Text this colour is a link for Members only. Support us by becoming a Member for only £3 a month by joining our 'Buy Me A Coffee page'; Membership gives you access to all content and removes ads.
Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page. Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Paternal Family Tree: Sidney
Maternal Family Tree: Emma de Dinan 1136-1208
Letters of Horace Walpole. 7th August 1572. This morning we have been to Penshurst [Map] - but, oh! how fallen!341 The park seems to have never answered its character: at present it is forlorn; and instead of Sacharissa's342 cipher carved on the beeches, I should sooner have expected to have found the milkwoman's score. Over the gate is an inscription, purporting the manor to have been a boon from Edward VI to Sir William Sydney. The apartments are the grandest I have seen in any of these old palaces, but furnished in tawdry modern taste. There are loads of portraits; but most of them seem christened by chance, like children at a foundling hospital. There is a portrait of Languet343, the friend of Sir Philip Sydney (age 17); and divers of himself and all his great kindred; particularly his [his aunt] sister-in-law, with a vast lute, and Sacharissa, charmingly handsome, But there are really four very great curiosities, I believe as old portraits as any extant in England: they are, Fitzallen, Archbishop of Canterbury, Humphry Stafford, the first Duke of Buckingham; T. Wentworth, and John Foxle; all four with the dates of their commissions as constables of Queenborough Castle, from whence I suppose they were brought. The last is actually receiving his investiture from Edward the Third, and Wentworth is in the dress of Richard the Third's time. They are really not very ill done.344 There are six more, only heads; and we have found since we came home that Penshurst belonged for a time to that Duke of Buckingham. There are some good tombs in the church, and a very Vandal one. called Sir Stephen of Penchester. When we had seen Penshurst, we borrowed saddles, and, bestriding the horses of our postchaise, set out for Hever [Map]345, to visit a tomb of Sir Thomas Bullen, Earl of Wiltshire, partly with a view to talk of it in Anna Bullen's walk at Strawberry Hill. But the measure of our woes was not full, we could not find our way and were forced to return; and again lost ourselves in coming from Penshurst, having been directed to what they call a better road than the execrable one we had gone.
Note 341. Evelyn, who visited Penshurst exactly a century before Walpole, gives the Following brief notice of the place:-"July 9, 1652. We went to see Penshurst, the Earl of Leicester's, famous once for its gardens and excellent fruit, and for the noble conversation which Was wont to meet there, celebrated by that illustrious person Sir Philip Sidney, who there composed divers of his pieces. It stands in a park, is finely watered, and was now full of company, on the marriage of my old fellow-collegiate, Mr. Robert Smith, who marries Lady Dorothy Sidney, widow of the Earl of Sunderland."-E.
Note 342. [his sister] Lady Dorothy Sidney, daughter of [his father] Philip, Earl of Leicester [Note. Mistake? She was sister of Philip Earl of Leicester]; of whom Waller was the unsuccessful suitor, and to whom he addressed those elegant effusions of poetical gallantry, in which she is celebrated under the name of Sacharissa. Walpole here alludes to the lines written at Penshurst-
"Go, boy, and carve this passion on the bark
Of yonder tree, which stands the sacred mark
Of noble Sydney's birth; when such benign,
Such more than mortal-making stars did shine,
That there they cannot but for ever prove
The monument and pledge of humble love;
His humble love, whose hope shall ne'er rise higher,
Than for a pardon that he dares admire."-E.
Note 343. Hubert Tanguet, who quitted the service of the Elector of Saxony on account of his religion, and attached himself to the Prince of Orange. He died in 1581.-E.
Note 344. In Harris's History of Kent, he gives from Philpot a list of the constables of Queenborough Castle, p. 376; the last but one of whom, Sir Edward Hobby, is said to have collected all their portraits, of which number most probably were these ten.
Note 345. Hever Castle was built in the reign of Edward III, by William de Hevre, and subsequently became the property of the Boleyn family. In this castle Henry VIII passed the time of his courtship to the unfortunate Anne Boleyn; whose father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, was Created Earl of wiltshire and Ormond, 1529 and 1538.-E.
Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.
In 1615 [his father] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 19) and [his mother] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 17) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 50) and [his grandmother] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 51). He the son of [his grandfather] Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 51) and [his grandmother] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 52). They were fifth cousin once removed.
On 10th January 1619 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 23) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 21).
In April 1640 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 21) was elected MP Yarmouth Isle of Wight during the Short Parliament.
In November 1640 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 21) was elected MP Yarmouth Isle of Wight during the Long Parliament.
In 1645 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 25) and Catherine Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 53) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 55). He the son of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 49) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 47). They were fifth cousins.
Around 1645. Peter Lely (age 26). Portrait of Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 25).
In 1649 [his son] Robert Sidney 4th Earl of Leicester was born to Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 29) and [his wife] Catherine Cecil.
In 1652 [his wife] Catherine Cecil died.
