Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Earl of Northumberland is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically.
1455 First Battle of St Albans
29th March 1461 Battle of Towton
There have been four creations of Earl of Northumberland:
1st. 1080. Robert de Mowbray 1st Earl Northumbria. Extinct. 1125.
2nd. 1377. Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland. Extinct. 31st May 1670.
3rd. 27th May 1464. John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu. Renounced. 26th March 1470. Earldom of Northumberland returned to the Percy Family.
4th. 1st October 1674. George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland. Extinct. 28th June 1716.
Earl of Northumberland Feudal Creation is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1080. Robert de Mowbray 1st Earl Northumbria created.
1125. Robert de Mowbray 1st Earl Northumbria extinct.
In 1080 Robert de Mowbray 1st Earl Northumbria was created 1st Earl of Northumberland Feudal Creation.
In 1125 Robert de Mowbray 1st Earl Northumbria died. Earl of Northumberland Feudal Creation extinct.
Earl of Northumberland is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Forfeit Earldoms of England, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1377. Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 35] created.
19th February 1408. Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland forfeit. See Battle of Bramham Moor.
1416. Grandson Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 22] restored.
22nd May 1455. Son Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 33] succeeded. See First Battle of St Albans.
29th March 1461. Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland forfeit. See 29th March 1461 Battle of Towton.
26th March 1470. Son Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 21] restored. See Earldom of Northumberland returned to the Percy Family.
28th April 1489. Son Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland [aged 11] succeeded. See Yorkshire Rebellion.
19th May 1527. Son Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland [aged 25] succeeded.
2nd June 1537. Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland forfeit.
1st May 1557. Nephew Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland [aged 29] restored.
22nd August 1572. Brother Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland [aged 40] succeeded. See Rising of the North.
21st June 1585. Son Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland [aged 21] succeeded.
5th November 1632. Son Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland [aged 30] succeeded.
13th October 1668. Son Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland [aged 24] succeeded.
31st May 1670. Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland extinct.
In 1377 Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 35] was created 1st Earl of Northumberland.
In 1381 Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 39] and Maud Lucy Countess Northumberland [aged 38] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
On 19th February 1408 Thomas Rokeby's [aged 28] force of Yorkshire levies defeated the Percy army during the Battle of Bramham Moor bringing to an end the Percy rebellion.
Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 66] was killed. His body was afterwards hanged, drawn and quartered, his head being sent to London bridge and his quarters to diverse places. Possibly captured hanged, drawn and quartered after the battle. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick and Baron Percy of Topcliffe forfeit.
Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf [aged 38] was killed. Baron Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk had been forfeited in 1406 when Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf was declared a traitor. It was restored on the 19th of July 1408 to his two daughters Anne Bardolf Baroness Cobham Sternborough [aged 18] and Joan Bardolf [aged 17] and their husbands William Clifford [aged 33] and William Phelip [aged 25] respectively.
The Abbot of Hailes Abbey [Map] was executed following the battle since he was wearing armour. Bishop Griffin Yonge [aged 38], Bishop of Bangor, was captured, but wearing his vestments, he avoided execution.
In 1416 Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 22] was restored 2nd Earl of Northumberland, 5th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 13th Baron Percy of Topcliffe.
Before 8th July 1418 Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 25] and Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland [aged 54] and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland [aged 39]. They were second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 22nd May 1455 the Wars of the Roses commenced with the First Battle of St Albans. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York [aged 43] commanded with Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury [aged 26], Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 55], Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham [aged 40] and Walter Strickland [aged 44].
The Lancastrians...
Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 49] was killed. His son Henry [aged 19] succeeded 2nd Duke Somerset, 2nd Marquess Dorset, 5th Earl Somerset, 2nd Earl Dorset. Note his father is frequently incorrectly referred to as the second Duke and Henry as the third Duke. His father's Dukedom, however, was a new creation.
Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 62] was killed. His son Henry [aged 33] succeeded 3rd Earl of Northumberland, 6th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 14th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland [aged 33] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford [aged 41] was killed. His son John [aged 20] succeeded 9th Baron de Clifford, 9th Lord Skipton. Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford [aged 21] by marriage Baroness de Clifford.
William Cotton [aged 45] and Richard Fortescue [aged 41] were killed.
Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 52] was wounded and captured.
King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 33], John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 54] and Edmund Sutton [aged 30] were captured.
Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was wounded. James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 34] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 55] fought.
Richard Cotton of Hampstall Ridware [aged 51] and his son William Cotton of Connington in Huntingdonshire [aged 27] were killed.
On 29th March 1461 the Battle of Towton was a decisive victory for King Edward IV of England [aged 18] bringing to an end the first war of the Wars of the Roses. Said to be the bloodiest battle on English soil 28000 were killed mainly during the rout that followed the battle.
The Yorkist army was commanded by King Edward IV of England with John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 45], William Neville 1st Earl Kent [aged 56], William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 30] (knighted), Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy [aged 45], Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 57], John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 23] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 61].
The Lancastrian army suffered significant casualties including Richard Percy [aged 35], Ralph Bigod Lord Morley [aged 50], John Bigod [aged 28], Robert Cromwell [aged 71], Ralph Eure [aged 49], John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby [aged 51], John Beaumont [aged 33], Thomas Dethick [aged 61], Everard Simon Digby, William Plumpton [aged 25] and William Welles [aged 51] who were killed.
Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 39] was killed. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick, Baron Percy of Topcliffe forfeit.
Ralph Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 49] was killed. He was buried at the nearby Saxton church where his chest tomb is extant. Baron Dacre Gilsland extinct.
Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles [aged 55] was killed. His son Richard [aged 33] succeeded 7th Baron Welles.
The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 25], Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 30], Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Andrew Trollope.
Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter was attainted after the battle; Duke Exeter, Earl Huntingdon forfeit.
Those who fought for the Lancaster included William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme [aged 46], William Plumpton, John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 60], William Norreys [aged 20], Thomas Grey 1st Baron Grey of Richemont [aged 43], Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns [aged 30], John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 12], Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby, Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 56], James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 40], John Butler 6th Earl Ormonde [aged 39], William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 22], Henry Roos and Thomas Tresham [aged 41]. Cardinal John Morton [aged 41] were captured.
John Heron of Ford Castle Northumberland [aged 45], Robert Dethick [aged 86], Andrew Trollope and his son David Trollope were killed.
On 26th March 1470 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 39] revoked his title of Earl of Northumberland so that the Earldom could be given to of the Percy family who were its traditional holders.
Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 21] was restored 4th Earl of Northumberland, 7th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 15th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland [aged 12] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
A deeply unpopular move with the Neville family who had been longstanding enemies of the Percies in the North. He was created 1st Marquess Montagu instead. Possibly a consequence of the defection of Warwick the Kingmaker [aged 41] to the Lancastrian cause as evidenced by the Welles Rebellion earlier in the year.
On 28th April 1489 Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 40] was hanged at Cockledge or Blackmoor near York [Map] by the rebels when attempting to collect the tax. He was buried at Beverley Minster [Map].
Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland [aged 11] succeeded 5th Earl of Northumberland, 8th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 16th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 7th Baron Poynings. He, Henry, 5th Earl, appears to have become a ward of King Henry VII since he was later married to King Henry's first cousin Katherine Spencer [aged 12], daughter of Eleanor Beaufort Countess Ormonde [aged 57], probably as a means of ensuring Percy allegiance to the successors of the House of Lancaster i.e. Beaufort and Tudor.
The King then sent an army of 8000 north led by Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey [aged 46]. The rebels dispersed; their leader John à Chambre was hanged for treason. The rebels then chose John Percy [aged 30] as their leader. His leadership proved less than reliable; he eventually fled to the court of Margaret of York Duchess of Burgundy [aged 42] (sister of Edward IV and Richard III) who remained sympathetic to the Yorkist cause.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 1502 Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland [aged 23] and Katherine Spencer Countess Northumberland [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of Robert Spencer of Spencer Combe [aged 66] and Eleanor Beaufort Countess Ormonde. He the son of Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland and Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 19th May 1527 Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland [aged 49] died. His son Henry [aged 25] succeeded 6th Earl of Northumberland, 9th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 17th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 8th Baron Poynings. Mary Talbot Countess Northumberland by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
On 2nd June 1537 Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland [aged 35] died. Richard Layton visited him on 29 June 1537 and says that he found him "languens in extremis, sight and speech failed, his stomach swollen so great as I never see none, and his whole body as yellow as saffron." Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick, Baron Percy of Topcliffe, Baron Poynings forfeit. His brother Thomas Percy [aged 33] should have succeeded but he had been attainted.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 1st May 1557. The furst day of May was creatyd at Whytt-halle master Perse [aged 29] the yerle of Northumberland, with viij haroldes and a dosen of trumpeters thrugh the quen('s) chambur, and thrugh the hall, and a-for hym my lord of Penbroke [aged 56] and my lord Montyguw [aged 28] and then my lord of Arundell [aged 45] and my lord of Rutland [aged 30], and hym-self whent in the myddes, alle in cremesun welvett in ther parlement robes, and whyt a hatt of velvett and cronet of gold on ys hed.
