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.
Paternal Family Tree: Ruthven
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Boyd 1420-1453
Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl was born to William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie and Dorothea Stewart Countess Gowrie.
After 1566 [her future husband] James Stewart 1st Earl Atholl and Margaret Lindsay Countess Atholl [aged 7] were married. She the daughter of David Lindsay 9th Earl Crawford. They were fourth cousin once removed.
Before 14th November 1578 John Stewart 5th Earl Atholl [aged 15] and Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl were married. She the daughter of William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie [aged 35] and Dorothea Stewart Countess Gowrie [aged 37]. He the son of John Stewart 4th Earl Atholl and Margaret Fleming Countess Atholl [aged 49]. They were second cousins.
On 25th April 1579 [her father-in-law] John Stewart 4th Earl Atholl died. His son [her husband] John [aged 15] succeeded 5th Earl Atholl. Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl by marriage Countess Atholl.
On 25th August 1595 [her husband] John Stewart 5th Earl Atholl [aged 32] died.
Before 25th March 1596 James Stewart 1st Earl Atholl [aged 30] and Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl were married. She the daughter of William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie and Dorothea Stewart Countess Gowrie [aged 55]. They were half fourth cousins.
On 25th March 1596 [her husband] James Stewart 1st Earl Atholl [aged 30] was created 1st Earl Atholl at Holyrood Palace [Map]. Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl by marriage Countess Atholl.
In 1603 [her husband] James Stewart 1st Earl Atholl [aged 37] died. His son James succeeded 2nd Earl Atholl.
Around 1637 Anthony Van Dyck [aged 37]. Portrait of Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
[her daughter] Anne Stewart Baroness Castle Stuart was born to John Stewart 5th Earl Atholl and Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.83%. She married her second cousin once removed Andrew Stewart 2nd Baron Castle Stuart, son of Andrew Stewart 1st Baron Castle Stuart and Margaret Kennedy Baroness Castle Stuart, and had issue.
[her daughter] Dorothea Stewart Countess Tullibardine was born to John Stewart 5th Earl Atholl and Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.83%. She married after 28th September 1604 her second cousin once removed William Murray 2nd Earl Tullibardine, son of John Murray 1st Earl Tullibardine and Catherine Drummond Countess Tullibardine, and had issue.
[her daughter] Mary Stewart was born to John Stewart 5th Earl Atholl and Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.83%.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ruthven 1st Lord Ruthven
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Ruthven
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Livingstone
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Ruthven 2nd Lord Ruthven
GrandFather: Patrick Ruthven 3rd Lord Ruthven
Great x 2 Grandfather: Patrick Halyburton 4th Lord Dirletoun
Great x 1 Grandmother: Janet Halyburton Lady Dirletoun
Father: William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie 6 x Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Douglas 4th Earl Angus 
Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Archibald "Bell the Cat" Douglas 5th Earl Angus 2 x Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Sibbald Countess Angus
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Douglas 3 x Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Boyd 1st Lord Boyd
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Boyd Countess Angus
Great x 1 Grandfather: Archibald Douglas 6th Earl Angus 4 x Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Drummond 1st Lord Drummond
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drummond m Douglas
GrandMother: Janet Douglas 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Mary Ruthven Countess Atholl 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Stewart 
Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Stewart 2 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 3 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Arnot
Great x 1 Grandfather: Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale 4 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
GrandFather: Henry Stewart 1st Lord Methven 3 x Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Kennedy of Dunure The Younger
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Kennedy 1st Lord Kennedy Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Stewart Countess Angus Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Kennedy 2nd Lord Kennedy Great Grand Son of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Herbert Maxwell 1st Lord Maxwell 
10 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Maxwell Lady Kennedy 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Janet Herries
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Kennedy Lady Avondale 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Seton 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 1st Earl Huntley 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon Countess Erroll 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Mother: Dorothea Stewart Countess Gowrie 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert III of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart of Innermeath 3rd of Lorn 
6 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: James "Black Knight of Lorn" Stewart 7 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Macdougall
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset 
Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl 3 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Sinclair 2nd Earl Orkney
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Egidia "Fair Maid of Nithsdale" Douglas Countess Orkney Grand Daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marjory Sutherland Countess Orkney and Caithness
GrandMother: Janet Stewart 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Colin Campbell 1st Earl Argyll 2 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll 3 x Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart 2nd Lord Lorn Great Grand Son of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Stewart Countess Argyll 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Janet Campbell Countess Atholl 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alan Stewart of Darnley 8 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Lennox 9 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Seton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stewart Countess Argyll 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Montgomerie 1st Lord Montgomerie
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Montgomerie Countess Lennox
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Boyd