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All About History Books

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of William Orpen 1878-1931

William Orpen is in Painters.

Before 27th November 1878 [his father] Arthur Herbert Orpen (age 48) and [his mother] Anne Caulfield were married.

On 27th November 1878 William Orpen was born to [his father] Arthur Herbert Orpen (age 48) and [his mother] Anne Caulfield at Stillorgan, Dublin.

1900. William Orpen (age 21). "The Mirror". Model Emily Scoble from the Slade School of Art tto whom the artist was briefly engaged. She ended their relationship in 1901.

1901. William Orpen (age 22). Self-Portrait. "The family of George Swinton" including George Swinton (age 41) and Elizabeth Ebsworth.

George Swinton: On 10th May 1859 he was born to Archibald Campbell Swinton and Georgiana Caroline Sitwell. In 1895 George Swinton and Elizabeth Ebsworth were married. On 17th January 1937 George Swinton died.

Elizabeth Ebsworth: she was born to E H Ebsworth of Gattonside.

After 1901 William Orpen (age 22) and Grace Knewstub were married.

1905. William Orpen (age 26). "The Mirror".

1907. William Orpen (age 28). Self-Portrait. "Self-portrait with glasses".

Around 1907. William Orpen (age 28). Portrait of Grace Gifford (age 18).

Grace Gifford: On 4th March 1888 she was born. On 3rd May 1916 Joseph Plunkett and she were married in the chapel of Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, a few hours before he was executed. Guards John Smith and John Lockerby were the only two witnesses. On 4th May 1916 Joseph Plunkett was executed for his part in the Easter Rising. His wife, Grace Gifford, who hed had married hours before, was woken at two am and taken back to the jail where they had their final meeting. On 13th December 1955 she died.

All About History Books

The Deeds of King Henry V

Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Around 1908 to 1912. William Orpen (age 29). "[his wife] Grace reading at Howth Bay". Model the artist's wife Grace Knewstub.

Grace Knewstub: After 1901 William Orpen and she were married.

1913. William Orpen (age 34). Self-Portrait. "Sowing New Seed".

1913. William Orpen (age 34). Self-Portrait. "Sowing New Seed".

1915. William Orpen (age 36). Portrait of Myra Idina Sackville Countess of Erroll (age 21).

1917. William Orpen (age 38). Portrait of Lady Marriott, Maud "Momo" Kahn (age 20).

Maud "Momo" Kahn: In 1897 she was born. In 1920 John Charles Oakes Marriott and she were married. In 1960 she died.

1917. William Orpen (age 38). Portrait of Yvonne Aubicq.

1917. William Orpen (age 38). "The Refugee". Model Yvonne Aubicq.

1917. William Orpen (age 38). Self-Portrait.

1918. William Orpen (age 39). "Zonnebeke".

1918. William Orpen (age 39). "Dead Germans in a Trench".

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

1919. William Orpen (age 40). Portrait of Edgar Gascoyne-Cecil 1st Viscount Cecil (age 54).

1919. William Orpen (age 40). Portrait of Charles Sackville-West 4th Baron Sackville (age 48).

Charles Sackville-West 4th Baron Sackville: On 10th August 1870 he was born to William Sackville-West and Georgina Dodwell. On 28th January 1928 Lionel Sackville-West 3rd Baron Sackville died. His brother Charles succeeded 4th Baron Sackville of Knole in Kent. On 8th May 1962 Charles Sackville-West 4th Baron Sackville died. His son Edward succeeded 5th Baron Sackville of Knole in Kent.

1919. William Orpen (age 40). Portrait of George Allardice 1st Baron Riddell (age 53).

1919. William Orpen (age 40). Portrait of Edward George Villiers Stanley 17th Earl of Derby (age 53).

In 1926 [his father] Arthur Herbert Orpen (age 96) died.

1928. William Orpen (age 49). Portrait of Ernest Benn 2nd Baronet (age 52).

Ernest Benn 2nd Baronet: On 25th June 1875 he was born. On 17th January 1954 he died.

On 29th September 1931 William Orpen (age 52) died.

Royal Ancestors of William Orpen

Kings Wessex: Great x 24 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 27 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 22 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 23 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 28 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of William Orpen

Father: Arthur Herbert Orpen

William Orpen 15 x Great Grand Son of

GrandFather: Bishop Charles Caulfield

Mother: Anne Caulfield 14 x Great Grand Daughter of

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry St George 9 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 3 Grandfather: George St George 10 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard St George 1st Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Bligh

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizzabeth Bligh

Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Bligh St George 2nd Baronet 12 x Great Grand Son of

GrandMother: Grace St George 13 x Great Grand Daughter of