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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Around 1496 Bishop Edward Fox was born.
In 1531 Bishop Edward Fox (age 35) was appointed Archdeacon of Leicester.
Around 1532 Bishop Edward Fox (age 36) was appointed Almoner to the King.
In 1533 Bishop Edward Fox (age 37) was appointed Dean of Salisbury.
In 1533 Bishop Edward Fox (age 37) was appointed Archdeacon of Dorset.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. After 24th June 1535. Allso this yeare, after mydsommer, Dr. Fox (age 39), the Kinges almoner,b was made Bishopp of Hereford, and the black friere of Bristowec was made Bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Latimer (age 48) Bishop of Worcester, which men were great furtherers [of the Reformation],d in their preachinges, shewinge the abusions of the Spiritualtie, and allso how the worde of God ought to be preached syncerelye and purelye.
Note b. Edward Fox, Archdeacon of Leicester, and Provost of King's College.
Note c. John Hilsey, Prior of the Dominican Friars in London, appointed Bishop of Rochester, October 4, 1535.
Note d. These words are not in MS.
On 20th August 1535 Bishop Edward Fox (age 39) was elected Bishop of Hereford.
The History of the Reformation Volume 1 Book III. [29th January 1536.] This was the last public good act of this unfortunate queen (age 35); who, the nearer she drew to her end, grew more full of good works. She had distributed in the last nine months of her life between fourteen and fifteen thousand pounds to the poor, and was designing great and public good things. And by all appearance, if she had lived, the money that was raised by the suppression of religious houses had been better employed than it was. In January, she brought forth a dead son. This was thought to have made ill impressions on the king; and that, as he concluded from the death of his sons by the former queen, that the marriage was displeasing to God; so he might, upon this misfortune, begin to make the like judgment of this marriage. Sure enough the popish party were earnestly set against the queen, looking on her as a great supporter of heresy. And at that time Fox (age 40), then bishop of Hereford, was in Germany, at Smalcald, treating a league with the protestant princes, who [?]sisted much, on the Ausburg Confession. There were many conferences between Fox and doctor [?]arnes, and some others, with the Lutheran divines, for accommodating the differences between them; and the thing was in a good forwardness: all which was imputed to the queen. Gardiner was then ambassador in France, and wrote earnestly to the king, to dissuade him from entering into any religious league with these princes; for that would alienate all the world from him, and dispose his own subjects to rebel. The king thought the German princes and divines should have submitted all things to his judgment; and had such an opinion of his own learning, and was so puffed up with the flattering raises that he daily heard, that he grew impatient of any opposition, and thought that his dictates should pass for oracles. And because the Germans would not receive them so, his mind was alienated from them.
On 8th May 1538 Bishop Edward Fox (age 42) died. He was buried at St Mary Mounthaw Church, Old Fish Street.