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.
Paternal Family Tree: Hastings
On 1st October 1792 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet was born to [his father] Charles Hastings 1st Baronet (age 40) and [his mother] Parnel Abney.
On 25th February 1806 [his father] Charles Hastings 1st Baronet (age 53) was created 1st Baronet Hastings of Willesley Hall in Derbyshire.
Before September 1823 [his father] Charles Hastings 1st Baronet (age 71) and [his mother] Parnel Abney were married. He the illegitmate son of [his grandfather] Francis Hastings 10th Earl Huntingdon.
In September 1823 [his father] Charles Hastings 1st Baronet (age 71) committed suicide. His son Charles (age 30) succeeded 2nd Baronet Hastings of Willesley Hall in Derbyshire.
On 1st December 1823 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet (age 31) adopted the additional surname Abney by Royal Licence.
In 1825 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet (age 32) was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.
In 1826 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet (age 33) was elected MP Leicester which seat he held until 1831.
On 30th July 1858 Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet (age 65) died. Baronet Hastings of Willesley Hall in Derbyshire extinct. His estates of Blackfordby and Packington were inherited by Henry 4th Marquess Hastings (age 16). Willesley Hall and its estate were left to Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings 10th Countess Loudon (age 24) and her husband Charles Frederick Abney-Hastings 1st Baron Donington (age 36) who changed his surname to Abney-Hastings.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 20 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 25 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 20 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 29 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ferdinando Hastings 6th Earl Huntingdon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Theophilus Hastings 7th Earl Huntingdon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Davies
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucy Davies Countess Huntingdon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Tuchet 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Theophilus Hastings 9th Earl Huntingdon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Leveson Fowler
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Frances Fowler Countess Huntingdon
GrandFather: Francis Hastings 10th Earl Huntingdon 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Shirley 4th Baronet 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Washington Shirley 2nd Earl Ferrers 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Laurence Washington
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Washington Baroness Ferrers Chartley
Great x 1 Grandmother: Selina Shirley Countess Huntingdon 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Levinge
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Levinge Countess Ferrers
Father: Charles Hastings 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Charles Abney-Hastings 2nd Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
GrandFather: Thomas Abney of Willesley Hall in Derbyshire
Mother: Parnel Abney