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.
Sofonisba Anguissola is in Painters.
Around 1532 Sofonisba Anguissola was born.
Around 1555 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 23). Portrait of Joanna of Austria Grand Duchess Tuscany (age 7).
Joanna of Austria Grand Duchess Tuscany: On 24th January 1547 she was born to Ferdinand I Holy Roman Emperor and Anne Jagiellon. On 18th December 1565 Francesco I de Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany and she were married. She by marriage Grand Duchess Tuscany. She the daughter of Ferdinand I Holy Roman Emperor and Anne Jagiellon. On 10th April 1578 Joanna of Austria Grand Duchess Tuscany died.
Around 1556 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 24). Self-Portrait.
Around 1560 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 28). Self-Portrait.
Around 1563 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 31). Portrait of Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain (age 17).
Around 1573 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 41). Portrait of Anna of Austria Queen Consort Spain (age 23).
Around 1573 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 41). Portrait of Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 45).
Around 1599 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 67). Portrait of Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain.
Around 1624 Anthony Van Dyck (age 24). Portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola (age 92) aged ninety-two.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 16th November 1625 Sofonisba Anguissola (age 93) died.