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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In or before 1511 [his father] Henry Warner and [his mother] Mary Blennerhasset [aged 30] were married.
In 1511 Edward Warner was born to [his father] Henry Warner and [his mother] Mary Blennerhasset [aged 31].
In 1519 [his father] Henry Warner died.
In 1520 Thomas Wyatt [aged 17] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Brooke [aged 17] were married.
Around 1540 [his mother] Mary Blennerhasset [aged 60] died.
After 11th October 1542 Edward Warner [aged 31] and Elizabeth Brooke [aged 39] were married.
On 22nd January 1545 Edward Warner [aged 34] was elected MP Grantham.
In 1547 Edward Warner [aged 36] was elected MP Grantham.
Around 1552 Thomas Hobart [aged 15] and [his future wife] Audrey Hare [aged 11] were married.
In October 1552 Edward Warner [aged 41] was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London. He was removed on 28th July 1553.
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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In March 1553 Edward Warner [aged 42] was elected MP Grantham.
In October 1553 Edward Warner [aged 42] was elected MP Grantham.
Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1554. 26th January 1554. The xxvjth day ther was [brought] into the Tower as prysoners the lord marques [aged 42]e and sir Edwarde Warner [aged 43] knight, in the mornyng. And the same nyght there went out certeyn of the garde and other agaynste the Kentish men. Item, the same day, in the mornyng, the cytey began to be kept with harnessyd men.
Note e. The marquess of Northampton.
On 11th April 1554 [his step-son] Thomas Wyatt [aged 33] was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map].
Dean Hugh Weston [aged 49] acted as Confessor.
Around November 1558 Edward Warner [aged 47] was re-appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London with Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch.
Around November 1558 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London with Edward Warner [aged 47]
In 1559 Edward Warner [aged 48] was elected MP Great Grimsby.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 7th July 1559. The vij day of July, was sant Thomas of Cantebere day, my good lord of Wynchastur doctur Whytt [aged 49] came owt of the Towre [Map], with the leyftenantt ser Edward Warner [aged 48], by vj [6] in mornyng, and so to my lord keper of the brod selle, and from thens unto master Whyt, John, [possibly Thomas] altherman, and ther he lys.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 8th September 1559. The viij day of September at after-none [was] the obseque of Henry the Frenche kyng, the herse garnyshed with grett skochyons of armes bosted [Note. Possibly embossed] with grett crownes, and all under ther fett [feet] with blake, and a grett palle of cloth of gold, and ys helmett and mantyll of cloth of gold and cott armur, targett and sworde, and crest, and angyd [hanged] all the quer [choir] with blake and armes, and my lord tresorer [aged 76] the cheyff [mourner], and next my lord chamburlen, my lord of Burgany, my lord of Hunsdon [aged 33], and my lord Cobam [aged 31], my lord Dacurs of the Sowth, and my lord Pallett, ser Recherd Sakefeld [aged 52], and ser Edward Warner [aged 48], and mony mo morners all in blake; and contenent songe durge, and a xiiij [14] haroldes of armes in ther cott armur afor the lordes, and after to the bysshope('s) palles to drynke.
Around 1560 Edward Warner [aged 49] and Audrey Hare [aged 19] were married. The difference in their ages was 30 years.
In August 1560 [his wife] Elizabeth Brooke [aged 57] died.
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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Henry Machyn's Diary. 10th August 1560. The x day of August was bered within the Towre [Map] withowt a offeser of armes, and (with) master Alley [aged 50] the nuw byshope of Excetur, and the chyrch hangyd with blake and armes, my [his former wife] lade Warner [deceased], the wyff of ser Edward Warner [aged 49].
Note. P. 241. Funeral of lady Warner. "Elizabeth, late wiff to sir Edward Warner knight, lieutenaunte of the tower of London; she was doter of Thomas Cobham, and dysceased the 8. of August 1560, and left issue a [son] whosse name is Edward." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 19.)
In 1561 Edward Warner [aged 50] was responsible for the custody of Catherine Grey Countess Hertford [aged 20] who had fallen into disgrace as a consequence of her secret marriage to Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford [aged 21].
In 1563 Edward Warner [aged 52] was elected MP Norfolk.
On 7th November 1565 Edward Warner [aged 54] died. He was buried at St Protase and St Gervase Church, Little Plumstead [Map] where his marble grave-stone has the inscription:
Sir Edward Warner, Knight, now resteth here
Who lived to full 50 years and fower
His wifes also by armes you see appeare
What needeth then with words to blaze them o're
His virtues rare, would not be letten passe
Ne yet so worthy state in silence synke
But who dares wright his golden gifts in brasse
Or blot his fame with rude and silly inke
In somme therefore, let this be sayd for all
With God and man he liveth and ever shall
Obijt. 7°. die Nov. Ao. Domi. 1565.
On 1st July 1569 William Blennerhassett [aged 49] and [his former wife] Audrey Hare [aged 28] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years.
On 16th July 1581 Audrey Hare [aged 40] died. She was buried at St Protase and St Gervase Church, Little Plumstead [Map] where her grave has the inscription:
Audrey daughter of William Hare [aged 70],
His only heir by law, and right,
Of Thomas Hobart, a wife very rare,
And then to Sir Edward Warner, Knight.
And last to William Blenerhasset [aged 61],
Three cozens Germans, by God so assigned,
Where - - - - - - and lovely marriage was met,
To live all in one, a rare thing to find.
Full ty's to them, a wife most true,
To these a most good and loveing mother;
But by Hobart only her issue grew,
The eldest Miles, and Henry his brother.
She loved God's word, and lived likewise,
She gave to the poore, and welcomed the rich.
She exchanged this life July 16, 1581.
Lo here, you ladies, you widows, and wives,
A glass for your geer, your selfs to behold,
Seek here a sample, and guide for your lifes,
Far passing beauty, and borders of gold.
Father: Henry Warner
GrandFather: John Blennerhassett
Mother: Mary Blennerhasset
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Tyndale
GrandMother: Jane Tyndale
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Yelverton of Rackheath in Norfolk
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Yelverton
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Rede of Rougham in Norfolk
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Yelverton