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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Vernon
In 1709 [his father] Henry Vernon [aged 22] and [his mother] Anne Pigot were married.
On 9th February 1709 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon was born to Henry Vernon [aged 22] and Anne Pigot at Sudbury, Suffolk [Map].
In April 1714 [his mother] Anne Pigot died.
On 25th February 1719 [his father] Henry Vernon [aged 32] died.
In 1731 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 21] was elected MP Lichfield.
In 1733 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 23] and Mary Howard [aged 23] were married.
On 9th May 1735 [his son] George Venables-Vernon 2nd Baron Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 26] and [his wife] Mary Howard [aged 25]. He married (1) 16th July 1757 Louisa Barbara Mansel, daughter of Bussy Mansel 4th Baron Mansel and Barbara Villiers Lady Blackett, and had issue (2) 25th May 1786 Jane Georgiana Fauquier Baroness Vernon and had issue.
In 1736 John Vanderbank [aged 41]. Portrait of George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 26].
Around 9th December 1739 [his daughter] Mary Venables-Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 30] and [his future wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 24]. She married 5th January 1763 George Adams aka Anson and had issue.
In 1740 [his wife] Mary Howard [aged 30] died.
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.
In 1741 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 31] and Anne Lee [aged 15] were married.
On 22nd September 1742 [his wife] Anne Lee [aged 16] died.
Before 1744 Enoch "The Younger" Seeman [aged 49]. Portrait of George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 34]. Dressed à la Hongroise aka Hungarian.
On 10th April 1744 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 35] and Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 28] were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square.
On 21st January 1746 [his daughter] Elizabeth Venables-Vernon Countess Harcourt was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 36] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 30]. She married 26th September 1765 her first cousin George Harcourt 2nd Earl Harcourt, son of Simon Harcourt 1st Earl Harcourt and Rebecca Samborne Le Bass.
On 18th April 1747 [his son] Henry Venables-Vernon 3rd Baron Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 38] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 31]. He married (1) 14th February 1779 Elizabeth Rebecca Anne Sedley, daughter of Charles Sedley 2nd Baronet, and had issue (2) 29th November 1795 Alice Lucy Whitefoord Baroness Vernon, daughter of John Whitefoord 3rd Baronet, and had issue.
In 1749 [his daughter] Catherine Venables-Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 39] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 33].
In 1749 [his brother-in-law] Simon Harcourt 1st Earl Harcourt [aged 35] was created 1st Earl Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt.
Around 1750 [his daughter] Catharine Venables-Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 40] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 34]
On 25th December 1751 [his daughter] Martha Venables-Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 42] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 36].
In 1754 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 44] was elected MP Derby.
On 2nd March 1754 [his son] Anne Venables-Vernon was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 45] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 38].
On 16th July 1757 [his son] George Venables-Vernon 2nd Baron Vernon [aged 22] and [his daughter-in-law] Louisa Barbara Mansel [aged 24] were married. No issue.
On 10th October 1757 [his son] Archbishop Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was born to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 48] and [his wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 42] at Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married 5th February 1784 Anne Leveson-Gower, daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford and Louisa Egerton Countess Gower, and had issue.
On 4th May 1762 King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 23] created a number of new peerages...
Edward Noel 1st Viscount Wentworth [aged 46] was created 1st Viscount Wentworth.
William Courtenay 7th Earl Devon [aged 53] was created 1st Viscount Courtenay.
Thomas Pelham Holles 1st Duke Newcastle-under-Lyne [aged 68] was created 1st Baron Pelham of Stanmer in Sussex with default to his cousin Thomas Pelham [aged 34].
Caroline Lennox 1st Baroness Holland [aged 39] was created 1st Baroness Holland in Lincolnshire. Henry Fox 1st Baron Holland [aged 56] by marriage Baron Holland in Lincolnshire.
John Perceval 2nd Earl Egmont [aged 51] was created 1st Baron Lovel and Holland of Enmore in Somerset.
John Montagu 1st Baron Montagu [aged 27] was created 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton in Northamptonshire.
Joseph Damer 1st Earl Dorchester [aged 44] was created 1st Baron Milton of Milton Abbey in Dorset.
Edward Hussey-Montagu 1st Earl Beaulieu [aged 41] was created 1st Baron Beaulieu of Beaulieu in Hampshire with a special remainder to his heirs male with his current wife Isabella Montagu Duchess Manchester [aged 56].
On 12th May 1762 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 53] was created 1st Baron Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire. Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 46] by marriage Baroness Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire.
George Fox Lane 1st Baron Bingley [aged 65] was created 1st Baron Bingley. Harriet Benson Baroness Bingley [aged 57] by marriage Baroness Bingley.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 5th January 1763 [his son-in-law] George Adams aka Anson [aged 31] and [his daughter] Mary Venables-Vernon [aged 23] were married at All Saints Church, Sudbury [Map].
On 26th September 1765 [his son-in-law] George Harcourt 2nd Earl Harcourt [aged 29] and [his daughter] Elizabeth Venables-Vernon Countess Harcourt [aged 19] were married. He the son of [his brother-in-law] Simon Harcourt 1st Earl Harcourt [aged 51] and Rebecca Samborne Le Bass. They were first cousins.
In June 1775 [his daughter] Catharine Venables-Vernon [aged 25] died.
In June 1775 [his daughter] Catherine Venables-Vernon [aged 26] died.
On 16th September 1777 [his brother-in-law] Simon Harcourt 1st Earl Harcourt [aged 63] drowned in a well at Nuneham House, Oxfordshire whilst trying to rescue his dog. His son [his son-in-law] George [aged 41] succeeded 2nd Earl Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt, 3rd Viscount Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire. [his daughter] Elizabeth Venables-Vernon Countess Harcourt [aged 31] by marriage Countess Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt.
On 14th February 1779 [his son] Henry Venables-Vernon 3rd Baron Vernon [aged 31] and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Rebecca Anne Sedley [aged 22] were married.
On 21st August 1780 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 45] succeeded 2nd Baron Vernon of Kinderton in Cheshire.
After 21st August 1780. Memorial to George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon [deceased] at All Saints Church, Sudbury [Map].
On 8th April 1794 [his former wife] Martha Harcourt Baroness Vernon of Kinderton [aged 78] died at Lower Grosvenor Street, Belgravia.
Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 17 Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Vernon 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Vernon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Shirley 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Vernon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Littleton of Pillaton Hall
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Littleton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Cockayne 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Vernon 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
GrandFather: George Vernon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Vernon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Vernon
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Vernon
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Egerton 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothy Egerton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Muriel Vernon 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Corbet 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Corbet 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Corbet 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Father: Henry Vernon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Vernon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Vernon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Vernon of Farnham Surrey 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Vernon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
GrandMother: Catherine Vernon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Weston MP 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Weston
George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
GrandFather: Thomas Pigot of Chetwynd in Shropshire
Mother: Anne Pigot