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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On 23rd December 1621 Edmund Berry Godfrey was born to Thomas Godfrey [aged 35].
In 1664 [his father] Thomas Godfrey [aged 78] died.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 26th May 1669. To White Hall, where all the morning. Dined with Mr. Chevins [aged 67], with Alderman Backewell [aged 51], and Spragg [aged 49]. The Court full of the news from Captain Hubbert, of "The Milford", touching his being affronted in the Streights, shot at, and having eight men killed him by a French man-of-war, calling him "English dog", and commanding him to strike, which he refused, and, as knowing himself much too weak for him, made away from him. The Queen [aged 30], as being supposed with child, fell ill, so as to call for Madam Nun, Mr. Chevins's sister, and one of her women, from dinner from us; this being the last day of their doubtfulness touching her being with child; and they were therein well confirmed by her Majesty's being well again before night. One Sir Edmund Bury Godfry [aged 47], a woodmonger and justice of Peace in Westminster, having two days since arrested Sir Alexander Frazier [aged 59] for about £30 in firing, the bailiffs were apprehended, committed to the porter's lodge, and there, by the King's command, the last night severely whipped; from which the justice himself very hardly escaped, to such an unusual degree was the King [aged 38] moved therein. But he lies now in the lodge, justifying his act, as grounded upon the opinion of several of the judges, and, among others, my Lord Chief Justice [aged 62]; which makes the King very angry with the Chief-Justice, as they say; and the justice do lie and justify his act, and says he will suffer in the cause for the people, and do refuse to receive almost any nutriment. The effects of it may be bad to the Court. Expected a meeting of Tangier this afternoon, but failed.
Before 5th February 1678 Philip "Infamous Earl" Herbert 7th Earl Pembroke 4th Earl Montgomery [aged 26] had kicked to death Nathaniel Cony in a tavern for no apparent reason, and a few days later a Middlesex grand jury indicted him for murder. He was tried by his peers on 4th April 1678 and found guilty of manslaughter. He successfully pleaded Privilege of peerage, the right to escape punishment for one's first offence, and he was discharged on payment of all fees. The Lord High Steward presiding at the trial, James Butler 1st Duke Ormonde [aged 67] warned him to note "that no man could have the benefit of that statute but once". The foreman of the jury Edmund Berry Godfrey [aged 56] was found dead in a ditch nine months later.
John Evelyn's Diary. 21st October 1678. The murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey [aged 56], found strangled about this time, as was manifest, by the Papists, he being the Justice of the Peace, and one who knew much of their practices, as conversant with Coleman [aged 42] (a servant of the ... now accused), put the whole nation into a new ferment against them.
John Evelyn's Diary. 18th July 1679. This was a happy day for the lords in the Tower, who, expecting their trial, had this gone against the prisoners at the bar, would all have been in the utmost hazard. For my part, I look on Oates [aged 29] as a vain, insolent man, puffed up with the favour of the Commons for having discovered something really true, more especially as detecting the dangerous intrigue of Coleman, proved out of his own letters, and of a general design which the Jesuited party of the Papists ever had and still have, to ruin the Church of England; but that he was trusted with those great secrets he pretended, or had any solid ground for what he accused divers noblemen of, I have many reasons to induce my contrary belief. That among so many commissions as he affirmed to have delivered to them from P. Oliva and the Pope,-he who made no scruple of opening all other papers, letters, and secrets, should not only not open any of those pretended commissions, but not so much as take any copy or witness of any one of them, is almost miraculous. But the Commons (some leading persons I mean of them) had so exalted him that they took all he said for Gospel, and without more ado ruined all whom he named to be conspirators; nor did he spare whoever came in his way. But, indeed, the murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey [aged 57], suspected to have been compassed by the Jesuits' party for his intimacy with Coleman (a busy person whom I also knew), and the fear they had that he was able to have discovered things to their prejudice, did so exasperate not only the Commons, but all the nation, that much of these sharpnesses against the more honest Roman Catholics who lived peaceably, is to be imputed to that horrid fact.
On 12th October 1679 Edmund Berry Godfrey [aged 57] was murdered. He was found dead in a ditch at Primrose Hill lying face down on his own sword. The investigation concluded he had been strangled and subsequently moved.