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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Spencer
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Donnington Countess Bath 1509-1561
Before October 1545 [her father] John Spencer [aged 21] and [her mother] Katherine Kitson [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Thomas Kitson and [her grandmother] Margaret Donnington Countess Bath [aged 36].
On 4th May 1549 Alice Spencer Countess Derby was born to John Spencer [aged 25] and Katherine Kitson [aged 25] at Althorp House, Northamptonshire [Map].
On 15th August 1560 Thomas Stanley 2nd Baron Monteagle [aged 53] died at Hornby. His son [her future brother-in-law] William [aged 32] succeeded 3rd Baron Monteagle. [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset by marriage Baroness Monteagle.
On 29th December 1574 [her brother-in-law] George Carey 2nd Baron Hunsdon [aged 27] and [her sister] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Hunsdon and Eure [aged 22] were married.
In 1576 [her future husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley [aged 36] and Elizabeth Ravenscroft [aged 32] were married.
Around 1579 Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 20] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 29] were married. He the son of Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 47] and Margaret Clifford Countess Derby [aged 39].
In May 1580 [her daughter] Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 21] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 30] at Harefield. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She married (1) 28th February 1607 her half fourth cousin twice removed Grey Brydges 5th Baron Chandos, son of William Brydges 4th Baron Chandos and Mary Hopton Baroness Chandos, and had issue (2) 22nd July 1624 her sixth cousin Mervyn Tuchet 2nd Earl Castlehaven, son of George Tuchet 1st Earl Castlehaven and Lucy Mervyn Baroness Audley and Tuchet.
After 10th November 1581 [her brother-in-law] Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton [aged 37] and [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married. She by marriage Baroness Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. He the son of Peter Compton and Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke [aged 58].
In 1583 [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 24] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 33]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She married 27th June 1602 John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater, son of Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley and Elizabeth Ravenscroft, and had issue.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 8th November 1586 [her mother] Katherine Kitson [aged 62] died.
On 8th November 1586 [her father] John Spencer [aged 62] died. He was buried at St Mary and All Saints Church, Fotheringhay [Map].
On 6th January 1588 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon was born to [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 29] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 38] at Knowsley, Lancashire. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She married 15th January 1601 her fourth cousin Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon and had issue.
After 1591 [her former brother-in-law] William Stanley 3rd Baron Monteagle and [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married.
On 4th December 1592 [her brother-in-law] Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset [aged 31] and [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset were married. He the son of Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 56] and Cicely Baker Countess Dorset [aged 57].
On 25th September 1593 [her father-in-law] Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 62] died at Lathom, Lancashire. His son [her husband] Ferdinando [aged 34] succeeded 5th Earl Derby, 13th Baron Strange Knockin, 9th Baron Mohun of Dunster, 6th Baron Stanley. Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 44] by marriage Countess Derby.
On 16th April 1594 [her husband] Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby [aged 35] died from poisoning. His brother [her brother-in-law] William [aged 33] succeeded 6th Earl Derby. Baron Mohun of Dunster and Baron Stanley abeyant.
In 1596 [her future husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley [aged 56] and Elizabeth More were married.
On 23rd July 1596 Henry Carey 1st Baron Hunsdon [aged 70] died at Somerset House [Map]. Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 62] was present. She, apparently, proposed he be made Earl of Wiltshire. He refused saying... "Madam, as you did not count me worthy of this honour in life, then I shall account myself not worthy of it in death". His son [her brother-in-law] George [aged 49] succeeded 2nd Baron Hunsdon. [her sister] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Hunsdon and Eure [aged 44] by marriage Baroness Hunsdon.
On 20th October 1600 Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley [aged 60] and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 51] were married.
On 15th January 1601 [her son-in-law] Henry Hastings 5th Earl Huntingdon [aged 14] and Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 51]. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 27th June 1602 [her son-in-law] John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater [aged 23] and Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 53].
On 21st July 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 37] created a number of new Baronies...
[her husband] Thomas Egerton [aged 63] was created 1st Baron Ellesmere. Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 54] by marriage Baroness Ellesmere.
Robert Spencer [aged 33] was created 1st Baron Spencer Wormleighton.
John Harrington [aged 63] was created 1st Baron Harington of Exton. Anne Keilway Baroness Harington [aged 49] by marriage Baroness Harington of Exton.
