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 1890 Stewart Graham Menzies was born.
On 28th November 1918 Stewart Graham Menzies (age 28) and Avice Ela Murial Sackville (age 21) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert Sackville 8th Earl De La Warr and Muriel Agnes Brassey Countess De La Warr.
On 12th July 1921 Henry Birkin 3rd Baronet (age 24) and [his future wife] Audrey Latham (age 22) were married.
Before 5th July 1928 Henry Birkin 3rd Baronet and [his future wife] Audrey Latham (age 29) were divorced.
On 5th July 1928 Edward Hay (age 39) and [his future wife] Audrey Latham (age 29) were married. He the son of William Hay 10th Marquess of Tweeddale.
In 1931 Stewart Graham Menzies (age 41) and Avice Ela Murial Sackville (age 33) were divorced.
On 13th December 1932 Stewart Graham Menzies (age 42) and Pamela Thetis Beckett were married.
On 28th February 1948 Niall Greville Chaplin (age 39) and [his future wife] Audrey Latham (age 48) were married.
On 13th March 1951 [his wife] Pamela Thetis Beckett died.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1952 Niall Greville Chaplin (age 43) and [his future wife] Audrey Latham (age 52) were divorced.
On 12th December 1952 Stewart Graham Menzies (age 62) and Audrey Latham (age 53) were married.
On 29th May 1968 Stewart Graham Menzies (age 78) died.
Around 1985 [his former wife] Audrey Latham (age 85) died.