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: Norreys
John Norreys was appointed Keeper of the King's Wardrobe to King Henry VI of England and II of France.
John Norreys was appointed Knight of the Bath.
Around 1400 John Norreys was born to [his father] William Norreys (age 15).
Before 1437 John Norreys (age 36) and Alice Merbrook were married.
Around 1440 [his son] John Norreys was born to John Norreys (age 40) and [his future wife] Eleanor Clitherow. He married 1475 Elizabeth Wyfold, daughter of Nicholas Wyfold and Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk.
Around 1441 [his son] William Norreys was born to John Norreys (age 41) and [his wife] Alice Merbrook at Yattendon Castle [Map]. He married (1) after 29th March 1461 Jane Vere, daughter of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford, and had issue (2) 25th April 1472 Isabel Ingaldsthorpe (3) 1478 Anne Horne and had issue.
In 1441 John Norreys (age 41) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Around 1445 Nicholas Wyfold and [his future wife] Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk (age 9) were married.
Around 1450 [his daughter] Anne Norreys was born to John Norreys (age 50) and [his wife] Alice Merbrook. She married John Harcourt and had issue.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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After 1450 John Norreys (age 50) and Eleanor Clitherow were married.
After 29th March 1461 [his son] William Norreys (age 20) and [his daughter-in-law] Jane Vere were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford (age 52) and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford (age 51).
On 1st September 1461 [his father] William Norreys (age 76) died.
Before 1st September 1466 John Norreys (age 66) and Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk (age 30) were married. The difference in their ages was 36 years.
On 1st September 1466 John Norreys (age 66) died. He was buried in the Norreys Chapel St Michael's Church, Bray.
Before 22nd January 1467 John Howard (age 42) and [his former wife] Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk (age 31) were married.
In 1494 [his former wife] Margaret Chedworth Duchess Norfolk (age 58) died.