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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Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter 1397-1462
Around 1397 Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter was born to [her father] Thomas Clarell of Aldwarke.
Before 1398 [her future husband] Robert Waterton [aged 37] and Cecily Fleming were married.
In 1417 [her son] William Fitzwilliam was born to [her future husband] John Fitzwilliam [aged 19] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 20] at Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire. He married before 1st December 1474 Elizabeth Chaworth and had issue.
In 1419 [her daughter] Eleanor Fitzwilliam was born to [her future husband] John Fitzwilliam [aged 21] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 22] at Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire. She married in or before 1450 William Rhyther and had issue.
In or before 1422 Robert Waterton [aged 61] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 24] were married. The difference in their ages was 37 years.
On 17th January 1425 [her husband] Robert Waterton [aged 65] died.
On 7th February 1426 William Gascoigne XII [aged 17] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 29] were married.
Around 1428 [her daughter] Joan Gascoigne was born to [her husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 19] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 31]. She married in or before 1460 Henry Vavasour, son of Henry Vavasour, and had issue.
Around 1430 [her son] William Gascoigne XIII was born to [her husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 21] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 33]. He married (1) before 1463 Unknown Beckwith and had issue (2) before 1463 Joan Neville and had issue.
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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In 1436 [her daughter] Anne Gascoigne Baroness Hastings was born to [her husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 27] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 39]. She married in or before 1466 Hugh Hastings 10th Baron Hastings, son of John Hastings 9th Baron Hastings and Anne Morley Baroness Hastings, and had issue.
In 1445 [her daughter] Elizabeth Gascoigne was born to [her husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 36] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 48].
In or before 1450 [her son-in-law] William Rhyther [aged 41] and [her daughter] Eleanor Fitzwilliam [aged 30] were married.
In or before 1460 [her son-in-law] Henry Vavasour [aged 38] and [her daughter] Joan Gascoigne [aged 31] were married.
In 1462 Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter [aged 65] died.
Around 1465. All Saints Church Harewood [Map]. Monument to [her former husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 56] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter. Fluted Period. Suns and Roses Collar. His bare head, with finely detailed hair, no facial hair, rests on an unusual helm which appears to be a Maiden's Face, with an orle. Below the waist faulds and tassets under which mail may be seen. Both rest on a chest tomb with finely detailed weepers on each side. She, on his right, with a Widow's Barbe drawn up to her chin at the finely carved end of her dress two dogs, one pulling at the folds. Dogs chewing at her dress with Studded Collar. Dress Folds at Feet.
William Gascoigne XII: Around 1409 he was born to William Gascoigne at Gawthorpe Hall [Map]. On 7th February 1426 William Gascoigne XII and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter were married. Around 1465 William Gascoigne XII died at Gawthorpe Hall [Map]. All Saints Church Harewood [Map].
Around 1465 [her former husband] William Gascoigne XII [aged 56] died at Gawthorpe Hall [Map]. All Saints Church Harewood [Map].
Before 17th September 1474 John Fitzwilliam [aged 77] and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter were married.
On 17th September 1474 [her former husband] John Fitzwilliam [aged 77] died at Rouen, France [Map].
[her son] John Gascoigne was born to William Gascoigne XII and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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[her son] Robert Gascoigne was born to William Gascoigne XII and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter.
[her daughter] Margaret Gascoigne was born to William Gascoigne XII and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter.
[her daughter] Amy Gascoigne was born to William Gascoigne XII and Margaret Clarell Lady of the Garter.