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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Around 1416 William Cromer was born in Tunstall, Kent.
Before 1435 William Cromer (age 18) and Elizabeth Fiennes (age 14) were married.
Around 1435 [his son] James Cromer was born to William Cromer (age 19) and [his wife] Elizabeth Fiennes (age 15) at Tunstall, Kent.
After July 1450 Alexander Iden (age 30) and [his wife] Elizabeth Fiennes (age 30) were married. She the widow of William Cromer (age 34) who had been murdered during Jack Cade's Rebellion. He the person who captured and killed Jack Cade (age 30).
On 4th July 1450 [his father-in-law] James Fiennes 1st Baron Saye and Sele (age 55) was beheaded at the Standard in Cheapside [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] William (age 22) succeeded 2nd Baron Saye and Sele and inherited his estates including Hever Castle, Kent [Map] and Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex [Map].
His son in law William Cromer (age 34) was also beheaded.
Chronicle of Gregory. 4th July 1450. Ande in the morne he come yn a-gayne, that sory and sympylle and rebellyus captayne why the his mayny; that was Satyrday, and it was also a Synt Martyn is day1, the dedycacyon of Synt Martynys in the Vyntry [Map], the iiij day of Juylle. And thenne dyvers questys were i-sompnyd at the Gylhalle [Map]; and ther Robert Home beynge alderman was a-restyde and brought in to Newegate. And that same day Wylliam Crowemere (age 34), squyer, and Scheryffe of Kentt, was be-heddyde in the fylde whythe out Algate at the mylys ende be-syde Clopton is Place. And a nothyr man that was namyde John Bayle was be-heddyd at the Whytte Chapylle. And the same day aftyr-non was be-heddyd in Cheppe a-fore the Standard [Map], [his father-in-law] Syr Jamys Fynes (age 55), beyng that tyme the lord Saye and Grrette Treserer of Ingelonde, the whyche was brought oute of the Toure of London [Map] unto the Gylde Halle [Map], and there of dyvers tresons he was exampnyd, of whyche he knowlachyd of the dethe of that notabylle and famos prynce the Duke of Glouceter. And thenne they brought him unto the Standard in Cheppe [Map], and there he ressayvyd his jewys and his dethe. And so forthe alle the iij [3] heddys that day smetyn of were sette uppon the Brygge of London [Map], and the ij othyr heddys takyn downe that stode a-pon the London Brygge by-fore. And at the comyng of the camptayne yn to Sowtheworke, he lete smyte of the hedde of a strong theff that was namyd Haywardyn.
Note 1. The Translation of St. Martin of Tours.
Chronicle of Gregory. 6th July 1450. And uppon the morowe by tymys came my lord the Cardynalle of Yorke (age 70), and my Lord of Cauntyrbury, and the Byschoppe of Winchester (age 52), and they tretyde by twyne the Lord Schalys (age 53) and that captayne, that the sore conflycte and skarmasche was sessyde, ande gaffe the captayne and his mayne a generalle chartoure for him and for alle his company in his name, callyng him selfe John Mortymere, and thoroughe that mene they were i-voydyde the moste partye. And the vj day aftyr that, the Satyr-daye at evyn 3 the iij heddys were takyn downe of London Brygge, that is to say, the [his former father-in-law] Lord Say (deceased) is hedde, Crowmers (deceased), and the Bayleyes, and the othyr ij [2] heddys sette uppe a-yenne that stode a-pon London Brygge be-fore, and the body whythe hedde were i-burydde at the Gray Fryers at London.
Around 1475 [his former wife] Elizabeth Fiennes (age 55) died at Herstmonceux.