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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Middle East is in Asia.
Flowers of History. 1080. This year also, king William [aged 52] led a powerful army into Wales, and subjugated it; and received homage and hostages for their fidelity from the petty kings of the viscounty. The same year, Antioch was taken by the pagans, together with the adjacent province, which had been a Christian land ever since the time of Saint Peter, without any disturbances. The same year, Malcolm, king of Scotland [aged 48], became furious a second time after the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary, and ravaged the whole of Northumberland, as far as the river Tyne. But when he heard of this, the king of England sent his son Robert [aged 29] with an army into Scotland, who returned without having succeeded in his objects, and built a new castle in the river Tyne, and then returned to his father. The same year also, the king sent his brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux, with a large army, to lay waste Northumberland, the people of which district had risen in insurrection against the king, and had murdered Walcher, bishop of Durham, a man of exemplary character, at Gateshead.
In 1097 Adalbéron Luxemburg Ardennes died at Antioch.
On 1st August 1190 Floris Gerulfing III Count Holland [aged 49] died at Antioch.
On 10th February 1163 Baldwin III King Jerusalem [aged 33] died at Beirut. His brother Almaric [aged 27] succeeded I King Jerusalem.
On 2nd July 1865 Frederick Emil Oldenburg [aged 64] died at Beirut.
On 12th July 1240 or 4th December 1240 Blanche Capet was born to King Louis IX of France [aged 26] and Margaret Provence Queen Consort France [aged 19] at Jaffa. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She died aged three in 1244.
In 1192 Osmond Stuteville [aged 76] died in Joppa.
On 12th December 1098 the garrison of Ma'arrat Nu'man [Map] negotiated with Prince Bohemond I of Antioch [aged 44], who promised them safe conduct if they surrendered. The Muslims surrendered, but the crusaders immediately began to massacre the population.
In 1148 Enguerrand Coucy [aged 38] died at Nazareth.
In 1097 Henry Namur I Count Durbuy died at Palestine. His son Godefroi succeeded I Count Durbuy.
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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In 1177 Hugh Bigod 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 82] died at Palestine. His son Roger [aged 33] succeeded 2nd Earl Norfolk. Ida Tosny Countess Norfolk [aged 21] by marriage Countess Norfolk.
In 1188 Roger de Albini [aged 68] died in Palestine. His son Nigel [aged 42] succeeded 5th Baron Thirsk.
In 1189 Engeurrand "Crusader" Fiennes [aged 61] died at Palestine.
In 1190 Alice Fitzroger [aged 32] died at Palestine.
In 1218 Peter Courtenay [aged 63] died in Palestine.
On 11th October 1190 John Fitzrichard 6th Baron Halton [aged 46] died at Tyre. His son Roger [aged 19] succeeded 7th Baron Halton. Maud Clere Baroness Lacy Baroness Warkworth by marriage Baroness Halton.