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The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

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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Historie of Great Britain by John Speed

Historie of Great Britain by John Speed is in Late Medieval Books.

1483 Buckingham's Rebellion

22nd August 1485 Battle of Bosworth

[4th December 1483]. An other Commotion at the same time was in Kent, where George Browne [aged 43] and John Gilford Knights, Foge, Scot, Clifford, and Boating, with five thousand men attempted great matters at Crouch end, but hearing of the Duke of Buckinghams surprise, dispersed themselves for that time. But when King Richard perceived how hee was every where beset, he sent one Thomas Hutton unto Francis Duke of Britaine, with proffers of gold to circumvent and imprison Earle Henry, who as hee feared was too well friended in those forraine parts, which thing indeed this Hutton well perceived, and so to the King reported, that the Duke was nothing forward to bite at this baite, whereupon, those that lately fled England, were indited of treason, and other of Henries factions beheaded, whereof Sir George Browne, and Sir Roger Clifford Knights with foure others were beheaded at London, ...

[8th November 1483] ... and at Exceter [Map] for the like cause dyed Sir Thomas Sentleger [aged 43], who had married Lady Anne Dutchess of Excester, King Richards own sister, with others; so jealous was the King of his usurped Crowne;

[12th October 1483] ... and that nothing should be laide to unprovident foresight, the coasts hee stored with Armies of men, fumished the Ports with storc of Provision, and made all things ready to withstand Earle Henries arrivall. Who now having gotten aide of five thousand Britaines, with forty vessels wel furnished, set sail from thence the twelfth of October, but was taken with so terrible a tempest,that his Fleet was disparkled some into Normandy, and some compelled to returne into Britame, only the Earles ship with one other kept the Seas, being sore tossed all night, and in the morning arrived in the mouth of Poole [Map] in the County of Dorset, where hee might behold the Shore full of men shining in armour, to his great amazement, whereupon hee lent out his shippe-boat to know whether they were friends or enemies; their answer was, that they were thither appointed by the Duke of Buckingham, toattend the comming of the Earle of Richmond, to conduct him in safety to the Duke, who lay encamped not far off, that so joyning their forces, they might prosecute Richard the usurper, who being in a maner destitute of men, was sore distrafted, and desperate in his owne designes.

These smooth untruthes notwithstanding Earle Henry avoided, and with a forward gale returned to Normandy, whence he sent Messengers unto young Charles King of France, whose father King Lewie was lately departed this life, to have his safe conduct to returne into Britaine, which easily was granted with favourable complements returned to the Earle. Lord Henry thus crossed by sea, had present news of Buckinghams surprise and death, with the flight of the Nobles escapcd from Richard: who meeting with Richmund in Britaine, fell forthwith into Counsell: where first it was determined that Earle Henry shouid take his oath to cspouse the Lady Elizabeth eldeft daughter unto King Edward, and the immediate heire to the Crowne, which hee solemnly did in the Church at Rhedon, and they for their parts sware vnto him fealty, doing him homage with no lesse respeft then unto their sole and crowned King.

[22nd August 1485] 59. The Slaine body of the usurping Tyrant, all tugged,and torne naked, and not so much as a clout left to cover his shame, was trussed behind Blanch Seint-Leger (or White-Bore, a Purseuant at Armes,) like a Hogge or Calfe, his head and armes hanging on the one side of the horse,and his legges on the other,and all be-sprinckled with mire and bloud was so brought into Leicester , and there for a miserable spectacle the space of two dayes lay naked and unburied , his remembrance being as odious to all, as his person deformed and lothsome to be looked upon : for whole further despite, the white Bore his cognizance was torne downe from every Signe that his monument might perith, as did che monies of Caligula, which were all melted by the decree of the Senate: Lastly,his body without all funerall solemnity was buried in the Gray-Fryers Church [Map] of that City. But King Henry his Successor. of a princely disposition, caused afterward his Tombe to be made with a picture [effigy] Alablaster, representing his person, and to be set up in the same Church which at the suppression of that Monastery was pulled downe, and utterly defaced, since when his grave overgrowne with Nettles and weeds, is very obscure, and not to be found. Onely the stone chest wherein his corps lay, is now made a drinking trough for Horses at a common Inne, and retaineth the onely memory of this Monarchs greatnesse. But his body (as tradition hath delivered) was borne out of the City, and contemptuously bestowed under the end of Bow-Brdge [Map], which giveth passage over a branch of Stowre [Soar] up on the West side of the Towne.