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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Manners
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Dashwood
On 5th December 1749 [his father] George Manners-Sutton (age 26) and [his mother] Diana Chaplin (age 18) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 53) and [his grandmother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland.
On 17th February 1755 Charles Manners-Sutton was born to [his father] George Manners-Sutton (age 31) and [his mother] Diana Chaplin (age 24).
In 1767 [his mother] Diana Chaplin (age 36) died.
On 5th February 1768 [his father] George Manners-Sutton (age 44) and Mary Peart were married. He the son of [his grandfather] John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland (age 71) and [his grandmother] Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland.
On 9th January 1780 [his son] Charles Manners-Sutton 1st Viscount Canterbury was born to Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 24) and [his future wife] Mary Thoroton. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.13%. He married 8th July 1811 Lucy Maria Denison and had issue.
On 7th January 1783 [his father] George Manners-Sutton (age 59) died at Kelham Hall, Nottinghamshiree.
In 1785 Charles Manners-Sutton (age 29) was appointed Rector of the Church of St Lawrence, Whitwell [Map]. He would later
In 1788 Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 32) and Mary Thoroton were married. They had, probably, eloped. They were half first cousins.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In 1803 [his brother] Thomas Manners-Sutton 1st Baron Manners (age 46) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Moyle Baroness Manners (age 39) were married.
In 1805 Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 49) was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 20th April 1807 [his brother] Thomas Manners-Sutton 1st Baron Manners (age 51) was created 1st Baron Manners of Foston in Lincolnshire. [his sister-in-law] Anne Moyle Baroness Manners (age 43) by marriage Baroness Manners of Foston in Lincolnshire.
Before 23rd January 1810 John Hoppner (age 51) (attributed). Portrait of Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 54).
On 8th July 1811 [his son] Charles Manners-Sutton 1st Viscount Canterbury (age 31) and [his daughter-in-law] Lucy Maria Denison were married. He the son of Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 56) and [his wife] Mary Thoroton.
After 1814 [his brother] Thomas Manners-Sutton 1st Baron Manners (age 57) and [his sister-in-law] Jane Butler were married.
After November 1815 Bishop John Lonsdale (age 27) was appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 60).
On 24th June 1819 Victoria, the future Queen, was christened privately by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Manners-Sutton (age 64) in the Cupola Room, Kensington Palace.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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In 1822 Bishop John Lonsdale (age 33) was given the Rectory of St John the Baptist Church, Mersham by Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 66).
On 21st April 1828 Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton (age 73) died at Lambeth Palace [Map].
[his daughter] Mary Manners Sutton was born to Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton and Mary Thoroton. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.13%. She married before September 1831 her half fifth cousin Bishop Hugh Percy, son of Algernon Percy 1st Earl Beverley and Isabella Susan Burrell Countess Beverley, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Noel 2nd Viscount Campden 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandmother: Juliana Hicks Viscountess Campden
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness 
GrandFather: John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 
10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Russell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset 
13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Russell Duchess Rutland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon Countess Southampton 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Rachel Wriothesley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Daniel de Massue Seigneur de Rouvigny
Great x 3 Grandmother: Rachel Massue Countess Southampton
Father: George Manners-Sutton 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Sutton 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Sutton 1st Baron Lexinton
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Cony of Bassingthorpe in Lincolnshire
Great x 3 Grandmother: Susan Cony
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Sutton 2nd Baron Lexinton 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony St Leger 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony St Leger 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary St Leger Baroness Lexington 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Bridget Sutton Duchess Rutland 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Hungerford 
12 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton 13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Giles Hungerford 14 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles Crouch of Cornhill
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sarah Crouch
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Hungerford Baroness Lexington 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Archbishop Charles Manners-Sutton 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Chaplin 
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Chaplin
Great x 3 Grandfather: Daniel Huett of Essex
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Huett
GrandFather: Thomas Chaplin of Blankney
Mother: Diana Chaplin 16 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Archer
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Archer 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Ferrers of Tamworth Castle 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Ferrers 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Andrew Archer 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Leigh
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Leigh
GrandMother: Diana Archer 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Samuel Dashwood 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Dashwood
Great x 2 Grandfather: Samuel Dashwood
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Sleigh
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Sleigh
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Dashwood