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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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Around 1542 William Dethick was born to [his father] Gilbert Dethick (age 32). He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].
On 29th April 1550 [his father] Gilbert Dethick (age 40) was appointed Garter King of Arms.
In 1567 William Dethick (age 25) was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.
In 1570 William Dethick (age 28) was appointed York Herald of Arms in Ordinary.
On 3rd October 1584 [his father] Gilbert Dethick (age 74) died. Robert Cooke (age 49) served as Acting Garter King of Arms until the appointment of Gilbert's son William Dethick (age 42) on 21st April 1586.
Archaeologia Volume 1 Section 55. On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 29th year of the reign of Elizabeth, the queens majestie of England, there went from Peterborough M.... Dethick (age 45), alias Garter principal king of armes, and five heralds, accompanied with forty horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late queen of Scots, from Fotheringham Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire to Peterborough aforesaid, which queen had remained prisoner in England .... years; having for that purpose brought a royal coach, drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet richly set forth with escotcheons of the armes of Scotland, and little penons, round about it; the body being inclosed in lead, and the same coffined in wood, was brought down and reverently put into the coach, at which time the heralds put on their coats of arms, and bare-headed, with torches light, brought the same forth of the castle, about ten of the clock at night, and so conveyed it to Peterborough .... miles distant from Fotheringham Castle,
Tudor Tracts Chapter 20. The following is a truer account of the actual interment:
On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 20th year of the reign of Elizabeth the Queen's Majesty of England, there went from Peterborough Master William Dethick (age 45), alias Garter Principal King of Arms, and five Heralds, accompanied by 40 horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late Queen of Scots, from Fotheringhay Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire (which Queen had remained prisoner in England nineteen years): having for that purpose, brought a royal coach drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet; richly set forth with escutcheons of the Arms of Scotland, and little pennons round about it.
The body (being enclosed in lead; and the same coffined in wood) was brought down, and reverently put into the coach.
At which time, the Heralds put on their Coats of Arms, and bareheaded, with torches' light, brought the same forth of the Castle, about ten of the clock at night: and so conveyed it to Peterborough [eleven] miles distant from Fotheringhay Castle.
On 13th May 1603 William Dethick (age 61) was knighted by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 36).
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.
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In May 1604 Robert Spencer 1st Baron Spencer (age 34) and William Dethick (age 62) travelled to Frederick I Duke Württemberg (age 46) to present jewels including two garters with diamonds and rubies, and two St Georges with diamonds and rubies, and a gold chain or collar, made by the London goldsmiths, John Spilman and William Herrick.
In 1612 William Dethick (age 70) died. He was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map]. His grave was lost in the Great Fire of London.