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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On or before 26th September 1540, the date he was baptised, Bishop Richard Howand was born to and Anne greenway of cley in norfolk at Newport Pond, Saffron Walden.
On 18th March 1558 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 17] was admitted pensioner at Christ's College, Cambridge University [Map], but he migrated to St John's College, Cambridge University [Map], where he graduated B.A. in 1561.
On 11th November 1562 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 22] was elected a Fellow of Peterhouse College, Cambridge University [Map] and proceeded M. A. in 1564.
In 1569 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 28] was appointed Rector of St Guthlac's Church, Stathern [Map].
On 20th July 1577 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 36] was admitted as Master of St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].
On 27th July 1578 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 37], in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, waited on the Queen [aged 44] on her visit to Audley End House, Saffron Walden [Map], and presented her with a Greek Testament and a pair of gloves, making a suitable oration.
On 7th February 1585 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 44] was consecrated as Bishop of Peterborough by Archbishop John Whitgift [aged 55] at Lambeth Palace [Map].
Tudor Tracts Chapter 20. Whither being come, about two of the clock on the Monday morning [31st July 1587]; the body was received most reverently at the Minster Door of Peterborough, by the Bishop [aged 46], Dean [aged 42] and Chapter, and [Robert Cooke [aged 52]] Clarenceux King at Arms.
And, in the presence of the Scots which came with the same, it was laid in a Vault prepared for the same, in the Quire of the said Church, on the south side; opposite to the tomb of Queen Katharine [of Arragon], Dowager of Spain, the first wife of King Henry the Eighth.
The occasion why the body was forthwith laid into the Vault, and not borne in the Solemnity; was because it was so extreme[ly] heavy, by reason of the lead, that the Gentlemen could not have endured to have carried it, with leisure, in the solemn proceeding: and besides, [it] was feared that the solder might rip; and, [it] being very hot weather, might be found some annoyance.
Tudor Tracts Chapter 20. The Scottish Queen's Burial at Peterborough [Map], upon Tuesday, being Lammas Day [1st August], 1587.
Her body was brought in a coach, about 100 attending thereon, from Fotheringhay Castle, upon Sunday [30th July 1587], at night [Richard Howland [aged 46]] the Bishop of Peterborough, [Richard Fletcher [aged 42]] the Dean [of Peterborough], the Prebends, and the rest [of the Chapter] met the same at the Bridge; being not far from the town: and so conveyed it to the Bishop's Palace, and from thence upon Tuesday being Lammas Day, [it] was carried to the Church, where she was buried1 on the south side of the Hearse by torchlight.
The Hearse [or Catafalque] was made field-bed wise; the valance of black velvet, with a gold fringe; [and] the top of the imperial covered with baize. About it, were set ten Posies [of the Motto of the Arms of Scotland], In my defence, God me defend! with ten Scutcheons great and little; and, at the top, a double one with a crown imperial thereupon. The Supporters [were] Unicorns, with 100 pennons or little flags. It was impaled with baize; and in it [were] fourteen stools, with black velvet cushions.
Upon the pillars supporting the imperial of the Hearse, the which were all covered with velvet, were fixed Scutcheons: bearing either [the] Red Lion alone; or else parted with the Arms of France, or with the arms of the Lord Lenox.
The Church and Chancel were hanged with baize and Scutcheons, as at other funerals.
Note 1. There is a Memorial entered on the wall of the Cathedral of Peterborough, for one [named Robert Scarlet] who, being Sexton thereof, interred two Queens therein (Katharine Dowager and Mary of Scotland); more than fifty years interceding betwixt their several sepultures. This vivacious Sexton also buried two generations; or the people in that place twice over. Thus having built many houses (so I find graves frequently called domus aternales) for others: some, as it was fitting, performed this last office unto him. [He died on 2nd July 1594, set 98.] Thomas Fuller, Worthies, &c., ii. 293., Ed. 1662.
On 23rd June 1600 Bishop Richard Howand [aged 59] died. He was buried at Peterborough Cathedral [Map] without memorial or epitaph.