Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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Paternal Family Tree: Hope-Morley
On 28th January 1885 Geoffrey Hope-Morley 2nd Baron Hollenden was born to [his father] Samuel Morley 1st Baron Hollenden (age 39).
On 9th February 1912 [his father] Samuel Morley 1st Baron Hollenden (age 66) was created 1st Baron Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
On 12th December 1914 Geoffrey Hope-Morley 2nd Baron Hollenden (age 29) and Mary Sidney Katharine Almina Gardner (age 18) were married. They were divorced in 1928.
On 18th February 1929 [his father] Samuel Morley 1st Baron Hollenden (age 83) died. His son Geoffrey (age 44) succeeded 2nd Baron Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
On 6th May 1929 Geoffrey Hope-Morley 2nd Baron Hollenden (age 44) and Muriel Ivy Gladstone Baroness Hollenden were married. She by marriage Baroness Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
On 6th June 1962 [his wife] Muriel Ivy Gladstone Baroness Hollenden died.
On 7th January 1963 Geoffrey Hope-Morley 2nd Baron Hollenden (age 77) and Violet Norris Leverton Baroness Hollenden were married. She by marriage Baroness Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
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.
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On 19th October 1977 Geoffrey Hope-Morley 2nd Baron Hollenden (age 92) died without male issue. His nephew Gordon (age 63) succeeded 3rd Baron Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
On 11th March 1994 [his former wife] Mary Sidney Katharine Almina Gardner (age 97) died.
Around 17th November 2005 [his former wife] Violet Norris Leverton Baroness Hollenden died.