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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In or before 1433 [her father] Thomas de Semarc (age 19) and [her mother] Alice Laxham (age 19) were married.
Around 1433 Anne de Semarc was born to [her father] Thomas de Semarc (age 20) and [her mother] Alice Laxham (age 20).
In or before 1449 William Sapcote (age 19) and Anne de Semarc (age 15) were married.
Around 1449 [her son] Guy Sapcote of Thornhaugh, Bedfordshire was born to [her husband] William Sapcote (age 20) and Anne de Semarc (age 16).
A History of the County of Buckingham: Volume 3: Parishes: Chenies. On Sir John Cheyne's (age 78) death without issue in 146833 his widow [her aunt] Agnes married Edmund Molyneux, who was sheriff of the county in 147534 and presented to the church in 147935. He died in 148436, and Agnes survived him ten years. By her will 20 November 1494 her first husband's great-great-nephew John Cheyne of Chesham Bois (q.v.) obtained Drayton Beauchamp, Grove and Cogenhoe Manors, but Chenies [Map] passed to Agnes Cheyne's niece Anne (age 35) wife of [her future husband] David Philip37. Anne and David Philip, who was sheriff in 149838, had some difficulty in inducing the trustees to hand over the manor39, but were in possession in 1500, when Chenies was settled on Anne and her issue40. She died seised of it in 1510, when it passed to her granddaughter [her granddaughter] Anne wife of [her grandson-in-law] John Broughton and daughter and heir of [her son] Guy Sapcote (age 19), son of Anne Philip by a [her husband] former husband (age 39)41.
Note 33. Chan. Inq. p.m. 8 Edw. IV, no. 51.
Note 34. P.R.O. List of Sheriffs, 2.
Note 35. Lipscomb, Bucks. iii, 252.
Note 36. Brass in church.
Note 37. Add. MS. 5840, fol. 39.
Note 38. P.R.O. List of Sheriffs, 2.
Note 39. Early Chan. Proc. bdle. 218, no. 30.
Note 40. De Banco R. Hil. 15 Hen. VII, m. 297; Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), xxv, 162.
Note 41. Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), xxv, 162.
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In 1479 [her son] Guy Sapcote of Thornhaugh, Bedfordshire (age 30) died. His daughter [her granddaughter] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford and her husband [her grandson-in-law] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford inherited Chenies Manor House, Buckinghamshire [Map]
In 1483 [her father] Thomas de Semarc (age 70) died.
On 31st August 1485 [her husband] William Sapcote (age 56) died.
In 1486 [her mother] Alice Laxham (age 73) died.
Before 1494 David Phelip of Chenies and Anne de Semarc (age 60) were married.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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1st August 1510. St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map]. Brass of Anne de Semarc (age 77), holding her heart, inscribed "Here lies Dame Anne Phelip, Widow, once wife of David Phelip, knight, lady of Thoro in the County of Northampton and Isenhampstead Cheyne in the County of Buckingham, who died the first day of August in the year of our Lord 1510 on whose soul may God have mercy Amen".
On 1st August 1510 Anne de Semarc (age 77) died. Her grand-daughter [her granddaughter] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford (age 31) inherited Chenies Manor House, Buckinghamshire [Map].