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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In 1600 Thomas Chiffinch Keeper of the King's Closet was born to [his father] Unknown Chiffinch in Salisbury.
Before 25th November 1637 Thomas Chiffinch Keeper of the King's Closet [aged 37] and Dorothy Thanet were married.
On or before 25th November 1637 [his son] Thomas Chiffinch was born to Thomas Chiffinch Keeper of the King's Closet [aged 37]. On 25th November 1637 he was baptised at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map].
Before 8th April 1666 Attributed to Jacob Huysmans [aged 33]. Portrait of Thomas Chiffinch Keeper of the King's Closet [aged 66].
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 8th April 1666. The Court full this morning of the newes of Tom Cheffin's [aged 66] death, the King's closett-keeper. He was well last night as ever, playing at tables in the house, and not very ill this morning at six o'clock, yet dead before seven: they think, of an imposthume in his breast. But it looks fearfully among people nowadays, the plague, as we hear, encreasing every where again.
On 8th April 1666 Thomas Chiffinch Keeper of the King's Closet [aged 66] died. He was buried on 10th April 1666 at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th November 1666. Back home in my Lord Bruncker's [aged 46] coach, and there W. Hewer [aged 24] and I to write it over fair; dined at noon, and Mercer with us, and mighty merry, and then to finish my letter; and it being three o'clock ere we had done, when I come to Sir W. Batten [aged 65]; he was in a huffe, which I made light of, but he signed the letter, though he would not go, and liked the letter well. Sir W. Pen [aged 45], it seems, he would not stay for it: so, making slight of Sir W. Pen's putting so much weight upon his hand to Sir W. Batten, I down to the Tower Wharfe [Map], and there got a sculler, and to White Hall, and there met Lord Bruncker, and he signed it, and so I delivered it to Mr. Cheving [aged 64]1, and he to Sir W. Coventry [aged 38], in the cabinet, the King [aged 36] and councill being sitting, where I leave it to its fortune, and I by water home again, and to my chamber, to even my Journall; and then comes Captain Cocke [aged 49] to me, and he and I a great deal of melancholy discourse of the times, giving all over for gone, though now the Parliament will soon finish the Bill for money. But we fear, if we had it, as matters are now managed, we shall never make the best of it, but consume it all to no purpose or a bad one. He being gone, I again to my Journall and finished it, and so to supper and to bed.
Note 1. William Chiffinch, pimp to Charles II and receiver of the secret pensions paid by the French Court. He succeeded his brother, Thomas Chiffinch (who died in April, 1666), as Keeper of the King's Private Closet (see note, vol. v., p. 265). He is introduced by Scott into his "Peveril of the Peak"..
On 28th March 1680 [his former wife] Dorothy Thanet died. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].