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: Boleyn
Before 1406 [his father] Geoffrey Boleyn (age 25) and [his mother] Alice Bracton (age 20) were married. They were first cousins.
In 1406 Geoffrey Boleyn was born to [his father] Geoffrey Boleyn (age 26) and [his mother] Alice Bracton (age 21). Coefficient of inbreeding 3.12%.
In 1434 [his daughter] Isabella Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 28) and [his future wife] Ann Hoo (age 9) at Blickling, Norfolk. She married (1) Henry Aucher (2) William Cheney and had issue.
Around 1438 [his daughter] Alice Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 32) and [his future wife] Ann Hoo (age 13). She married in or before 1476 John Fortescue and had issue.
Around 1440 [his daughter] Anne Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 34) and [his future wife] Ann Hoo (age 15). She married before December 1465 Henry Heydon and had issue.
On 25th March 1440 [his father] Geoffrey Boleyn (age 60) died. Around 1414 [his mother] Alice Bracton died. Memorial brass in the floor of the nave of Church of St Peter and St Paul, Salle [Map]. It originally also had tiny figures representing their 5 sons and 4 daughters, but the inlay is lost. Inscription: Hic jacet Galfrid. Boleyn qui obt. 25 die mensis Martij 1440, et Alicie, uxor. ejus, et pueror. suorum, quorum a'i'ab; &c. Label: Dominus propitius esto nobis peccatorib. ie "Here lies Geoffrey Boleyn who died the 25th day of the month of March A.D. 1440, and Alice, his wife, and children, on whose souls may God have mercy Amen"
Geoffrey Boleyn: Around 1380 he was born to Thomas Boleyn and Anne Jane Bracton. Before 1406 Geoffrey Boleyn and Alice Bracton were married. They were first cousins. In 1408 Geoffrey Boleyn provided timber for the building of Church of St Peter and St Paul, Salle [Map]. The church was paid for by four Lords of the manor, Geoffrey Boleyn, Thomas Brigge, Thomas Roos and an unknown person, with newly acquired wealth from the wool trade.
Alice Bracton: Around 1385 she was born to John Bracton at Salle, Norfolk.
Before 1442 Geoffrey Boleyn (age 35) and Ann Hoo (age 16) were married.
Around 1442 [his daughter] Cecily Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 36) and [his wife] Ann Hoo (age 17).
Around 1442 [his son] Thomas Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 36) and [his wife] Ann Hoo (age 17).
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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Around 1447 [his son] Simon Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 41) and [his wife] Ann Hoo (age 22).
In 1451 [his son] William Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 45) and [his wife] Ann Hoo (age 26) at Blickling, Norfolk. He married 1465 Margaret Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler 7th Earl Ormonde and Anne Hankford Countess Ormonde, and had issue.
Chronicle of Gregory. 1457. Mayor: Geoffrey Boleyn (age 51). Sheriffs: Reyner, Edwar.
In 1457 Geoffrey Boleyn (age 51) was appointed Lord Mayor of London.
Around 1459 [his daughter] Elizabeth Boleyn was born to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 53) and [his wife] Ann Hoo (age 34).
Before 5th November 1459 Blickling Hall, Norfolk [Map] was in the possession of John Fastolf (age 79).
John Fastolf sold it to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 53) who made it his country seat.
The estate passed to [his granddaughter] Alice Boleyn who married [his grandson-in-law] Robert Clere (age 13). Their grandson Edward Clere ran into debt and sold the estate to Henry Hobart 1st Baronet.
Patent Rolls. 25th July 1461. Westminster Palace [Map]. Exemption for life of Geoffrey Boleyne (age 55), alderman of London, for his good service to the king's father, from being put on assizes, juries, inquisitions, attaints or recognisances and dfrom being made trier of them, taxer, collector, or assesor of customs, taxes, tallages, fifteenths, tenths or other subsidies, knight, major, sheriff, escheator, commissioner, constable, sheriff, bailiff or other officer or minister of the king against his will. By p.s.
In 1462 Geoffrey Boleyn (age 56) purchased Hever Castle, Kent [Map] from the Cobham family.
In 1462 William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele (age 34) sold Hever Castle, Kent [Map] to Geoffrey Boleyn (age 56) to pay for his building programme at Broughton, Oxfordshire.
In 1463 Geoffrey Boleyn (age 57) died. He was buried at St Lawrence Jewry. His son William Boleyn (age 12) inherited Hever Castle, Kent [Map].
On 6th June 1484 [his former wife] Ann Hoo (age 59) died.
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.
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Thomas Fiennes and Ann Hoo were married.
GrandFather: Thomas Boleyn 
Father: Geoffrey Boleyn
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Bracton
GrandMother: Anne Jane Bracton
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Bracton
GrandFather: John Bracton
Mother: Alice Bracton