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.
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Around 1275 John de Straford was born to [his father] Robert de Stratford.
On 20th June 1323 John de Straford [aged 48] was appointed Bishop of Winchester during his visit to Pope John XXII at Avignon.
On 26th November 1326 John de Straford [aged 51] was appointed Lord High Treasurer which office he held until 28th January 1327.
On 28th November 1330 John de Straford [aged 55] was appointed Lord Chancellor.
On 3rd November 1333 John de Straford [aged 58] was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 6th June 1335 John de Straford [aged 60] was appointed Lord Chancellor for the second time.
Between 23rd July 1337 and 18th August 1337 [his brother] Robert de Stratford [aged 45] was elected Bishop of Chichester.
On 28th April 1340 John de Straford [aged 65] was appointed Lord Chancellor for the third time.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. In this year, Master John Stratford [aged 73], Archbishop of Canterbury, died on the 23rd day of August [1348] and on the 19th day of September he was buried at Canterbury. Afterwards, Master Thomas Bradwardine [aged 48], a doctor of theology, was elected Archbishop; but by papal provision, Master John Ufford, the king's chancellor, was appointed to that dignity, though he died before being consecrated. Then, in the following year, the aforesaid Master Thomas Bradwardine was elected again, consecrated at the Roman Curia, and died in the same year.
Isto anno magister Iohannes Stretford, archiepiscopus Cantuariensis, XXIII die Augusti obiit, et XIX die Septembris fuit Cantuarie traditus sepulture. Postea fuit electus in archiepiscopum magister Thomas Bradewardin, doctor in theologia; set provisione pape fuit ad istam dignitatem ordinatus magister lohannes Ufford, regis cancellarius, qui non consecratus moriebatur. Deinde, anno sequent!, prefatus magister Thomas Bradewardin l iterum electus fuit, in curia Romana consecratus, et eodem anno mortuus.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 23rd August 1348 Archbishop John de Stratford [aged 73] died.
Effigy of Archbishop John Stratford. John Stratford was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire [Map], and was educated at Oxford. Being well read in the canon and the civil law, he became Archdeacon of Lincoln. Shortly after, Edward the Second made him his Secretary, and one of his Privy Council. Walter Reynolds, Archbishop of Canterbury, constituted him his principal official, and Dean of the Arches. On the deposition and death of Edward the Second, his ability stood so high in the estimation of the Queen and her son, that he was appointed Lord Chancellor of England. On the death of Mepham, in 1333, he was, at the King's special recommendation to the Pope, elevated to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. The King going abroad to prosecute his pretensions to the Crown of France, constituted the Archbishop Custos of the Realm in his absence, a circumstance which eventually drew on Stratford a severe persecution; for, Edward having disbursed vast sums of money to his followers and friends in the expedition, applied to the Archbishop for more, who seeing that it was impossible to make further levies on the King's subjects, who had lately so liberally supplied him, advised him to return home. Edward is said to have made his creditors in Flanders believe that Stratford was entrusted with large sums sufficient for paying their demands, and Stratford was charged, on the King's return, with having embezzled money which had really never been in his possession. If so noble-minded a monarch as Edward could have acted advisedly in such a matter, we should pronounce him at once the bravest and the meanest of his race; hut the mysteries of court intrigue cannot at this period be unravelled, so as to extenuate or confirm the imputation. The circumstances of the case are, however, highly in favour of Stratford's innocence; for, a Committee of Bishops and Lords being appointed to examine the accusation against him, their inquiry was never prosecuted, and Stratford was pardoned at the solicitation of the entire parliament. Little, indeed, did Stratford deserve a charge of peculation. So disinterested and indefatigable was his character, that he crossed the channel two-and-thirty times on various public missions, besides making many journeys to the Scottish border, yet received altogether for his pains not more than £300 from the King's Exchequer. Restored to the King's favour, he was permitted to pass the fifteen following years of his life in tranquillity, and died at his palace at Mayfield, in Sussex, in 1348. Stratford's character was strongly imbued with the mild virtues of the Gospel, so often obliterated by the temptations incident on high station. Gentle and merciful, rather lenient than rigorous to offenders, bountiful to the poor, he endeavoured to win men's hearts by that charity which considers every human being suffering from error or misfortune, as a brother. He munificently founded a college at Stratford-upon- Avon, his native place, and was interred in a tomb of alabaster in Canterbury cathedral, on the south side of the high altar. The effigy of Stratford is a beautiful work of art, although it has suffered some mutilation. He is habited in his mitre, cope, and gloves (the hands are fractured). Under his right arm is the staff of his crosier, or archiepis- copal cross (the head broken off). Over his left hangs the jewelled maniple for wiping any defilement from the sacramental cup. Under the cope appears the border of his dalmatic, and beneath the dalmatic a richly edged tunic. Fastened to his breast and shoulders by pins (of gold), is the consecrated pall with which the archbishops were invested by the Holy See, and for which it exacted a heavy pecuniary acknowledgment.
Details. 1. Crocheted edge of the mitre. 3. Cape of the cope. 3. One of the pins fastening the paH.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Also, in the parliament held at Westminster, the Lord John, Archbishop of Canterbury, was reconciled1 with the king; and before him, in parliament, not as his ordinary judge, he swore an oath that, although with his counsel and assent the king had performed homage to the tyrant of France for the duchy of Aquitaine and the county of Ponthieu, he had never consented to it in a way prejudicial to the king, nor with the intention of pleasing the tyrant of France by offering such counsel, but because at the time, he thought it the more prudent course to pursue for the sake of peace and the advantage of the king and the kingdom.
Item, in parliamento apud Westmonasterium celebrato, dominus Johannes archiepiscopus Cantuariensis fuit regi conciliatus; coram quo in parliamento, non tamquam suo iudice ordinario, iuravit quod, quamvis de suo concilio et assensu rex tiranno Francorum pro ducatu Aquitannie et comitatu Pontivie fecerat homagium, ad hoc tamen numquam consensit tamquam in regis preiudicium, nec ut tiranno Francorum huiusmodi concilium prebendo placeret, set quia pro tunc hoc putavit consulcius faciendum pro pace et utilitate regis et regni.
Note 1. The reconciliation took place on the 7th May 1341. See the account of the quarrel in Stubbs Constitutional History of England 2.417-423.