The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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From 1265 to 1269 Bishop Robert of Holy Island, a Benedictine monk, served as sacrist at Durham.
On 24th September 1274 Bishop Robert of Holy Island was elected Bishop of Durham.
On 9th December 1274 Bishop Robert of Holy Island was consecrated Bishop of Durham.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the year of our Lord 1279, Walter Giffard [aged 54],1 Archbishop of York, died on the 22nd of April. He was succeeded by William de Wickwane2. In the second year of his archiepiscopate, wishing to visit his suffragan Robert of Holy Island, Bishop of Durham, and the chapter of Durham, he was repelled for they shut the city gates against him. Nevertheless, taking up his pontifical insignia, he preached in the city square, choosing as his sermon theme: "I have come down to see Judah and Jerusalem." After delivering his sermon, he pronounced a dreadful sentence of excommunication upon those who opposed him and placed the city under ecclesiastical interdict. But they treated all of this lightly, relying on a constitution of Pope Innocent IV concerning censuses and Roman exactions, and they appealed, claiming that he should not be admitted unless he had first visited his own chapter and diocese, which he had not done. For that constitution states: "We decree that any archbishop who wishes to visit his province must first take care to visit the chapter, city, and diocese of his own church." A year later, with the Bishop of Durham now dead, the archbishop returned again at the same time of year, around the [24th June 1280], intending another visitation. There, he suffered even greater injury than before, and after renewing the same dreadful sentence, he departed. From that time on, a lawsuit ensued in the Roman Curia at enormous expense.
Anno Domini MCCLXXIX obiit Walterus Giffard Eborum archiepiscopus X kalendas Maii. Cui successit Willelmus Wychewang. Hic in anno archiepiscopatus sui secundo suffraganeum suum Robertum de Insula Dunolmensem episcopum et capitulum Dunolmense visitare volens, passus est ibidem repulsam, clauserunt enim portas civitatis contra eum; ipse vero pontificali accepto prædicavit ibidem in platea civitatis, et assumpto themate, Descendi ut viderem Judæam et Jerusalem, et facto sermone in contradictores The bishopric sibi sententiam excommunicationis terribilem laid under fulminavit et locum eundem ecclesiastico supposuit interdicto. Ipsi vero parvipendebant omnia; fundaverant enim se super constitutionem Innocentii quarti de censibus et exactione Romana, et appellaverant, dicentes eum admitti non debere nisi proprium capitulum et dioecesim prius visitasset, quod non fecit. Dicit enim constitutio illa sic: Statuimus ut quilibet archiepiscopus, suam volens visitare provinciam, prius ecclesiæ suæ capitulum et civitatem ac dioecesim visitare procuret. Anno autem revoluto, et mortuo Dunolmensi episcopo, iterato et eodem tempore anni, scilicet circa festum Sancti Johannis Baptistæ, ibidem causa visitationis adveniens, majorem quam prius passus est injuriam, et renovata terribili sententia recessit et abiit: et extunc in Romana curia immensis sumptibus litigabant.
Note 1. The date of this archbishops death is assigned by Godwin to the 25th of April.
Note 2. MSS. Coll. Arm, and Cott. Tib. William Wickwane, Chancellor of York, was elected June 22, 1279, and consecrated at Rome on the 19th of September following.
On 7th June 1283 Bishop Robert of Holy Island died at Bishop Middleham,County Durham. He was buried in the CHapter House of Durham Cathedral [Map] on the 10th June 1283.
Annals of Dunstable. Likewise, the bishop of the church of Durham [Bishop Robert of Holy Island], who was a monk, died [7th June 1283]; and Anthony Bek [aged 38], who was then the most renowned clerk of the lord king, succeeded him.
Item episcopus Dunelmensis ecclesiæ obiit, qui fuit monachus; et successit ei Antonius Bech, qui fuit clericus domini regis tunc nominatissimus.