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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Witney, Oxfordshire, South-Central England, British Isles [Map]

Witney, Oxfordshire is in Oxfordshire.

In 1321 Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere [aged 45] attended a tournament at Witney, Oxfordshire [Map].

Around 1425 Thomas Fermor alias Ricards was born in Witney, Oxfordshire [Map].

The River Windrush rises near Taddington [Map] in Gloucestershire. It travels broadly south-west through Bourton-on-the-Water [Map], Burford, Oxfordshire [Map], Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map], Witney, Oxfordshire [Map] joining the River Thames at Nebridge.

Cogges Witney, Oxfordshire, South-Central England, British Isles

Elizabeth Pope Countess Lindsey was born to Thomas Pope 2nd Earl Downe and Lucy Dutton Countess Downe in Cogges Witney, Oxfordshire. She married 1. before 4th December 1667 her half fifth cousin once removed Francis Lee 4th Baronet, son of Francis Henry Lee 2nd Baronet and Anne St John Countess Rochester, and had issue 2. 1700 Robert Bertie 3rd Earl Lindsey, son of Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness.

Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire, Witney, South-Central England, British Isles [Map]

In 1150 William Lovell was born at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map].

In 1213 William Lovell [aged 63] died at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map].

Before 3rd December 1252 John Lovell [aged 62] died at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map].

In 1311 John Lovell 1st Baron Lovel [aged 57] died at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map]. His son John [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh. Maud Burnell Baroness Lovel and Burnell [aged 21] by marriage Baroness Lovel of Titchmarsh.

On 13th June 1455 William Lovell 7th Baron Lovel 4th Baron Holand [aged 58] died at Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map]. He was buried at Greyfriars Oxford, Oxfordshire. His son John [aged 22] succeeded 8th Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh, 5th Baron Holand.

On 21st February 1581 Robert Keilway [aged 84] died. His only child Anne Keilway Baroness Harington [aged 27] and her husband John Harington 1st Baron Harington [aged 41] inherited the Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map] and Coombe Abbey [Map] estates.

On 12th December 1594 Edward Russell 3rd Earl Bedford [aged 21] and Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford [aged 14] were married at St Dunstan's Church Stepney. She by marriage Countess Bedford. She brought an enormous dowry of £10000 and the estate of Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire [Map].