Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses

Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.

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Biography of Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk 1256-1336

Paternal Family Tree: Mortimer

Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188

In 1247 [his father] Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 16] and [his mother] Maud de Braose [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber and [his grandmother] Eva Marshal. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King John of England.

Around 1256 Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk was born to [his father] Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 25] and [his mother] Maud de Braose [aged 32]. He a great x 2 grandson of King John of England.

Before 1258 [his father] Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 26] was created 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.

In 1260 [his brother-in-law] John Fitzalan 7th Earl of Arundel [aged 13] and [his sister] Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel were married. He the son of John Fitzalan 6th Earl of Arundel [aged 37] and Maud Verdun Countess Arundel [aged 35]. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King John of England.

In 1267 John Fitzalan 6th Earl of Arundel [aged 44] died. His son [his brother-in-law] John [aged 20] succeeded 7th Earl Arundel. [his sister] Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel by marriage Countess Arundel.

Before 1282 [his brother-in-law] Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford [aged 24] and [his sister] Margaret Mortimer Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford [aged 41] and Alice Sanford Countess of Oxford. They were fifth cousins. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King John of England.

On 30th October 1282 [his father] Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 51] died. He was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map] where the inscription of his tombstone reads "Here lies buried, glittering with praise, Roger the pure, Roger Mortimer the second, called Lord of Wigmore by those who held him dear. While he lived all Wales feared his power, and given as a gift to him all Wales remained his. It knew his campaigns, he subjected it to torment". His son [his brother] Edmund [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore.

In September 1285 [his brother] Edmund Mortimer 2nd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 34] and [his sister-in-law] Margaret Fiennes [aged 16] were married. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Before 8th June 1286 Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk [aged 30] and Lucy Wafre were married.

In 1291 [his sister] Isabella Mortimer Countess Arundel 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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In 1297 [his sister] Margaret Mortimer Countess of Oxford died.

On 6th February 1299 Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk [aged 43] was created 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk by writ of summons.

In 1301 [his mother] Maud de Braose [aged 77] died at Wigmore, Herefordshire [Map]. She was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map].

In July 1304 [his brother] Edmund Mortimer 2nd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore [aged 53] died at Wigmore Castle, Herefordshire [Map]. He was buried at Wigmore Abbey [Map]. His son [his nephew] Roger [aged 17] succeeded 3rd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore. Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville [aged 18] by marriage Baroness Mortimer of Wigmore.

Feast of the Swans

On 22nd May 1306 the Feast of the Swans was a collective knighting of two hundred and sixty seven men at Westminster Abbey [Map].

At the feast, following the knightings, two swans were brought in. King Edward I of England [aged 66] swore before God and the swans to avenge the death of John Comyn 3rd Lord Baddenoch - see Murder of John "Red" Comyn.

King Edward I of England first knighted his son King Edward II of England [aged 22].

King Edward II of England then knighted the remaining two-hundred and sixty-six including...

Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer [aged 20]

Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel [aged 21]

John le Blund, Mayor of London

William Brabazon

Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk [aged 50]

Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 22] - this may have been the first time Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall and King Edward II of England met?

John Harrington 1st Baron Harington [aged 25]

John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers [aged 16]

[his nephew] Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 19]

William Montagu 2nd Baron Montagu [aged 31]

John Mowbray 2nd Baron Mowbray [aged 19]

Thomas Multon 1st Baron Multon [aged 30]

Roger Scales 2nd Baron Scales

John Warenne 7th Earl of Surrey [aged 19]

Around January 1332 Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk [aged 76] and his nephew Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March surrendered to the King and were imprisoned at Tower of London [Map] with his nephews.

On 3rd August 1336 Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk [aged 80] died at the Tower of London [Map] after four and a half years imprisonment. He was buried at either Wigmore Abbey [Map] or St Augustine's Priory, Bristol [Map]. His son Roger succeeded 2nd Baron Mortimer of Chirk although he was never summoned to Parliament.

[his son] Roger de Mortimer 2nd Baron Mortimer was born to Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk. He a great x 3 grandson of King John of England.

Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk 1256-1336 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Royal Ancestors of Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk 1256-1336

Kings Wessex: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 3 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 9 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 4 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 2 Grand Son of King John of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 15 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 12 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk 1256-1336

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ranulph Mortimer

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Mortimer

Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Mortimer

Great x 1 Grandfather: Roger Mortimer

Great x 3 Grandfather: William le Meschin Gernon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Avranches

Great x 2 Grandmother: Matilda Gernon

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Rumily

Great x 3 Grandmother: Cecily Rumily

GrandFather: Ralph Mortimer

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ferrers

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Ferrers

Great x 2 Grandfather: Walchelin Ferrers

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Ferrers

Father: Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd

Great x 3 Grandfather: Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Great x 4 Grandmother: Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd

Great x 2 Grandfather: Iorwerth "Drwyndwn aka Flat Nosed" Aberffraw

Great x 4 Grandfather: Llywarch ap Trahaearn Lord of Cydewain

Great x 3 Grandmother: Gwladus Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd

Great x 1 Grandfather: Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw

Great x 4 Grandfather: Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Great x 3 Grandfather: Madog ap Maredudd Mathrafal Prince Powys

Great x 2 Grandmother: Marared ferch Madog Mathrafal

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd

Great x 3 Grandmother: Susanna Aberffraw

Great x 4 Grandmother: Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd

GrandMother: Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Empress Matilda Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King John of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Aenor Chatellerault Duchess Aquitaine

Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Plantagenet Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke Normandy

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hamelin Warenne Earl of Surrey

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mistress Unknown

Great x 2 Grandmother: Adela Plantagenet

Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk 2 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Phillip de Braose 2nd Baron Bramber

Great x 3 Grandfather: William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber

Great x 4 Grandmother: Aenor Totnes Baroness Bramber

Great x 2 Grandfather: William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber

Great x 4 Grandfather: Miles Gloucester 1st Earl Hereford

Great x 3 Grandmother: Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sibyl Neufmarché Countess Hereford

Great x 1 Grandfather: Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber

Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald St Valery

Great x 3 Grandfather: Bernard St Valery

Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber

Great x 3 Grandmother: Matilda Unknown

GrandFather: William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber

Great x 1 Grandmother: Graecia Briwere

Mother: Maud de Braose

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Giffard

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fitzgilbert

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke

Great x 2 Grandmother: Sybil of Salisbury

Great x 3 Grandmother: Sybilla Chaworth Baroness Chitterne

GrandMother: Eva Marshal

Great x 4 Grandfather: Gilbert de Clare

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert de Clare 1st Earl Pembroke

Great x 4 Grandmother: Adeliza Clermont

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard "Strongbow" Clare 2nd Earl Pembroke

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke

Great x 3 Grandfather: Diarmait Macmurrough

Great x 2 Grandmother: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham