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Chronicle of England by William of Worcester is in Late Medieval Books.
1441 Trial and Punishment of Eleanor Cobham
1447 Death of Humphrey of Lancaster
1461 Battle of Mortimer's Cross
1461 Second Battle of St Albans
1462 Vere Plot to Murder Edward IV
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England: 1324-1468 published by Twenty Trees.
Available on Amazon in paperback and Ebook.
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes "… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …" and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes "… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city".
William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term "Diabolical Marriage" to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
And a certain very famous cleric, one of those in the whole world in astronomy and the art of necromancy, Master Roger Bolingbroke, was arrested. He was publicly placed in the cemetery of St. Paul's with his necromantic garments and waxen images, and as many other necromantic instruments as possible, sitting on a high throne so that all could see his work. Later, he was drawn, hanged, and quartered [on 18 Nov 1441], and his head was placed upon London Bridge. This Master Roger was one of the most notable clerics in the whole world, and he was accused because of the aforementioned Lady Eleanor, for whom he was a counsellor in the magical arts. After her death, many lamented excessively.
Et quidam clericus famosissimus, unus illorum in toto mundo in astronomia et arte nigromantica, magister Rogerus Bolyngbroke, arrestatus fuit, et in cœmiterio Sancti Pauli publice cum indumentis suis nigromanticis et imaginibus cereis, et quam pluribus aliis instrumentis nigromaticis, sedebat in quodam alto solio, ut ab omnibus viderentur opera ejus; postea tractus, suspensus, et quartarizatus erat, et caput ejus super pontem Londonias positum. Iste magister Rogerus erat notabilissimus clericus unus illorum in toto mundo, et accusatus est propter prædictam dominam Elianoram, cui conciliarius erat in arte magica, post cujus mortem multi lamentabantur valde nimis.
Another magical woman, commonly called Witch of Eye [Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" (age 26)], was captured near the town of Westminster on account of the aforementioned Eleanor and was burned at Smithfield [27 Oct 1441].
Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche of Eye, juxta villam Westmonasterii capta est pro prædicta Elianora, et apud Smythfeld cremata.
William148, the fourth son of Duke Richard, was born on the 7th of July at Fotheringhay. On the 23rd of February [1447], a Thursday, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (age 56), uncle of Henry VI, died in parliament at Bury [St. Edmunds]. Henry Beaufort (age 72), Cardinal of England, brother of King Henry IV, died on the 11th of April [1447]. John Holland, Duke of Exeter, died on the 5th of August [1447].
Natus est Willelmus, quartus filius Ricardi ducis, vij. die Julii apud Fodryngay. Obiit xxiij. die Februarii, die Jovis, Hunfridus, dux Gloucestriæ, avunculus Henrici VI. in parliamento apud Bury. Obiit Henricus Beauford, cardinalis Angliæ, frater regis Henrici Quarti , xj. die Aprilis. Obiit dominus Johannes Holonde, dux Exoniæ, y. die Augusti.
Note 148. William of York. Born 7th July 1447. Died young.
[15 Jan 1460]. And shortly after the said feast, John Dynham (age 27), with others from Calais, secretly entered Sandwich [Map], and there captured Lord Rivers (age 55) and Anthony Woodville (age 20) his son, with many large ships, and brought them to Calais, where the Earls of March (age 17), Warwick (age 31), and Salisbury (age 60) were present.
Et cito post dictum festum Johannes Denham cum aliis de Calesiæ secrete intravit Sandwycum, ac ibidem cepit dominum de Reverys et Antonium Widwele filium ejus, cum multis magnis navibus, et adduxit Calisiæ, comitibus Marchiæ et Warrewici et Sarum, Calisiæ existentibus.
16 Dec 1460. And in December [....], the parliament was adjourned. The Duke of York, with the Earl of Salisbury and many armed men, headed from London towards York, where their supporters, numbering [....], were ambushed and killed by the forces of the Duke of Somerset at Worksop.
Et mensis Decembris [....] parliamentnm adjornatur. Et dux Eboraci cum comite Sarum, et aliis multis millibus armatis, de Londone versus Eboracum tetenderunt, ubi præeuntes sui ad numerum [....] per gentes ducis Somercetiæ interimuntur apud Worsop.
