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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Paternal Family Tree: Capet
Maternal Family Tree: Mathilda of Tubingen
On 12th February 1352 [her father] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 19] and [her mother] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre [aged 8] were married at Chateau du Vivie, Coutevroult. She by marriage Queen Consort Navarre. She the daughter of [her grandfather] King John "The Good" II of France [aged 32] and [her grandmother] Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. He the son of Philip "Noble" III King Navarre and Joan Capet II Queen Navarre. They were second cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
Around 3rd July 1361 [her future husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 22] and Mary Plantagenet Duchess Brittany [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of King Edward III of England [aged 48] and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England [aged 51]. They were third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England.
In May 1366 [her future husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 27] and Joan Holland Duchess Brittany [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales [aged 37]. They were third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Around 1370 Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England was born to [her father] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 37] and [her mother] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre [aged 26] at Pamplona [Map]. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.15%.
In 1372 [her future husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 33] was restored 6th Earl Richmond. Joan Holland Duchess Brittany [aged 22] by marriage Countess Richmond.
On 16th January 1373 Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton [aged 31] died. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. Earl Hereford, Earl Essex, Earl of Northampton extinct. His estates were divided between his two daughters Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester [aged 7], wife of Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester [aged 18] and Mary Bohun [aged 5], wife of [her future husband] Henry of Bolingbroke [aged 5], the future Henry IV, although the title and estates should have been inherited Gilbert Bohun who was a grandson of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex.
On 3rd November 1373 [her mother] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre [aged 30] died at Évreux.
In 1375 [her brother] Charles III King Navarre [aged 14] and [her sister-in-law] Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 11] were married. She the daughter of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 40] and Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 36]. He the son of [her father] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 42] and [her mother] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In 1381 Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 11] was held hostage with her two brothers Charles III King Navarre [aged 20] and Peter Évreux Count Mortain by King Charles V of France to ensure their father's [aged 48] good behaviour. They were held under the guardianship of their maternal uncles John Valois 1st Duke Berry [aged 40] and Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy [aged 38].
On 5th February 1381 [her future husband] Henry Bolingbroke [aged 13] and Mary Bohun [aged 13] were married at Arundel Castle [Map]. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 7th Earl Hereford 6th Earl Essex 2nd Earl of Northampton and Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton [aged 34]. He the son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 40] and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster. They were second cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 14th June 1381 the mob gained access to the Tower of London [Map] capturing Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales [aged 52], the future [her future husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 14], Joan Holland Duchess York [aged 1] and Archbishop Simon Sudbury [aged 65].
Archbishop Simon Sudbury was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
Lord Treasurer Robert Hales [aged 56], who had only been appointed on the 1st February 1381, was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map].
On 2nd October 1386 John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 47] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 16] were married at Saillé [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux, Countess Richmond. His third marriage, her first. The marriage proceeded when her father Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 53] agreed to give his daughter 120,000 gold francs and to pay 6,000 francs owed to John, duke of Brittany, for the rent of certain lands. He, John, gave her the cities of Nantes [Map] and Guerrand [Map]. The difference in their ages was 31 years. She the daughter of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 1st January 1387 [her father] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 54] burned to death. His son [her brother] Charles [aged 26] succeeded III King Navarre. [her sister-in-law] Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 24] by marriage Queen Consort Navarre.
See Note p Harleian Library 6217: ""
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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On 12th August 1387 [her son] Jeanne Montfort was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 48] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 17]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. He died aged one in 1388.
On 19th December 1387 an army of the Lords Appellant led by the future [her future husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 20] prevented the forces of King Richard II of England [aged 20] commanded by Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland [aged 25] from crossing the bridge [Map] over the River Thames at Radcot in Oxfordshire. When Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester [aged 32] arrived with further Lord Appellant's men the King's men were encircled. The King's men attempted to force the crossing of the bridge at which time the only casualties occurred including Thomas Molyneux [aged 49] who was killed by Thomas Mortimer [aged 37]. Around 800 men drowned in the marshes whilst trying to escape. Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland narrowly escaped to France.