John Evelyn's Diary. 9th July 1652. We went to see Penshurst [Map], the Earl of Leicester's, famous once for its gardens and excellent fruit, and for the noble conversation which was wont to meet there, celebrated by that illustrious person, Sir Philip Sidney (age 33), who there composed divers of his pieces. It stands in a park, is finely watered, and was now full of company, on the marriage of my old fellow-collegiate, Mr. Robert Smith, who married my [his sister] Lady Dorothy Sidney (age 34), widow of the Earl of Sunderland.
In 1653 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 33) was elected MP Kent during the Barebones Parliament.
John Evelyn's Diary. 5th January 1656. Came to visit me my Lord Lisle (age 36), son to the [his father] Earl of Leicester (age 60), with Sir Charles Ouseley, two of the Usurper's council; Mr. John Hervey, and John Denham (age 41), the poet.
On 20th August 1659 [his mother] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 61) died.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 27th October 1662. He told me what great faction there is at Court; and above all, what is whispered, that young Crofts (age 13) is lawful son to the King (age 32), the King being married to his mother1. How true this is, God knows; but I believe the Duke of York (age 29) will not be fooled in this of three crowns.
Note 1. There has been much confusion as to the name and parentage of Charles's mistress. Lucy Walter was the daughter of William Walter of Roch Castle, co. Pembroke, and Mr. S. Steinman, in his "Althorp Memoirs" (privately printed, 1869), sets out her pedigree, which is a good one. Roch Castle was taken and burnt by the Parliamentary forces in 1644, and Lucy was in London in 1648, where she made the acquaintance of [his brother] Colonel Algernon Sidney (age 25). She then fell into the possession of his brother, Colonel Robert Sidney2. In September of this same year she was taken up by Charles, Prince of Wales. Charles terminated his connection with her on October 30th, 1651, and she died in 1658, as appears by a document (administration entry in the Register of the Prerogative Court) met with by the late Colonel Chester. William Erskine, who had served Charles as cupbearer in his wanderings, and was appointed Master of the Charterhouse in December, 1677, had the care of Lucy Walter, and buried her in Paris. He declared that the King never had any intention of marrying her, and she did not deserve it. Thomas Ross, the tutor of her son, put the idea of this claim into his head, and asked Dr. Cosin to certify to a marriage. In consequence of this he was removed from his office, and Lord Crofts (age 37) took his place (Steinman's "Althorp Memoirs"). Lucy Walter took the name of Barlow during her wanderings.
Note 2. Not clear who Colonel Robert Sidney is since Algernon Sidney didn't have a brother called Robert. Algernon's brothers were Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 43) and [his brother] Henry Sidney 1st Earl Romney (age 21).
In 1672 [his son] Robert Sidney 4th Earl of Leicester (age 23) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Egerton Countess Leicester (age 18) were married. She the daughter of John Egerton 2nd Earl Bridgewater (age 48) and Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Bridgewater. He the son of Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 52) and [his former wife] Catherine Cecil. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 2nd November 1677 [his father] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 81) died. His son Philip (age 58) succeeded 3rd Earl of Leicester, 3rd Viscount Lisle.
John Evelyn's Diary. 27th August 1678. I took leave of the Duke (age 50), and dined at Mr. Henry Bruncker's (age 51), at the Abbey of Sheene [Map], formerly a monastery of Carthusians, there yet remaining one of their solitary cells with a cross. Within this ample inclosure are several pretty villas and fine gardens of the most excellent fruits, especially Sir William Temple's (lately Ambassador into Holland), and the [his son] Lord Lisle's (age 29), son to the Earl of Leicester (age 59), who has divers rare pictures, above all, that of Sir Brian Tuke's, by Holbein.
On 6th March 1698 Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 79) died. His son [his son] Robert (age 49) succeeded 4th Earl of Leicester, 4th Viscount Lisle. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Egerton Countess Leicester (age 44) by marriage Countess of Leicester.
[his daughter] Dorothy Sidney was born to Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester and Catherine Cecil.
Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 22 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: William IV Sidney
Great x 3 Grandfather: Nicholas Sidney
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Sidney
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brandon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Brandon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Sidney
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Pakenham
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Pakenham
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham
GrandFather: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Dudley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Dudley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bramshott
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Grey 1st Viscount Lisle 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Viscountess Lisle 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Talbot Viscountess Lisle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Dudley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Guildford
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Guildford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Pympe
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor West 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness De La Warr and West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Gamage
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Gamage of Coity Castle 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret St John 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Gamage of Coity Castle 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
GrandMother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Percy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Spencer of Spencer Combe
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Spencer Countess Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Beaufort Countess Ormonde 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Harbottle 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guiscard Harbottle 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Percy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Willoughby 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Willoughby 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Markham
GrandFather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Latimer 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Baroness Latimer 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George de Vere 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy de Vere 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Stafford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Neville 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Mother: Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Devereux 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Viscount Hereford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bourchier Baroness Ferrers Chartley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Grey Baroness Ferrers Chartley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings Baron Botreaux, Hungerford and Moleyns 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Hungerford Baroness Hastings, 4th Baroness Hungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux and 2nd Baroness Moleyns 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Countess Huntingdon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandMother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Knollys
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Knollys
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Troutbeck
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Knollys
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Peniston
Great x 1 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Carey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Carey 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Spencer 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Boleyn 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howard Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England