Biography of William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley 1426-1492

On 9th April 1410 [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 16] and Unamed St John were married.

In 1415 [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 21] and Daughter Stafford Baroness Berkeley were married.

Before 1419 Henry Ferrers [aged 24] and [his mother] Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk [aged 52]. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1424 [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 30] and [his mother] Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk [aged 58]. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1426 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley was born to [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 32] and [his mother] Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley [aged 26] at Berkeley Castle [Map]. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England.

On 18th May 1445 William Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 73] died at Woodham Ferrers, Essex. His granddaughter [his half-sister] Elizabeth [aged 26] succeeded 6th Baroness Ferrers of Groby. Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 30] by marriage Baron Ferrers of Groby.

Before 25th July 1457 [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 63] and Joan Talbot Baroness Berkeley [aged 35] were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of John "Old Talbot" Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Maud Neville 6th Baroness Furnivall. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Before 2nd May 1462 [his brother-in-law] John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 24] and [his half-sister] Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby [aged 43] were married. He by marriage Baron Ferrers of Groby. He the son of Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 58] and Isabel York Countess Eu and Essex [aged 53]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

On 22nd October 1463 [his father] James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 69] died at Berkeley Castle [Map]. He was buried at St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol [Map]. His son William [aged 37] succeeded 12th Baron Berkeley Feudal, 2nd Baron Berkeley.

In 1466 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 40] and Elizabeth West 3rd Baroness Berkeley were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

Before 1467 [his brother] Maurice Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley [aged 31] and [his sister-in-law] Isabel Meade 3rd Baroness Berkeley were married.

In November 1468 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 42] and Joan Strangeways 3rd Viscountess Berkeley were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. She the daughter of Thomas Strangeways and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk [aged 68]. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 21st April 1481 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 55] was created 1st Viscount Berkeley. [his wife] Joan Strangeways 3rd Viscountess Berkeley by marriage Viscountess Berkeley.

On 23rd January 1483 [his half-sister] Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby [aged 64] died. Her grandson Thomas [aged 28] succeeded 7th Baron Ferrers of Groby. Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset [aged 22] by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Groby.

On 19th February 1485 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 59] was appointed Earl Marshal for life.

Around 1486 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 60] and Anne Fiennes Marchioness Berkeley were married. They were third cousin twice removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1487 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 61] settled the Berkeley Castle [Map] and Hhonour of Berkeley, the Barony of Bedford, the Barony of Gower, and the greater part of his manors and lands in England, Wales and Ireland, on himself in tail general, with remainder to the King in tail male failing which to his own right heirs effectively disinheriting his brothers and their descendants.

Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. Furst, Esquiers and Knyghts, then the Barons of the Exchequer, the Jugges and Officers of Armes. Then al th Abbotts and Bisshops in their Coppis or Robes of Parliament, al on the right Side. The Barons in ther Roobes, and th Erles in ther Roobes of Aftate, saving the Great Chamberlayn whiche was in his Parliament Roobes, wer al on the lefte Side. After theym went next the Prefence, the Duks and Garter, with the Maire of London, next byfor the Conftable and Marshall. When the Quene was come into the Hall, she went thens unto the White Hall, and fo to her Chambre. In the meane tyme the high and myghty Prince Duc of Bedeforde [aged 56], in a Gowne of Clothe of Golde richely furrede, mounted on a goodly Courser richely trapped with a Trapper embroderde with red Roses, a Border of Golde Smythes Werk encompasshede with rede Dragons, a longe white Rodde in his Hande, a riche Cheyne aboute his Nek. Th' Erle of Derbye [aged 52], Ro. Lorde Standely Conftable of England also in a riche Gowne furred with Sables, a marveolous riche Cheyne of Golde many Fowlds aboute his Neke, mounted also his Courser richely trapped, and enarmed, that is to say, Quarterly Golde, in the furft Quarter a Lyon Gowls, having a Mannes Hede in a Bycokett of Silver, and in the ijde a Lyon of Sable. This Trapper was right curiously wrought with the Nedell, for the Mannes Visage in the Bicokett shewde veryly wel favorede, and he had his Staff of Office in his Hande. Also th Erle of Notingham [aged 61] roode alfo on another Courfer richely trapped in a Trapper of Cloth of Golde bordered with .... and his gilte Staff of his Office in his Hand. Thus theys iij [3] great Eftats¹ roode aboute the Hall. In especiall th Erle Marshall had great Plenty of his Servaunts with tipped Staves to voyde the People, for the Preyse was so great. After that the Quene was retourned, and had washede, th Archebisshop of Canterbury faide Grace. Then Dame Katheryn Gray [aged 32] and Maistres Ditton wente undre the Table, wher the fatt on ether Side the Quenes Fetee al the Dyner Time. Th Archebisshop of Canterbury fatt at the Tables Ende on the right Hande. The Duches of Bedeforde [aged 29], and my Lady Cecill [aged 18] the Quenes Sifter, fatt at the other Ende on the lifte Hande. The Counteffe of Oxinforde [aged 43] and the Countesse of Ryvers [aged 22] knelede on ether Side the Quene, and at certeyne Tymys helde a Kerchief byfor her Grace. At the Ende of the Hall on high byfor the Wyndow, ther was made a Stage for the Trumpetts and Mynftrells, whiche when the furste Course was fett forwarde, bygan to blowe. The Sergeaunts of Armes byfor theym, the Controller and Treforer, and then the iij Estats on Horsbak afor rehersede. The Lorde Fitzwater [aged 35], Sewer, in his Surcot, with Tabarde Sleves, a Hode abought his Nek, and his Towell above all, fervede the the Messes as enfueth, al borne by Knyghts. Furst, a Warner byfor the Course. Sheldes of Brawne in Armor. Frumetye with Veneson. Bruet riche. Hart powderd graunt Chars. Fesaunt intramde Royall. Swan with Chawdron. Capons of high Goe. Lampervey in Galantine. Crane with Cretney. Pik in Latymer Sawce. Heronufew with his Sique. Carpe in Foile. Kid reversed. Perche in Jeloy depte. Conys of high Grece. Moten Roiall richely gar nysmed. Valance baked. Custarde Royall. Tarte Poleyn. Leyfe Damafk. Frutt Synoper. Frutt Formage. A Soteltie, with Writing of Balads, whiche as yet I have not.

Note 1. The three great offices rather than estates: 1. High Steward, Jasper Tudor, as denoted by his carrying a 'white rod', 2. Lord High Constable, Thomas Stanley, and 3. Earl Marshal, William de Berkeley.

On 28th January 1489 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 63] was created 1st Marquess Berkeley. [his wife] Anne Fiennes Marchioness Berkeley by marriage Marchioness Berkeley.

On 14th February 1492 William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 66] died. Marquess Berkeley, Earl Nottingham, Viscount Berkeley extinct.

Baron Berkeley Feudal retained by the King.

[his brother] Maurice Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley [aged 57] succeeded 3rd Baron Berkeley. [his sister-in-law] Isabel Meade 3rd Baroness Berkeley by marriage Baroness Berkeley.

After 14th February 1492 Thomas Brandon and [his former wife] Anne Fiennes Marchioness Berkeley were married.

On 10th September 1497 [his former wife] Anne Fiennes Marchioness Berkeley died. She was buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map].

William Willoughby and Joan Strangeways 3rd Viscountess Berkeley were married. She the daughter of Thomas Strangeways and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.