Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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Effigy in Wingfield Church, Norfolk is in Monumental Effigies of Great Britain.
This effigy represents one of the Wingfields, Lords of Letheringham, in Suffolk, of whom Weever says, "The town of Wingheld hath given name to a family in this tract that is spread into a number of branches, and is besides for knighthood and ancient gentilitie renowned, and thereof it was the principal seat." He adds a mutilated inscription belonging to this tomb:
Hic jacet Dominius Wingfield de Letheringham .... cuius animea.
Details. Plate 1. Figure as originally painted, on the surcoat the arms of Wingfield, Azure, a fess Gules cotised Argent and Azure, charged with three pair of wings Azure.
Note a. Fun. Monuments, edit. 1631, p. 759.
