Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet

Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.

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Biography of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399

Paternal Family Tree: Scrope

Maternal Family Tree: Katherine Norwich 1306-1381

1399 Richard II's Last Will

1399 Henry IV lands at Ravenspur

1399 Execution of Richard II's Favourites

In 1350 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire was born to [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 23] and [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 22].

In or before 1369 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 41] and [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 40] were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

In 1371 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 44] was created 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton.

Around 1378 [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 50] died at Bolton, North Yorkshire.

In or before 1393 [his brother] Roger Scrope 2nd Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 24] and [his sister-in-law] Margaret Tiptoft Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 27] were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

In 1394 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 44] was appointed 85th Knight of the Garter by King Richard II of England [aged 26].

In 1396 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 46] and Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire were married.

In 1397 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 47] was created 1st Earl Wiltshire. [his wife] Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire by marriage Countess Wiltshire.

In 1398 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 48] was appointed Lord High Treasurer.

Richard II's Last Will

On 16th April 1399 King Richard II of England [aged 32] wrote his Last Will from which the following extracts are taken … Also we bequeath to our beloved nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey [aged 25] ten thousand marks and to our beloved brother Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle [aged 26] two thousand marks and to our beloved brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter [aged 47] three thousand marks and to our faithful and beloved William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49] two thousand marks... we ordain and set aside for the fulfilment of all and singular the premises the sum of ninety-one thousand marks, of which sixty-five thousand marks are in the keeping of Sir John Ikelyngton and twenty-four thousand marks in the hands and keeping of our dear nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey.

Of this our royal testament we nominate make and depute executors the venerable fathers in Christ Bishop Richard Mitford, Bishop Edmund Stafford [aged 55], Bishop Robert Tideman of Winchcombe, Bishop Thomas Merke and Bishop Guy Mone Aka Mohun; our beloved brother Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle, our nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey, our brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter and William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire to each of whom we bequeath a gold cup of the value of twenty pounds and our beloved and faithful clerks Master Bishop Richard Clifford Keeper of our Privy Seal, Master Richard Maudeleyn, Master William Fereby and Master John Painter Ikelyngton clerks and John Lufwyk and William Serle laymen, to each of whom we will shall be paid their expenses and necessary costs while it shall happen that they or any of them are employed about the execution of our present last will, but according to the discretion of their said co-executors...

Whom all and singular we have charged and charge that they shall do as much as in them is for the due execution and fulfilment of this our last will as they shall wish to answer before God. We create ordain depute and make overseers of this our will the reverend fathers in Christ Archbishop Roger Walden and Archbishop Richard Scrope [aged 49], William bishop of Winchester and William abbot of the monastery of Westminster Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle our uncle and Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 57] our cousin.

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Henry IV lands at Ravenspur

On 7th July 1399 Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 58] appointed William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy to protect Kent against invasion by Henry Bolingbroke Earl of Derby [aged 32].

Execution of Richard II's Favourites

On 28th July 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy were captured at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map].

On 29th July 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy were beheaded at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map]. Earl Wiltshire forfeit.