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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Paternal Family Tree: Harsick
John Harsick III was born to John Harsick II.
In 1377 John Harsick III was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk.
In 1381 John Harsick II died.
In or before 1384 John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe were married.
In 1384 John Harsick III made his will on the Wednesday after the decollation of St. John Baptist. He bequeaths several legacies to the Lady Catharine his wife, his eldest son John, and to his son Eudo Harsick, the manor of Stanhow in Norfolk for life, remainder to his son Brian.
On 7th September 1384 John Harsick III died. Brass in Church of St George, South Acre [Map] of John Harsick III and his wife Catherine Calthorpe holding hands. Great Helm with Feathers. Camail and Jupon Period. His coat of arms Harsick. Her showing
Harsick Arms impaled with Calthorp Arms. At his feet a lion couchant, at hers a dog couchant. Inscription: Hic iacet Dns. Johes. Harsick Miles eiusoem Nominis tertius, qui obiit Serto die Septembris Ano Dni. Mccclxxxiv. cuius anime propicictur Deus Amen, et Domina Katherina Uxor.
See Engravings of Sepulchral Brasses Volume 1 Norfolk.
Catherine Calthorpe: she was born to Bartholemew Calthorpe. In or before 1384 John Harsick III and she were married. In 1384 John Harsick III made his will on the Wednesday after the decollation of St. John Baptist. He bequeaths several legacies to the Lady Catharine his wife, his eldest son John, and to his son Eudo Harsick, the manor of Stanhow in Norfolk for life, remainder to his son Brian.


Engravings of Sepulchral Brasses Volume 1. Plate X. Sir John Harsyk And Lady, at Southacre [Map], 1384.
Blomefield's Norf. vi. 82. Gough's Sepulch. Monum. i. 146.
In the chapel of our Lady's Assumption, the burial place of the Harsyk family, lies the brass of which I have given an exact representation, but differing in some trifling respects from that given by Gough. On the surcoat of the knight are his arms: the same are repeated on a shield, surmounted by his helmet and crest of turkeys' feathers, placed across the top of the stone. This crest Sir John, his father, was allowed to wear by grant in the thirtieth of Edward III from Sir John Camoys, and bore it in a hoop Or. Sir John married Katharine, daughter and sole heir of Sir Bartholomew Calthorpe, knight, of Gestingthorpe; whose father, Sir Bartholomew, married Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Sir John de Gestingthorpe, of Essex, and, by reason of his inheritance, assumed the arms of Gestingthorpe, Ermine, a maunche gules; and these arms the lady has on her robe, on the dexter side, with her husband's on the sinister.
[Sir John Harsyk was evidently "the Sire de Harsike," who is said, in a Roll of Arms of the time of Edward the Third, to have borne "D'or au chief du sable endenté de quatre points." The inscription on this brass exhibits one of the rare instances of persons, who bore the same baptismal name as their ancestors, being designated as the "second" or "third" of their family. This Sir John Harsyk, who is there described as " tercius, " made his Will on the 14th November 1381, by which he ordered his body to be buried in the chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary in the church of Southacre . He bequeathed 40 shillings to paint a tablet of the History of the Assumption, to be placed in the said chapel; and mentioned his wife Katharine, his son and heir John Harsyk, and two other sons . Harleian MS . No. 10. N. ]
See photographs [Map].
[his son] Eudo Harsick was born to John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe.
[his son] Edmund Harsick was born to John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe.
[his daughter] Margaret Harsick was born to John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe.
[his son] John de Harsick IV was born to John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe. He married Agnes Caley.
[his son] Brian Harsick was born to John Harsick III and Catherine Calthorpe.
Great x 4 Grandfather: Eudo Harsick
Great x 3 Grandfather: Eudo Harsick
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Harsick
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Watshall
Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Harsick
Great x 2 Grandmother: Cecily Jernigan
Grandfather: John Harsick I
Father: John Harsick II