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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
Describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience.
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Paternal Family Tree: Wray
In 1555 William Wray 1st Baronet was born to [his father] Christopher Wray (age 31) and [his mother] Anne Girlington.
In 1562 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 38) was appointed Reader at Lincoln's Inn at Lincoln's Inn.
In 1566 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 42) was appointed Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn at Lincoln's Inn.
Around March 1567 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 43) was appointed Reader at Lincoln's Inn at Lincoln's Inn.
On 18th June 1567 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 43) was appointed Serjeant at Law at Lincoln's Inn.
In 1571 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 47) was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons.
On 8th November 1574 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 50) was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 6th April 1580 William Wray 1st Baronet (age 25) and Lucy Montagu were married.
In 1583 [his brother-in-law] George St Paul 1st Baronet (age 21) and [his sister] Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married.
On 20th December 1583 Edward Arden (age 50) was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield [Map] for having plotted against Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 50) with his son-in-law John Somerville (deceased) who had implicated him during torture. He was tried by [his father] Christopher Wray (age 59).
On 19th December 1583 John Somerville committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell.
The heads of John Somerville and Edward Arden were set on London Bridge [Map] next to the head of the Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond (deceased).
On 27th November 1586 [his son] John Wray 2nd Baronet was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 31) and [his wife] Lucy Montagu. He married September 1607 Grisilla Bethell Lady Glentworth and had issue.
In May 1591 [his son] Nathaniel Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 36) and [his wife] Lucy Montagu. He died aged less than one years old.
In July 1591 [his son] Nathaniel Wray died.
On 7th May 1592 [his father] Christopher Wray (age 68) died. He was buried in St Michael's Church, Glentworth [Map]. Monument to Sir Chistopher and his wife [his mother] Anne Girlington. Elizabethan Period. Elephant and Castle Crest. Pink, white and blue-grey marble. Two recumbent effigies, Sir Christopher above and a little behind his wife, he in red robes, black cap and thick ruff; she in black robes, large ruff and hood. Four kneeling white marble daughters below. Ornate tomb recess above with flanking pink marble columns with white and gold Corinthian Capitals. Undersurface of Recess decorated with white and gold bay leaves. Plaque inscribed above with raised plaque above with Sir Christopher's son at prayer flanked by coats of arms and obelisks.
Anne Girlington: she was born to Nicholas Girlington. Christopher Wray and she were married. After 7th May 1592 Anne Girlington was buried at St Michael's Church, Glentworth [Map]. Before 18th October 1602 John Darcy 2nd Baron Darcy Aston and Anne Babington were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston. They were sixth cousins.
In 1594 William Wray 1st Baronet (age 39) was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.
In or before 1595 Nicholas Clifford of Bobbing Kent and [his future wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 18) were married.
On 14th June 1595 Godfrey Foljambe (age 36) died at Bedale. On 12th February 1623 [his sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy died. Monument in St Mary and All Saints Church, Chesterfield [Map] to Godfrey Foljambe and Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy.
Godfrey Foljambe: Godfrey Foljambe and Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married. On 21st November 1558 he was born to Godfrey Foljambe and Troth Tyrwhitt at Walton, Derbyshire [Map].
Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy: she was born to Christopher Wray and Anne Girlington. After 14th June 1595 William Bowes and she were married. On 7th May 1617 John Darcy 3rd Baron Darcy Aston and she were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston.
After 14th June 1595 [his brother-in-law] William Bowes (age 44) and [his sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married.
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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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In June 1596 [his son] Philip Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 41) and [his wife] Lucy Montagu.
On 1st March 1599 [his wife] Lucy Montagu died. She was buried at Lincoln Cathedral [Map].
In 1601 [his son] Christopher Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 46) and [his future wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 24). He married 3rd August 1623 his fourth cousin once removed Albinia Cecil, daughter of Edward Cecil 1st Viscount Wimbledon and Theodosia Noel, and had issue.
Before May 1601 William Wray 1st Baronet (age 46) and Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 24) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years.
Before 23rd October 1603 [his son] George Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 48) and [his wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 27). He died aged two point eight nine two seven five in 1606.
Before 7th April 1605 [his son] Charles Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 50) and [his wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 28).
In 1606 [his son] George Wray (age 2) died.
In September 1607 [his son] John Wray 2nd Baronet (age 20) and [his daughter-in-law] Grisilla Bethell Lady Glentworth (age 18) were married.
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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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Before 27th October 1610 [his daughter] Frances Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet (age 55) and [his wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 34). She married 25th March 1623 her third cousin Anthony Irby and had issue.
On 25th November 1611 a further tranche of Baronets was created by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 45)...
Edward Devereux 1st Baronet (age 67) was created 1st Baronet Devereux of Castle Bromwich. Catherine Arden Baroness Devereux (age 53) by marriage Lady Devereux of Castle Bromwich.
Francis Englefield 1st Baronet (age 50) was created 1st Baronet Englefield of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.
Harbottle Grimston 1st Baronet (age 42) was created 1st Baronet Grimston of Bradfield.
John Portman 1st Baronet (age 36) was created 1st Baronet Portman of Orchard Portman in Somerset.
William Wray 1st Baronet (age 56) was created 1st Baronet Wray of Glentworth in Lincolnshire. [his wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 35) by marriage Lady Wray of Glentworth in Lincolnshire.
Thomas Puckering 1st Baronet (age 19) was created 1st Baronet Puckering of Weston in Hertfordshire.
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On 21st October 1614 [his son-in-law] Francis Foljambe 1st Baronet (age 24) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Wray Lady Walton were married.
In 1616 [his brother-in-law] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick (age 56) and [his sister] Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez.
On 7th May 1617 [his brother-in-law] John Darcy 3rd Baron Darcy Aston (age 45) and [his sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston.
On 13th August 1617 William Wray 1st Baronet (age 62) died. His son John (age 30) succeeded 2nd Baronet Wray of Glentworth in Lincolnshire. [his daughter-in-law] Grisilla Bethell Lady Glentworth (age 28) by marriage Lady Wray of Glentworth in Lincolnshire.
Around 1637 [his former wife] Frances Drury Lady Glentworth (age 60) died.
[his son] Charles Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu.
[his father] Christopher Wray and [his mother] Anne Girlington were married.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Wray Lady Walton was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu. She married 21st October 1614 Francis Foljambe 1st Baronet and had issue.
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The 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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[his son] Edward Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu. He married 27th March 1622 Elizabeth Norreys 3rd Baroness Norreys Rycote, daughter of Francis Norreys 1st Earl Berkshire and Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote, and had issue.
[his son] Nathaniel Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu.
[his son] Benjamin Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu.
[his son] Christopher Wray was born to William Wray 1st Baronet and Lucy Montagu.
GrandFather: Thomas Wray
Father: Christopher Wray
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Jackson
GrandMother: Joan Jackson
GrandFather: Nicholas Girlington
Mother: Anne Girlington