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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Abergavenny, Monmouthshire is in Monmouthshire South East Wales.
See: Abergavenny Castle [Map], Abergavenny Priory [Map], Coldbrook Park, Abergavenny, Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.
The River Usk rises at Fan Brycheiniog [Map] after which it flows broadly east through Sennybridge [Map], Brecon [Map], then south-east, under Crickhowell Bridge, Monmouthshire [Map], Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map], then under the Chain Bridge [Map] at Kemeys Commander, south through Usk, Monmouthshire [Map], under the bridge at Newbridge-on-Usk [Map], past Caerleon [Map] to Newport, Monmouthshire [Map] where it joins the Severn Estuary.
Welsh Border Road describes an unamed Roman Road, and unnumbered by Margery, that went from Caerleon [Map] to Wroxeter, Shropshire [Map], passing through Usk, Monmouthshire [Map], Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map], Hereford [Map], Mortimer's Cross, Herefordshire [Map], Wigmore, Herefordshire [Map] and Leintwardine Bridge, Herefordshire [Map] where it crosses the River Teme just after its convergence with the River Clun.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 4. A sermon having been delivered at Abergevenni [Map],61 and many persons converted to the cross, a certain nobleman of those parts, named Arthenus, came to the archbishop, who was proceeding towards the castle of Usk, and humbly begged pardon for having neglected to meet him sooner. Being questioned whether he would take the cross, he replied, "That ought not be done without the advice of his friends." The archbishop then asked him, "Are you not going to consult your wife?" To which he modestly answered, with a downcast look, "When the work of a man is to be undertaken, the counsel of a woman ought not to be asked;" and instantly received the cross from the archbishop.
Note 61. Hamelin, son of Dru de Baladun, who came into England with William the Conqueror, was the first lord of Over-Went, and built a castle at Abergavenny, on the same spot where, according to ancient tradition, a giant called Agros had erected a fortress. He died in the reign of William Rufus, and was buried in the priory which he had founded at Abergavenny; having no issue, he gave the aforesaid castle and lands to Brian de Insula, or Brian de Wallingford, his nephew, by his sister Lucia. The enormous excesses [see next paragraph] mentioned by Giraldus, as having been perpetrated in this part of Wales during his time, seem to allude to a transaction that took place in the castle of Abergavenny, in the year 1176, which is thus related by two historians, Matthew Paris and Hollinshed. "A.D. 1175, The same yeare, William de Breause [aged 43] having got a great number of Welshmen into the castle of Abergavennie, under a colourable pretext of communication, proposed this ordinance to be received of them with a corporall oath, 'That no traveller by the waie amongst them should beare any bow, or other unlawful weapon,' which oath, when they refused to take, because they would not stand to that ordinance, he condemned them all to death [See Abergavenny Massacre]. This deceit he used towards them, in revenge of the death of his uncle Henrie of Hereford, whom upon Easter-even before they had through treason murthered, and were now acquited was the like againe." - Hollinshed, tom. ii. p. 95.
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On 19th November 1200 Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp died at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
On 29th September 1286 John Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings 14th Baron Abergavenny was born to John Hastings 13th Baron Abergavenny 1st Baron Hastings [aged 24] and Isabel Valence Baroness Bergavenny Baroness Hastings at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. He married before 20th March 1319 Juliana Leybourne Countess Huntingdon and had issue.
In 1455 William Herbert was born to Richard Herbert [aged 32] and Margaret Jones [aged 11] at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
In 1471 Edward Neville was born to George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny [aged 31] and Margaret Fenne Baroness Bergavenny at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England. He married before 1516 his fifth cousin once removed Eleanor Windsor Baroness Scrope Masham, daughter of Andrew Windsor 1st Baron Windsor and Elizabeth Blount Baroness Windsor, and had issue.
Around 1475 Thomas Neville was born to George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny [aged 35] and Margaret Fenne Baroness Bergavenny at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England. He married 1518 his half second cousin Catherine Dacre, daughter of Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland and Mabel Parr Baroness Dacre of Gilsland, and had issue.
On 29th June 1478 Katherine Howard Baroness Bergavenny [aged 64] died at Raby, County Durham. She was buried at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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In 1482 Thomas Herbert was born to Richard Herbert [aged 40] and Margaret Cradock at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].
Before 1535 Mary Stafford Baroness Bergavenny [aged 39] died in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map]. The date of her death based on her husband George Neville 5th and 3rd Baron Abergavenny [aged 65] having married again before his death in 1535.
Abergavenny Priory [Map] was established under Hamelin de Balun the first Norman holder of the title Lord Abergavenny, which in the 1090s became Baron Bergavenny.
On 20th August 1348 Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 29] died at Abergavenny Castle [Map]. He was buried at Abergavenny Priory [Map]. His son John succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 4th Baron Hastings, 15th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation.
After 26th July 1469 Richard Herbert [deceased] was buried at Abergavenny Priory [Map].
Around 1423 Richard Herbert was born to William ap Thomas "Blue Knight of Gwent" Herbert [aged 43] and Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam "Star of Abergavenny" Brecon at Coldbrook Park, Abergavenny. He married Margaret Jones and had issue.
On 24th January 2010 FitzRoy Somerset 5th Baron Raglan [aged 82] died at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny. His brother Geoffrey [aged 77] succeeded 6th Baron Raglan.