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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Paternal Family Tree: Berkeley
John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge and Barbara Villiers Viscountess Fitzhardinge were married.
Before 1628 [his father] Charles Berkeley 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 28] and [his mother] Penelope Godolphin Viscountess Fitzhardinge were married. They were second cousins.
In 1650 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge was born to [his father] Charles Berkeley 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 50] and [his mother] Penelope Godolphin Viscountess Fitzhardinge.
On 1st July 1663 [his brother] Charles Berkeley 1st Earl Falmouth [aged 33] was created 1st Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry, 1st Baron Berkeley of Rathdowne in Wicklow with a remainder to his father who subsequently succeeded.
In 1664 [his brother] Charles Berkeley 1st Earl Falmouth [aged 33] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Bagot Countess Falmouth and Dorset [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry.
On 17th March 1664 [his brother] Charles Berkeley 1st Earl Falmouth [aged 34] was created 1st Earl Falmouth, 1st Baron Botetourt Langport in Somerset. [his sister-in-law] Mary Bagot Countess Falmouth and Dorset [aged 19] by marriage Countess Falmouth.
On 12th June 1668 [his father] Charles Berkeley 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 68] died. He was buried at Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map]. His son [his brother] Maurice [aged 39] succeeded 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry. [his sister-in-law] Anne Lee Viscountess Fitzhardinge [aged 45] by marriage Viscountess Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry.
Before 1671 [his daughter] Mary Berkeley Viscountess Chetwynd was born to John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 20] and Barbara Villiers Viscountess Fitzhardinge [aged 16]. She married 27th May 1703 Walter Chetwynd 1st Viscount Chetwynd.
On 6th July 1685 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 35] fought at Westonzoyland Bridgwater, Somerset during the Battle of Sedgemoor.
Francis Compton [aged 56] was wounded.
Sharington Talbot [aged 29] "behaved himself very handsomely".
In 1690 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 40] was appointed Custos Rotulorum Somerset.
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 13th June 1690 Maurice Berkeley 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 61] died. His brother John [aged 40] succeeded 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry, 2nd Baronet Berkeley of Bruton in Somerset. Barbara Villiers Viscountess Fitzhardinge [aged 36] by marriage Viscountess Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry.
In 1691 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 41] was elected MP Hindon.
On 27th May 1703 [his son-in-law] Walter Chetwynd 1st Viscount Chetwynd [aged 24] and [his daughter] Mary Berkeley Viscountess Chetwynd [aged 32] were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map].
In 1710 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 60] was elected MP Windsor.
On 19th December 1712 John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge [aged 62] died at Windsor, Berkshire [Map]. Viscount Fitzhardinge of Berehaven in Kerry, Baronet Berkeley of Bruton in Somerset extinct. He was buried in Westminster Abbey [Map].
[his daughter] Frances Berkeley was born to John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge and Barbara Villiers Viscountess Fitzhardinge. She married before 1721 her fifth cousin once removed Thomas Clarges 2nd Baronet, son of Walter Clarges 1st Baronet and Jane Herbert, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 24 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 22 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Berkeley 
7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stafford 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Coningsby
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coningsby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Ferriby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Berkeley 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lora Berkeley Countess Ormonde 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Blount 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Keble
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Keble Baroness Mountjoy
GrandFather: Maurice Berkeley 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Lygon of Madresfield Court 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Lygon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Beauchamp 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Lygon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Greville 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Greville
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Lygon 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Denys
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Denys
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Denys 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Berkeley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Meade 3rd Baroness Berkeley
Father: Charles Berkeley 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Killigrew 
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Killigrew
GrandMother: Elizabeth Killigrew
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Saunders
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margery Saunders
John Berkeley 4th Viscount Fitzhardinge 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Godolphin 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Godolphin
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Godolphin
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Godolphin
GrandFather: William Godolphin
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Killigrew
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Killigrew