Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page. Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.
Anchiennes Chroniques d'Engleterre is in Late Medieval Books.
Letter from Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy, to the Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal, concerning the victory won by King Edward of England, her brother, against the Earl of Warwick and his supporters. (Undated. April 1471.)
Lettre de Marguerite d'York, duchesse de Bourgogne, à la duchesse douairière de Bourgogne, Isabelle de Portugal, sur la victoire remportée par le roi Edouard d Angleterre, son frère, contre le comte de Warwick et ses adhérents. (Sans date. Avril 1471.)
My most highly revered lady and mother, as humbly as I can, I commend myself to your good grace. And may it please you to know that today there arrived a man native of England, who was taken by the Austrians and brought to Zeeland. He left London on the Monday after Easter, after dinner, just past, and says and affirms as true the following news to be true.
Ma très redoubtee dame et mère, tant et très humblement que plus puis je me recommande à vostre bonne grâce. Et vous plaise savoir que aujourd'huy est arrivé ung homme natif d'Engleterre, qui fu prins par les Austrelins et amenet à Zelande, lequel parti de Londres lundi, lendemain de Pasques, aprez disner, derrain passé, et dist et afferme pour vray les nouvelles qui sensuyvent estre vrayes.
It is to be known that my lord the king and brother, coming one morning with his men, and my brother of Clarence, who was also coming with a great force toward him, found themselves in the fields near one another, close to a town called Brambri. Then each arranged his men in order, and my said brother of Clarence withdrew with a small company from his troops, approaching my said lord and brother, who, seeing him, came toward him. And my said lord brother of Clarence knelt down, so much so that my said lord and brother, seeing his humility in speech, raised him and kissed him several times, and they made great joy together. And then they cried: "Long live King Edward!" — and until then my said lord and brother had made no such proclamation as king.
C'est assavoir que monseigneur le roy et frère, venant atout ses gens ung matin, mon frère de Clarence, qui venoit aussi atout grant puissance vers lui, se trouvèrent aux champs prez l'ung de l'autre, assés prez dune ville nommée Brambri. Lors chacun mist ses gens en ordonnance, et se tira mon dict frère de Clarence à petite compaignie arrière de ses gens, aprochant mon dit seigneur et frère, lequel, se veant, vint vers lui, et mon dit seigneur frère de Clarence se mist à genoulx, tellement que mon dit seigneur et frère, veant son humilité en parolles, le leva et baisa plusieurs fois, et fisrent grant chiere. Et lors ilz crièrent: "Vive le roy Edouart!" et jusques via mon dit seigneur et frère n'avoit fait nul cri comme roy.
So they set out to come to London; and some of their loyal servants and friends, having been warned of this, undertook, on the morning of Spy Wednesday, to seize the postern gate of the Tower of London, and they held it and gained control of the Tower. Those of the city, seeing this and also sensing that the king was near, did not dare to stir or show any resistance, and allowed my said lord and brother to enter the said city peacefully on the following Thursday. They went to St. Paul's Church, where King Henry and the Archbishop of York were present, to whom King Henry extended his hand; but King Henry came to embrace him, saying: ‘My cousin of York, you are most welcome: I believe that my life will not be in danger in your hands.' And my said lord and brother replied that he should not worry about anything and that he could be of good cheer. The Archbishop of York excused himself greatly to my said lord and brother, saying that he had never been against him, but that he had indeed consented to the coming of his brother Warwick when he was in France, not knowing that my said lord and brother would be driven from the country; and even if it were true, he referred himself to the people and to everyone, whether in any preaching he had said anything about the crown belonging to anyone other than him. And finally, after these excuses were made, my said lord and brother went to see my lady and mother, who, together with the queen and her son, led him into the said Tower of London.
