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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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Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham was born to [her father] Robert Furnese 2nd Baronet.
In October 1708 [her father] Robert Furnese 2nd Baronet (age 21) and Anne Balam were married.
On 30th November 1712 [her grandfather] Henry Furnese 1st Baronet (age 54) died. His son [her father] Robert (age 25) succeeded 2nd Baronet Furnese of Waldershare in Kent.
On 19th March 1724 Lewis Watson 1st Earl Rockingham (age 68) died. His grandson [her future husband] Lewis (age 10) succeeded 2nd Earl Rockingham, 4th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 4th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham by marriage Countess Rockingham.
In 1728 [her future husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 23) and Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford were married. She the daughter of George Montagu 1st Earl Halifax (age 44) and Ricarda Posthuma Saltonstale. They were fourth cousins.
On 17th October 1729 Francis North 2nd Baron Guildford (age 55) died. His son [her future husband] Francis (age 25) succeeded 3rd Baron Guildford. Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford by marriage Baroness Guildford.
On 7th March 1733 [her father] Robert Furnese 2nd Baronet (age 45) died. His son [her brother] Robert (age 17) succeeded 3rd Baronet Furnese of Waldershare in Kent.
On 31st October 1734 William North 6th Baron North (age 55) died in Madrid [Map]. His first cousin once removed [her future husband] Francis (age 30) succeeded 7th Baron North.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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In March 1735 [her brother] Robert Furnses 3rd Baronet (age 19) died unmarried. Baronet Furnese of Waldershare in Kent extinct. His estates were shared between his three sisters [her half-sister] Anne Furnese (age 23), Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham and [her sister] Selina Furnese.
On 24th January 1736 [her future husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 31) and Elizabeth Kaye Baroness North and Guildford (age 29) were married. She by marriage Baroness North, Baroness Guildford.
Before 4th November 1745 Lewis Watson 2nd Earl Rockingham (age 31) and Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham were married.
On 4th November 1745 [her husband] Lewis Watson 2nd Earl Rockingham (age 31) died without issue. His brother [her brother-in-law] Thomas (age 29) succeeded 3rd Earl Rockingham, 5th Baron Rockingham of Northampton, 5th Baronet Watson of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire.
On 13th June 1751 Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 47) and Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham were married. She by marriage Baroness North, Baroness Guildford.
On 8th April 1752 [her husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 47) was created 1st Earl Guildford. Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham by marriage Countess Guildford.
On 20th May 1756 [her step-son] Frederick North 2nd Earl Guildford (age 24) and Anne Speke Countess Guilford (age 16) were married. He the son of [her husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 52) and Lucy Montagu Baroness Guildford.
On 8th October 1761 John Peyto Verney 22nd Baron Latimer 14th Baron Willoughby (age 23) and [her step-daughter] Louisa North Baroness Latimer Baroness Willoughby of Broke (age 24) were married. She by marriage Baroness Latimer of Corby, Baroness Willoughby Broke. She the daughter of [her husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 57) and Elizabeth Kaye Baroness North and Guildford.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1770 [her step-son] Frederick North 2nd Earl Guildford (age 37) was appointed Prime Minister.
In 1771 [her step-son] Bishop Brownlow North (age 29) was appointed Bishop of Lichfield.
On 17th January 1771 [her step-son] Bishop Brownlow North (age 29) and Henrietta Maria Bannister (age 21) were married. He the son of [her husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 66) and Elizabeth Kaye Baroness North and Guildford.
In 1772 [her step-son] Frederick North 2nd Earl Guildford (age 39) was appointed 592nd Knight of the Garter by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 33).
In 1774 [her step-son] Bishop Brownlow North (age 32) was appointed Bishop of Worcester.
On 17th December 1776 Catherine Furnese Countess Guilford and Rockingham died.
On 4th August 1790 [her former husband] Francis North 1st Earl Guildford (age 86) died. His son [her former step-son] Frederick (age 58) succeeded 2nd Earl Guildford, 8th Baron North, 4th Baron Guildford. Anne Speke Countess Guilford (age 50) by marriage Countess Guildford.
GrandFather: Henry Furnese 1st Baronet
Father: Robert Furnese 2nd Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Brough of St Lawrence Jewry
GrandMother: Anne Brough