In October 1388 [her daughter] Isabelle Montfort was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 49] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 18]. She died two months later in December 1388. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 7th December 1388 [her son] Jeanne Montfort [aged 1] died.
On 24th December 1389 [her son] John Montfort V Duke Brittany was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 50] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 19]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. He married August 1396 his second cousin Joan Valois Duchess Brittany, daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France and Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France, and had issue.
On 18th February 1391 [her daughter] Marie Montfort Duchess Alençon was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 52] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 21]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 1396 her second cousin twice removed John Valois I Duke Alençon, son of Peter Valois II Count Alençon and Marie Chamaillart Countess Alençon, and had issue.
In 1392 [her daughter] Marguerite Montfort Viscountess Rohan was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 53] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 22]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 26th July 1407 Alan IX Viscount Rohan.
On 24th August 1393 [her son] Arthur Montfort III Duke Brittany was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 54] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 23]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. He married (1) 10th October 1423 his second cousin Margaret Valois, daughter of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy (2) 29th August 1442 his second cousin once removed Jeanne Albret (3) 2nd July 1445 his third cousin twice removed Catherine Luxemburg, daughter of Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Margherita Baux.
In 1395 [her son] Richard Montfort was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 56] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 25]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. He married 1423 his second cousin Margaret Valois, daughter of Louis Valois I Duke Orléans and Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans, and had issue.
In 1396 [her son-in-law] John Valois I Duke Alençon and Marie Montfort Duchess Alençon [aged 4] were married. She the daughter of John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 57] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 26]. He the son of Peter Valois II Count Alençon [aged 56] and Marie Chamaillart Countess Alençon. They were second cousin twice removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In August 1396 John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 6] and Joan Valois Duchess Brittany [aged 5] were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany 1341 War of Sucession. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 27] and Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France [aged 26]. He the son of John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 57] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 26]. They were second cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
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.
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In 1397 [her daughter] Blanche Montfort Countess Armagnac was born to [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 58] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 27]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 16th June 1407 her second cousin John IV Count Armagnac, son of Bernard VII Count Armagnac and Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy, and had issue.
On 3rd February 1399 John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 58] died at Leicester Castle [Map]. Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster [aged 48] was by his side. His son [her future husband] Henry [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Duke Lancaster, 7th Earl of Leicester. He was buried in the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral [Map] with his first wife Blanche Duchess of Lancaster.
King Richard II of England [aged 32] witheld the future Henry IV's inheritance from him giving Henry reason to return to England to claim his lands and titles.
Letters. 15th March 1399. Letter XXVII. Joanna of Navarre [aged 29] afterwards Queen of Henry IV to King Richard II [aged 32].
My most dear and redoubted lord,.
I desire every day to be certified of your good estate, which our Lord grant that it may ever be as good as your heart desires and as I should wish it for myself. If it would please you to let me know of it, you would give me great rejoicings in my heart, for every time that I hear good news of you I am most perfectly glad at heart. And if to know tidings from this side would give you pleasure, when this was written my [her future husband] lord [aged 31], I, and our children were together in good health of our persons, thanks to our Lord, who by his grace ever grant you the same. I pray you, my dearest and most redoubted lord, that it would ever please you to have the affairs of my said lord well recommended, as well in reference to the deliverance of his lands as other things, which lands in your hands are the cause why he sends his people promptly towards you. So may it please you hereupon to provide him with your gracious remedy, in such manner that he may enjoy his said lands peaceably; even as he and I have our perfect surety and trust in you more than in any other. And let me know your good pleasure, and I will accomplish it willingly and with a good heart to my power.
My dearest and most redoubted lord, I pray the Holy Spirit that he will have you in his holy keeping.
Written at Vannes, the 15th day of March. The Duchess of Bretagne.
