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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Maternal Family Tree: Philippe Thornbury 1431-1485
In or before 1500 [his father] Thomas Isley (age 13) and [his mother] Elizabeth Guildford (age 11) were married.
Around 1500 Henry Isley was born to [his father] Thomas Isley (age 14) and [his mother] Elizabeth Guildford (age 12).
In 1512 [his mother] Elizabeth Guildford (age 24) died.
In 1520 [his father] Thomas Isley (age 34) died.
Around 1530 Henry Isley (age 30) and Cecily Cromer (age 20) were married.
In 1542 Henry Isley (age 42) was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
In 1550 Henry Isley (age 50) was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
On 22nd January 1554 the conspirators met at Allington Castle [Map].
Henry Isley (age 54) attended.
On 28th January 1554 the Battle of Hartley was fought at Hartley Sevenoaks, Kent between a rebel force of Wyatt's Rebellion led by Henry Isley (age 54) and a loyal royalist force led by Henry Neville 6th and 4th Baron Abergavenny (age 24) and Robert Southwell (age 48). The rebels were defeated. Rebel Anthony Knyvet (age 37) fought and was captured.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th January 1554. The xxvj day of January began wachyng at evere gatt in arness, for tydyngs cam the sam tym to the quen and her consell that ser Thomas Wyatt (age 33), ser George Harper, ser Hare Ysseley (age 54), master Cobam, and master Rudston (age 39), and master Knevetts (age 37), and dyvers odur gentyllmen and commons, wher up, and tha say because the prynche of Spayne (age 26) commyng in to have owre quen (age 37), for they kepe Rochaster castell [Map] and the bryge and odur plases.
Note. P. 52. Sir Thomas Wyatt. A copious narrative of Wyatt's rebellion, together with the letters written by the duke of Norfolk, lord Cobham, and others, to the Privy Council, on the occasion, (from the originals in the State Paper Office,) will be found in Cruden's History of Gravesend, 1842, 8vo. pp. 172 et seq.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Henry Machyn's Diary. 3rd February 1554. The iij day of Feybruarii was a proclamacyon that who so ever do take ser Thomas Wyatt (age 33), exsept Harper, Ysseley (age 54), and Rudston (age 39), shuld have C. lb. land to ym and ys heirs for ever.
After 22nd February 1554 Henry Isley (deceased) was hanged, drawn and quartered. His head was sent to Maidstone, Kent [Map].
Before 14th May 1561 [his former wife] Cecily Cromer (age 51) died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th May 1561. The xiiij day of May, was Assensyon evyn, was bered in sant Pulkers parryche my [his former wife] lade Esley (age 51) the wyfg of ser Henre Hesley knyght, of Kentt, the wyche he cam in with sir Thomas Wyett knyght by quen Mare('s) days, and he was hangyd and drane and quartered, and ys hed sent unto Maydston [Map], and set a-pone (blank) and she had nothyng done for here, butt master Skammeler (age 41) mad a sermon for here - the byshope of Peterborow,
Father: Thomas Isley
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Guildford
GrandFather: Richard Guildford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Waller
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Waller
Mother: Elizabeth Guildford
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Pympe
GrandMother: Ann Pympe
Great x 1 Grandmother: Philippe Thornbury