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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Attorney General is in England.
Patent Rolls. 20th April 1461. York [Map]. Appointment for life of Henry Sotehill (age 43) as attorney general in all courts of record in England, receiving the accustomed fees, with power of appointing deputies. By ps.
Vacated by surrender and cancelled 11 July, 11 Edward IV.
On 16th June 1471 William Hussey (age 28) was appointed Attorney General.
In 1485 William Hody (age 44) was appointed Attorney General.
In 1552 Edward Griffin (age 52) was appointed Attorney General.
In 1581 John Popham (age 50) was appointed Attorney General which post he held for eleven years until 1592.
Around 1617 Henry Yelverton (age 50) was appointed Attorney General.
In 1625 Robert Heath (age 49) was appointed Attorney General by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 24).
After April 1640 Peter Ball was appointed Attorney General to Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 30).
On 31st May 1660 Geoffrey Palmer 1st Baronet (age 62) was appointed Attorney General.
John Evelyn's Diary. 11th January 1662. I received of Sir Peter Ball, the Queen's (age 52) attorney, a draft of an Act against the nuisance of the smoke of London, to be reformed by removing several trades which are the cause of it, and endanger the health of the King (age 31) and his people. It was to have been offered to the Parliament, as his Majesty commanded.
In 1720 Thomas Marlay (age 40) was appointed Attorney General for Ireland.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In April 1783 John Lee (age 51) was appointed Attorney General which position he held until Nov 1783.
In 1871 John Duke Coleridge 1st Baron Coleridge (age 50) was appointed Attorney General which office he held until 1873.