On the 29th of December1, at Wakefield, while the soldiers of the Duke of York (age 49) were wandering through the country seeking provisions, a dreadful battle occurred between the said Duke of Somerset (age 24), the Earl of Northumberland (age 39), and Lord Neville (age 50) with a large army, and the opposing party, where the Duke of York, Thomas Neville (age 30), son of the Earl of Salisbury (age 60), Thomas Harington (age 60), Thomas Parr, Edward Bourchier, James Pickering, and Henry Radford, as well as many other knights and esquires, and about two thousand commoners, were killed on the field. In the retreat after the battle, Lord Clifford killed, some say murdered, Lord Edmund, Earl of Rutland (age 17), son of the Duke of York, on the bridge at Wakefield [Map]. And on the same night, the Earl of Salisbury was captured by the servant of Andrew Trollope. On the next day, at Pontefract, the Bastard of Exeter killed the said Earl of Salisbury, where, by the counsel of the lords, the lifeless bodies of the Duke of York, the Earl of Salisbury, and Rutland, Thomas Neville, Edward Bowcher, Thomas Harington, Thomas Parre, James Pykeryng, and John Harrowe of London, mercer, were beheaded, and their heads were placed on various parts of York. They crowned the head of the Duke of York with a paper crown in mockery.
xxix. die mensis Decembris apud Wakfelde, gentibus ducis Eborum vagantibus per patriam pro victualibus quærendis, factum est execrabile bellum inter dictum ducem Somercetiæ, comitem Northumbriæ ac dominum Nevylle cum magno exercitu et partem aliam; ubi occubuerunt in campo dux Eboracensis, Thomas Nevil, filius comitis Sarum, Thomas Haryngtone, Thomas Parre, Edwardus Bowcher, Jacobus Pykeryng, et Henricus Rathforde, ac etiam multi alii milites et armigeri, et plebs ad duo millia. Et in fugiendo post campum super pontem apud Wakefelde dominus de Clyfforde occidit dominum Edmundum, comitem de Rutlande, filium ducis Eboraci. Et eadem nocte comes Sarum captus est per servientem Andreæ Trolloppe. Et in crastino apud Pountfrett bastardus Exoniæ occidit dictum comitem Sarum, ubi per consilium dominorum decollaverunt corpora mortua ducis Eboracensis, et comitis Sarum et Ruttland, Thomas Nevyle, Edwardi Boucher, Thomas Haryngton, Thomæ Parre, Jacobi Pykeryng, et Johannis Harrowe de London, mercer, posueruntque capita eorum super diversas partes Eboraci. Caput quoque ducis Eboraci in despectu coronaverunt carta.
Note. The Battle of Wakefield took place on the 30th of December 1460.
01 Feb 1461. On the eve of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [02 Feb 1461], a battle [Battle of Mortimer's Cross] took place near Wigmore at Mortimer's Cross, where the Earl of March encountered the Earl of Pembroke with fifty thousand troops against eight thousand, where the Earl of Pembroke (age 29), the Earl of Wiltshire (age 40), and many others fled from the same field. Owen Tudor (age 61) (the father of the said Earl of Pembroke) and John Throckmorton, esquire, along with eight other captains, were beheaded at Hereford.
Vigilia Purificationis beatæ Marias factum est bellum prope Wigmore apud Mortimer Crose, ubi comes Marche occurrit cum li. millibus contra comitem Penbrochiæ cum octo mille, ubi fugerunt de eodem campo comes Penbrochiæ, comes Wyltescire, et multi alii. Ac Owenus Tedere (pater dicti comitis Penbrochiæ), et Johannes Throgmertone, armiger, cum viii. aliis capitaneis decollati sunt apud Herforde.
17 Feb 1461. On Shrove Tuesday, namely [17th], February, a battle took place at St. Albans, where the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Warwick and Arundel, and many others fled from the f ield. And the same King Henry was captured on the battlefield, with the Lord Montagu, his chamberlain, also captured there. And the prince came to the King on the battlefield, where the same king, his father, knighted him. And then the same prince made the Earl of Shrewsbury, and many other knights, whose names follow, namely, Thomas Roos ....
In die Carnibrevii, viz. [....] die Februarii, factum est bellum apud Sanctum Albanum, ubi fugerunt de campo dux Norfolchiæ, comes Warrwici et Arundeliæ, ac multi alii. Et idem rex Henricus captus in campo, cum domino de Monte Acuto, camerario suo, ibidem capto. Et princeps venit ad regem in campo, ubi idem rex, pater suus, insignivit eum militem. Et tunc idem princeps fecit comitem Salop, et multos alios milites, quorum nomina sequuntur, viz., Thomas Roos ….
