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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Paternal Family Tree: Wentworth
Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188
Margery Wentworth was born to [her father] Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth and [her mother] Margaret Fortescue Baroness Wentworth.
In 1521 [her daughter] Margery Williams Baroness Norreys Rycote was born to [her future husband] John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 21) and Margery Wentworth. She married 1533 her half third cousin once removed Henry Norreys 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote and had issue.
On 17th October 1528 [her grandfather] Richard Wentworth 5th Baron Despencer (age 48) died. His son [her father] Thomas (age 27) de jure 6th Baron Despencer.
Around 1533 [her son-in-law] Henry Norreys 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote (age 8) and [her daughter] Margery Williams Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 12) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In or before 1538 [her father] Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth (age 36) and [her mother] Margaret Fortescue Baroness Wentworth (age 35) were married. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1538 [her future husband] John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 38) was appointed Master of the Jewels which position he held until 1544.
On 9th February 1546 [her brother] Thomas Wentworth 2nd Baron Wentworth (age 21) and [her sister-in-law] Mary Wentworth Baroness Wentworth (age 21) were married. They were third cousin once removed.
In 1550 [her father] Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth (age 49) was appointed Lord Chamberlain.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 3rd March 1551 [her father] Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth (age 50) died. He was buried at Chapel of St John the Baptist, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son [her brother] Thomas (age 26) succeeded 2nd Baron Wentworth. His son Thomas de jure 7th Baron Despencer. [her sister-in-law] Mary Wentworth Baroness Wentworth (age 26) by marriage Baroness Wentworth.
On 12th May 1551 [her mother] Margaret Fortescue Baroness Wentworth (age 49) died.
On 8th April 1554 [her future husband] John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 54) was created 1st Baron Williams of Thame.
Before July 1554 [her future husband] John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 54) and Elizabeth Bledlow Baroness Williams (age 50) were married. She by marriage Baroness Williams of Thame.
In 1556 [her brother] Thomas Wentworth 2nd Baron Wentworth (age 31) and [her sister-in-law] Anne Wentworth Baroness Wentworth were married. She by marriage Baroness Wentworth. They were third cousin once removed.
On 19th April 1557 John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 57) and Margery Wentworth were married.
On 14th October 1559 [her husband] John Williams 1st Baron Williams (age 59) died at Ludlow Castle [Map]. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Thame. [her step-daughter] Isabel Williams (age 37) inherited Thame, Oxfordshire. His son Francis succeeded 2nd Baron Williams of Thame although he died four months later at which time the Barony became extinct. Some sources don't mention Francis William 2nd Baron Thame regarding the Barony as extinct following the death of John Williams 1st Baron Williams.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 10th October 1560. The x day of October was mared in the parryche of sant Alphes at Crepullgatt master [her husband] Wylliam Drure (age 33) unto lade Wylliams of Tame, and mared by master Frence on of the masters of Wyndsore, and after gohyng home to dener the trumpettes blohyng, and after the flutt and drum, and at the furst corse servyng the trumpettes blohyng, for ther was a gret dener and gret museke ther....
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 10th October 1560 William Drury (age 33) and Margery Wentworth were married at St Alphege London Wall aka Cripplegate Bassishaw. They were fifth cousins.
In or before 1572 [her brother-in-law] Henry Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 31) and [her sister] Jane Wentworth Baroness Cheyne were married.
In 1572 [her brother-in-law] Henry Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 31) was created 1st Baron Cheyne. [her sister] Jane Wentworth Baroness Cheyne by marriage Baroness Cheyne.
On 12th December 1573 [her daughter] Elizabeth Drury was born to [her husband] William Drury (age 46) and Margery Wentworth.
On 13th October 1579 [her husband] William Drury (age 52) died.
In 1580 James Croft (age 30) and Margery Wentworth were married.
On 13th January 1584 [her brother] Thomas Wentworth 2nd Baron Wentworth (age 59) died. His son [her nephew] Henry (age 25) succeeded 3rd Baron Wentworth. His son Henry de jure 8th Baron Despencer.
In 1587 Margery Wentworth 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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On 4th September 1624 [her former husband] James Croft (age 74) died.
[her daughter] Anne Drury was born to William Drury and Margery Wentworth. She married Robert Hartwell.
[her daughter] Jane Drury was born to William Drury and Margery Wentworth. She married Richard Chetwood.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Wentworth 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Wentworth
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Dronsfield
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Wentworth 8 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Despencer 2nd Baron Despencer 
8 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Despencer 3rd Baroness Despencer, Baroness Ros 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Tiptoft Baroness Despencer 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Wentworth 4th Baron Despencer 4 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Clifford 6th Baron Clifford 
5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Clifford 7th Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ros Baroness Clifford 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Clifford Baroness Despencer 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Hotspur" Percy 3 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Percy Countess of Westmoreland 2 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness Camoys 
Great Grand Daughter of
GrandFather: Richard Wentworth 5th Baron Despencer 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Saye 
7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Saye 7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Boteler Baroness Ferrers Wem 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Saye 8 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Saye Baroness Despencer 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cheney
Great x 3 Grandfather: Lawrence Cheney
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cheney 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cockayne 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cockayne 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ida Grey 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Father: Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth 6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Tyrrell 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Tyrrell
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Flambard
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Tyrrell
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Coggeshall
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Eleanor Coggeshall
Great x 1 Grandfather: James Tyrrell
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Darcy 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Darcy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tyrrell
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Darcy
GrandMother: Anne Tyrrell Baroness Despencer 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Arundell 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Arundell
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor aka Annorah Lambourne
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Arundell 8 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Burghesh 
6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Burghesh 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ismania Hanham
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Arundell 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Morley 6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Morley 6th Baron Marshal 5th Baron Morley 7 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Molines
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Morley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Pole Baroness Marshal and Morley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Margery Wentworth 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fortescue 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Fortescue
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Fortescue
GrandFather: Adrian Fortescue 9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Boleyn 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey Boleyn
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Jane Bracton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Geoffrey Boleyn
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bracton
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Bracton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Boleyn 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Hoo
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hoo 1st Baron Hoo and Hastings 9 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Felton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ann Hoo 7 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Wychingham of Norfolk 5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Wychingham 6 x Great Grand Daughter of
Mother: Margaret Fortescue Baroness Wentworth 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Stonor
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Stonor 6 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk
Great x 3 Grandfather: William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk 4 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Pole 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
GrandMother: Anne Stonor 4 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 
5 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland 
Grand Daughter of
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu 2 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury 
3 x Great Grand Son of
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Holland 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Neville 3 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Ingaldsthorpe
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Ingaldsthorpe
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Pole
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Ingaldsthorpe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Tiptoft 1st Baron Tiptoft
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Tiptoft 4 x Great Grand Daughter of
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joyce Charleton Baroness Tiptoft 3 x Great Grand Daughter of