On 30th September 1399 [her future husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 32] became King of England usurping the throne of his cousin Richard II [aged 32] and Richard's heir, the seven year old Edmund Mortimer 5th Earl of March [aged 7] who was descended from Edward III's second son Lionel of Antwerp Duke of Clarence. This second usurption was to have far reaching consequences since it subsequently became the descent by which the House of York claimed precedence over the House of Lancaster being one of the causes of the Wars of the Roses. Duke Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, Earl Derby, Earl Lancaster and Earl of Leicester merged with the Crown.
Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland [aged 35] was appointed Earl Marshal.
On 1st November 1399 [her husband] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 60] died. His son John [aged 9] succeeded V Duke Brittany 1221 Dreux. His son Arthur [aged 6] succeeded 7th Earl Richmond.
Letters. 15th February 1400. Letter XXVIII. Joanna of Navarre [aged 30] afterwards Queen of Henry IV to her future Husband [her future husband] Henry IV [aged 32].
My very dear and most honourable lord and cousin, Since I am desirous to hear of your good estate, which our Lord grant that it may ever be as good as your noble heart knows best how to desire, and, indeed, as I would wish it for myself, I pray you, my most dear and honoured lord and cousin, that it would please you very often to let me know the certainty of it, for the very great joy and gladness of my heart; for every time that I can hear good news of you, it rejoices my heart very greatly. And if of your courtesy you would hear the same from across here, thanks to you, at the writing of these presents I and my children were together in good health of our persons, thanks to God who grant yon the same, as Johanna of Bayalen, who is going over to you, can tell you more fully, whom please it yon to have recommended in the business on which she is going over. And if anything that I can do over here will give you pleasure, I pray you to let me know it, and I will accomplish it with a very good heart, according to my power.
My dearest and most honoured lord and cousin, I pray the Holy Spirit to have you in his holy keeping.
Written at Vannes, the 15th day of February. The Duchess of Bretagne.
On 13th January 1403 Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] with her two daughters Marguerite Montfort Viscountess Rohan [aged 11] and Blanche Montfort Countess Armagnac [aged 6] departed from Camaret to travel to England intending to land at Southampton. A storm caused them to land at Falmouth, Cornwall from where they travelled to Winchester.
On 7th February 1403 King Henry IV of England [aged 35] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] were married at Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. His third marriage, her second. She had eight children with her first husband but, despite ten years of marriage, none with Henry. She the daughter of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster. They were third cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 26th February 1403 Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey.
Beauchamp Pageant. [26th February 1403] 4. Here sheweshowe Dan Jone Duches of Breteyn [aged 33] doughter of the [her father] Kyng of Navern. and newe wedded wif to [her husband] henry the iiijth [aged 35] kyng of Englond was Crowned Quene of this noble Reame of Englond.
Note. On the 7th February 1403 King Henry IV married at Winchester, Joan, daughter of Charles the Bad, King of Navarre, and widow of John IV Duke of Brittany (by whom she had eight children), and on the 26th of the same month she was crowned Queen in the Abbey Church of Westminster. The picture shows the Queen sitting on a canopied chair, with a tester of the impaled arms of England and Navarre, set upon a hexagonal stage of six steps. She is vested in a long gown or tunic and mantle with tasselled cords, and has her hair "decently let down about her shoulders" in accordance with the rubric.1 In her left hand she holds the sceptre with the cross and in her right the rod.2 The crown, which is arched over, is being placed upon her head by the Archbishop, who stands on her right, assisted by the Abbot of Westminster, who stands on her left. Both are mitred, and the Archbishop is in mass vestments, but the Abbot in a cope over, apparently, an albe and grey amess. Behind the Archbishop, on the floor, stand two clerks in surplices and grey amesses, one of whom bears the Archbishop's cross. Two other clerks in amesses, one carrying his crosier, likewise stand on the floor behind the Abbot. On this same side also stand four of the Queen's ladies, in long gowns and mantles with coronets over their unbound hair. Opposite them is a group of peers, bareheaded and in their robes, the foremost being the Earl Marshal with his rod. The ceremony is conventionally shown as taking place within a canopied recess flanked by buttresses.
Note 1. "Laxatos circa humeros decenter habens crines." i.e. "Having hair loosened around the shoulders in a proper manner." Liber Regalis.