17 Feb 1461. And in the said battle, around two thousand people were killed, not only in one field but in various fields, as the countryside there was very wooded; and at that time, James Lutterell from the county of Somerset and Arnold Hungerford were killed on the Queen's side. And on Ash Wednesday, William Bonville (age 68) and Thomas Kyriell (age 65)190, knight, were captured, and in the presence of the prince, they were beheaded at St. Albans. With the end of the said battle, the aldermen of London sent two duchesses, Bedford and Buckingham, to the Queen for the sake of the city's grace and peace, and other ambassadors were sent to the King and queen at Barnet to meet the other aldermen for the said city ….
Et in dicto bello occiduntur ad numerum duorum millium gentium, non tantum in uno campo sed in diversis croftis, quia patria ibidem multum lignosa extitit; ac ad tunc ibidem ex parte reginæ occiditur Jacobus Lutterell de comitatu Somersetiæ et Arnaldus Hungyrforde. Ac in die Cinerum capti sunt Wyllelmus Bonevyle et Thomas Kyriele, miles, et in præsentia principis decollatur apud Sanctum Albanum. Dicto bello finito, miserunt aldermanni Londoniæ duas ducissas Bedforde et Bukyngham ad reginam pro gratia et pace civitatis habenda, missique sunt alii ambassiatores regi et reginæ ad Barnet, ad obviandum cæteris aldermannys pro dicta civitate, etc ….
Note 190. William Bonville and Thomas Kyriell, both knights of senior years, had guarded King Henry during the battle. Their execution following the battle was considered contrary to the rules of warfare.
In the month of February [1462], John, Earl of Oxford (age 53), his son and heir Aubrey (age 21), Thomas Tudenham (age 60), knight, John Clopton, John Mongomere, and William Tyrrell, were arrested by John, Earl of Worcester, Constable of England (age 34), on suspicion of receiving letters from Lady Margaret, former Queen of England. They were convicted before the court of the Constable, the said earl was beheaded, Clopton was excused, and all others were drawn and beheaded on a scaffold made for them on Tower Hill in London.
Mense Februarii Johannes comes Oxoniæ, Albredus filius ejus et hæres, Thomas Tudenham, miles, Johannes Clopton, Johannes Mongomere, et Willelmus Tyrrele, per Johannem comitem Wigorniæ, constabularium Angliæ, arrestantur, ob suspicionem litterarum receptarum dominæ Margarets, nuper reginæ Angliæ, coram quo per curiam constabilariæ convicti, dictus comes decollatus est, ac Cloptone excusatus, et omnes alii tracti et decollati sunt in quadam scafalda pro eis facta super montem Turris Londoniæ.
In January [1465], Catherine, Duchess of Norfolk (age 65), a young woman of nearly eighty years, was married to John Woodville (age 20), brother of the Queen, aged about twenty years; a diabolical marriage. The Revenge of Bernard later became apparent to them.
Mense Januarii Katerina, ducissa Norffolchiæ, juvencula ætatis fere iiijxx. annorum, maritata est Johanni Widevile, fratri reginæ, ætatis xx. annorum; maritagium diabolicum. Vindicta Bernardi inter eosdem postea patuit.
[Jan 1465]. In the same month, Master Thomas Beckington (age 75), Keeper of the Privy Seal, died, and Master Robert Stillington (age 45), Doctor of Decrees, became his successor, and Dean of St. Martin's Church in London.
Eodem mense obiit magister Thomas Bekyngtone, cui successit magister Robertas Stilyngtone, decretorum doctor, custos Privati Sigilli ac decanus Sancti Martini Londoniæ.
On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord [30th April 1465] in the Tower of London, the King, in preparation for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, knighted several individuals, whose names follow: [Names not listed]
Die Ascensionis Domini in Turri Londoniæ dominus rex erga coronationem reginæ Elizabethæ creavit milites, quorum nomina sequuntur:
And on Friday [24th May 1465], the day after Ascension Day, the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of London, each within their homes this side of Shooters Hill, met the Queen (age 28) and escorted her through Southwark and Gracechurch to the Tower of London.
Et die Veneris, viz. crastino Ascensionis Domini, major, aldremanni, ac cives Londoniæ, quilibet infra in domibus suis citra Shotershylle, obviantes reginæ et conducentes earn per Southwerk et Graschurche ad Turrim Londoniæ.
