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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Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer is in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire.
Around 1315 Brian Cornwall of Kinlet was born to Edmund Cornwall (age 35) and Elizabeth Brampton (age 20) at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. He a great x 2 grandson of King John of England. He married before 1392 his fourth cousin once removed Maud Strange, daughter of Roger Strange 4th Baron Strange Knockin, and had issue.
On 27th June 1316 Edmund Mortimer (age 13) and Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton (age 3) were married at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. He the son of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 29) and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville (age 30). They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1354 Elizabeth Brampton (age 59) died at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map].
In 1392 Brian Cornwall of Kinlet (age 77) died at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map].
On 26th October 1443 John Blount (age 66) died at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map].
In 1446 William Lichfield died. The estates at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map] were inherited by Humphrey Blount (age 25) who was the grandson of John Blount of Sodington who had married Isabella Cornwall who was the aunt of William's wife Elizabeth Cornwall (age 36).
In 1455 Thomas Blount was born to Humphrey Blount (age 34) and Elizabeth Winnington (age 27) at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. He married in or before 1469 Anne Croft and had issue.
On 12th October 1477 Humphrey Blount (age 56) died at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map].
Around 1484 John Blount was born to Thomas Blount (age 29) and Anne Croft (age 26) at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. He married before 1498 Catherine Peshall and had issue.
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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In 1498, possibly later, Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount Baroness Clinton and Tailboys was born to John Blount (age 14) and Catherine Peshall (age 14) at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. She married (1) 18th June 1522 Gilbert Tailboys 1st Baron Tailboys, son of George Tailboys 9th Baron Kyme and Elizabeth Gascoigne Baroness Kyme, and had issue (2) before 1536 Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln, son of Thomas Clinton 8th Baron Clinton and Jane Poynings Baroness Clinton, and had issue.
Around 1530 Agnes Blount was born to John Blount (age 46) and Catherine Peshall (age 46) at Kinlet, Cleobury Mortimer [Map]. She married in or before 1537 Richard Lacon and had issue.