Hardyng

JOHN HARDYNG (1378 - ?1465)

The chronicler John Hardyng was a member of Hotspur's household and witnessed the battle of Homildon Hill near Wooler in 1402, where Hotspur and the Earl of March overcame the Scots under Douglas. He was also present when Hotspur met his death at Battlefield (still so called) near Shrewsbury in 1403. These stirring events play a prominent part in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part One.

Hardyng later became Constable of Warkworth Castle and served under Hotspur's conqueror, now King Henry V, in the war against the French. He was esquire to Gilbert de Umfraville (1390-1421) of the great Northumberland family. Umfraville was an honoured member of the king's entourage, held his helmet during parleys with the French, and was used by Henry as an emissary. He and Hardyng were present at the siege of Harfleur and at Agincourt. Hardyng's rhymed history of England The Chronicle of John Hardyng, is in feeble verse but of great interest for the eye-witness account of Agincourt.

Hardyng was a prudent man. The original chronicle had been Lancastrian in tone and ended in 1436. The revised version supported the Yorkist cause and went on to 1461.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
JOHN HARDYNG (1378 - ?1465) The chronicler John Hardyng was a member of Hotspur's household and witnessed the battle of Homildon Hill near Wooler in 1402, where Hotspur and the Earl of March overcame the Scots under Douglas. He was also present when Hotspur met his death at Battlefield (still so called) near Shrewsbury in 1403. These stirring events play a prominent part in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part One. Hardyng later became Constable of Warkworth Castle and served under Hotspur's conqueror, now King Henry V, in the war against the French. He was esquire to Gilbert de Umfraville (1390-1421) of the great Northumberland family. Umfraville was an honoured member of the king's entourage, held his helmet during parleys with the French, and was used by Henry as an emissary. He and Hardyng were present at the siege of Harfleur and at Agincourt. Hardyng's rhymed history of England The Chronicle of John Hardyng, is in feeble verse but of great interest for the eye-witness account of Agincourt. Hardyng was a prudent man. The original chronicle had been Lancastrian in tone and ended in 1436. The revised version supported the Yorkist cause and went on to 1461.
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