The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In 1482 Archbishop Robert Holgate was born.
On 25th March 1537 Archbishop Robert Holgate [aged 55] was consecrated Bishop of Llandaff.
On 16th January 1545 Archbishop Robert Holgate [aged 63] was translated to Archbishop of York.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. The 29th daie of June [1547] there was a solempne obsequie kept in Poules [Map] [for] the French Kinge Frances latelie departed, where was a sumptuous herse made, and the quire and the bodie of the church hanged with blacke and sett with schuchions of the armes of France, and tow hundreth torch bearers having new blacke gownes and hoodes with badges of the armes of France on their sholders, the Archbishop of Canterbery [aged 57] begining the derige in his pontificalibus, the Archbishop of Yorke [aged 65] and other 8 bishopps and suffragans being also in their pontificalibus, six erles and lordes of the Kinges Majestie being the cheife mourners, the Emperours Embassadour, and the French Kinges Embassadoure, and the Secretarie of Venice in their blacke mourning gownes being also there present at the same, the major and aldermen with tow hundred citizens in their best lyveries with their hoodes on their sholders present at the same also; and on the morrow also at the requiem masse, which the Archbishopp of Canterberie songe in his pontificalibus, with the other bishopps in their pontificalibus also; and there preached at the said masse the Bishop of Rochester [aged 70] [Note. Possibly Bishop Nicholas Ridley [aged 47] who became Bishop of Rochester in 1547], who greatlie commended in his sermon the said French King departed, for setting fourth of the Bible and New Testament in the French tonge to be reade of all his subjectes; also all the parish churches in London kept a solempne obett with knill, the bells ringing, and a herse with tow great tapers, in everie parish church.
In 1550 Archbishop Robert Holgate [aged 68] and Barbara Wentworth were married.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 3rd October 1553. The iiij day of October was cared to the Towre [Map] the archebysshope of Yorke [aged 71], and dyvers odur to (blank)
In 1554 Archbishop Robert Holgate [aged 72], after the accession of Queen Mary I who imprisoned him, renounced his marriage claiming he had only entered it to avoid suspicion as a papist.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 16th March 1554. The xvj day of Marche was deprevyd the archebysshope of Yorke [aged 72], and the bysshope of Lynkolne doctur Tayller, and the bysshope of Chester, the bysshope of sant Davys.
In 1555 Archbishop Robert Holgate [aged 73] died.