Si se tirèrent pour venir à Londres; et aucuns leurs lions serviteurs et amis, de ce advertis, entreprirent, le merquedy de Ténèbres au matin, de prendre la porterne de la tour de Londres, et de lait le tinrenl el gaignerent la tour. Ceulx de la ville, ce veant et aussi sentans le roy estre près, n'osèrent eulx esmouvoir, ne faire aucun semblant, et laissèrent entrer paisiblement en la dite ville mon dit seigneur et frère, joeudy ensuivant. Etalèrent en l'esglise de Saint Pol, où estoit le roy Henry et l'archevesque d lorc, auquel roy Henry mondit seigneur et frere tendi la main; mais le roy Henry le vint embrachier, en disant: "Mon cousin d'Iorc, vous soies le très bien venu: je tiengs que ma vie ne sera pas en dangier en vos mains." Et mon dit seigneur et frère lui respondi qu'il ne se soussiaist de riens, et qu'il povoit faire bonne chiere. L'arcbevesque d'Iorck s'excusa moult enverz mon dit seigneur et frere, en disant que oncques il n'avoit esté contre lui, mais qu'il avoit bien esté consentans de la venue de son frere de Warwicque, quand il estoit en France, non sachant que mon dit seigneur et frère deust estre déboutez du pais; et mesme qu'il fust vray, s'en raportoit au peuple et a chascun se en nuls prestemens il avoit dit aucune chose, touchant le droit de la couronne, qu'il deust apartenir à autre que à lui. Et finablement, aprez ses excusacions faictes, mon dit seigneur et frere s'en ala vers madame et mere, laquelle, ensemble la royne et son fils, le mena en la dite tour de Londres.
Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.
And on the following day, which was Good Friday, the king pretending that Warwick had left Coventry and was about to join with his brother the Duke of Exeter, the Duke of Somerset, and the Earl of Oxford, and that they had a large force and intended to intercept and attack him along the way, my said lord and brother had it proclaimed in the said city of London the new value of certain coins—namely that the French écu would henceforth be worth only four gros (groats), and the lion coin five gros. Likewise, it was declared that no one should be so bold as to mistreat any of the subjects of my lord, and similarly that all men on foot, capable of bearing clubs, were to go out. And so they began to depart on that said Friday.
Et lendemain, qui fu le bon vendredi, faignant le roy que Warwicque s'estoit parti de Conventry, et se devoit joindre avec son frère le duc de Excester, le duc de Sombresset et le conte d'Ouchefort, et qu'il avoient grant puissance et intencion de le trouver et ruer jus en chemin, mon dit seigneur et frere fist crier en ladite ville de Londres le pris d'aucunes monnoies, aussi que l'escut de France ne vauldroit que IIII sous de gros, et le lion V sous; aussi que nul ne fust sy hardi qu'il meffesist à nulz subjectz des pais de monseigneur, et semblablement que tous hommes à piet, que povoient porter bastons, yssirent dehors. Et se commencherent à partir le dit vendredi.
The next day, on the night of Easter, my said lord and brother also had it proclaimed that all men on horseback should leave the city with him. And indeed he departed, and had in his company King Henry and my other brothers, and together they numbered around 12,000 men.
Lendemain, la nuit de Pasques, fist aussy crier mon dit seigneur et frère que toutes gens à cheval yssissent la ville avec luy. Et de fait il se parti, et avoit en sa compaignie le roy Henri et mes autres frères, et n'estoient ensemble environ XIIm hommes.