Note 2. According to Liber Regalis the sceptre should be in the right hand and the rod in the left, and they were not delivered until after the crowning.
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On 3rd April 1403 [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 35] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] were married by proxy at Eltham Palace, Kent [Map] with Antoine de Riczi representing Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England.
On 21st July 1403 [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 36], with his son the future [her step-son] King Henry V of England [aged 16], defeated the rebel army of Henry "Hotspur" Percy [aged 39] at the Battle of Shrewsbury at the site now known as Battlefield, Shrewsbury [Map]. King Henry V of England took an arrow to the side of his face. John Stanley [aged 53] was wounded in the throat. Thomas Strickland [aged 36] fought and was awarded £38 and two of the rebel Henry's horses. Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick [aged 21] fought for the King. Walter Blount [aged 55], the King's Standard Bearer, was killed by Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine [aged 31].
Thomas Wendesley [aged 59], Edmund Cockayne [aged 47] and Robert Goushill were killed.
Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford [aged 25] was killed. His son Humphrey Stafford succeeded 6th Earl Stafford, 7th Baron Stafford.
Hugh Shirley [aged 52] was killed; he was one of four knights dressed as King Henry IV of England.
Of the rebels, Henry "Hotspur" Percy, Madog Kynaston [aged 43] and John Clifton were killed.
Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester [aged 60] was beheaded after the battle. Earl Worcester extinct.
Richard Vernon 11th Baron Shipbrook [aged 48] was hanged. Baron Shipbrook forfeit.
John Rossall was killed. His sister Eleanor Rossall [aged 26] inherited a half-share in the Rossall Shrewsbury [Map] estates.
John Massey [aged 65] was killed.
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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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Before 15th February 1404 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 27] and Margaret Neville Countess Dorest [aged 20] were married. He the illegitmate son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 26th November 1405 Thomas Fitzalan 10th Earl of Surrey 5th or 12th Earl of Arundel [aged 24] and Beatrice Aviz Duchess Exeter [aged 23] were married. [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 38] and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 35] were present at their wedding feast. She the illegitmate daughter of King John I of Portugal [aged 53] and Ines Peres. He the son of Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel and Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 26th October 1406 [her step-daughter] Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [aged 12] by marriage Queen Consort Denmark.
On 26th October 1406 King Eric of Norway, Denmark and Sweden [aged 25] and [her step-daughter] Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [aged 12] were married. She the daughter of [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 39] and Mary Bohun.
On 16th June 1407 [her son-in-law] John IV Count Armagnac [aged 10] and Blanche Montfort Countess Armagnac [aged 10] were married. She the daughter of John Montfort V Duke Brittany and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 37]. He the son of Bernard VII Count Armagnac [aged 44] and Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy [aged 42]. They were second cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 26th July 1407 [her son-in-law] Alan IX Viscount Rohan [aged 25] and Marguerite Montfort Viscountess Rohan [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of John Montfort V Duke Brittany and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 37].
On 22nd May 1409 [her step-daughter] Blanche Lancaster Elector Palatinate [aged 17] died in childbirth at Haguenau.
On 16th March 1410 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset [aged 37] died at Hospital of St Katharine's by the Tower, Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at St Michael's Chapel, Canterbury Cathedral [Map]. His son Henry [aged 9] succeeded 2nd Earl Somerset.
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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On 5th July 1411 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 34] was created 1st Earl Dorset. Margaret Neville Countess Dorest [aged 27] by marriage Countess Dorset.
In November 1411 [her step-son] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 24] and Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence [aged 26] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent [aged 61]. He the son of [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 44] and Mary Bohun. They were first cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1412 [her step-son] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 24] was created 1st Duke Clarence by [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 44]. Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence [aged 27] by marriage Duchess Clarence.
