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: Denny
Maternal Family Tree: Alice Sanford Countess of Oxford
In 1560 [his father] Henry Denny [aged 20] and [his mother] Honora Grey [aged 20] were married.
On 15th August 1569 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich was born to [his father] Henry Denny [aged 29] and [his mother] Honora Grey [aged 29].
On 28th August 1569 [his mother] Honora Grey [aged 29] died.
In 1570 [his father] Henry Denny [aged 30] and Elizabeth Grey were married at Pirgo Havering, Essex.
On 24th March 1574 [his father] Henry Denny [aged 34] died.
In 1585 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 15] was educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].
In 1587 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 17] was knighted.
Around 1595 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 25] commissioned the building of Abbey House, Waltham Abbey.
In 1603 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 33] welcomed King James I of Scotland to England on his journey to Wesminster.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In 1603 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 33] was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.
Before 27th October 1604 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 35] was elected MP Essex.
On 27th October 1604 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 35] was created 1st Baron Denny of Waltham in Essex.
Around 6th January 1607 [his son-in-law] James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle [aged 27] and Honora Denny were married. She the daughter of Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 37] and Mary Cecil Countess Norwich.
Before 1614 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 44] and Mary Cecil Countess Norwich were married. She the daughter of Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter [aged 71] and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter. They were half second cousin once removed.
On 16th August 1614 [his daughter] Honora Denny died.
In October 1614 [his sister-in-law] Lucy Cecil Marchioness Winchester died.
On 8th February 1623 [his father-in-law] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter [aged 80] died. He was buried at Chapel of St John the Baptist, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] William [aged 57] succeeded 2nd Earl Exeter, 3rd Baron Burghley. Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 45] by marriage Countess Exeter.
On 2nd April 1624 John Tufton 1st Baronet [aged 80] died. His son Nicholas [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Baronet Tufton of Hothfield. [his sister-in-law] Frances Cecil Countess Isle Thanet [aged 43] by marriage Lady Tufton of Hothfield.
On 17th October 1626 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 57] was created 1st Earl Norwich. [his wife] Mary Cecil Countess Norwich by marriage Countess Norwich.
On 1st November 1626 Nicholas Tufton 1st Earl of Thanet [aged 48] was created 1st Baron Tufton. [his sister-in-law] Frances Cecil Countess Isle Thanet [aged 45] by marriage Baroness Tufton.
On 5th August 1628 Nicholas Tufton 1st Earl of Thanet [aged 50] was created 1st Earl of Thanet. [his sister-in-law] Frances Cecil Countess Isle Thanet [aged 47] by marriage Countess of Thanet.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 24th October 1637 Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich [aged 68] died. Earl Norwich, Baron Denny of Waltham in Essex extinct.
On 18th March 1638 [his former wife] Mary Cecil Countess Norwich died.
In November 1644 George Goring 1st Earl Norwich [aged 59] was created 1st Earl Norwich by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 14] for his support during the Civil War. The last Earl Norwich of the previous creation was his uncle Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich brother of his mother [his sister] Anne Denny [aged 77].
[his daughter] Honora Denny was born to Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich and Mary Cecil Countess Norwich. She married 6th January 1607 James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 14 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 22 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 20 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Denny 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Denny
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Denny
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund Denny
GrandFather: Anthony Denny 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Troutbeck
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Troutbeck
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Troutbeck 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Stanley 1st Baron Stanley 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Stanley Baroness Grey Codnor 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Goushill Baroness Stanley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Troutbeck 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: Henry Denny 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Champernowne
GrandMother: Joan Champernowne
Edward Denny 1st Earl Norwich 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Grey 6th Baron Grey of Wilton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 7th Baron Grey of Wilton 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Vache Baroness Grey Wilton 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Grey 8th Baron Grey of Wilton 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Tacine Beaufort Baroness Grey Wilton 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund Grey 9th Baron Grey of Wilton 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Grey 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Holland Countess Norfolk and Nottingham 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Grey Baroness Grey Wilton 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Percy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: William Grey 13th Baron Grey of Wilton 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Hastings 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Leonard Hastings
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Sutton 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Hastings 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Camoys 1st Baron Camoys 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Camoys 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Louches Baroness Camoys
Great x 1 Grandmother: Florence Hastings Baroness Grey Wilton 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Tattershall
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Tattershall
Mother: Honora Grey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Countess Warwick 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hill of Shilston
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Hill of Shilston
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Hill
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Champernoun
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Champernoun
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Daubeny 
GrandMother: Mary Somerset Baroness Grey Wilton 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald West 6th Baron De La Warr 3rd Baron West 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard West 7th Baron De La Warr 4th Baron West 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Thorley Baroness De La Warr Baroness West
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hungerford 2nd Baron Hungerford 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Hungerford Baroness De La Warr Baroness West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Botreaux 4th Baroness Botreaux Baroness Hungerford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth West 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Mortimer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Mortimer
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness De La Warr and West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Cornwall 
5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Cornwall 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Barre 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England