Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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Roger Whitley's Diary. 2nd January 1690. Thursday, went to Parliment, sate till past 7; supt with 2 Mainwarings, Hales & Harris at Nag's Head; then went to another roome where was Wood, Titus, Gilmore, Coling, Maxwell, Cooper & Russell, parted past 10.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 6th January 1690. Monday, I dined at home with brother & daughters; in the evening Beversham came to see me; went in my coach to the end of Suffolk Streete; I went to Lord Macclesfeild (age 31); Thomson was with him; did not speake to me; went away; then Atwood came but stayd not; I stayd neare ½ houer; then went to Edisbury's lodging; his cosen, Sir John Wynne & another with him; I went then to Mr Halles of Lincolnes Inne; gave him my papers & 2 guineys; then went to the Nag's Head; there was Wood, Coling, Harris, Hales & 2 or 3 more & Mainwaring; parted past 9.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 10th January 1690. Friday, went to Parliment, sate till 9 at night; went with 2 Mainwarings & Smith to Nag's Head; supt there; Wood came to us, then we went to another roome where was Maxwell, Rogers, Gilmore, Coling & Partridge; parted about 12.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 21st January 1690. Tuesday, went to Parliment sate till 5; supt with G. Mainwaring (age 47) at Nag's Head; there was also Mainwaring, Wood, Titus, Gilmore, Coling, Rogers, Maxwell, Craven, Harris & 2 more, parted past 9.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 27th January 1690. Monday, went to Parliment; were Prorogued about 12; dined at home with Colt, Wynne, & 2 Mainwarings; went about 7 to Nag's Head; there was Harris, Maxwell, Rogers, Coling, Craven &c; parted past 9.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 30th January 1690. Thursday, Jarrat came about money for Rogers watch; I dined at home; Biddolph & I went to Nag's Head about 7; there was Wood, Biddolph, G.Mainwaring (age 47) Maxfeild, Coling.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 4th February 1690. Tuesday, Barington came about his bills; I went to Toll about Chester money; I dined at home with Biddolph, Mainwaring, his brother, my 2 sons; brother, Morgan, Thomas &c; about 3, I went to Sir R: Gwynn; he was at dinner with Colt, Owens, Rud, Rawley, & severall others; I dranck a glasse of wine; stayd ½ houer; my daughters called me; went to Sir Robert Cottons; he & daughters & sonne (age 39) were at home; 2 other gentlemen with them, with musick books & instruments on the table; went then to cosen Fairefax; saw him & Lady; then called on Mrs Shakerly; they brought me home; Jones came & settled accounts: I took him in my coach to Nag's Head; there we parted; I went up to Wood, Maxfeild, Cooper & another; then came Biddolph, Mainwaring & Coling; we parted neare 10.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 5th December 1690. Friday, I & Mainwaring visited Lord Warington; I dined at home; about 3 came Coling then Parry, then Gilmore; they went about 4; then Roger came; then Lord Pawlet, Mainwaring & Bellot; they stayd not ½ houer, &c. about 6 I went to visit Wood; then to the 3 Tunnes neare Grays Inne; there was Coling & Gilmore; we came home about 10.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 7th December 1690. Sonday, dined at home, William Mainwaring & Jackson with us; went in the evening to Wood, there was Gilmore, Coling, Maxwell & another; went thence to the Crowne; there was G.Mainwaring (age 47), Streete, Comberbach, another (stranger), Whitaker, Mainwaring, Minshall, &c. parted past 9.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 8th December 1690. Monday, Coling & his daughter dined with us.
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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Roger Whitley's Diary. 14th December 1690. Sonday, dined at home with Bellot, Minshall, Jackson & Kent; after dinner came William Mainwaring; he & Jackson stayd not long; then came Coling & Gilmore; they, Bellot & Mainwaring went about 6; I went to Wood; there was Dr Ashenhurst; I stayd ½ houer, went home before 8.
Roger Whitley's Diary. 18th December 1690. Thursday, dined at home; stayd in all day; Coling called at night; soe did Jackson & Fletcher.