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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Before 3rd January 1835 [her father] William Cox [aged 21] and [her mother] Jane Woolgar [aged 21] were married.
On 3rd January 1835 Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth was born to [her father] William Cox [aged 21] and [her mother] Jane Woolgar [aged 21] at Steyning, Sussex. She was baptised on 1st February 1835.
In 1847 [her mother] Jane Woolgar [aged 33] died.
1854. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 25]. "Found". Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 18].
Around 1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 29]. Drawing of Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 22].
1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 29]. Fair Rosamund. Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 22].
1858. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 29]. Drawing of Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 22].
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858. 15th December 1858. To Rossetti [aged 30]. The new things I noticed were an intensely impressive water colour of the Virgin in the house of John, the latter seated at the window and striking a light and looking out upon Jerusalem at twilight. The Virgin is spinning. A Knight girded for combat embracing his Lady Love [The Chapel before the Lists]. Several studies of Miss Herbert [aged 27] (Mrs. Crabbe). A most beautiful pen and ink study of Topsy's (Morris's) "Stunner" at Oxford. He showed me some fine medieval drapery and some gorgeous Eastern pieces lent him from the India House. We went off at dusk and dined at the Cock, and afterwards adjourned to 24 Dean St., Soho, to see "Fanny [aged 23]." Interesting face and jolly hair and engaging disposition.
In 1859 [her father] William Cox [aged 45] died.
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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1859. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 30]. Bocca Baciata aka "mouth that has been kissed". Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 23] The first of Rossetti's single female figures which thereafter became his signature style. The flowers in the background are marigolds, a white rose in her hair. An apple on the balustrade. The title from the Italian proverb from the last line of the Seventh story of the Second Book of Boccacio's Decameron "Bocca baciata non perde ventura, anzi rinnova come fa la luna" aka "The mouth that has been kissed does not lose its good fortune; rather, it renews itself just as the moon does."
Around August 1860 Timothy Hughes and Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 25] were married. At some time thereafter she adopted the surname Cornforth, the surname of her husband's stepfather.
On 11th February 1862 at twenty past seven in the morning Elizabeth Siddal [aged 32] overdosed on laudanum at 14 Chatham Place. Possibly suicide - there may have been a note that said "look after Harry (her invalid brother)" which Ford Madox Brown [aged 40] persuaded Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 33] to burn. Shortly after her death Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 27] moved into the family home to become housekeeper to Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
1865. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 36]. "The Blue Bower". Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 29].
1865. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 36]. Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 29].
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 19th May 1865. Dined with Rossetti [aged 37] and Fanny [aged 30] and Howell at Chelsea. Settled to take för 50 eleven selected pencil studies of heads, R. in addition giving me one of a new model he has got to sit.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 22nd May 1865. Rossetti [aged 37] sent down by Pope 13 pencil studies of heads, of which 2 (one of Ellen Smith and another ¾ of a new model) are gifts.
The other 11, viz, 3 of Fanny Cornforth [aged 30], 2 of Ellen Smith, 1 of Ada, 1 of Mrs. Morris of Upton, £10, 1 of the negro boy, 1 of a negro girl, 1 of Mrs. Eaton, and 1 of Marie Ford I pay £60 for.
1867. Dante Gabriel Rossetti [aged 38]. "Lady Lilith". Watercolor. Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 31]. Painted after the original Lady Lilith. On a label attached to its frame is a verse from Goethe's Faust translated by Shelley:
"Beware of her fair hair, for she excells
All women in the magic of her locks,
And when she twines them round a young man's neck
she will not ever set him free again."
In October 1872 [her husband] Timothy Hughes died.
Between 1873 and 1878. Edward Coley Burne-Jones 1st Baronet [aged 39]. Study for "Laus Veneris". Model Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 37].
In Nov 1879 John Schott and Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 43] were married after which they ran the Rose Tavern.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 1891 [her husband] John Schott died.
On 30th March 1907 Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 72] was admitted to the West Sussex County Lunatic Asylum, the records of which state that she was suffering from "senile mania, confusion, weak-mindedness and an inability to sustain a rational conversation, a poor memory and sleeplessness."
On 24th February 1909 Sarah Cox aka Fanny Cornforth [aged 74] died.