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 of A De L'Isle is in Monumental Effigies of Great Britain.
THERE were two families in England of this denomination; one deriving their appellative from the Isle of Wight [Map], the other from the Isle of Ely [Map]. Of the last was the subject of this effigy. The De Lisles possessed the manor of Rampton, in Cambridgeshire, from the reign of Henry the Third to that of the third Edward. They had from Edward the First a grant for a weekly market, and an annual fair in their manor of Rampton. A moated site, and some considerable ruins, near the church of that place, point out their residence. The effigy delineated is in the church. The mails on the hauberk of this figure appear to be effaced, and the mouth is sadly distorted by the carving of some idler. On the surcoat and shield is the coat of De Lisle, Or, a pale and two chevrons Sable, cotised Gules. The feet rest on a lion. Details. Plate 1. 1. Ornaments of the pillow. 2. Scroll-work on the chevron. 3. Pattern on the belt. 4. The figure as originally painted. Plate II. 1. Hood of the hauberk. 2. Rings of the mail. 3. Patterns on the waist-belt and appendages. 4. Heel of the spur, and straps.
