Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 29th August 1189 [her father] King John of England and [her step-mother] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex were married at Marlborough Castle. He by marriage Earl Gloucester. See Gesta Regis Henrici and Gesta Regis Henrici by Benedict of Peterborough. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of [her grandfather] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [her grandmother] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England.
Around April 1200 [her father] King John of England and [her step-mother] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex marriage annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England who he married on 24th August 1200.
On 24th August 1200 [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England were married. She had been engaged to Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche who subsequently appealed to King Philip II of France, their feudal overlord, who used the position to justify a war against John. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême and [her grandmother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême. He the son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England.
On 22nd July 1210 Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland was born to [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.
On 4th December 1214 King William I of Scotland died at Stirling. He was buried at Arbroath Abbey. [her future husband] King Alexander II of Scotland succeeded II King Scotland.
During the night of 18th and 19th October 1216 [her father] King John of England died at Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire. [her brother] King Henry III of England succeeded III King of England.
John Monmouth was present.
On his deathbed, John appointed a council of thirteen executors to help Henry reclaim the kingdom and requested that his son be placed into the guardianship of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke.
King John's will is the earliest English royal will to survive in its original form. The document is quite small, roughly the size of a postcard and the seals of those who were present at the time would have been attached to it. Translation of the will taken from an article by Professor S.D. Church in the English Historical Review, June 2010:
I, John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, hindered by grave infirmity and not being able at this time of my infirmity to itemize all my things so that I may make a testament, commit the arbitration and administration of my testament to the trust and to the legitimate administration of my faithful men whose names are written below, without whose counsel, even in good health, I would have by no means arranged my testament in their presence, so that what they will faithfully arrange and determine concerning my things as much as in making satisfaction to God and to holy Church for damages and injuries done to them as in sending succour to the land of Jerusalem and in providing support to my sons towards obtaining and defending their inheritance and in making reward to those who have served us faithfully and in making distribution to the poor and to religious houses for the salvation of my soul, be right and sure. I ask, furthermore, that whoever shall give them counsel and assistance in the arranging of my testament shall receive the grace and favour of God. Whoever shall infringe their arrangement and disposition, may he incur the curse and indignation of almighty God and the blessed Mary and all the saints.
In the first place, therefore, I desire that my body be buried in the church of St Mary and St Wulfstan at Worcester. I appoint, moreover, the following arbiters and administrators: the lord Guala, by the grace of God, cardinal-priest of the title of St Martin and legate of the apostolic see; the lord Peter bishop of Winchester; the lord Richard bishop of Chichester; the lord Silvester bishop of Worcester; Brother Aimery de St-Maur; William Marshal earl of Pembroke; Ranulf earl of Chester; William earl Ferrers; William Brewer; Walter de Lacy and John of Monmouth; Savaric de Mauléon; Falkes de Bréauté.
The signatories were:
Guala Bicchieri (ca 1150 - 1227) Papal Legate.
Bishop Peter de Roches, Bishop of Winchester.
Richard le Poer (? - 1237), Bishop of Chichester.
Sylvester of Worcester, Bishop of Worcester.
Aimery de St-Maur (? -?1219), Master of the English Templars.
William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke.
Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln.
William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby.
William Brewer (? - 1226), 1st Baron Brewer.
Walter de Lacy (ca 1172-1241) Lord of Meath.
John: (1182 - 1248) Lord of Monmouth.
Savaric de Mauléon (? - 1236) Seneschal of Poitou from 1205.
Falkes de Bréauté (? - 1226) Seneschal of Cardiff Castle.
On 10th May 1220 [her step-father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England were married. She by marriage Seigneur of Lusignan, Countess La Marche. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême and [her grandmother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême.
On 22nd November 1220 [her future brother-in-law] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor was crowned II Holy Roman Emperor. [her sister] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress by marriage Holy Roman Empress.
On 21st June 1221 King Alexander II of Scotland and Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland were married at York Minster. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland.
On 23rd April 1224 [her brother-in-law] William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke and [her sister] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke.
In 1225 [her brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall was created 1st Earl Cornwall.
Around May 1225 Roger Bigod 4th Earl Norfolk and [her sister-in-law] Isabella Dunkeld Countess Norfolk were married. She by marriage Countess Norfolk. She the daughter of King William I of Scotland and [her mother-in-law] Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk and Maud Marshal Countess Norfolk and Surrey.
On 30th March 1231 [her brother] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall and [her sister-in-law] Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford were married at Fawley, Lambourn. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. He the son of [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.
In April 1231 Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln succeeded 2nd Countess Lincoln. Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln by marriage Earl Lincoln. She was gifted the title by her childless brother Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln by agreement with King Henry III of England.
Before 1235 [her half-brother] Hugh XI of Lusignan VI Count of La Marche II Count Angoulême and [her sister-in-law] Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême were married. She the daughter of Peter of Dreux aka Mauclerc Duke Brittany and Alix Thouars Duchess of Brittany. He the son of [her step-father] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.
On 20th July 1235 [her brother-in-law] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor and [her sister] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress were married at Worms Cathedral. She the daughter of [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He the son of Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor.
On 1st August 1235 Gilbert Marshal 4th Earl Pembroke and [her sister-in-law] Marjorie Dunkeld Countess Pembroke were married at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. She the daughter of King William I of Scotland and [her mother-in-law] Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke.
In 1236 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent and [her sister-in-law] Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of King William I of Scotland and [her mother-in-law] Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland.
On 14th January 1236 [her brother] King Henry III of England and [her sister-in-law] Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England were married at Canterbury Cathedral by Archbishop Edmund Rich. She the daughter of Raymond IV Count Provence and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence. He the son of [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.
In 1238 [her brother-in-law] Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester and [her sister] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester were married at Westminster Palace. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. She the daughter of [her father] King John of England and [her mother] Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He the son of Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester and Alix Montmorency.
On 4th March 1238 Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland died at Havering atte Bower, Essex. She was buried at Tarrant Abbey, Dorset.
In 1239 [her former husband] King Alexander II of Scotland and Marie Coucy were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of King William I of Scotland and [her former mother-in-law] Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland.
On 6th July 1249 [her former husband] King Alexander II of Scotland died at Kerrera. He was buried at Melrose Abbey, Melrose. King Alexander III of Scotland succeeded King Scotland.