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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In 1442 Matthew Philip was appointed Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
From 1450 to 1472 Matthew Philip was appointed Alderman of Aldersgate Ward.
In 1463 Matthew Philip was appointed Lord Mayor of London.
Chronicle of Gregory. 1463. Mayor of London: Matthew Philip. Sheriffs: Muschampe, Basset.
Chronicle of Gregory. 21st June 1463. Thys year, a-bute Mydsomyr, a the ryalle feste of the Sargantys of the Coyfe, the Mayre of London was desyryde to be at that feste. And at denyr tyme he come to the feste with his offecers, a-greyng and according unto his degre. For with yn London he is next unto the kyng in alle maner thynge. And in tyme of waschynge the Erle of Worseter (age 36) was take be-fore the mayre and sette downe in the myddys of the hy tabylle. And the mayre seynge that his place was occupyd hylde him contente, and went home a gayne with owt mete or drynke or any thonke, but rewarde him he dyd as his dignity requyryd of the cytte. And toke with him the substance of his bretheryn the aldyrmen to his place, and were sette and servyd also son as any man couthe devyse, bothe of sygnet and of othyr delycatys i-nowe, that alle the howse marvelled howe welle alle tynge was done in soo schorte a tyme, and prayde alle men to be mery and gladde, hit shulde be a mendyd a nothyr tyme.
Thenn the offesers of the feste, full evylle a schamyd, informyd the maysters of the feste of this mysse happe that is be-falle. And they consyderynge the grete dignity and costys and charge that longgyd unto the cytte, and a-non sende unto the mayre a present of mete, brede, wyne, and many dyvers sotelteys. But whenn they that come with the presentys say alle the gyftys, and the sarvyse that was at the borde, he was full sore a schamyd that shulde doo þe massage, for the present was not better then the servyse of metys was by fore the mayre, and thoroughe out the hyghe tabylle. But his demenynge was soo that he hadde love and thonke for his massage, and a grette rewarde with alle. And this the worschippe of the cytte was kepte, and not loste for hym. And I truste that nevyr it shalle, by the grace of God.
On 21st May 1471 Matthew Philip was knighted.
Before 30th October 1476 Matthew Philip died. His will was proved 30th October 1476.