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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Paternal Family Tree: Booth
Around 1420 Archbishop Lawrence Booth was born illegitimately to John Booth of Barton in Lancashire [aged 66].
In 1422 [his father] John Booth of Barton in Lancashire [aged 68] died at Winmarleigh, Lancashire.
In 1449 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 29] was appointed Prebendary St Paul's Cathedral.
From 1454 to 1456 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 34] was appointed Archdeacon Richmond.
Around 1456 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 36] was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal which position he held until 1460.
On 2nd November 1456 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 36] was appointed Dean of St Paul's Cathedral.
On 25th September 1457 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 37] was appointed Bishop of Durham.
Patent Rolls. 8th February 1462. Appointment of Laurence, Bishop of Durham [aged 42], the king's kinsman John, Earl of Worcester [aged 34], Robert Botell, prior of St. John of Jerusalem in England, John Wenlok of Wenlok, knight, and Master Robert Stillington [aged 42], doctor of laws, keeper of the privy seal, as ambassadors to treat with the king's kinsman John de He, Earl of Rosse and lord of the Isles.
On 15th March 1465 [his half-brother] Bishop John Booth was appointed Bishop of Exeter.
On 27th July 1473 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 53] was appointed Lord Chancellor serving until May 1474.
In 1476 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 56] was translated to Archbishop of York.
Patent Rolls. 15th February 1478. Charter to the king's nephew Edward Plantagenet [aged 4], first-born son of the said duke [aged 25], creating him earl of Salisbury, with remainder to the heirs of his body, and granting to him and his said heirs £20 yearly from the issues of the county of Wilts. Witnesses: Th. cardinal archbishop of Canterbury [aged 60], L. archbishop of York [aged 58], Th. Bishop of Lincoln [aged 54], the chancellor, J. Bishop of Rochester, keeper of the privy seal, Richard, duke of Gloucester, Henry, duke of Buckingham [aged 23], Henry, Earl of Essex [aged 74], treasurer of England, Anthony Earl of Ryvers [aged 38], chief butler of England, and Thomas Stanley of Stanley [aged 43], steward of the household, and William Hastynges of Hastynges [aged 47], chamberlain of the household, knights. By p.s.
On 5th April 1478 [his half-brother] Bishop John Booth died.
On 19th May 1480 Archbishop Lawrence Booth [aged 60] died. He was buried at Southwell Minster [Map].
GrandFather: Thomas Booth 