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The 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. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Biography of Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester 1598-1653

Paternal Family Tree: Legh

Maternal Family Tree: Joan Brereton 1454-1517

On 28th April 1598 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester was born to Francis Leigh (age 19) and Mary Egerton (age 19).

Before 1601 [his father] Francis Leigh (age 21) and [his mother] Mary Egerton (age 21) were married.

Before 1608 Francis Anderson (age 26) and [his future wife] Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester were married.

In July 1616 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 18) and Susan Northam were married.

In July 1617 [his wife] Susan Northam died.

On 31st July 1617 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 19) and Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester were married.

In 1618 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 19) was created 1st Baronet Leigh of Newnham in Warwickshire.

After 1618 James Ley 1st Earl of Marlborough (age 66) and [his sister-in-law] Jane Boteler Countess Marlborough were married.

On 11th January 1620 [his daughter] Elizabeth Leigh Countess Southampton was born to Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 21) and [his wife] Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester.

In 1625 [his father] Francis Leigh (age 46) died.

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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 5th February 1626 James Ley 1st Earl of Marlborough (age 74) was created 1st Earl Marlborough by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 25). [his sister-in-law] Jane Boteler Countess Marlborough by marriage Countess Marlborough.

On 7th February 1626 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport (age 29) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland (age 26) were married. He the illegitmate son of Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

In July 1627 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport (age 30) was created 1st Earl Newport in the Isle of Wight. [his sister-in-law] Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland (age 27) by marriage Countess Newport in the Isle of Wight.

In 1628 Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester (age 29) was created 1st Baron Dunsmore of Dunsmore in Warwickshire with special remainder to his stepson John Anderson 1st Baronet who was the son of his second wife [his wife] Audrey Boteler Countess Chichester and Francis Anderson. John Anderson 1st Baronet predeceased Francis Leigh 1st Earl Chichester so the remainder had no effect.