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 format.
After 14th July 1306 [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his grandmother] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. He the son of Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester and Isabella Beauchamp.
In 1308 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was born to [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer.
On 29th July 1314 [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was created 1st Baron Despencer.
On 2nd January 1315 Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire some two and a half years after his murder. The ceremony was attended by King Edward II of England and his wife Isabella of France Queen Consort England as well as Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex, Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke, Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk, Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and his son [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer.
After 15th September 1317 [his step-father] William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer and [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his grandmother] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford.
On 19th April 1319 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. An arranged marriage although not clear who arranged it or whose ward Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick was (his father Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick had died four years before) - possibly by King Edward II of England as a means of securing the Welsh March. The Beauchamp family established, the Mortimer family aspirational. The marriage took place after Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March had returned from his tenure as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and before he rebelled against King Edward II of England in opposition to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer. She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville. He the son of Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick and Alice Tosny Countess Warwick.
On 9th February 1321 [his brother-in-law] Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and [his sister] Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel were married at Havering atte Bower, Essex. She by marriage Countess Arundel. He the son of Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel and Alice Warenne Countess Arundel.
In 1323 [his step-father] William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer was created 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer. [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer by marriage Baroness Zouche Mortimer.
On 24th November 1326 [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was hanged, drawn and quartered in Hereford. Baron Despencer forfeit.
Simon of Reading was also hanged, drawn and quartered the same day.
Isabella of France Queen Consort England and Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March were present - see
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker.
In 1328 Giles Badlesmere 2nd Baron Badlesmere attainder reversed 2nd Baron Badlesmere. [his future wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer by marriage Baroness Badlesmere.
Around 1328 Giles Badlesmere 2nd Baron Badlesmere and [his future wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer were married. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and [his future mother-in-law] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.
Close Rolls Edward III 1329. 15th December 1328. Gloucester. To Roger de Mortuo Mari, earl of March, justice of Wales. Order to cause Hugh son of [his father] Hugh le Despenser, the younger, who is imprisoned in his custody by the king's order, to come to Bristol, there to be delivered by indenture to Thomas de Gournay, constable of Bristol castle, for custody in prison there, an enjoined by the king. By K.
Mandate in pursuance to the said constable.
On 30th June 1337 [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer died.
In August 1338 [his brother-in-law] Maurice Berkeley 9th and 4th Baron Berkeley and [his sister] Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Berkeley were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley Feudal Baroness Berkeley.
On 15th November 1338 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was created 1st Baron Despencer by writ of summons.
On 24th June 1340 King Edward III of England attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton, Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford, Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster, Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and Richard Pembridge.
[his uncle] Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer died from wounds. Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
Before 27th April 1341 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer were married. She by marriage Baroness Despencer. She the daughter of William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.
On 30th September 1342 the French army attacked the English besiegers of Morlaix forcing the English to retreat to the nearby woods. William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton commanded, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford and Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer fought.
14th December 1344 [his brother-in-law] Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey and [his sister] Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel marriage annulled by Pope Clement VI on the grounds that he had never freely consented to marry Isabel. He, at this time, is believed to be having an affair with her first cousin Eleanor who he married four months later.
On 26th August 1346 the army of King Edward III of England defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince", Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Bernard Brocas, Thomas Felton, James Audley, Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh, Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh, Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham, John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth, Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton, William Scrope, Stephen Scrope, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle, Nicholas Longford, Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh, Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings, Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford, Thomas West, John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby, John Wingfield, Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy, Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux, John Devereux, Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos, Richard Pembridge and John Sully.
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France was wounded. William de Coucy and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy and were killed.
Charles II Count Alençon was killed. Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders was killed. Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia was killed. Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg succeeded IV King Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg. Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine was killed. John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt was killed.
Around 1349 Hanley Castle, Worcestershire was assigned to [his wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer, widow of Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer.
In 1349 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer died. Baron Despencer extinct.
Before 10th July 1350 Guy de Bryan and [his former wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer were married. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and [his former mother-in-law] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.
On 31st May 1359 [his former wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer died. Monument in Tewkesbury Abbey.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. In the year of our Lord 1343, the 18th year of King Edward of England, the king sent military aid1 to John de Montfort, Duke of Brittany. His wife and children were in the king's custody, signalling the strength of their alliance. A notable English force was dispatched to assist Montfort, including: Earl of Northampton, Earl of Oxford, Hugh Despenser, Richard Talbot, knight, William Kyllesby, cleric, Each was placed in command of significant numbers of troops and archers.
Anno Domini MCCCXLIIIJ, regis Anglie XVIIJ, in auxilium domini Johannis de Monte forte, ducis Britannie, cuius uxor et filii in custodia regis manserunt, fuerunt missi comes Norhamptonie et comes Oxonie, dominus Hugo Despenser, dominus Ricardus Talebot, milites, et dominus Willelmus Kyllesby, clericus, singulis prefectis magnis copiis armatorum et sagittariorum.
Note 1. Stow Annales 374.
It is somewhat remarkable that this is the only event that Baker notices in the campaign in Brittany of 1342. But it is quite evident that he has received special knowledge regarding the battle from someone who had been present. Murimuth also obtained detailed information of the earl of Northampton's movements from the latter's despatches, and appears to have written an account of them and to have inserted it in his chronicle (Murimuth 126, 127.
Northampton was appointed the king's lieutenant and captain in Brittany on the 20th July 1342 (Rymer's Fœdera 2.1205). According to Murimuth 125.
He relieved Brest; marched on Morlaix, which he unsuccessfully assaulted; and fought and defeated Charles of Blois on the 30th September. Morice, History de Bretagne (1750), 1.260.
The English, who were under supreme command of Robert of Artois, adopted Bruce's tactics at Bannockburn in digging concealed trenches on their front, into which the French fell and suffered great slaughter. Charles of Blois, however, was not so badly beaten but that he could afterwards blockade the English, who only escaped with difficulty.
Of Northampton's companions here named: John de Vere, who succeeded his uncle as earl of Oxford in April 1331, was born in 1313, served in the French wars, being one of the chief commanders both at Crecy and at Poitiers, and died on the 24th January 1360; Hugh Despenser, son of the younger Despenser who was executed in 1326, was summoned to parliament in 1338, and died in 1349; Richard Talbot was also a baron by writ in 1331, and died in 1356; William Kildesby, the king's clerk and keeper of the privy seal, was archbishop elect of York in 1340, but was set aside in favour of William de la Zouch.