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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Burley-on-the-Hill House is in Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutlandshire.
In 1405 Robert Plessington [aged 36] died. His son Robert Plessington [aged 11] succeeded to Burley-on-the-Hill House albeit he was a minor.
In 1407 Robert Plessington [aged 13] died whilst still a minor. His brother Henry Plessington [aged 37] succeeded to Burley-on-the-Hill House.
In 1457 William Plessington died without issue. His cousin Isabel de Plessington succeeded to Burley-on-the-Hill House.
On 26th October 1492 Isabel de Plessington died. Her daughter Joan Fraunceys inherited Burley-on-the-Hill House.
In 1547 Edward Sapcote [aged 58] died without issue. He left Burley-on-the-Hill House to his sister Dorothy Sapcote and his nephews Thomas Wake and Robert Brooksby.
In 1549 Thomas Wake sold his third of Burley-on-the-Hill House to John Alexander Harrington [aged 52].
In 1561 Robert Brooksby sold his share of Burley-on-the-Hill House to James Harrington [aged 50].
In 1573 John Harington 1st Baron Harington [aged 33] and Anne Keilway Baroness Harington [aged 19] were married. His father James Harrington [aged 62] gave him Burley-on-the-Hill House as a wedding present.
In 1573 John Durrant sold his share of Burley-on-the-Hill House to James Harrington [aged 62].
In January 1596 John Harington 1st Baron Harington [aged 56] produced a performance of Titus Andronicus and a masque written by his brother-in-law Edward Wingfield of Kimbolton [aged 34] at Burley-on-the-Hill House. The event was mentioned in a letter from Jacques Petit to his master Anthony Bacon [aged 47].
Edward Wingfield of Kimbolton: Around 1562 he was born to Thomas Wingfield of Kimbolton Castle and Honora Denny. Before 1603 Edward Wingfield of Kimbolton and Mary Harrington were married. In 1603 Edward Wingfield of Kimbolton died.
Anthony Bacon: In 1549 he was born to Nicholas Bacon and Anne Cooke. In 1601 Anthony Bacon died.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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In 1620 Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford [aged 40] sold Burley-on-the-Hill House to George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 27] for £28,000.
Around 1690 Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 42] commissioned the building of Burley-on-the-Hill House as it is known today. Christopher Wren [aged 66] was consulted. The designs of Montague House and Devonshire House [Map] were reviewed.
On 2nd August 1826 George Finch 9th Earl Winchilsea 4th Earl Nottingham [aged 73] died unmarried without legitimate issue. His first cousin once removed George [aged 35] succeeded 5th Earl Nottingham, 10th Earl Winchilsea, 10th Viscount Maidstone, 5th Baron Finch Daventry, 11th Baronet Finch of Eastwell in Kent. Georgiana Charlotte Graham Countess Nottingham Winchelsea [aged 32] by marriage Countess Nottingham, Countess Winchilsea. His illegitimate son George Finch [aged 31] inherited his manors at Burley-on-the-Hill House and Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire.
In 1908 a fire broke out at Burley-on-the-Hill House during a party which Winston Churchill [aged 33] was attending. Part of the west end of the house was destroyed.
Between 1993 and 1998 Burley-on-the-Hill House was converted into six dwelling with a further twenty-two dwellings on the estate.