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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1330 Bernard Brocas was born to [his father] John Brocas of Clewer in Berkshire. He grew up with the Edward "Black Prince" at Windsor Castle.
After 1330 Bernard Brocas and Agnes Vavasour were married. They were subsequently divorced.
On 26th August 1346 the army of King Edward III of England defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince", Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Bernard Brocas, Thomas Felton, James Audley, Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh, Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh, Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham, John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth, Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton, William Scrope, Stephen Scrope, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle, Nicholas Longford, Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh, Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings, Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford, Thomas West, John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby, John Wingfield, Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy, Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux, John Devereux, Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos, Richard Pembridge and John Sully.
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France was wounded. William de Coucy and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy and were killed.
Charles II Count Alençon was killed. Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders was killed. Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia was killed. Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg succeeded IV King Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg. Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine was killed. John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt was killed.
Around 1354 [his son] Bernard Brocas was born to Bernard Brocas and [his wife] Agnes Vavasour. He married before 1380 Joan Middleton or Banbury and had issue.
On 19th September 1356 the army of Edward "Black Prince" defeated the French and Scottish army led by King John "The Good" II of France at the Battle of Poitiers
King John "The Good" II of France was captured by three captains including Ivon aka John Fane.
The the English army included: Bernard Brocas, Thomas Felton, James Audley, Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh, Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham, Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh, Ralph Ferrers, William Scrope, William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh, Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk, William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford, John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby, Thomas Arderne, Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos, Richard Pembridge, Jean Grailly, Robert de Fouleshurst and John Sully
John Savile of Shelley and Golcar probably fought having received letters of protection to travel overseas.
Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon protected the baggage train.
The French and Scottish army included: King John "The Good" II of France, Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy, Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche, Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas, John "Sans Terre" Artois 1st Count of Eu; all captured.
Guichard d'Angle 1st Earl Huntingdon and William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas fought.
Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon was killed. Louis Bourbon II Duke Bourbon succeeded II Duke Bourbon.
Gauthier VI Comte de Brienne was killed.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
On 3rd April 1367 the forces of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile commanded by Edward "Black Prince" defeated the army of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera. The English forces included John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, William Scrope, Peter Courtenay, John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux, John Savile of Shelley and Golcar, Bernard Brocas and Thomas Banastre.
The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin. The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.
John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley was killed. Robert Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters Constance and Isabella as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York.
Before 1380 Bernard Brocas and Mary des Roches were married.
Before 1380 [his son] Bernard Brocas and [his daughter-in-law] Joan Middleton or Banbury were married.
In 1380 [his wife] Mary des Roches died.
Before 1395 Bernard Brocas and Katharine de la Plaunche were married.
On 20th September 1395 Bernard Brocas died. He was buried at the Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey in Westminster Abbey.
On 19th October 1398 [his former wife] Katharine de la Plaunche died.
Effigy of Sir Bernard Brocas. Monument of Bernard Brocas. These two illustrations don't appear to have any text about them?
