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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Grandison
Maternal Family Tree: Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison
Before 1289 [his father] William Grandison 1st Baron Grandison [aged 26] and [his mother] Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison were married.
In or before 1291 Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison was born to [his father] William Grandison 1st Baron Grandison [aged 28] and [his mother] Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison at Ashperton, Ledbury.
In 1306 [his brother-in-law] John Northwoode and [his sister] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 17] were married.
Around 1320 [his brother-in-law] William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 19] and [his sister] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Baroness Montagu.
On 16th March 1322 the rebel army led by Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln [aged 44] attempted to cross the bridge over the River Ure (between Ripon and York) at Boroughbridge Bridge [Map]. Their path was blocked by forces loyal to the King led by Andrew Harclay 1st Earl Carlisle [aged 52]. Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere [aged 46], [his future father-in-law] Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 34], John Botetort 1st Baron Botetort [aged 57] and John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers [aged 32] fought for the rebels. Roger Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford [aged 22], Nicholas Longford [aged 37], Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln, John Mowbray 2nd Baron Mowbray [aged 35] were captured.
Warin Lisle [aged 51] was hanged after the battle at Pontefract [Map].
Following the battle Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester [aged 31] and his wife Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester were both imprisoned. He in Nottingham Castle [Map] and she in Sempringham Priory [Map].
John Clinton 2nd Baron Clinton [aged 22], Ralph Greystoke 1st Baron Greystoke [aged 22], William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby [aged 46], Robert Lisle 1st Baron Lisle [aged 34], Domhnall Mar II Earl of Mar [aged 29] and Peter Saltmarsh [aged 42] fought for the King.
Adam Everingham 1st Baron Everingham of Laxton [aged 43] was captured.
Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex [aged 46] was killed. His son John [aged 15] succeeded 5th Earl Hereford, 4th Earl Essex.
Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [aged 31] fough for the rebels, and was captured.
Hugh Audley 1st Baron Audley of Stratton Audley [aged 55] surrendered before the battle and was imprisoned in Wallingford Castle [Map] for the rest of his life
John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield [aged 34] was captured.
Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March was imprisoned at Tower of London [Map].
On 10th August 1327 [his brother] Bishop John Grandison 3rd Baron Grandison [aged 35] was appointed Bishop of Exeter.
On 10th June 1330 Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [aged 39] and Blanche Mortimer Baroness Grandison [aged 18] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 43] and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville [aged 44].
In 1331 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Bardolf 2nd Baron Bardolf [aged 48] and [his sister] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 42] were married. She by marriage Baroness Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk.
On 27th June 1335 [his father] William Grandison 1st Baron Grandison [aged 73] died at Lambourne, Berkshire [Map]. His son Piers [aged 44] succeeded 2nd Baron Grandison. [his wife] Blanche Mortimer Baroness Grandison [aged 23] by marriage Baroness Grandison.
On 12th October 1339 Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 20] was created 1st Earl Pembroke. [his sister-in-law] Agnes Mortimer Countess of Pembroke [aged 22] by marriage Countess Pembroke.
Around 1340 [his daughter] Isabel Grandison was born to Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [aged 49] and [his wife] Blanche Mortimer Baroness Grandison [aged 28] at Ashperton, Ledbury. She married Baldwin Brugge.
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.'
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In 1347 [his wife] Blanche Mortimer Baroness Grandison [aged 35] died.
In 1347 [his son] John Grandison was born to Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [aged 56] and [his wife] Blanche Mortimer Baroness Grandison [aged 35] at Ashperton, Ledbury.
On 23rd November 1349 [his sister] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury [aged 45] died at Bisham Abbey [Map].
On 23rd November 1349 [his sister] Agnes Grandison Baroness Bardolf [aged 60] died at Ruskington.
On 10th August 1358 Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [aged 67] died at Ashperton, Ledbury. His brother John [aged 66] succeeded 3rd Baron Grandison.
After 10th August 1358. Monument to Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison [deceased]. Lady Chapel of Hereford Cathedral [Map]. Mid 14th-century, altar-tomb with effigy and canopy, altar-tomb with range of cinquefoil-headed panels in front and panelled buttresses at ends carried up to the cornice of the canopy, effigy in mixed mail and plate-armour with camail and ridged bascinet, hauberk with scalloped lower edge, cyclas, enriched Hip Belt with dagger hanging in front and sword at side, head on cushions and feet on hound; recess with panelled back, moulded jambs and square head enriched with Paterae and trefoiled and sub-cusped pendant tracery below the head; vaulted soffit to canopy; canopy with range of six bays of open arcading with trefoiled and sub-cusped heads, crockets and finials, in arcading two headless figures of the Coronation of the Virgin, headless figure with book, archbishop with cross-staff, St. John the Baptist holding a roundel with the Agnus Dei, and a bishop, last four figures brought from elsewhere; canopy finished with enriched cornice and pierced parapet with quatrefoils and cusped cresting.
GrandFather: Pierre Grandison
Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison
Mother: Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison