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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 24th November 1778 Salusbury Pryce Davenport was born at Rectory, Clungunford.
In March 1805 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 26) and Jane Elizabeth Morin were married.
In September 1808 [his wife] Jane Elizabeth Morin died.
On 31st May 1810 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 31) and Maria Davenport (age 25) were married.
On 15th September 1811 [his son] William Davenport Davenport was born to Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 32) and [his wife] Maria Davenport (age 26). He married 14th November 1833 Camilla Maria Gott.
On 14th November 1833 [his son] William Davenport Davenport (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Camilla Maria Gott (age 15) were married at Malta.
In 1835 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 56) was knighted.
On 4th May 1838 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 59) changed his name by Royal License.
On 17th November 1845 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 66) died at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He was buried at Leckhampton Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 1st December 1866 [his former wife] Maria Davenport (age 81) died.