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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MP Ilchester is in Member Parliament.
In 1084 John Manners was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1628 Henry Berkeley of Bruton (age 49) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1640 Edward Phelips (age 27) was elected MP Ilchester during the Long Parliament.
On 20th February 1640 Henry Berkeley of Bruton (age 61) was elected MP Ilchester
John Glanville (age 54) was elected Speaker of the House of Commons.
In 1640 Edward Phelips (age 27) was elected MP Ilchester during the Short Parliament.
In 1685 Edward Wyndham 2nd Baronet (age 18) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1689 Edward Wyndham 2nd Baronet (age 22) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1690 Edward Wyndham 2nd Baronet (age 23) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1708 Edward Phelips (age 30) was elected MP Ilchester which seat he held unti l1715.
In 1710 Samuel Masham 1st Baron Masham (age 31) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1734 Robert Brown 1st Baronet was elected MP Ilchester which seat he held until 1747.
Before 12th November 1747 Francis Fane (age 49) was elected MP Ilchester.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1766 Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow (age 21) was elected MP Ilchester.
In 1775 Owen Brereton aka Salusbury-Brereton (age 60) was elected MP Ilchester which seat he held until 1780.