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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MP Worcestershire is in Member Parliament.
In 1423 Humphrey Stafford [aged 23] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1426 Humphrey Stafford [aged 26] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1447 Humphrey Stafford [aged 47] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1449 Humphrey Stafford [aged 49] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1570 John Lyttelton of Frankley [aged 50] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1571 John Lyttelton of Frankley [aged 51] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1593 Rowland Berkeley [aged 45] was elected MP Worcestershire. He was re-elected in 1597, 1601 and 1605. He died in office.
In 1620 Thomas Lyttelton 1st Baronet [aged 27] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1624 Thomas Lyttelton 1st Baronet [aged 31] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1640 Thomas Lyttelton 1st Baronet [aged 47] was elected MP Worcestershire in the Short Parliament.
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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In April 1640 John Pakington 2nd Baronet [aged 18] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1654 Edward Pytts of Kyre Park [aged 48] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1656 Edward Pytts of Kyre Park [aged 50] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1661 Samuel Sandes [aged 45] was elected MP Worcestershire in the Cavalier Parliament.
In 1685 John Pakington 2nd Baronet was elected MP Worcestershire which seat he held until 1687.
In 1689 James Rushout 1st Baronet [aged 44] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1695 Edwin Sandes [aged 36] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1715 Thomas Vernon [aged 60] was elected MP Worcestershire in the first parliament of George I.
On 6th March 1721 Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet [aged 35] was elected MP Worcestershire.
In 1727 Thomas Lyttelton 4th Baronet [aged 41] was elected MP Worcestershire in the 1727 General Election.
On 10th April 1751 John Bulkeley Coventry [aged 27] was elected unopposed MP Worcestershire following a by-election caused by his brother George Coventry 6th Earl Coventry [aged 28] having vacated the seat when he succeeded to his father's titles. He held the seat until 1761.