On 28th February 1607 [her son-in-law] Grey Brydges 5th Baron Chandos [aged 27] and Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven [aged 26] were married. She the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 57]. They were half fourth cousin twice removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 19th April 1608 Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 72] died suddenly at the council table, having apparently suffered a stroke. His funeral was held at Westminster Abbey [Map]. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His son [her brother-in-law] Robert [aged 47] succeeded 2nd Earl Dorset, 2nd Baron Buckhurst. [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset by marriage Countess Dorset.
After 1612 [her brother-in-law] Ralph Eure 3rd Baron Eure [aged 53] and [her sister] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Hunsdon and Eure [aged 59] were married. She by marriage Baroness Eure.
On 7th November 1616 [her husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley [aged 76] was created 1st Viscount Brackley. Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 67] by marriage Viscountess Brackley.
Diary of Anne Clifford. 14th March 1617. The 14th I made an end of my Irish stitch cushion. This afternoon Basket came from London and told me that my Lord [aged 27] and my Uncle were agreed and the writings sealed.
The King set forward this day on his journey to Scotland, the Queen and Prince going with him to Thibalds1.
Note 1. The 14th being Friday my Uncle Cumberland and my Coz. Clifford came to Dorset House where my Lord and they signed and sealed the writings and made a final conclusion of my business and did what they could to cut me off from my right, but I referred my cause to GOD.
Upon this Friday or Saturday died my Lord Chancellor Egerton [aged 77], Lady Derby's [aged 67] husband.
On 15th March 1617 [her husband] Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley [aged 77] died. His son [her son-in-law] John [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Viscount Brackley, 2nd Baron Ellesmere. [her daughter] Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater [aged 34] by marriage Viscountess Brackley.
On 25th February 1618 [her sister] Elizabeth Spencer Baroness Hunsdon and Eure [aged 65] died.
On 22nd September 1618 [her sister] Anne Spencer Countess Dorset died.
On 22nd July 1624 [her son-in-law] Mervyn Tuchet 2nd Earl Castlehaven [aged 31] and Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven [aged 44] were married at Harefield. She by marriage Countess Castlehaven. She the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby and Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 75]. He the son of George Tuchet 1st Earl Castlehaven and Lucy Mervyn Baroness Audley and Tuchet. They were sixth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1633 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stanley Countess Huntingdon [aged 44] died.
On 11th March 1636 Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater [aged 53] died. She has an inscription of the Great Monument at St Peter and St Paul Church, Little Gaddesden which reads: "ln hope of a happy resurrection, here lieth the Right Honourable and Most Noble Lady Frances Countess of Bridgewater. She was second daughter and one of the coheires of the Right Honourable Ferdinando Earl of Derby, &c. wife to the Right Honourable Sir John Egerton, Knt. of the honourable Order of the Bath, Earl of Bridgewater, Viscount Brackley, Baron of Elesmere, and Lord President of Wales, and the Marches thereof, by whom she was a happy mother of fifteene children, foure sons and, eleven daughters, five of which she buryed young, viz. the Lord James Viscount Brackley, her eldest, the Lord Charles, who succeeded him in birth and honour, seco,nd sonne; the Lady Cecila Egerton, her fourth, Mrs. Alice Egerton her eighth, and the Lady Anne Egerton her tenth daughter, who lyes here jnterred, dying in the eighth yeare of her age. Seven of her daughters she married richly and honourably, viz. the Lady Frances her eldest, the Lady Arabella her second, the Lady Elizabeth her third, the Lady Mary her fifth, the Lady Penelope her sixth, the Lady Katherine her seventh, and the Lady Magdelene her ninth; one of her daughters, viz. the Lady Alice her eleventh, she left unmarried; as she likewise did two of her sonnes, the Lord John Viscount Brackley, her third, and Mr. Thomas Egerton her fourth sonne. She was unparalleled in the gifts of nature and grace, being strong of constitution, admirable for beauty, generous in carriage, of a sweet and noble disposition, wise in her affaires, cheerefull in her discourse, liberall to the poore, pious towards God, and good to all. She lived vertuously 52 yeares; she died religiously the 11th day ,of March, in the yeare of our Lord 1635; and she reigns triumphantly for ever. Psal. cxvi. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints."
On 23rd January 1637 Alice Spencer Countess Derby [aged 87] died.
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Spencer
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Spencer
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Spencer
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Empson
Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Empson
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Empson
GrandFather: William Spencer
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Graunt
Father: John Spencer
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Knightley 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Knightley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Knightley
GrandMother: Susan Knightley
GrandFather: Thomas Kitson 
Mother: Katherine Kitson
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Donnington of Stoke Newington
GrandMother: Margaret Donnington Countess Bath