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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Gentlemen is in Royal Household.
The London Gazette 21239. St. James's-Palace, February 27, 1852. The Queen has been pleased to appoint John William (age 40), Earl of Sandwich, to be Captain of Her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, in the room of Thomas Henry (age 43), Lord Foley, resigned.
The London Gazette 21397. St. James's-Palace, December 30, 1852. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Thomas Henry Lord Foley (age 44) to be Captain of Her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, in the room of John-William (age 41), Earl of Sandwich, resigned.
The London Gazette 25488. St. James's Palace, July 6, 1885. THE Queen has been pleased to appoint George William (age 47), Earl of Coventry, to be Captain of Her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, in the room of Charles Robert, Lord Carrington, G.C.M.G., resigned.
The Queen has also been pleased to appoint George Florance, Lord Boston, to be one of Her Majesty's Lords in Waiting in Ordinary, in the room of Charles Douglas Richard (age 45), Lord Sudeley, resigned.
The London Gazette 25558. St. James's Palace, February 10, 1886. THE Queen has been pleased to make the following appointments in Her Majesty's Household:— .
Valentine Augustus (age 60), Earl of Kenmare, K.P., to be Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household, in the room of Edward (age 48), Earl of Lathom, resigned.
Charles Douglas Richard (age 45), Lord Sudeley to be Captain of Her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, in the room of George William (age 47), Earl of Coventry, resigned.
William John, Lord Monson to be Captain of Her Majesty's Guard of Yeomen of the Guard, in the room of George William (age 61), Viscount Barrington, resigned.
The Honourable Charles Robert Spencer (age 28), M.P., to be one of the Grooms in Waiting in Ordinary to Her Majesty, in the room of Sir Henry Fletcher (age 50), Bart., M.P., resigned.
Around 1509 William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 19) was appointed Gentleman Usher.
Around 1510 John Gostwick (age 30) was appointed Gentleman Usher to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 18).
by 1522 Edward Littleton (age 17) was appointed Gentleman Usher. Around the same time he was appointed Constable of Stafford Castle.
In 1795 Thomas Brooke-Pechell 2nd Baronet (age 41) was appointed Gentleman Usher to Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 50).
In 1822 William Pole Tylney Long Wellesley 4th Earl Mornington (age 33) was appointed Gentleman Usher.
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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On 5th December 1698 Admiral David Mitchell (age 48) was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.
On 25th July 1832 Augustus Clifford 1st Baronet (age 44) was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod by his half-brother William Cavendish 6th Duke Devonshire (age 42) which office he held for life.
Before 1542 Philip Hoby (age 36) was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber.
Before 1619 Thomas Stafford (age 44) was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber.
In 1629 James Palmer (age 43) was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber.
Before 1st July 1690 Henry Hobart 4th Baronet (age 33) was appointed Gentleman of the Horse to King William III of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 39).
In 1527 Gilbert Tailboys 1st Baron Tailboys (age 29) was appointed Gentleman of the King's Chamber.
In or before 1521 Francis Bryan (age 30) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
In 1539 Maurice Berkeley (age 33) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 47).
In 1547 Maurice Berkeley (age 41) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 9).
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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In 1660 Charles Wheler 2nd Baronet (age 40) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
In June 1660 Thomas Ingram (age 45) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
In 1455 Thomas Tresham (age 35) was appointed Usher of the King's Chamber.