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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Howard
On 30th October 1764 [his father] Henry Howard (age 51) and [his mother] Julia Molyneux (age 21) were married. The difference in their ages was 30 years.
On 7th October 1766 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard was born to [his father] Henry Howard (age 53) and [his mother] Julia Molyneux (age 23).
In 1787 [his father] Henry Howard (age 74) died.
On 23rd April 1789 [his brother] Bernard Howard 12th Duke of Norfolk (age 23) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Belasyse Duchess Norfolk (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Henry Belasyse 2nd Earl Fauconberg (age 47) and Charlotte Lamb Countess Fauconberg (age 46).
In 1790 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 23) was elected MP Arundel.
In 1795 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 28) was elected MP Gloucestershire.
On 12th September 1801 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 34) and Elizabeth Long were married.
On 25th July 1802 [his son] Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard was born to Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 35) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long.
On 17th July 1804 [his daughter] Henrietta Anna Howard-Molyneux-Howard Countess Carnarvon was born to Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 37) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long. She married 1830 Henry John George Herbert 3rd Earl Carnarvon, son of Henry George Herbert 2nd Earl Carnarvon and Elizabeth Kitty Acland Countess Carnarvon, and had issue.
On 29th September 1806 [his daughter] Isabella Catherine Mary Howard-Molyneux-Howard Countess Suffolk and Berkshire was born to Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 39) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long. She married 1829 Charles Howard 17th Earl Suffolk 10th Earl Berkshire, son of Thomas Howard 16th Earl Suffolk 9th Earl Berkshire and Elizabeth Jane Dutton Countess Suffolk and Berkshire, and had issue.
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 12th June 1808 [his mother] Julia Molyneux (age 65) died.
In February 1809 [his daughter] Charlotte Juliana Jane Howard-Molyneux-Howard was born to Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 42) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long. She married 5th October 1831 James Wentworth Buller and had issue.
On 31st March 1812 [his daughter] Juliana Barbara Howard-Molyneux-Howard was born to Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 45) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long. She married 7th July 1831 John Ogilvy of Inverquharity 9th Baronet and had issue.
On 16th December 1815 Charles Howard 11th Duke of Norfolk (age 69) died. His third cousin [his brother] Bernard (age 50) succeeded 12th Duke Norfolk, 23rd or 30th Earl Arundel, 13th Earl Surrey, 10th Earl Norfolk, 20th Baron Maltravers, 20th Baron Arundel. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Belasyse Duchess Norfolk (age 45) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
In March 1816 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 49) was appointed Deputy Earl Marshal.
On 19th July 1821 King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland (age 58) was crowned IV King Great Britain and Ireland.
King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland barred Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England (age 53) from attending the Coronation. She attempted to attend but was turned away at the doors of Westminster Abbey. Refused entry at both the doors to the East Cloister and the doors to the West Cloister, Caroline attempted to enter via Westminster Hall, where many guests were gathered before the service began. A witness described how the Queen stood at the door fuming as bayonets were held under her chin until the deputy lord chamberlain had the doors slammed in her face. Henry Brougham recorded his distaste.1. She died three weeks later.
William Cavendish 6th Duke Devonshire (age 31) carried the Orb at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Kenneth Alexander Howard 1st Earl of Effingham (age 53) attended as Deputy Earl Marshal as a result of Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 54).
See Creevy Papers.
On 8th September 1831 King William IV of the United Kingdom (age 66) was crowned IV King Great Britain and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Kenneth Alexander Howard 1st Earl of Effingham (age 63) attended as Deputy Earl Marshal as a result of Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard being ill.
Thomas William Anson 1st Earl Lichfield (age 35) was created 1st Earl Lichfield. Louisa Barbara Catherine Phillips Countess Lichfield (age 31) by marriage Countess Lichfield.
On 19th July 1821 Kenneth Alexander Howard 1st Earl of Effingham (age 53) attended as Deputy Earl Marshal as a result of Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 54) being ill at Westminster Abbey [Map] during the Coronation of William IV.
On 17th June 1824 Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard (age 57) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 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 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Dacre Countess Arundel 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Howard 15th or 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Bernard Howard 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Esme Stewart 1st Duke Lennox 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Balsac Duchess Lennox
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arundel and Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gervase Clifton 1st Baron Clifton 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Darcy 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Bernard Howard 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Tattershall
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Tattershall
Father: Henry Howard 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Christopher Roper 2nd Baron Teynham 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Roper 3rd Baron Teynham
Great x 2 Grandfather: Christopher Roper 4th Baron Teynham 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Petre 2nd Baron Petre 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Petre 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Somerset Baroness Petre 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Christopher Roper 5th Baron Teynham 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Anne Roper 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Browne 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Maria Browne 2nd Viscount Montagu 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Dormer 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Browne 3rd Viscount Montagu 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Sackville Viscountess Montague 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cicely Baker Countess Dorset
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Browne Baroness Teynham 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Somerset 1st Marquess Worcester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Somerset Viscountess Montague 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Russell 
9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Russell Countess Worcester 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cooke 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Henry Howard-Molyneux-Howard 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Molyneux 1st Baronet 
14 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Molyneux 2nd Baronet 15 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Molyneux 3rd Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Heron
Great x 3 Grandmother: Theodosia Heron 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Brooke 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Molyneux 4th Baron Teverall 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Riby
Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucy Rigby Lady Molyneux
GrandFather: William Molyneux 6th Baronet 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Mother: Julia Molyneux 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England