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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Memoirs of Richard Cumberland is in Georgian Books.
I hope I shall in no wise hurt the feelings of a lady, who now most worthily fills a very elevated station, if, in speaking of my humble productions In the course of my subject, I cannot avoid to speak of one of the most elegant actresses that ever graced the stage. When I brought out my comedy of The Natural Son, I flattered myself that in the sketch of Lady Paragon I had conceived a character not quite unworthy of the talents of Miss Farren (age 47): it is saying little in the way of praise, when I acknowledge the partiality I still retain for that particular part, and indeed for that play in general. It was acted and published in the same season with the Carmelite, and though I did not either in that instance, or in any other to my knowledge, obtrude myself upon the public to the exclusion of a competitor, still it was so that the town was pleased to interpret my second appeal to their candour, and the newspapers of the day vented their malignancy against me in the most opprobrious terms. So exquisite was the style, in which Miss Farren gave her character its best display, and so respectable were her auxiliaries in the scene, particularly Mr. John Palmer, that they could never deprive the comedy of favourable audiences, though their efforts too frequently succeeded in preventing them from being full ones. It was a persecution most disgraceful to the freedom of the press, and the performer^ resented it with a sensibility, that did them honour; they traced some of the paragraphs to their dirty origin, but upon minds entirely debased shame has no effect.