14th April 1471. And so, on Easter Day, very early in the morning, the said Warwick and the others named above, having between 20,000 and 24,000 men and knowing of the arrival of my said lord and brother, joined battle in the field. There was such heavy mist that they found themselves so close to each other in a field that, before they could be fully drawn up in formation, they struck at one another. The bodyguard archers of my said lord and brother, and those who had formerly been garrisoned at Calais—whom Warwick had expelled—numbering 800 to 900, swore not to flee the field but to fight to the death, and they fought valiantly. The battle began at 8 o'clock in the morning and lasted until at least 10 o'clock, perhaps longer. My said lord and brother conducted himself so honorably that, although at the start his face had been turned toward the village from which Warwick had come, ten miles from London, called Barnet, he ended the battle with his back to that same village. Many were killed, although the number is still not known, but few on the side of my said lord and brother. Warwick's brother, the Marquis of Montagu, was killed there; and Warwick himself, seeing this and sensing that he was losing, mounted a horse, thinking to escape. But as he was fleeing, he was overtaken by a man who seized him, and as he was being brought back, some recognized him and killed him. My said lord and brother, when told of his capture, rushed to him, hoping to save him, but found him dead, and greatly mourned him. The Dukes of Exeter and Somerset and the Earl of Oxford fled.
Et ainsi que le jour de Pasques, bien matin, le dit Warwicque et autres dessusnommés, aiant bien de XX à XXIIIIm, et sachant la venue de mon dit seigneur et frere, se joindirent aux champs: il faisoit si grant bruynne qu'ilz se trouverrent si prez les ungs des autres en un champ que, avant qu'ilz peussent estre du tout mis en ordonnence, iz frappèrent les ungs sur les autres. Et s'estoient assemblés les archiers de corps de mon dit seigneur et frere, et ceulx qui soloient estre en garnison à Callaix, que Warwicq a fait bouter hors, de VIII à IX cent, qui firent sarement de non fuir du camp, mais combatre jusques à la mort, lesquelx s'i portèrent vaillamment. Et finablement commencherent a VIII heures du matin, et dura la bataille jusques à X heures ou plus; et jusques tant mon dit seigneur et frère se porta si honnestement que, là où il avoit le visage vers!e viiage où Warwicque estoit parti, qui est à dix mil de Londres, nommet Vernet, il se trouva le dos en le fin contre icelui village. Et furent pluiseurs tués, et l'on ne set pas encore le nombre; mais peu du costé de mon dit seigneur et frère. Et illec fu tués le frère de Warwicq, marquis de Montagu; et iceluy Warwicq, ce veant, et sentant qu'il avoit le pire, monta sus ung cheval, soy cuidant sauver; et ainsi qu'il s'en aloit, fu ratains d'ung homme qui le print, et comme il le remenoit, aucuns le congneurent et le tuèrent. Mon dit seigneur et frère, de sa prinse adverti, acourut vers lui, le cuidant sauver; mais il le trouva mort, dont il fist grant regret. Et lesdits ducs d'Excester et Sombresset et conte de Douchefort s'enfuirent.
Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.
And on that same Easter Day, my said lord and brother returned to London, accompanied as stated above. It had been reported that he had been overthrown, and these reports continued for about three hours. The lieutenant of the Mayor of London, along with the aldermen, came out of the city to receive him, and he greeted them warmly. From there he went to the church of Saint Paul in that city to make his offering, and afterward to the residence of my lady mother. And because my said lord the king understood that some people in the city did not believe that the said Warwick and his brother were dead, he had their bodies brought the next morning, Monday, to the said church of Saint Paul, where they were laid out with their chests uncovered and seen by everyone. And at around ten o'clock, the said man who arrived (with news) saw them and left them in the said church.
Et ce meisme jour de Pasques, mon dit seigneur et frere revint à Londres, acompaigné comme dessus. On avoit raporté qu'il estoit rués jus, et continuèrent ces nouvelles bien III heures. Et le vinrent recepvoir hors de la porte le lieutenant du Maire de Londres, ensemble les haudremans, auquel leur fist grant chiere, et de là s'en ala en ladite esglise de Saint Pol en celle ville faire son offrande, et aprez à l'ostel madame ma mère. Et, pour ce que mon dit seigneur le roy entendi que aucuns de la ville ne creoient pas que le dit de Warwicq et son frère fuissent mors, il fist aporter leurs corps, lendemain lundi matin, en ladite esglise Saint Pol, où ilz furent couchiés et descouverz de la poitrine en amont, et là veu d'ung chascun. Et à l'eure de X heures, ou environ, le dit homme, qui est venu, le vit et le leissa en ladite esglise.
