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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Paternal Family Tree: Feilding
Before 1585 [his father] Basil Feilding of Newnham Paddock in Monk's Kirby in Warwickshire [aged 17] and [his mother] Elizabeth Aston were married.
Around 1587 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh was born to [his father] Basil Feilding of Newnham Paddock in Monk's Kirby in Warwickshire [aged 20] and [his mother] Elizabeth Aston.
In 1603 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 16] was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge University [Map].
In 1606 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 19] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of George Villiers of Brokesby [aged 62] and Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 36].
In 1607 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 20] was knighted.
Around 1608 [his son] Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh was born to William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 21] and [his wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 25]. He married (1) before 10th March 1635 Anne Weston, daughter of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland and Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland (2) 12th August 1639 Barbara Lamb (3) 8th July 1641 Elizabeth Bourchier Countess Denbigh, daughter of Edward Bourchier 4th Earl Bath and Dorothy St John Countess Bath (4) after 22nd September 1670 Dorothy Lane Countess Denbigh.
In 1613 [his daughter] Margaret aka Mary Feilding was born to William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 26] and [his wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 30]. She married 16th June 1622 James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton, son of James Hamilton 2nd Marquess Hamilton and Ann Cunningham Marchioness Hamilton, and had issue.
Around 1614 [his son] George Feilding 1st Earl Desmond was born to William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 27] and [his wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 31]. He married before 29th December 1640 Bridget Stanhope Countess Desmond and had issue.
On 5th January 1617 [his brother-in-law] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 24] was created 1st Earl Buckingham by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 50]; his favourite.
In 1618 [his brother-in-law] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 25] was created 1st Marquess of Buckingham.
On 16th May 1620 [his brother-in-law] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 27] and Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Countess Buckingham. She the daughter of Francis Manners 6th Earl of Rutland [aged 42] and Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill. He the son of [his father-in-law] George Villiers of Brokesby and [his mother-in-law] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 50].
On 30th December 1620 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 33] was created 1st Viscount Feilding, 1st Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddocks in Warwickshire. [his wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 37] by marriage Viscountess Feilding.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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In 1622 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 35] was appointed Master of the Great Wardrobe to King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 55].
In 1622 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 35] was appointed Custos Rotulorum Warwickshire.
On 27th March 1622 Edward Wray and Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 19] were married at Church of St Mary Aldermary. [his brother-in-law] Christopher Villiers [aged 29], brother of George, Duke of Buckingham [aged 29], had, with Royal encouragement, sought her hand. To avoid being forced into a marriage with him she eloped with Edward Wray. She the daughter of Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote [aged 37].
On 16th June 1622 [his son-in-law] James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton [aged 15] and Margaret aka Mary Feilding [aged 9] were married. She the daughter of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 35] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 39]. He the son of James Hamilton 2nd Marquess Hamilton [aged 33] and Ann Cunningham Marchioness Hamilton [aged 37].
On 14th September 1622 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 35] was created 1st Earl Denbigh. [his wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 39] by marriage Countess Denbigh.
Before 18th April 1623 [his brother-in-law] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 30] and Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 15] were married. He the son of [his father-in-law] George Villiers of Brokesby and [his mother-in-law] Mary Beaumont 1st Countess Buckingham [aged 53].
On 18th April 1623 [his brother-in-law] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 30] was created 1st Earl Anglesey, 1st Baron Villiers of Daventry. Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 15] by marriage Countess Anglesey.
On 18th May 1623 [his brother-in-law] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 30] was created 1st Duke of Buckingham by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 56] for being his favourite; what favourite means is open to debate. Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham [aged 21] by marriage Duchess of Buckingham.
On 23rd August 1628 [his brother-in-law] George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 35] was murdered at Greyhound Pub, Portsmouth by a disgruntled soldier John Felton [aged 33]. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son George succeeded 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 2nd Marquess of Buckingham, 2nd Earl Buckingham.
Felton was considered a hero by many who blamed Buckingham for the failures of the 1625 Cádiz Expedition and 1627 Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Felton was subsequently hanged.
On 29th November 1628 John Felton [aged 33] was hanged at Tyburn [Map] for having murdered the [his brother-in-law] Duke of Buckingham.
On 3rd April 1630 [his brother-in-law] Christopher Villiers 1st Earl Anglesey [aged 37] died at Windsor, Berkshire [Map]. He was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map]. His son Charles succeeded 2nd Earl Anglesey, 2nd Baron Villiers of Daventry.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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In January 1631 Frederick Cornwallis 1st Baron Cornwallis [aged 19] and Elizabeth Ashburnham [aged 18] were married. After the wedding King Charles I [aged 30], Henrietta Maria [aged 21] and [his wife] Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh [aged 48] wrote to congratulate his mother Jane, Baroness Cornwallis Bacon [aged 50], and ask her to forgive him for his disobedience and return him to her favour. Denbigh said Ashburnham was her cousin "though her family be unfortunate".
