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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of Edward Hussey 1st Baronet 1585-1648

Paternal Family Tree: Hussey

1611 June Creation of Baronets

1640 Short Parliament

Before 10th October 1585 [his father] Charles Hussey of Honington (age 50) and [his mother] Ellen Birch were married.

On 10th October 1585 Edward Hussey 1st Baronet was born to [his father] Charles Hussey of Honington (age 50) and [his mother] Ellen Birch.

On 2nd December 1608 [his father] Charles Hussey of Honington (age 73) died.

Around 1610 Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 24) and Elizabeth Anton (age 18) were married.

1611 June Creation of Baronets

On 29th June 1611 another tranche of Baronets were created by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 45)...

Francis Barrington 1st Baronet (age 51) was created 1st Baronet Barrington of Barrington Hall.

Thomas Bendish 1st Baronet (age 43) was created 1st Baronet Bendish of Steeple Bumstead in Essex.

Robert Cholmondeley 1st Earl Leinster (age 27) was created 1st Baronet Cholmondley of Cholmondeley. Catherine Stanhope Countess Leinster by marriage Lady Cholmondley of Cholmondeley.

Anthony Cope 1st Baronet (age 63) was created 1st Baronet Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire. Anne Paston Lady Hanwell (age 58) by marriage Lady Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire.

William Constable 1st Baronet (age 31) was created 1st Baronet Constable of Flamborough in Yorkshire.

Robert Bruce Cotton 1st Baronet (age 40) was created 1st Baronet Cotton of Conington in Huntingdonshire.

George Gresley 1st Baronet (age 31) was created 1st Baronet Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire. Susan Ferrers Lady Gresley by marriage Lady Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire.

Edward Hales 1st Baronet (age 35) was created 1st Baronet Hales of Woodchurch and Tunstall.

James Harrington 1st Baronet (age 69) was created 1st Baronet Harington of Ridlington in Rutlandshire.

Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 25) was created 1st Baronet Hussey of Honington in Lincolnshire.

William Kniveton 1st Baronet (age 51) was created 1st Baronet Kniveton of Mercaston in Derbyshire.

Henry Lee 1st Baronet (age 40) was created 1st Baronet Lee of Quarrendon in Buckinghamshire.

Thomas Mildmay 1st Baronet (age 38) was created 1st Baronet Mildmay of Moulsham.

John Molyneux 1st Baronet (age 30) was created 1st Baronet Molyneux of Teversall in Nottinghamshire.

Richard Molyneux 1st Baronet (age 51) was created 1st Baronet Molyneux of Sefton. Frances Gerard Lady Molyneux (age 42) by marriage Lady Molyneux of Sefton.

Thomas Monson 1st Baronet (age 46) was created 1st Baronet Monson of Carleton in Lincolnshire.

Estrange Mordaunt 1st Baronet (age 39) was created 1st Baronet Mordaunt of Massingham Parva.

Charles Morrison 1st Baronet (age 24) was created 1st Baronet Morrison of Cashiobury. Mary Hicks Lady Cooper and Morrison by marriage Lady Morrison of Cashiobury.

Richard Musgrave 1st Baronet (age 26) was created 1st Baronet Musgrave of Hartley Castle in Westmoreland.

Samuel Peyton 1st Baronet (age 20) was created 1st Baronet Peyton of Knowlton in Kent.

John Savage 1st Baronet (age 61) was created 1st Baronet Savage of Rocksavage in Cheshire.

Henry Savile 1st Baronet (age 32) was created 1st Baronet Savile of Methley.

William Sedley 1st Baronet (age 53) was created 1st Baronet Sedley of Ailesford in Kent.

Edward Seymour 1st Baronet (age 48) was created 1st Baronet Seymour of Berry Pomeroy. Elizabeth Champernowne Baroness Seymour by marriage Lady Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.

Thomas Spencer 1st Baronet (age 26) was created 1st Baronet Spencer of Yarnton in Oxfordshire.

George St Paul 1st Baronet (age 49) was created 1st Baronet St Paul in Snarford in Lincolnshire. Frances Wray Countess Warwick by marriage Lady St Paul in Snarford in Lincolnshire.

Lewis Tresham 1st Baronet (age 36) was created 1st Baronet Tresham of Rushton in Northamptonshire.

John Tufton 1st Baronet (age 67) was created 1st Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.

William Twysden 1st Baronet (age 45) was created 1st Baronet Twysden of Roydon in Kent. Anne Finch Lady Twysden (age 37) by marriage Lady Twysden of Roydon in Kent.

John Wentworth 1st Baronet (age 28) was created 1st Baronet Wentworth of Gosfield. Catherine Finch Lady Wentworth (age 23) by marriage Lady Wentworth of Gosfield.

William Wentworth 1st Baronet (age 49) was created 1st Baronet Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire.

Henry Willoughby 1st Baronet (age 31) was created 1st Baronet Willoughby of Risley in Derbyshire.

Philip Wodehouse 1st Baronet was created 1st Baronet Woodhouse of Wilberhall. Note. Date uncertain.

Richard Worsley 1st Baronet (age 22) was created 1st Baronet Worsley of Appuldurcombe.

John Wynn 1st Baronet (age 58) was created 1st Baronet Wynn of Gwydir.

In 1613 Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 27) was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire.

In 1613 [his son] Thomas Hussey was born to Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 27) and [his wife] Elizabeth Anton (age 21). He married before 25th March 1641 Rhoda Chapman and had issue.

In 1622 [his daughter] Rebecca Hussey was born to Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 36) and [his wife] Elizabeth Anton (age 30). She married Robert Markham of Sedgebrook.

In 1626 [his son] Charles Hussey 1st Baronet was born to Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 40) and [his wife] Elizabeth Anton (age 34). He married 12th April 1649 Elizabeth Brownlow Lady Hussey, daughter of William Brownlow 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Duncombe, and had issue.

In 1626 [his daughter] Bridget Hussey was born to Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 40) and [his wife] Elizabeth Anton (age 34). She married 1664 Thomas Clifton 1st Baronet and had issue.

Short Parliament

In April 1640 Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 54) was elected MP Lincolnshire in the Short Parliament.

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Before 25th March 1641 [his son] Thomas Hussey (age 28) and [his daughter-in-law] Rhoda Chapman (age 25) were married.

On 25th March 1641 [his son] Thomas Hussey (age 28) died.

On 22nd March 1648 Edward Hussey 1st Baronet (age 62) died. His grandson Thomas (age 9) succeeded 2nd Baronet Hussey of Honington in Lincolnshire.

After 22nd May 1648. St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe [Map]. Memorial to Edward Hussey 1st Baronet and his second wife [his granddaughter-in-law] Elizabeth de Vic.

Elizabeth de Vic: she was born to Charles de Vic 2nd Baronet. On 31st May 1698 Edward Hussey 3rd Baronet and she were married.

In 1658 [his former wife] Elizabeth Anton (age 66) died. Her grandson Thomas Hussey 2nd Baronet (age 19) inherited Doddington Hall [Map].

Royal Ancestors of Edward Hussey 1st Baronet 1585-1648

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King John of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 24 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 18 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 21 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of Edward Hussey 1st Baronet 1585-1648

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Hussey

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Hussey

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Nesfield

GrandFather: Robert Hussey 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Berkeley 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Lawrence Berkeley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Clifford

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Woodford

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Woodford

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Brooksby

Great x 2 Grandmother: Petronella Brooksby

Father: Charles Hussey of Honington 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

GrandMother: Jane Stydolf

Edward Hussey 1st Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

GrandFather: John Birch

Mother: Ellen Birch