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: Townshend
Robert Townshend was born to [his father] Roger Townshend and [his mother] Anne de Brewse aka Braose.
Around 1500 [his father] Roger Townshend (age 22) and [his mother] Anne de Brewse aka Braose (age 25) were married.
In 1515 Robert Townshend admitted at Lincoln's Inn.
In 1526 Robert Townshend was appointed Justice of the Peace Norfolk.
Before 1534 Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy were married.
Around 1534 [his son] Thomas Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy. He married 9th April 1582 Anne D'Oyley.
Around 1535 [his son] Robert Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy. He married before 1613 Ann Machell.
In 1537 [his son] Henry Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy. He married (1) before 1592 Susanna Hayward, daughter of Rowland Hayward (2) 1593 his fourth cousin twice removed Dorothy Heveningham.
In 1540 Robert Townshend was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1543 Robert Townshend was appointed King's Serjeant.
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 1545 Robert Townshend was appointed Chief Justice of the Marches of Wales and Chester.
Before 21st May 1545 Robert Townshend was appointed Justice Chester.
On 21st May 1545 Robert Townshend was knighted by Henry VIII (age 53) at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map].
On 6th October 1550 [his son-in-law] Humphrey Archer of Umberslade (age 22) and [his daughter] Alice Townshend were married.
On 25th July 1551 [his mother] Anne de Brewse aka Braose (age 76) died.
On 25th November 1551 [his father] Roger Townshend (age 73) died at Raynham, Norfolk [Map].
On 8th February 1556 Robert Townshend died.
Around 1575 [his former wife] Alice Poppy died.
1581. Monument to Robert Townshend and his wife [his former wife] Alice Poppy at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow [Map]. She wearing a Bongrace. He, unusually, with his head on a book. The inscription panel behind the tomb, cutting into older tracery, bears the date 1581; it seems likely that the tomb in its present state dates from that time, and was erected by his children, after the death of their mother in the 1570s. The figures of their twelve children, six sons in pairs on the front, six daughters in two groups of three at each end, all named, are set within a classical framework of round-headed arched divided by fluted Ionic columns. The tomb has been much repaired and repainted. The recess in which the tomb stands was originally the setting for the pre-Reformation Easter Sepulchre, a sacred location which became popular for personal tombs in the later middle ages. The decorative arch around the recess has hanging corbels, the eastern one carved with a pomegranate, emblem of Katharine of Aragon, suggesting the arch was part of a refurbishment of the church in the early 16th century, when Katharine, as the wife of Prince Arthur, was living in Ludlow.
Alice Poppy: she was born to Robert Poppy. Before 1534 Robert Townshend and she were married. Around 1575 she died.
[his son] Roger Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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[his daughter] Amey Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his daughter] Alice Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy. She married 6th October 1550 Humphrey Archer of Umberslade.
[his daughter] Bridget Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his daughter] Eleanor Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his daughter] Grace Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his son] John Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his son] Isaac Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
[his daughter] Thomazin Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy.
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Townshend 
GrandFather: Roger Townshend
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Lunsford of Romford in Essex
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Lunsford
Father: Roger Townshend
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Lunsford of Battle in Sussex
GrandMother: Eleanor Lunsford
GrandFather: William
Mother: Anne de Brewse aka Braose
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Hopton
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Hopton
GrandMother: Elizabeth Hopton of Blythburgh
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Savile of Shelley and Golcar 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Savile of Thornhill
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Elland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Savile
Great x 4 Grandfather: Simon Thornhill
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Thornhill
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Savile
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Pilkington
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Pilkington