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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Corfe Castle, Dorset is in Corfe, Dorset [Map], Castles in Dorset.
On 18th March 978 King Edward I of England [aged 16] was murdered at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map] when visiting his younger half-brother Æthelred [aged 12] and his [Æthelred's] mother Aelfthryth [aged 33]. He was buried in Wareham, Dorset [Map] without ceremony. His half brother Æthelred succeeded II King of England.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 978. This year was King Edward [aged 16] slain, at eventide, at Corfe-gate [Map], on the fifteenth day before the calends of April. And he was buried at Wareham, Dorset [Map] without any royal honour. No worse deed than this was ever done by the English nation since they first sought the land of Britain. Men murdered him but God has magnified him. He was in life an earthly king-he is now after death a heavenly saint. Him would not his earthly relatives avenge-but his heavenly father has avenged him amply. The earthly homicides would wipe out his memory from the earth-but the avenger above has spread his memory abroad in heaven and in earth. Those, Who would not before bow to his living body, now bow on their knees to His dead bones. Now we may conclude, that the wisdom of men, and their meditations, and their counsels, are as nought against the appointment of God. In this same year succeeded Ethelred Etheling [aged 12], his brother, to the government; and he was afterwards very readily, and with great joy to the counsellors of England, consecrated king at Kingston [Map]. In the same year also died Alfwold, who was Bishop of Dorsetshire, and whose body lieth in the minster at Sherborn [Map].
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 18th March 978. Edward, king of England [aged 16], was foully murdered at Corvesireate [Map], at the instigations of his step-mother, queen Elfthritha [aged 33], and was buried at Wareham [Map] without royal pomp.
In 1197 Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth was imprisoned at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
Annals of Margam. 1st August 1202. King John [aged 35] took his nephew Arthur [aged 15] in chains at the castle of Mirabel on the feast of Saint Peter, and with Geoffrey de Lusignan1, Hugo the Brown2 and Andream de Chavenny, and Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud3, and Reymundnm de Troarde, and Savaricum de Maulyon, and Hugonem de Banchai, and all his other enemies of Poitou, who were around 200 soldiers and more. Of which 22 he killed the noblest and bravest men in arms by starvation in the castle of Corfe [Map]; so that not one of them escaped.
Rex Johannes apud castrum Mirabel cepit Arthurum nepotem suum in festum Sancti Petri ad vincula, et cum eo Galfridum de Lizanan1 et Hugonem de Brun2, et Andream de Chavenny, et vice-comitem de castro Haraldi3, et Reymundnm de Troarde, et Savaricum de Maulyon, et Hugonem de Banchai, et omnes alios inimicos suos Pictaviæ, qui ibi erant circiter cc. milites et plures. Ex quibus xxii. nobilissimos et strenuissimos in armis fame interfecit in castello de Corf [Map]; ita quod nec unus ex illis evasit.
Note 1. Geoffrey de Lusignan [aged 52].
Note 2. Hugh de Lusignan [aged 19], surnamed le Brun, count de la Marche.
Note 3. Hugh III, viscount of Chastelleraud.
In 1206 Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany [aged 22] was imprisoned at Brough Castle [Map], under the guard of Robert de Vipont Baron of Westmoreland, then at Bowes Castle, County Durham [Map], then Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map]. At Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map] she was accompanied by twenty-five French knights loyal to her. Following an attempt to escape twenty-two of the knights were starved to death.
In 1209 Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent [aged 16] was imprisoned at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
1209. Chronicles mention of Chapel of St John the Evangelist, Bolton [Map] [Boyeltun] as the meeting place of King John of England [aged 42] and King William I of Scotland [aged 66]. King William I of Scotland sent his two daughters Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent [aged 16] and Isabella Dunkeld Countess Norfolk [aged 14] as hostages to keep the peace. They, Margaret and Isabella, were imprisoned with Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany [aged 25] at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
In 1210 Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 55] starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
In 1210 William de Braose was imprisoned at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
In 1210 Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 55] was imprisoned at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
In 1210 William de Braose was starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
In 1247 Nicholas Moels [aged 52] was appointed Constable of Corfe Castle, Dorset.
In 1299 Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu [aged 49] was appointed Governor of Corfe Castle.
On 24th September 1329 John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers [aged 39] was appointed Constable of Corfe Castle, Dorset.
In 1340 Richard Willoughby [aged 50] was imprisoned at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].
Chronicle of Gregory. Then the Quene [aged 30] havynge knowelechynge of this praty whyle sche sende unto the Duke of Somersett [aged 24], at that tyme beynge in Dorset schyre at the Castelle of Corffe [Map], and for the Erle of Devyschyre [aged 28], and for Elysaundyr Hody, and prayde them to com to her as hastely as they might, with her tenantys as strong in her harnys as men of warre, for the Lord Rosse [aged 33], the Lord Clyfforde [aged 25], the Baron of Grestocke [aged 46], the Lord Nevyle [aged 50], the Lord Latymer [aged 53], were waytyng a-pon the Duke of Excete[r] [aged 30] to mete with her at Hulle [Map]. And this mater was not taryd but full prevely i-wrought; and she sende letters unto alle her ehyffe offycers that they wold doo the same, and that they shulde warne alle the servantys that lovyd her or purposyd to kepe and rejoyse her of Yysce, to wayte a-pon her at Hulle by that day as hit a-poyntyd by hyr. Alle thes pepylle were gaderyd and conveyde so prevely that they wer hole in nombyr of xvM [Note. 15000] or any man wolde be-leve it; in so moche yf any man said, or tolde, or talkyd of suche gaderyng, he shulde be schende, and some were in grete donger, for the common pepylle said by thoo that told the, troughthe, "Ye talke ryght ye wolde hit were," and gave noo credens of her sayynge. But the laste the lordys purposyd to knowe the troughthe. And the ix day of December [1460] nexte folowyng the Duke of Yorke [aged 49], the Erle of Salysbury [aged 60], the Erle Rutlond [aged 17] (he was the Duke of Yorke is secunde sone, one the beste dysposyd lord in this londe), and Syr Thomas Haryngdon [aged 60], whythe many mo knyghtys and quyers and grete pepylle with hem, and soo departyd out of London towarde Yorke, &c.
Patent Rolls. 2nd March 1478. Grant for life to the king's counsellor John Audeley, lord Audeley [aged 52], of the office of steward of all lordships, manors and lands in the county of Dorset late of George, late duke of Clarence [deceased], and in the king's hands by his forfeiture, with 20 marks yearly from the issues of the lordship of Halisbere, co. Dorset; grant to him, during minority, of the office of steward of all lordships, manors and lands in the said county in the king's hands by reason of the minority of Edward [aged 3], son of the said George, with 10 marks yearly from the issues of the premises; and grant to him for life of the office of constable and the custody of the castle of Warden and the office of constable and the custody of the castle of Corffe, with the accustomed fees from the issues of the king's lordships there and all other profits. By p.s.
In 1635 John Bankes [aged 46] purchased Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map] from Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton [aged 57].
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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Before 1934. Reginald Arthur Smith [aged 62]. "Corfe Castle [Map]".
Roger Damory 1st Baron Damory was appointed Constable of Corfe Castle, Dorset.