On 1st May 1557 Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland [aged 29] was restored 7th Earl of Northumberland, 10th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 18th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 9th Baron Poynings.
On 22nd June 1558 Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland [aged 30] and Anne Somerset Countess Northumberland [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester [aged 56]. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In January 1562 Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland [aged 30] and Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 22nd August 1572 Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland [aged 44] was beheaded at The Pavement in York. He was buried at St Crux Church, York [Map]. His brother Henry [aged 40] succeeded 8th Earl of Northumberland, 11th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 19th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick, 10th Baron Poynings.
On 21st June 1585 Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland [aged 53] committed suicide at Tower of London [Map]. He was found dead in his bed in his cell, having been shot through the heart. A jury was at once summoned, and returned a verdict of suicide. He was buried in St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map]. His son Henry [aged 21] succeeded 9th Earl of Northumberland, 12th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 20th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick, 11th Baron Poynings. Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 21] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
On 5th November 1632 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland [aged 68] died. His son Algernon [aged 30] succeeded 10th Earl of Northumberland, 13th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 21st Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 4th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 12th Baron Poynings.
On 1st October 1642 Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland [aged 40] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Northumberland [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. He the son of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland. They were fourth cousin once removed.
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.'
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 23rd December 1662 Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland [aged 18] and Elizabeth Wriothesley Countess Northumberland [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. She the daughter of Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester [aged 55] and Elizabeth Leigh Countess Southampton. He the son of Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland [aged 60] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Northumberland [aged 39]. They were third cousins.
On 13th October 1668 Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland [aged 66] died at Petworth. He was buried at Petworth. His son Josceline [aged 24] succeeded 11th Earl of Northumberland, 14th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 22nd Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 5th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 13th Baron Poynings.
On 31st May 1670 Josceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland [aged 25] died in Turin without male issue. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick and Baron Percy of Topcliffe, Baron Percy of Alnwick and Baron Poynings extinct. His daughter Elizabeth [aged 3] was his sole heiress.
The second creation of the Earl of Northumberland occurred on 16th March 1416 although it was, in effect a restoration of the first creation with Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 23] being restored rather than created. Unclear as to why some sources refer to this as a creation?
Earl of Northumberland is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Renounced Earldoms of England.
Summary
27th May 1464. John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 33] created. See 15 May 1464 Battle of Hexham.
26th March 1470. John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu renounced. See Earldom of Northumberland returned to the Percy Family.
On 27th May 1464 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 33] was created 1st Earl of Northumberland as a reward for successfully suppressing the Lancastrian resistance in the North. The Earldom of Northumberland traditionally held by the Percy family with whom the Neville family had been feuding for generations.
On 26th March 1470 John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 39] revoked his title of Earl of Northumberland so that the Earldom could be given to of the Percy family who were its traditional holders.
Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 21] was restored 4th Earl of Northumberland, 7th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 15th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland [aged 12] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
A deeply unpopular move with the Neville family who had been longstanding enemies of the Percies in the North. He was created 1st Marquess Montagu instead. Possibly a consequence of the defection of Warwick the Kingmaker [aged 41] to the Lancastrian cause as evidenced by the Welles Rebellion earlier in the year.
Earl of Northumberland is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1st October 1674. George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 8] created.
28th June 1716. George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland extinct.
On 1st October 1674 George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 8] was created 1st Earl of Northumberland, 1st Viscount Falmouth, 1st Baron Pontefract by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 44].
On 28th June 1716 George Fitzroy 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 50] died at Epsom, Surrey without legitimate issue. Duke Northumberland, Earl of Northumberland, Viscount Falmouth, Baron Pontefract extinct.