On 20th March 1413 [her husband] King Henry IV of England [aged 45] died in the Jerusalem Chamber, Cheyneygates, Westminster Abbey [Map] in Westminster Abbey confirming a prophesy that he would die in Jerusalem. His son [her step-son] Henry [aged 26] succeeded V King of England. His sons King Henry V of England and Humphrey Lancaster 1st Duke Gloucester [aged 22] were present. He was buried in the Chancel of Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
Chronicle of Gregory. 29th October 1415. And in that same year, onne the morne aftyr Syn Symonnys day and Jude, that the mayre shulde ryde to Westemyster for to take his othe, come tydyngys to London of the batayle a-bove said by the Byschoppe of Worseter20, that tyme beyng Chaunceler, for he come to London erly in the mornynge, and warnyd the mayre. And thenne thorowe London they lette rynge the bellys in every chyrche and song Te Deum; and at Powlys [Map], at ix of the clocke, the tydyngys were oppynly proclaymyd to alle the comeners of [th]e cytte and to alle othyr strangerys. And thenne the Quene [aged 45]21, and alle her byschoppys and alle the lordys [th]at were in London that tyme, wentte to Westemyster on her fete a prosessyon to Synt Edward is schryne, whythe alle the prestys, and clerkys, and fryers, and alle othyr relygyous men, devoutely syngynge ande saynge the letanye. And whenne they hadde offerde, the mayre com home rydynge merely whythe alle his aldermen and comeners as they were i-wounte for to doo.
Note 20. Should be Winchester. [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester [aged 40], afterwards Cardinal. The title is given correctly in Vit.
Note 21. Joan of Navarre, widow of Henry IV.
Letters. 10th November 1415. Letter XXXV. Queen Joanna [aged 45] Widow of Henry IV, to her Son [her former step-son] John Duke of Bedford [aged 26].
High and puissant prince, our dearest and best beloved son,.
We thank you entirely, because we know well that you desire to kpow of our good estate. So be it known unto you dearest son, that at the making pf thisse presets we were in good condition of our person God be thanked, who ever grant you the same I find be good enough to certify us by all messengers of your health, of which we are equally desirous to know, for our consolation and joy, always when we can know good news of you.
Our dearest and most beloved son, the very singular desire that we have for the accomplishment of the matter contained in the supplication herein enclosed, touching the fee of our dear and good friend John Faringdon, our attorney-general, on account of his own commendable deserts, causes us at present to write to you, praying you, with most entire heart, that, having understood the tenor of the said supplication, you will therein grant him your good and gracious service for love of us, that, according to the effect and purport of this, he may be paid his said fee; that thus this our hearty prayer may take full effect in accomplishment of our desire in this matter, according to the entire confidence that we have in you.
And if there be anything on our part that we can do to your pleasure, be pleased to signify it, and we will accomplish it with very good heart, according to our power. Our Lord give you in honour and perfect health a very good life, and as long as you desire. Written at our manor of Langley, the 10th day of November. Joanna.
Before 1419 [her daughter] Blanche Montfort Countess Armagnac [aged 21] died.
Thomas Walsingham [~1422]. 1419. This year the step-mother of the King, Queen Joanna [aged 49], defamed by some for a crime, which would have been invented to hurt the King, having removed all her servants, was placed in the custody of John Pelham [aged 64] who brought her to Pevensey Castle [Map], where she remained under his control.
Hoc anno noverca Regis, Anna Regina, per quosdam infamata de quodam maleficio, quod in læsionem Regis commentata fuisset, amotis cunctis suis famulis, commendata est custodiæ Pellam; qui, adhibitis sibi1 novem servientibus, introduxit eam in castrum de Pereneseye [Map], sub ejus providentia gubermandam.
Note 1. nomen in orig.; corrected from the printed texts.
Archaeologia Volume 65 1914 Section 4 Part 1. 6th November 1422. Next comes a list of the gold cloths (Jann aurei) that were offered on behalf of the King and Queen Katharine (neither of whom was present), and by the lady Joan 'formerly queen' [aged 52] and twenty other lords and ladies of the realm. The heading is of interest as giving us the exact day of the king's burial.
Received 222 gold cloths offered both on Friday on the feast of St. Leonard the abbot at Placebo et Dirige and at mass on the morrow on the day of the burial of the lord Henry the fifth formerly King of England.
