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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Constable of England is in Constable.
In 1199 Henry Bohun 1st Earl Hereford (age 23) was appointed Constable of England.
In 1372 Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester (age 16) was appointed Constable of England.
In 1404 John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset (age 31) was appointed Constable of England.
On 9th April 1413 King Henry V of England (age 26) was crowned V King of England by Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel (age 60) at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Duke Lancaster merged with the Crown.
Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick (age 31) was appointed Lord High Steward. Henry Fitzhugh 3rd Baron Fitzhugh (age 55) was appointed Constable of England.
In 1445 John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 35) was appointed Constable of England.
After 25th May 1455 Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (age 43) was appointed Constable of England.
On 7th February 1462 John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 34) was appointed Constable of England. See Patent Rolls.
On 24th August 1467 Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 62) was appointed Constable of England.
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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Before 6th July 1483 Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 48) was appointed Constable of England.
Close Rolls Edward IV Edward V Richard III 1476-1485. 15th July 1483 Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 28) was appointed Constable of England. King Richard III of England (age 30). Westminster Palace [Map]. Grant for life to the king's kinsman Henry, Duke of Buckingham, of divers specified offices and powers in North and South Wales and the marches.
The like to the same of the office of constable of England, with the accustomed fees. By p.s.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1509. 23rd June 1509. 87. Edward Duke of Buckingham (age 31). To be Great Constable of England on 23 June only, viz., the day preceding the Coronation. S.B. [211.]
On 20th February 1547 King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 9) was crowned VI King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 57).
John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 62) was appointed Lord High Steward. Henry Fitzalan 12th or 19th Earl of Arundel (age 34) was appointed Constable of England.
Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu (age 18), George Vernon "King of the Peak" (age 39), Richard Devereux (age 34) and William Sharington (age 52) were created Knight of the Bath.
Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon (age 33), Edward Courtenay, William Sharington, John Shelton (age 44) and Walter Buckler were knighted.
Edward Dymoke (age 39) attended as the King's Champion.
Alexander Unton (age 53) and Edward Rogers (age 49) were knighted.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th June 1667. At noon I am told that my Lord Duke of Albemarle (age 58) is made Constable of England; the meaning whereof at this time I know not, nor whether it, be true or no.
On 23rd April 1685 King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 51) was crowned II King England Scotland and Ireland by Archbishop William Sancroft (age 68). Mary of Modena Queen Consort England Scotland and Ireland (age 26) crowned Queen Consort England Scotland and Ireland.
Bishop Francis Turner (age 47) preached the sermon.
John Ashburnham 1st Baron Ashburnham (age 29) carried the canopy being one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Grafton (age 21) was appointed Constable of England.
Miles Gloucester 1st Earl Hereford was appointed Constable of England.
Humphrey Bohun 3rd Earl Hereford 2nd Earl Essex was appointed Constable of England.
Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex was appointed Constable of England.
Humphrey Bohun was appointed Constable of England.