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Published March 2025. The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin 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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Paternal Family Tree: Gresham
Richard Gresham and Audrey Lynne were married.
Richard Gresham was appointed Lord Mayor of London.
Around 1485 Richard Gresham was born to John Gresham at Holt, Norfolk.
In 1507 Richard Gresham (age 22) admitted as Worshipful Company of Mercers.
Around 1518 [his son] John Gresham was born to Richard Gresham (age 33) and Audrey Lynne.
Around 1519 [his son] Thomas Gresham was born to Richard Gresham (age 34) and Audrey Lynne.
Before 1522 [his daughter] Elizabeth Gresham was born to Richard Gresham (age 36) and Audrey Lynne.
In 1522 [his daughter] Christian Gresham was born to Richard Gresham (age 37) and Audrey Lynne.
Wriothesley's Chronicle. 18 Oct 1537. This yeare, on Sainct Edwardes dalea, at the election of the maire, the Kinges letter was sent to electe and chose Mr. Richard Gressame (age 52)b, mercer, for maire for the yeare following, which was donne at the Kinges commandment; howbeit the Commens grudged, because he had bene alderman but one yeare; for that tyme they would have had Mr. Holes (age 66)c, which had beene put of three yeares by the Kinges letter.
Note a. October 18th.
Note b. Father of Sir [his son] Thomas Greaham (age 18).
Note c. Afterwards Sir William Holies, chosen Lord Major in 1539.
Wriothesley's Chronicle. Apr 1538. Also this yeare, in Lent, the Maire (age 53)f caused divers worshipfull Gathering for the poore men to gather money for the poore people everie Soundaie at the sermon at Poules Crosse [Map], tow parsons standing at everie dore to gather the devotions of the people, which said money was distributed weeklie to them that had most neede thereof in the cittie of London, and a registre kept of the same, and so to contynewe.
Note f. Sir Richard Gresham, who in so doing acted in accordance with the new statute 37 Hen. VIII. cap. 25, made for the relief of the indigent poor. By the same statute no alms were suffered to be given to beggars, on pain of forfeiting ten times the value. Curiously the act referred to wasn't legislated until 1545?
Lisle Letters Volume 5. 1137. Thomas Warley to Honor Grenville Viscountess Lisle (age 44). 07 Apr 1538.
Right honourable and my special good Lady, my bounden duty most humbly evermore remembered to my good lord and your good ladyship, pleaseth it your goodness to be advertised that Mistress Katharine and Mistress Anne are merry and in good health, and desire your ladyship of your daily blessing. And Mrs. Katharine desires you to be so good lady to her as to give her a gown of Russells worsted and a kirtle Bruges satin, a neck-collar, a partlet of velvet, and some money, for she is moneyless and lacks shoon, which she would buy if she had money. And Mrs. Anne saith that your ladyship promised her a frontlet, which she looks for, and she saith the vj score pearls which she hath received be all rags, and too few to serve for a past.
Also, my Lady of Wiltshire (deceased) deceased on Wednesday last past in London besides Baynards Castle, and Mistress Elizabeth Plantagenet (age 22), my lord’s daughter, is sick of an ague at her brother's in the Whitefriars: but thanks be to God the worst is past, and to-morrow Sir John Dudley, my lady, and Mrs. Elizabeth and all the household remove to Kew besides Richmond. Also, my Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Gresham (age 53), desires my lord to send him a piece of French wine that is very good, and the price, and he will pay the money to the bringer thereof incontinent.
News here be none but such as I think your ladyship hath heard of ere this; which be but coarse; that is, to wit Mr. Mantell and his servants did hurt George Wynkfeld, and much business had [....1], but that the King’s Council have taken up the cause. Item, o[ne]1 Wolfe, the Earl of Hertford’s servant, fought with a master of fence in Saint Martin's and killed him, and is now in sanctuary in Westminster. And one of my Lord Admiral’s servants did kill another in Westminster; and Mr. Gawen Carew and [his serva]nt fought with a sergeant and his yeoman, and the yeoman [w]as slain and the sergeant sore hurt; and Mr. Carew is in the Counter and his servant in Newgate. Also one of my Lord Privy Seal’s servants called Gawen should have be[en] arrested, and fought with the sergeants, and he is sore hurt; and after xl gentlemen and serving men beat all the officers at the Counter into houses. And because these news be no better I am sorry to write them.
This day or tomorrow I trust my Lord's licence to come over shall be signed and sealed, and incontinent, all matters laid apart, both Husy and I will come to Calais with the licence, and wait on my Lord.
Tomorrow the King's Grace removes from Westminster to Croydon, and will keep his Easter at Greenwich. Also Sir Francis Bryan will be at Calais within these iij days for he rides ambassador to the French King. And Doctor Bonner and Doctor Haynes ride ambassadors to the Emperor this week.
