William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
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.
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Roger Whitley's Diary 1690 November is in Roger Whitley's Diary 1690.
2nd November 1690. Sonday, I went to church in the morning with daughter Mainwaring; sonne (age 39) came after us; Morgan & Huson came in the evening; Fletcher & Jordan dined here.
3rd November 1690. Monday, Angell, Crosse, Gibbons,&c. came before dinner; at dinner came Edwards, Bridge, Murray, Deane, Lloyd, Hemthorne, Norbery, Browne, &c. after dinner Farington, a shoemaker with him; then 2 Skinners; they went past 4; one Hall, a Tanner came in the morning to see Joseph; Thomas Hughes & another Welsh Bayley came in the evening about Revenue accounts.
4th November 1690. Tuesday, yong Fernehall, Bingly & Danold came, dined with us; went back afternoone, soe did Thomas Hughes & the other Bayly; Perryn the carryer came in the morning; stayd not lonG. 2 men came from Shropshire about taking of Frodesly.
6th November 1690. Thursday, the maydeservants & goods went towards London & Morgan past 9 to Chester & the 2 Shropshire men went home; Alderman Edwards sonne (age 39), Burrows & Gray dined with us; went away past 3..
7th November 1690. Friday, I & my daughters went towards London, about 11; came to Whitchurch about 5; lay at the Red Lyon.
8th November 1690. Saturday, we went out about 7; called at Newport at the Red Lyon about 11; stayd not, lay at the Crosses that night, where Mr Littleton & Bidolph sent to see us.
9th November 1690. Sonday, we left the Crosses about 12; came to the Harpe about 2; lay there that night; yong Rabone came thither to see us; went after supper; Morgan came thither to us & a Coventry man to guide us.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
10th November 1690. Monday, went out before 7; called at Bromage but stayd not; came to Coventry about 5; lay there that night; Hopkins the lawyer supt with us; Bidolph & his daughters & Lee came to us there.
11th November 1690. Tuesday, went out before 7; called at Creek, & at the little house on the hill; stayd in neither place; came to Northampton about 5, lay there.
12th November 1690. Wednesday, hyred a postillion at Northampton; went out before 6; called (but stayd not) at Newport; saw Mr Gofton at Mr Duncombes gate; came to Dunstable at 5, lay there; thither Sir J: Mainwaring sent his coachman to meete us.
13th November 1690. Thursday, went out about 7; left Bidolph & his daughters neare Sir J: Nappiers; came to the Greene Man at Barnet about 1; stayd an houer; soe to our lodgings at Kents in Suffolk streete, London; came thither about 5. Lady Wood & daughter supt with us;.
14th November 1690. Friday, Bellot, Laughton, William M: dined with us; in the evening & went with G.Mainwaring (age 47) Streete, &c. to the Fountayne by the Haymarket; there came to us Whitakers, MainwarinG. & Bellot; parted at 10.
15th November 1690. Satorday, about 2, Mainwaring & I went to Bosoms Inne; there saw Burrows, Bolland, &c. witnesses from Chester; dined at the Sunne in Milk streete; thither came Dr How, stayd not; & Hilmans man to take measure of Nixon & Perryn, Morgan & the Chester witnesses; about 5 M: Morgan & I went to the Sunne; there was Lewes, my sonne (age 39) & Jones; past 8, M: & I went thence; called at the club (at the Hoop in the Strand) there was Wood, Long, Every, Rogers, Maxwell, Shepheard & 3 or 4 more; we left them at 10.
16th November 1690. Sonday, dined at home, Minshall with us; Bellot came about 2; about 5, he, M: & I went to Bosoms Inne; thither came G.Mainwaring (age 47) Streete, Comberbach, Parry, Whitakers; the Chester witnesses were examined; we parted about 10.
17th November 1690. Monday, I sent my horses to the contrey, Huson came to towne about 2; I dined at home; the Taylors man & the Master of the Blackhorse were there; a neighbor Barber trimmed me.
18th November 1690. Tuesday, I went to Westminster, spoke with many members; dined at the Bacchus with two Mainwarings, Streete, Norris, Herbert, Buttler, Comberbach, Doudsdale, Travailes, &c. went at night to Ward, Humfreys, &c. then to the Temple taverne; where was Wade, Parry, Whitaker & Streete, 2 Mainwarings.
19th November 1690. Wednesday, went to Sir Rowand Gwinne, then to Westminster; dined at Heaven with my sonne (age 39), G.Mainwaring (age 47), brother Peter, Ben Gerard & Parry; then to the Committe; then to Fontayne taverne with 2 Mainwarings, Gleg & Parry.
20th November 1690. Thursday, went to Swinfen, then to Westminster, then home about 12; 2 Mainwarings, Streete, Parry, Bolland & the other Chester witnesses dined with me; about 5, went to Beare & Harrow, there was 2 Mainwarings, Streete, Whitaker & Serjeant Thomson; I left them past 12.
21st November 1690. Friday, dined at home, Roger dined with us; about 4 came Sir Robert Cotton, then Rob: Gleg; then Parry, then G.Mainwaring (age 47) to see us; Bidolph & his daughters came that evening to towne & stayd with us.
22nd November 1690. Satorday, dined at Bacchus with 2 Mainwarings, Bellot, Borage, &c. went to Williams at Grays Inne; then to Temple Taverne; there was 2 Mainwarings, Bidolph, Streete, Whitaker, Cumberbach, Parry, Minshall,&c. parted about 10.
23rd November 1690. Sonday, was not at church; dined at home, Bidolph & Chester witnesses with me; went about 4 to Temple taverne; there was Bidolph, G.Mainwaring (age 47), Pascall, Whitaker, Comberbach, &c. parted at 9.
24th November 1690. Monday, dined at Bacchus, there was 2 Mainwarings, Bidolph, Streete, Parry, Comberbach (2 lawyers) [fo. 126r] Nor: 24.Thomson & Ward, Lord Warington, Lord Paulet, Rich, Bellot, Yong, Birch, Barnediston, Clarke, Dashwood, Lewis, my sonne (age 39), &c. went to the committe about 5; Chester Cause was heard; carryed by one against: us; went thence (about 9) to the Bacchus; there were 2 Mainwarings Streete, Parry, Lewes, William Mainwaring Bradshaw, &c. went home at 10.
25th November 1690. Tuesday, went to Westminster, dined at home, the Chester witnesses with us; Bidolph & Roger, &c. (2 Mainwarings dined at Hannibal Baskervilles) about 7 I went to the Fountaine with Bidolph. Roger came after us; there was 2 Mainwarings Parry, Jackson, Huson, Chester witnesses.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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26th November 1690. Wednesday, to Colonel Sackviles, then to the Sunne, where the Chester witnesses lay, send for them back to Towne, then to Westminster, then home with my sonne (age 39) (past 2) where we dined; Maxwell came to us whilest at dinner; Wood came after; stayd with me past 6. Morgan & Jackson came also to me, stayd not.
27th November 1690. Thursday, dined at home, &c. went to the club & there was Chase, Wood, Harris.
28th November 1690. Friday, went to Westminster, dined at home; went to the committe; then to the Crowne neare St Dunstans; there was G.Mainwaring (age 47), Streete, Whitaker, Comberbach, a stranger.
29th November 1690. Satorday, dined at home; went in the afternoone to the Star in Colman streete; there was How, 2 Mainwarings Bellot, Baroby, Whitaker, &c. went then with 2 Mainwarings & Bellot to the Mermayd in Cornehill. Milington came to us; we parted at 10.