On 25th December 1632 [his son-in-law] Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden [aged 21] and Anne Feilding were married. She the daughter of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 45] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 49].
Around 1633 Anthony Van Dyck [aged 33]. Portrait of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 46].
In August 1633 [his father] Basil Feilding of Newnham Paddock in Monk's Kirby in Warwickshire [aged 66] died.
Before 10th March 1635 Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 27] and Anne Weston were married. She the daughter of Richard Weston 1st Earl of Portland [aged 58] and Frances Waldegrave Countess Portland [aged 58]. He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 48] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 52].
In 1636 [his daughter] Anne Feilding died.
Before 10th May 1638 [his daughter] Margaret aka Mary Feilding [aged 25] died.
On 12th August 1639 Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 31] and Barbara Lamb were married. He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 52] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 56].
On 26th December 1639 [his son-in-law] Lewis Boyle 1st Viscount Boyle [aged 20] and Elizabeth Feilding Countess Guildford were married at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall Palace. She the daughter of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 52] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 56]. He the son of Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork [aged 73] and Catherine Fenton Countess Cork.
Before 29th December 1640 George Feilding 1st Earl Desmond [aged 26] and Bridget Stanhope Countess Desmond [aged 25] were married. He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 53] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 57].
On 8th July 1641 Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 33] and Elizabeth Bourchier Countess Denbigh [aged 15] were married three months after the death of his second wife Barbara Lamb. She the daughter of Edward Bourchier 4th Earl Bath and Dorothy St John Countess Bath. He the son of William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 54] and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 58].
On 23rd October 1642 the Battle of Edge Hill was fought at Edge Hill [Map]. The Royal army was commanded by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 41] (with his son King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 12] present), Prince Rupert Palatinate Simmern 1st Duke Cumberland [aged 22] and Richard Spencer [aged 49] commanded the army that included Maurice Palatinate Simmern [aged 21], Richard Byron 2nd Baron Byron [aged 36], Lucius Carey 2nd Viscount Falkland [aged 32], Charles Cavendish [aged 22], Henry Newton aka Puckering 3rd Baronet [aged 24], Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton [aged 41], Thomas Salusbury 2nd Baronet [aged 30], John Byron 1st Baron Byron [aged 43] and William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 55].
George Stewart 9th Seigneur D'Aubigny [aged 24] was killed.
Of the Parliamentary army Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 34] and Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 51]. Oliver St John 5th Baron St John [aged 39] was wounded.
Samuel Sandes [aged 27] commanded a troop of horse.
Richard Sandes [aged 26] was killed.
Thomas Strickland [aged 20] was knighted on the field for his gallantry.
Henry Hunloke 1st Baronet [aged 24] was knighted by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.
William Dugdale [aged 37] witnessed the battle and subsequently surveyed the battlefield.
John Hinton [aged 38] was present.
Edward Verney [aged 52] was killed.
John Assheton [aged 29] was killed.
Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey [aged 59] was killed. His son Montagu [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Earl Lindsey, 15th Baron Willoughby de Eresby.
William Pennyman 1st Baronet [aged 35] commanded a regiment, of which he served as Colonel, which he led for the King.
Edward Stradling 2nd Baronet [aged 42] fought for the King, was captured imprisoned for seven months, and died a month after his release.
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On 3rd April 1643 a company of Parliamentarians from the Lichfield garrison with the support of some of the local townsmen, approximately 300 men, attempted to stop a detachment of 1,400 Royalists under the command of Prince Rupert [aged 23] from passing through the unfortified parliamentary town of Birmingham.
William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 56] was wounded during the Battle of Camp Hill; he died five daye later.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 8th April 1643 William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh [aged 56] died from wounds received at the Battle of Camp Hill at Monks Kikby, Warwickshire. His son Basil [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Earl Denbigh, 2nd Viscount Feilding, 2nd Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddocks in Warwickshire. Elizabeth Bourchier Countess Denbigh [aged 17] by marriage Countess Denbigh.
In 1652 [his former wife] Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh [aged 69] died.
On 2nd February 1664 [his son] Basil Feilding 2nd Earl Denbigh [aged 56] was created 1st Baron St Liz with special remainder to the heirs male of his father William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh.
[his daughter] Anne Feilding, Elizabeth Feilding Countess Guildford and Henrietta Marie Feilding were born to William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh and Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh.
GrandFather: William Feilding of Newnham Paddock 
Father: Basil Feilding of Newnham Paddock in Monk's Kirby in Warwickshire
William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh
GrandFather: Walter Aston of Tixall in Staffordshire
Mother: Elizabeth Aston