William Worcester
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William Worcester (c. 1415 – c. 1482) was an English antiquary, author, and historian known for his detailed writings on
medieval England England in the Middle Ages concerns the history of England during the Middle Ages, medieval period, from the end of the 5th century through to the start of the Early modern Britain, early modern period in 1485. When England emerged from the co ...
. He served as the secretary to Sir John Fastolf, a prominent military commander during the
Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...
, and later compiled extensive notes on English history, geography, and heraldry. Worcester’s most notable work includes his Itineraries, which provide valuable descriptions of English towns, castles, and estates in the 15th century. His writings, often fragmented, offer insight into medieval society, warfare, and administration. Though not widely recognized during his lifetime, his contributions have since been regarded as significant sources for historians studying late medieval England.


Life

He was a son of another William of
Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engl ...
, a
Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
whittawer (worker in white leather), and his wife Elizabeth, Botoner. His mother was a daughter of Thomas Botoner from
Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
, and he sometimes used the surname Botoner.Orme 2006. He was educated at
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
and became secretary to Sir John Fastolf. When Fastolf died in 1459, Worcester discovered that he had bequeathed him nothing, despite his being one of Fastolf's executors, and, with one of his colleagues Sir William Yelverton, Worcester disputed the validity of the will. However, an amicable arrangement was made and Worcester obtained some lands near
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
and in
Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...
in London. He died about 1482.


Writings

Worcester made several journeys through England, and his notes (now known as his "Itineraries") contain much information. His survey of
Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
, which he appears to have devised as a self-contained work, is particularly detailed, and of great value to historians and antiquaries. Portions of his notes were printed by James Nasmith in 1778; and his 1480 survey of Bristol was used by James Dallaway in ''William Wyrcestre Redivivus'' (William Worcester Reborn) in 1823. In 1834 Dallaway published Worcester's full itinerary of Bristol in ''Antiquities of Bristowe.'' Modern scholarly editions and translations have been published as the ''Itineraries of William Worcestre'' in 1969, edited by John Harvey; and as ''The Topography of Medieval Bristol'' in 2000, edited by Frances Neale. The ''Boke of Noblesse'', written some time in the 1450s, was produced in the wake of disastrous English losses in France and was later revised with the apparent intention of encouraging King
Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...
to renew his claim on the French throne. 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 Joseph Stevenson (27 November 1806 – 8 February 1895) was an English Church of England and later Catholic priest, archivist and editor of historical texts. Early life Joseph Stevenson was born on 27 November 1806 in Berwick-on-Tweed, the eld ...
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 Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...
. 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).


Modern editions

* * * *


References


Bibliography

* * * * *Rundel, David."William Worcestre, Sir John Fastolf and Latin Learning." ''The Library'' 25 March 2024):3-28. Attribution: * {{DEFAULTSORT:Worcester, William 1415 births 1482 deaths 15th-century English historians Writers from Bristol English chroniclers English antiquarians 15th-century antiquarians 15th-century writers in Latin