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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Choix de pièces inedites relatives au regne de Charles VI

Choix de pièces inedites relatives au regne de Charles VI is in Victorian Books.

Choix de pièces inedites relatives au regne de Charles VI Volume 1

LXIX. Gift made by Charles VI to Louis, Duke of Orléans, of a sum of 300,000 gold francs, in compensation for the cities of Genoa and Savona. Paris, 12 December 1396.

Charles, by the grace of God King of France. To all those who shall see these present letters, greetings. Since our very dear and well-beloved brother, the Duke of Orléans, for the causes and reasons that moved him, undertook to gain lordship over the city, lands, and territory of Genoa, and has done so much in order to bring about his intention that, in pursuit of it, he has had and still holds beyond the sea, in his own hand or by his authority, the town and castle of Savona, together with certain other castles, towns, and places; and since the Duke and the governors of the said city, lands, and territory, or at least the greater and sounder part of them, have many times sent to us and requested that we should take or accept the said lordship; to which, for certain considerations and reasons, we have inclined and have consented. We make known that, in order to satisfy and repay our said brother for the very great costs, expenditures, and expenses that he has in many ways made and borne in and for this affair, and because of it, which amount to very great sums of money, we have treated and agreed with our said brother concerning these matters and their dependencies, for the sum of three hundred thousand gold francs in a single payment. Which sum we have promised in good faith, and by the tenor of these present letters do promise, to pay or cause to be paid, given, and delivered to our said brother or to his duly appointed representative, in equal portions over the three years next following and continuously thereafter, once we, or others on our behalf, shall have had possession and seisin of the said city, lands, and territory of Genoa, and of the said town and castle of Savona, and other castles, towns, and places which are in the hands of our said brother or held by him as above said; and to satisfy him for the said sum in the manner stated, without refusal, contradiction, or delay. And for this we have bound, and by these same letters do bind, ourselves and our movable and immovable goods, present and future. In witness whereof, we have caused our seal to be affixed to these presents. Given at Paris, the 12th day of December, the year of grace 1316, and the seventeenth year of our reign. Thus signed: By the King in his council, where were present the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, the lord of Albret, Vous, and the viscount of Melun.

LXIX. Don fait par Charles VI à Louis, duc d'Orléans, d'une somme de 300000 francs d'or, en dédommagement des villes de Gênes et de Savone. Paris, 12 Decémbre 1396.

Charles, par la grâce de Dieu roy de France. A tous ceulx qui ces présentes lectres verront, salut. Comme de puis que nostre très chier et très amé frère le duc d'Orléans, eut, pour les causes et cions qui le meurent, entrepris d'avoir la seigneurie des cité, pays et territoire de Gennes, et tant fait que pour venir à son intencion de et sur ce, il ot et a pardelà, en sa main ou de par lui, la ville et le chastel de Saonne¹ avec certains autres chasteaulx villes et lieux, le duc et les gouverneurs desdites cité, pays et territoire ou la greigneur et plus saine partie d'iceulx, aient plusieurs foiz envoyé devers nous et requis que nous voulsissions prandre ou accepter ladicte seigneurie. A quoy, pour certaines considéracions et causes, avons incliné et y sommes condescenduz. Savoir faisons, que pour contenter et deffraier nostredit frère des très grans fraiz, missions et despens par lui en plusieurs manières faiz et soustenuz, en et pour ce fait et à cause et occasion d'icelui, montant à très grans sommes de deniers, nous avons avec nostredit frère, traictié et accordé sur, de, et pour ces choses et leurs dépendances, à la somme de trois cens mille frans d'or pour une foiz. Laquelle somme avons promis en bonne foy et promettons, par la teneur de ces présentes, à nostredit frère ou à son certain mandement, paier ou faire paier, bailler et délivrer par égal porcion en trois ans prochains et continuelment ensuivans, aprez ce que nous, ou autres pour et ou non de nous, aurons eu la possession et saisine desdites cité, pays et territoire de Gennes et des diz ville et chastel de Saonne et autres chasteaulx, villes et lieux qui sont en la main de nostredit frère, ou de par lui tenuz comme dessus est dit, et d'icelle somme le agréer ou faire contenter ainsi que dit est, senz refuz, contredit et délay. Et à ce avons obligié, et par ces mesmes lettres obligons, nous et noz biens meubles et immeubles, présens et avenir. En tesmoing de ce nous avons fait mettre nostre séel à ces présentes. Données à Paris, le x11º jour de décembre, l'an de grâce mil CCC III et seze et de nostre règne le xvII. Ainsi signé: Par le Roy en son conseil, où mess. les ducs de Berry et de Bourguoingne, le sire de Lebret, Vous, et le viconte de Meleun estiez.