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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Around 1505 William Bill was born.
In 1551 William Bill (age 46) was appointed Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].
In 1558 William Bill (age 53) was appointed Masterof Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].
In 1558 William Bill (age 53) was appointed Almoner to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 24).
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20th November 1558. The xx day of November dyd pryche at Powlles crosse doctur Bylle (age 53), quen Elsabeth('s) chaplen, and mad a godly sermon.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 27th March 1559. The xxvij day of Marche dyd pryche at sant Mare Spyttyl doctur Bylle (age 54) the quen('s) (age 25) amner [almoner].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 9th April 1559. The ix day of Aprell dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] doctur Bylle (age 54) the quen('s) (age 25) awmer, and declaryd warfor the byshopes whent to the Towre.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 23rd June 1559. The xxiij day of June was electyd vj nuw byshopes, com from beyond the see, master Parker (age 54) bysshope of Canturbere, master Gryndall (age 40) bysshope of London, docthur Score (age 49) bysshope of Harfford, Barlow (age 61) Chechastur, doctur Bylle of Salysbere [Note. Possibly a reference to William Bill (age 54) although he wasn't Bishop of Salisbury, doctur Cokes (age 66) (of) Norwyche [Note. He was elected but the Queen changed her mind and appointed him to Ely].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 6th March 1560. The vj of Marche dyd pryche at the court doctur Byll (age 55) dene of Westmynster that day in the quen('s) chapell, the crosse and ij candylles bornyng and the tabulles standyng auter-wyse.
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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On 30th June 1560 William Bill (age 55) was appointed Dean of St Paul's Cathedral.
On 15th July 1561 William Bill (age 56) died. He was buried in the Chapel of St Benedict, Westminster Abbey [Map].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20th July 1561. The xx day of July was bered in Westmynster abbay [Map] master Bylle (deceased) dene of Westmynster abbay and master of Etton and master (of sant John's) college in Cambryge, and cheyffe amner [almoner] to the quen('s) (age 27) grace.
Note. P. 264. Burial of [William] Bill, dean of Westminster. His sepulchral brass remains in the abbey, and has been engraved, as also a portrait derived from it, for the series of portraits of the deans of Westminster which accompany their lives in Neale and Brayley's History of Westminster Abbey. See also an engraving in Dart, i. 101.