And he knows no more beyond that: for on that very day, he departed and boarded his boat to go to Nasfort, where he is from, thinking to bring the first news. But he encountered the Austrians, who captured him in Zeeland.
Et n'en set plus avant: car le jour mesme se parti, et entra en son bateau, pour aller Nasfort, dont il est, cuidant aporter les premières nouvelles. Mais il trouva les Austrelins, qui le prirent en Zellande.
The dead and captured:
The Duke of Exeter, The Earl of Warwick and his brother, the Marquis of Montagu, The Earl of Guilford, badly wounded and captured, Sir Richard d'Ouscal, knight, Sir John Griselle, badly wounded and captured, Sir William Thierret and one of his brothers, of the Earl of Oxford — dead, Thomas Stocphart, badly wounded and captured.
Les mors et prins:
Le duc de Excester, le conte de Warwicq et son frère, marquis de Montagu, le conte de Guiffort, bien blechiet et prins; monsr Richart d'Ouscal, chevalier; monsr Jehan Griselle, fort blechié et prins; monsr Guillaume Thierret et ung de ses frères, de monsr le conte d'Oexenfort, mors; Thomas Stocphart, fort blechié et prins.
The prisoners held by King Edward:
King Henry, The Archbishop of York, The Bishop of Winchester, The Bishop of Lincoln, The Bishop of Saint Denis, The Bishop of Exeter, and several other noblemen, killed in battle.
Les prisonniers au roy Ecloaart:
Le roy Henri; l'archevesque de Yorck; l'evesque de Vincester; l'evesque de Lincol; l'evesque de Saint Denis; l'evesque d'Ecester, et encor pluiseurs autres gens nobles, thués en bataille.
The dead on the side of King Edward:
The Lord of Cornwall, The Lord of Say, Sir Boursset, Thomas Perquier, Ferby Testiner, Geoffrey Gurnat.
Les mors du costé du roj Edouart:
Le sr de Cornaille; le sr de Say; monsr de Bourset; Thomas Perquier; Ferby Testiner; Gesfray Gurnat.
The allies of the King of France:
The Emperor of Rome; the King of Spain; King Henry of England; the King of Scotland; the King of Sicily; the Duke of Siena; the Duke of Milan; the Duke of Calabria.
Les aliés du roj de France:
L'empereur de Romme; le roy d'Espaigne; le roy Henri d'Engleterre; le roy d'Escosse; le roy deSezille, le duc de Chiennes; le duc de Millan; le duc de Calabre.
The allies of my lord of Burgundy:
The Emperor of Rome; the King of Portugal; King Edward of England; the King of Scotland; the King of Aragon; the Duke of Brittany; the Duke from the House of Savoy; the Duke of Jülich; the Duke of Venice; the Duke of Bavaria; the Count Palatine; the Archbishop of Cologne; the Archbishop of Mainz; the Archbishop of Trier.
Les aliés de monseigneur de Bourgogne:
L'empereur de Romme; le roy de Portingal; le ro\ Edouart d'Engleterre; le roy d'Escoce; le roy d'Arragon; le duc de Bretaingne; le duc de la maison de Savoie; le duc de Jullers; le duc de Venise; le duc de Bauviere; le conte Palatin; l'archevesque de Cologne; l'archevesque de Mayenche; l'archevesque de Trêves.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Archives of the State of Namur: Register of the reliefs of the fiefs of the sovereign bailiwick from 1467–1477, folio 72 and following. — Report of the sessions of the Belgian Historical Commission, Volume VII, page 47, 2nd series.
(Archives de l'Etat de Vamur: Registre aux reliefs des fiefs du souverain bailliage de 1467-1477, fol. 72 et suiv. — Compte rendu des séances de la Commission d'histoire de Belgique, tome VII, page 47, 2e série.)