Since St. Leonard's day is, and has always been, kept on 6th November, King Henry was buried, as already stated, on Saturday the 7th.
Of the 222 gold cloths, Queen Joan redeemed the twenty-four offered by herself by payment of £33 6s 8d; three more were delivered to the Lord Bourchier; and the Earl of March compounded for the thirteen offered by him in his absence with a gown of cloth of gold of Damascus. The remaining cloths were delivered into the vestry1.
Note 1. See the complete list in Appendix D.
In 1423 Richard Montfort [aged 28] and Margaret Valois [aged 16] were married. She the daughter of Louis Valois I Duke Orléans and Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans. He the son of John Montfort V Duke Brittany and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 53]. They were second cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 10th October 1423 Arthur Montfort III Duke Brittany [aged 30] and Margaret Valois [aged 29] were married at Dijon. She the daughter of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy. He the son of John Montfort V Duke Brittany and Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 53]. They were second cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 8th September 1425 [her brother] Charles III King Navarre [aged 64] died.
On 13th April 1428 [her daughter] Marguerite Montfort Viscountess Rohan [aged 36] died.
On 10th June 1437 Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 67] died at Havering atte Bower, Essex [Map].
Chronicle of Gregory. 10th July 1437. And the same year dyde Quene Jane [deceased] a at Averyng at the Bowre [Map], in Esex, in the monythe of Juylle, and she is buryde at Cauntyrbury [Map] whythe her hosbonde, [her former husband] King Harry the iiij the.
Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 4 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great Grand Daughter of Louis X King France I Navarre
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 
3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France 
Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Philip III of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis I Count Évreux 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Reginar II Duke Brabant Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Reginar III Duke Brabant 2 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Swabia Duchess Brabant
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maria of Brabant Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh IV Duke Burgundy 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adelaide Burgundy Duchess Brabant 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Yolande Capet Duchess Burgundy
GrandFather: Philip "Noble" III King Navarre 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet Count of Artois Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Artois II Count Artois 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Artois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Courtenay
Great x 3 Grandmother: Amice Countenay Countess Artois 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Peronnelle de Joigny 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Artois Countess Évreux Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John "The Red" Capet I Duke Brittany 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John II Duke Brittany 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche "Navarre" Blois Duchess Brittany 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry III of England 
Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Plantagenet Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England
Father: Charles "Bad" II King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Philip III of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Philip IV of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis X King France I Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald IV King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry I King Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Blois I Queen Navarre 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet Count of Artois Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Queen Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
GrandMother: Joan Capet II Queen Navarre 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Odo III Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh IV Duke Burgundy 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Vergy Duchess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet III Count Dreux
Great x 3 Grandmother: Yolande Capet Duchess Burgundy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aénor de Saint-Valéry
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret of Burgundy Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Capet Duchess Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Philip III of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles Capet of Sicily Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Provence Queen Consort Sicily
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Capet Countess Valois 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen V of Hungary
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cuman
GrandFather: King John "The Good" II of France 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Odo III Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh IV Duke Burgundy 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Vergy Duchess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet III Count Dreux
Great x 3 Grandmother: Yolande Capet Duchess Burgundy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aénor de Saint-Valéry
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes Capet Duchess Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Mother: Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Great" Luxemburg V Count Luxemburg III Count Namur 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg VI Count Luxemburg 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Luxemburg VII Holy Roman Emperor 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bouchard Avesnes
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Avesnes Countess Luxemburg 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret II Countess Flanders 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: King John I of Bohemia 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John I Brabant
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Brabant Countess Luxemburg and Namur
GrandMother: Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ottokar "Iron King" II King Bohemia
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and Poland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Kunigunda Rostislavna Přemyslovna
Great x 1 Grandmother: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert IV Count of Habsburg
Great x 3 Grandfather: Rudolph I King Romans
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hedwig of Kyburg
Great x 2 Grandmother: Queen Judith of Bohemia and Poland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Burkhard V Count Hohenberg
Great x 3 Grandmother: Gertrude Hohenburg
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilda of Tubingen