Other news as yet I know none whereof I may make your Ladyship participant; trusting that your Ladyship, considering my suits and business, of your special goodness will pardon and hold me excused that I have not written to your good Ladyship according to my duty, and as I gladly would, as knoweth the most blessed Trinity, who increase and conserve my good Lord and your good Ladyship in honour and long life, and make [you] shortly a merry grandfather and grandame.
ffrom London, the vij'" day of Aperll with the Rude hand of your most bownden servant
Thomas Warley
Mr. Nedham, Clerk of the Council, desireth my lord to send up Mr. Cokeson’s answer shortly, or else he feareth a 'tachment will be awarded against him, for my Lord Chancellor's controller laboureth sore on Mr. Wingfield’s side, for he was brought up with the Wingfields. And he said that my Lord Chancellor would write a letter to my Lord concerning the same. Also Mr. [....]1 shewed me that when my lord cometh he shall be sure of a lodging in his house where Sir Francis Bryan did lie when he was here continuing. And I have enquired of Sir Francis Bryan's servants of Mr. George Basset, and they say he is at Ampthill, merry; and applieth his learning very well with certain of the King's wards, and every man praiseth him for his towardness and good conditions.
(XIII i 696; XIV 44)
Note 1. The edge of manuscript is demaged here.
Wriothesley's Chronicle. 22 May 1538. Also the 22th daie of Maie, being Wednesdaie this same yeare, the said Friar Forrest was drawen from Newgate to the place of execution in Smythfielde, where was a noble sermon made by the Bishopp of Worcestre (age 51), afore writton, to have drawen the said Friar Forrest from his opinions; but he, obstinatlie standing still and stiffe in his opininons, and beinge asked by the said bishopp in what state he would die, he openlie declaring their with a lowde voyce to the Bishopp as followeth: That if an angell should come downe from heaven and shew him any other thing then that he had beleeved all his liffe tyme past he would not beleeve him, and that if his bodie should be cutt joynt after joynt or membre after membre, brent, hanged, or what paine soever might de donne to his bodie, he wold neaver turne from his old sect of this Bishopp of Rome; and also seaven yeare agone hea durst not have made such a sermon for his lief. And then after this, being a false traitor to his Praynce, an hereticke, and a seditious person to the Kinges leighe people, was had to the place of executionb and their hanged about the middle in chains of iron on a paire of gallowes alive, a great fire made under him and about him, and so was burned for his said heresie and treason.
Also their was brent with him an idollc that was brought out of Gidarne was North Wales, which idoll was of woode like a man of armes in his armes in his harneies having a litle speare in his hande and a caskett of iron about his necke hanging with a ribond, the which people of North Walles honored as a sainct. The name of the idoll was called in Walch Darvell Gadarn.d Present at this execution were the Duke of Norfolke (age 65), the Duke of Suffolke (age 54), the Erle of Sussex (age 31), the Earle of Hartford (age 38) being Vicount Beawchampe, the Bishoppe of London, with other of the Kinges Counsell, the Major (age 53)e of London, with the most part of the aldermen and shrives, and, as I thinke, tenne thousand persons and more; also the place of execution where the gallowes and fire was made was railed round about; and their was a skaffold made to sett the pulpitt on where the preacher stoode, and an other against itt where the friar stoode all the sermon tyme, and a long skaffold next to Sainct Bartholomewes spittell gate, where the Lordes of the Privie Counsell sate with the major and aldermen and other gentlemen and commons of the cittie.
Note a. Bishop Latimer.
Note b. Compare this with the account of the burning of Friar Forest in Harleian MS. 530, f. 120.
Note c. The Welshmen had a prophesy that this image should set a whole forest a fire, which prophesie now toke effect, for it set this Frier Forest on fyre, and consumed him to nothing. Hall, p 826.
Note d. Usually written Darvell or David Gatheren.
Note e. Sir Richard Gresham.
In 1539 Richard Gresham (age 54) was elected MP City of London.
On 01 Oct 1540, after its dissolution, Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire [Map] was sold to Richard Gresham (age 55) who sold the some of the stone to offset the cost of purchase.
Wriothesley's Chronicle. [Aug 1541]. Also the Einge gave the church of Sainct Thomas Acrees, otherwise called Thomas Beckettes, to the Mercerie,a by the great labor and meanes of Sir Richard Gresshame (age 56), and they sett open the church dores on Michaelmas even, and so had dailie masse therin.
Note a. The Mercers' Company. By the designation mercer has been generally understood in modem times a dealer in silk, but that is really an abbreriation of the more distinctiye description of silk-mercer. The term mercer is clearly derived from meroes, the plural of the classic word merx, and, in its earlier and more correct sense, signified a general trader or dealer. Hence the Mercers* Company has always taken the precedence of the other City Companies, and may with probability be regarded as the most ancient of all.
In 1544 [his son] Thomas Gresham (age 25) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Ferneley were married.
In 1545 Richard Gresham (age 60) was elected MP City of London.
In 1549 [his son-in-law] John Thynne (age 34) and [his daughter] Christian Gresham (age 27) were married.
On 21 Feb 1549 Richard Gresham (age 64) died.
GrandFather: James Gresham
Father: John Gresham