Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'

This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.

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Biography of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399

Paternal Family Tree: Scrope

Maternal Family Tree: Katherine Norwich 1306-1381

1399 Richard II's Last Will

1399 Henry IV lands at Ravenspur

1399 Execution of Richard II's Favourites

In 1350 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire was born to [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 23] and [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 22].

In or before 1369 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 41] and [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 40] were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

In 1371 [his father] Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 44] was created 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton.

Around 1378 [his mother] Blanche Pole Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 50] died at Bolton, North Yorkshire.

In or before 1393 [his brother] Roger Scrope 2nd Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 24] and [his sister-in-law] Margaret Tiptoft Baroness Scrope Bolton [aged 27] were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

In 1394 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 44] was appointed 85th Knight of the Garter by King Richard II of England [aged 26].

In 1396 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 46] and Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire were married.

In 1397 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 47] was created 1st Earl Wiltshire. [his wife] Isabel Russell Countess Wiltshire by marriage Countess Wiltshire.

In 1398 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 48] was appointed Lord High Treasurer.

Richard II's Last Will

On 16th April 1399 King Richard II of England [aged 32] wrote his Last Will from which the following extracts are taken … Also we bequeath to our beloved nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey [aged 25] ten thousand marks and to our beloved brother Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle [aged 26] two thousand marks and to our beloved brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter [aged 47] three thousand marks and to our faithful and beloved William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49] two thousand marks... we ordain and set aside for the fulfilment of all and singular the premises the sum of ninety-one thousand marks, of which sixty-five thousand marks are in the keeping of Sir John Ikelyngton and twenty-four thousand marks in the hands and keeping of our dear nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey.

Of this our royal testament we nominate make and depute executors the venerable fathers in Christ Bishop Richard Mitford, Bishop Edmund Stafford [aged 55], Bishop Robert Tideman of Winchcombe, Bishop Thomas Merke and Bishop Guy Mone Aka Mohun; our beloved brother Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle, our nephew Thomas Holland 1st Duke Surrey, our brother John Holland 1st Duke Exeter and William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire to each of whom we bequeath a gold cup of the value of twenty pounds and our beloved and faithful clerks Master Bishop Richard Clifford Keeper of our Privy Seal, Master Richard Maudeleyn, Master William Fereby and Master John Painter Ikelyngton clerks and John Lufwyk and William Serle laymen, to each of whom we will shall be paid their expenses and necessary costs while it shall happen that they or any of them are employed about the execution of our present last will, but according to the discretion of their said co-executors...

Whom all and singular we have charged and charge that they shall do as much as in them is for the due execution and fulfilment of this our last will as they shall wish to answer before God. We create ordain depute and make overseers of this our will the reverend fathers in Christ Archbishop Roger Walden and Archbishop Richard Scrope [aged 49], William bishop of Winchester and William abbot of the monastery of Westminster Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle our uncle and Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland [aged 57] our cousin.

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Henry IV lands at Ravenspur

On 7th July 1399 Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 58] appointed William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy to protect Kent against invasion by Henry Bolingbroke Earl of Derby [aged 32].

Execution of Richard II's Favourites

On 28th July 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy were captured at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map].

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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On 29th July 1399 William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 49], Henry Green [aged 52] and John Bussy were beheaded at Bristol Castle, Gloucestershire [Map]. Earl Wiltshire forfeit.

Biography of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399

Royal Ancestors of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399

Ancestors of William Scrope 1st Earl Wiltshire 1350-1399