[25 May 1465]. And on Saturday, the Queen (age 28) rode in a litter through Cheapside and the high streets of London, with all the newly made knights before her, until they arrived at Westminster. And on the following Sunday, she was crowned Queen of England by Archbishop Thomas Bourchier (age 47) of Canterbury. And on Monday, the day after, there were great jousts at Westminster, and Lord Stanley had the honour. He had a ring with a ruby, a special honour. And Thomas Wingfield, esquire, and Roger Chamberlain jousted with lances before the King at Westminster. Throughout the entire month of May, during the Queen's coronation, the Earl of Warwick (age 36) and Lord Hastings (age 34), along with other ambassadors of the King, were with Lord Charolais and other ambassadors of the Duke of Burgundy at Boulogne across the sea; and although they superficially celebrated greatly, they ultimately could not come to an agreement, because Lord Charolais at that time strongly favoured Queen Margaret's party.
Et in die Sabbati regina in uno horsleter equitabat per Chepe et altos vicos Londoniæ, et omnes novi milites ante, usque dum venerunt apud Westmonasterium. Et die Dominica sequente coronata fuit in reginam Angliæ a domino Thoma Boughcher, Cantu arise archiepiscopo. Et die Lunæ in crastino fuerunt magna hastiludia apud Westmonasterium; et dominus de Stanley habuit honorem. Habuit annulum cum rubio, honore extra. Et Thomas Wyngfeld, armiger, et Rogerus Chambirleyne hastiludebant cum lanceis coram rege apud Westmonasterium. Toto illo mense Maii tempore coronationis reginæ comes Warrwici ac dominus de Hastynges, et alii ambassiatores regis fuerunt cum domino Charleys ac aliis ambassiatoribus ducis Burgundiæ apud Boleyne supra mare; et quamvis superficialiter fecerint magna festa, finaliter non potuerunt concordare, quia dominus de Charoloys illo tempore multum favebat parti reginæ Margaretæ.
On the [15th] day of the said month of May, John Lord Montagu, Barons Greystoke and Willoughby, with an armed force numbering four thousand, arrived in sight of the Duke of Somerset's army. Upon seeing this, the Duke and a large part of his army fled, and his entire army was dispersed. In the chase, the Duke was captured by servants of John Middleton, knight, and presented to the lords at Hexham. On the same day, he was beheaded and buried in the abbey there. Along with the Duke, Edward Fysshe, knight, Blake Jakes, John Bryce, Thomas Hunt were beheaded. Within the next three days, Thomas Lord Roos and Robert Lord Hungerford, hiding in a certain forest near Hexham, were captured and condemned before the said Lord Montagu at Newcastle and beheaded there, along with Thomas Fynderne, knight. Shortly after, William Tailboys, Earl of Kyme, was likewise captured there and beheaded. Of others captured at Hexham, John Boteler, esquire, from the county of Somerset, Robert Mirfyne, and twelve others were brought to York to the King, condemned by the Constable of England, and beheaded judicially, except John Nayler, a courtier of King Henry VI, who, although condemned, was later pardoned through the special efforts of a former clerk of the chancery, the then-resident chancellor of England, with Henry Upton, one of six chancery clerks.
die dicti mensis Maii Johannes dominus Mountagu, barones de Graystok and Whiloughby, cum gente armata, ad numerum iiij.m. venerunt in conspectu exercitus ducis Somersetiæ. Quo viso, dux cum magna parte sui exercitus fugit et totus exercitus suus diruptus est. Et in chacea dux per servientes Johannis Medelton, militis, captus et præsentatus est dominis apud Hexham, et eodem die decollatus est, et in abbatia ibidem sepultus. Cum dicto duce decollati sunt Edus. Fysshe, miles, Blake Jakes, Johannes Bryce, Thomas Hunt. Et infra tres dies sequentes Thomas dominus Roos et Robertus dominus Hungerford, in quadam silva prope Hexham absconditi, capti sunt, ac apud Novum Castrum coram dicto domino Mountagu damnati et [cum] Thoma Fynderne, milite, ibidem decollati sunt. Et cito post Willelmus Taylboys, comes Kyme, captus ibidem similiter decollatus est. Et de aliis captis apud Hexham, Johannes Boteler, armiger, de comitatu Somersetiæ, Robertus Mirfyne, ac ad numerum xij. personarum, adducti ad Eboracum ad regem, judicialiter coram constabulario Angliæ damnati et decollati sunt, Johanne Nayler, cursario cancellariæ Henrici VI., excepto, qui damnatus et, mediante postea cancellario Angliæ, perdonatus est per specialem laborem unius quondam clerici sui, dicto cancellario tunc temporis commorantis, cum Henrico Upetone, uno vj. clericorum cancellariæ.