William Worcester
Encyclopedia
William Worcester was an English
chronicler
and antiquary
.
, a Bristol
citizen, and is sometimes called William Botoner, his mother being a daughter of Thomas Botoner from Catalonia
.
He was educated at Oxford
and became secretary to Sir John Fastolf
. When the knight died in 1459 Worcester, found that nothing had been bequeathed to him although he was one of his executors and, with one of his colleagues Sir William Yelverton
, he disputed the validity of the will. However, an amicable arrangement was made and Worcester obtained some lands near Norwich
and in Southwark
. He died about 1482.
is of value to antiquaries. Portions of the work were printed by James Nasmith
in 1778, and the part relating to Bristol is in James Dallaway
's Antiquities of Bristowe (Bristol, 1834).
Worcester also wrote Annales rerum Anglicarum, a work of some value for the history of England under Henry VI
. This was published by Thomas Hearne
in 1728, and by Joseph Stevenson
for the Rolls series
with his Letters and Papers illustrative of the Wars of the English in France during the Reign of Henry VI (1864). Stevenson also printed here collections of papers made by Worcester respecting the wars of the English in France and Normandy
.
Worcester's other writings include the last Acta domini Johannis Fastolf. See the Paston Letters edited by James Gairdner
(1904); and F. A. Gasquet, An Old English Bible and other Essays (1897).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
chronicler
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
and antiquary
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
.
Life
He was a son of William of WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, a Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
citizen, and is sometimes called William Botoner, his mother being a daughter of Thomas Botoner from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
.
He was educated at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and became secretary to Sir John Fastolf
John Fastolf
Sir John Fastolf KG was an English knight during the Hundred Years War, who has enjoyed a more lasting reputation as in some part being the prototype of Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff...
. When the knight died in 1459 Worcester, found that nothing had been bequeathed to him although he was one of his executors and, with one of his colleagues Sir William Yelverton
William Yelverton
Sir William Yelverton was a judge in Norfolk, England and twice a member of parliament for Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.-Personal life:...
, he disputed the validity of the will. However, an amicable arrangement was made and Worcester obtained some lands near Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
and in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. He died about 1482.
Works
Worcester made several journeys through England, and his Itinerarium contains much information. The survey of BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
is of value to antiquaries. Portions of the work were printed by James Nasmith
James Nasmith
James Nasmith was an English clergyman, academic and antiquary.-Life:The son of a carrier who came from Scotland, and plied between Norwich and London, he was born at Norwich late in 1740. He was sent by his father to Amsterdam for a year to complete his school education, and entered in 1760...
in 1778, and the part relating to Bristol is in James Dallaway
James Dallaway
-Life:He was the only son of James Dallaway, banker of Stroud, Gloucestershire, by Martha, younger daughter of Richard Hopton of Worcester, and was born at Bristol on 20 February 1763. He received his early education at the grammar school of Cirencester, and became a scholar of Trinity College,...
's Antiquities of Bristowe (Bristol, 1834).
Worcester also wrote Annales rerum Anglicarum, a work of some value for the history of England under Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
. This was published by Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne
Thomas Hearne or Hearn , English antiquary, was born at Littlefield Green in the parish of White Waltham, Berkshire.-Life:...
in 1728, and by Joseph Stevenson
Joseph Stevenson
Joseph Stevenson was an English Catholic archivist.-Biography:Though his parents were Presbyterians, he was educated at University College, Durham under the historian, James Raine, and afterwards at the University of Glasgow...
for the Rolls series
Rolls Series
The Rolls Series, official title The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, is a major collection of British and Irish historical materials and primary sources, published in the second half of the 19th century. Some 255 volumes, representing 99 separate...
with his Letters and Papers illustrative of the Wars of the English in France during the Reign of Henry VI (1864). Stevenson also printed here collections of papers made by Worcester respecting the wars of the English in France and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
Worcester's other writings include the last Acta domini Johannis Fastolf. See the Paston Letters edited by James Gairdner
James Gairdner
James Gairdner was a British historian. Specializing in 15th century and Early Tudor history, he among other tasks edited the Letters and Papers, foreign and domestic, of the reign of Henry VIII series....
(1904); and F. A. Gasquet, An Old English Bible and other Essays (1897).