aged 31] and Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 26]. He married 1932 Barbara Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe and had issue.
1908. Bassano Ltd. Photograph of Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 29]
1908. Bassano Ltd. Photograph of Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 29]
On 10th May 1912 [her father] Beauchamp St John 17th Baron St John [aged 67] died. His son [her brother] Henry [aged 35] succeeded 18th Baron St John of Bletso, 15th Baronet St John of Woodford in Northamptonshire.
On 17th October 1920 Henry St John 18th Baron St John [aged 44] died. His brother Moubray [aged 42] succeeded 19th Baron St John of Bletso, 16th Baronet St John of Woodford in Northamptonshire.
The London Gazette 33516. Whitehall, July 10, 1929. The KING has been pleased, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm, bearing date the 9th instant, to confer the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom upon Sir [her husband] George Lawson Lawson-Johnston [aged 55], K.B.E., and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style and title of Baron Luke, of Pavenham in the County of Bedford. [Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 50] by marriage Baroness Luke of Pavenham in Bedfordshire.]
In 1932 [her son] Ian Lawson Johnston 2nd Baron Luke [aged 26] and [her daughter-in-law] Barbara Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe 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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On 28th October 1934 [her brother] Moubray St John 19th Baron St John [aged 56] died. His son [her nephew] John [aged 17] succeeded 20th Baron St John of Bletso, 17th Baronet St John of Woodford in Northamptonshire.
In 1941 Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke [aged 62] died.
On 23rd February 1943 [her former husband] George Lawson Johnston 1st Baron Luke [aged 69] died. His son Ian [aged 37] succeeded 2nd Baron Luke of Pavenham in Bedfordshire.
Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 27 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 28 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew St John 2nd Baronet 
12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John St John 11th Baron St John 13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John St John 12th Baron St John 14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ambrose Crowley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Crowley Baroness St John
Great x 1 Grandfather: Andrew St John 14th Baron St John 15 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Simond of London
Great x 2 Grandmother: Susanne Louise Simond
GrandFather: Andrew St John 15th Baron St John 16 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Rouse-Boughton 9th Baronet
Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise Rouse-Boughton Baroness St John
Father: Beauchamp St John 17th Baron St John 17 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Edith Laura St John Baroness Luke 18 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England