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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Paternal Family Tree: Courtenay
In or before 1475 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 15] and [his mother] Elizabeth Courtenay were married. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1475 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon was born to Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 16] and Elizabeth Courtenay.
In October 1495 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 20] and Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England. He the son of Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 36] and Elizabeth Courtenay. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.
Around 1496 Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 21] and Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 16]. He a grandson of King Edward IV of England. He married 1. after June 1515 his fifth cousin once removed Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon, daughter of John Grey 2nd Viscount Lisle and Muriel Howard Viscountess Lisle 2. 25th October 1519 Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter, daughter of William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy and Elizabeth Saye Baroness Mountjoy, and had issue.
Around 1497 [his son] Edward Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 22]. He died aged five in 1502.
Polydore Vergil [1470-1555]. Around 10th September 1497. Hearing the news, the king [aged 40] was no slower in leading an army to Exeter, Devon [Map] than the situation required. He sent ahead a goodly number of light horse to let everyone know of his approach. For meanwhile, under the leadership of Edward Courteney Earl of Devonshire [aged 38] and his son William [aged 22], an excellent and very brave young man, every noble hastened to come to the aid of Exeter, Devon [Map] with a great company of soldiers. Among these were Thomas Trenchard, Edmund Carew, Thomas Fulford, William Courteney, John Halliwell, John Croker, Walter Courteney, Peter Edgercombe [aged 28], and William St. Maurice. When these things came to Peter's [aged 23] ears, he abandoned the siege and removed to Taunton, Somerset [Map], the nearest town. There he reviewed his army and drew it up for the coming battle, although it later came to light that he had no great trust in that army. A goodly part were armed only with swords, otherwise unarmed, and ignorant of how to fight.
Around 1499 [his daughter] Margaret Courtenay Countess of Worcester was born to William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 24] and Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 19]. She a granddaughter of King Edward IV of England. She married 15th June 1514 her second cousin Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester, son of Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan, and had issue.
On 20th September 1501 Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset [aged 46] died. His son Thomas [aged 24] succeeded 2nd Marquess Dorset, 2nd Earl Huntingdon, 8th Baron Ferrers of Groby. Eleanor St John Marchioness Dorset by marriage Marchioness Dorset.
On 12th July 1502 [his son] Edward Courtenay [aged 5] died.
In February 1504 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 29] was attainted and imprisoned at Tower of London [Map]. He was accused for supposedly having supported Edmund Pole 3rd Duke of Suffolk [aged 33], a Yorkist claimant, in his claim to the throne; William's wife was Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 24].
Around 27th May 1509 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 50] died. Earl Devon forfeit since his son William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 34], who would otherwise have succeeded to the titles, had been attainted in 1504.
On 10th May 1511 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 36] was created 1st Earl Devon. He died a month later. Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 31] by marriage Countess Devon.
On 9th June 1511 William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 36] died of pleurisy. His son Henry [aged 15] succeeded 2nd Earl Devon. His widow Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 31] subsequently took a vow of celibacy in the presence of Bishop Richard Fitzjames on 13th July 1511.
On 15th November 1527 Catherine York Countess Devon [aged 48] died at Tiverton Castle [Map]. She was buried at St Peter's Church Tiverton, Devon.
Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Malcolm III of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 14 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 17 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 9 Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 1st or 9th Earl Devon 5 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon
6 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes St John Countess Devon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Courtenay
Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex
5 x Great Grandson of King David I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Bohun Countess Devon
Granddaughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland
daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay
2 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay
3 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Father: Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon
4 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Grandmother: Margaret Carminow
William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon
5 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon
6 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Courtenay
Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bohun Countess Devon
Granddaughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Courtenay
2 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Courtenay
3 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Champernoun
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Champernoun 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Astley 3rd Baron Astley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Astley 7 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Astley
6 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Grandfather: Philip Courtenay
4 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzjohn
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hungerford
9 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Peverell 12 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Peverell 13 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor or Catherine Peverell 8 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Courtenay
6 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Courtenay
7 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Muriel Moels
Mother: Elizabeth Courtenay
5 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward I of England
Grandmother: Elizabeth Hingeston