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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Ashbourne, Derbyshire is in Derbyshire Dales.
See: Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map], Hough, Derbyshire [Map], Mapleton, Derbyshire [Map], Sandybrook Cottage, Ashbourne, St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne [Map].
Around 1250 William Cockayne was born at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1276 John Cockayne was born to William Cockayne (age 26) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1300 John Cockayne was born to John Cockayne (age 24) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1323 William Cockayne (age 73) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1356 Edmund Cockayne was born to John Cockayne (age 31) and Cecilia Vernon (age 26) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married Elizabeth Harthill and had issue.
Around 1360 John Cockayne was born to John Cockayne (age 35) and Cecilia Vernon (age 30) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married 1382 Ida Grey, daughter of Reginald Grey 2nd Baron Grey Ruthyn and Alianore Strange Baroness Grey Ruthyn, and had issue.
In 1369 John Cockayne (age 44) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
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 23rd April 1391 Ralph Shirley was born to Hugh Shirley (age 40) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married Alice Cockayne.
In 1411 John Cockayne was born to John Cockayne (age 41) and Isabel Shirley at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married his half third cousin Agnes Vernon and had issue.
On 22nd May 1429 John Cockayne (age 69) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at Church of St John, Cockayne Hatley.
In 1451 Thomas Cockayne was born to John Cockayne (age 40) and Agnes Vernon (age 24) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married in or before 1477 Agnes Barlow aka Barley and had issue.
In 1451 Margaret Melton (age 49) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1477 Thomas Cockayne was born to Thomas Cockayne (age 26) and Agnes Barlow aka Barley (age 22) at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He married Barbara Fitzherbert and had issue.
In May 1504 John Cockayne (age 93) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1576 John Ferrers (age 62) died at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne [Map].
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 1721 Thomas Kirkland was born at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
Roger Cockayne was born to John Cockayne and Agnes Vernon at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
On or before 20th December 1608, the date he was baptised at St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne [Map], Aston Cockayne 1st Baronet was born to Thomas Cockayne of Ashbourne and Pooley (age 21) and Anna Katherine Stanhope (age 15) in Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before February 1684 Mary Kniveton, daughter of Gilbert Kniveton 2nd Baronet.
In 1671 William Boothby 1st Baronet (age 33) purchased Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map] from Aston Cockayne 1st Baronet (age 62).
On 24th March 1707 William Boothby 1st Baronet (age 69) died at Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. His grandson Henry (age 25) succeeded 2nd Baronet Boothby of Broadlow Ash in Derbyshire.
On 27th October 1708 Hill Boothby was born to Brooke Boothby (age 38) in Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 16th February 1758 Maria Elizabeth Boothby was born to Brooke Boothby 5th Baronet (age 47) and Phoebe Hollins Lady Boothby (age 41) in Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 19th March 1791 Penelope Boothby (age 5) died at Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. She was buried in St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne [Map].
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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On 2nd January 1838 Frances Jenkinson Lady Boothby died at Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 21st April 1846 William Boothby 8th Baronet (age 64) died at Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. His son Brooke (age 37) succeeded 9th Baronet Boothby of Broadlow Ash in Derbyshire.
In 1359 William Bradbourne was born at Hough, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1385 Roger Bradbourne was born to William Bradbourne (age 26) at Hough, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1410 Henry Bradbourne was born to Roger Bradbourne (age 25) at Hough, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1427 Isabel Bradbourne was born to Henry Bradbourne (age 17) at Hough, Derbyshire [Map]. She married in or before 1442 John Babington and had issue.
In 1465 Humphrey Bradbourne was born to John Bradbourne at Hough, Derbyshire [Map]. He married Margaret Longford and had issue.
In 1495 Benedicta Bradbourne was born to Humphrey Bradbourne (age 30) and Margaret Longford (age 15) at Hough, Derbyshire [Map]. She married George Beresford and had issue.
In 1495 Humphrey Bradbourne (age 30) died at Hough, Derbyshire [Map].
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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The River Dove rises on Axe Edge Moor, Derbyshire [Map] after which it travels broadly south past Longnor, Saffordshire [Map], Pilsbury [Map], Hartington, Derbyshire [Map], Milldale, Derbyshire [Map], Thorpe, Derbyshire [Map], just before whic it is joined by the River Manifold, Mapleton, Derbyshire [Map], Mayfield, Staffordshire [Map], Norbury, Derbyshire [Map], Rocester, Staffordshire [Map], Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire [Map] and Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire [Map] before joining the River Trent at Newton Solney, Derbyshire [Map].
Ten Years' Digging. In a field called Callow [Map], at Mappleton, near Ashbourne, are three tumuli placed in a line about eighty yards from each other; they are all formed of sandy earth and pebbles. We opened that nearest to Ashbourne on the 28th of August; it is fourteen yards diameter, and two feet six inches high. On the natural surface the earth was darker in colour and finer than elsewhere, and mixed with a little charcoal; near the centre was a piece of an urn, some burnt bones, and flakes of flint. On the same day, we cut into that at the opposite extremity with no better success, finding only flints and charcoal, but no bones. The height of this mound, which has been frequently ploughed over, is two feet only.
On 3rd December 1883 Matthew Blakiston 4th Baronet (age 72) died unmarried at Sandybrook Cottage, Ashbourne. His nephew Horace (age 22) succeeded 5th Baronet Blakiston of the City of London.