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: Berkeley
In or before 1506 [his father] Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford (age 35) and [his mother] Elizabeth Coningsby (age 25) were married.
Around 1506 Maurice Berkeley was born to [his father] Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford (age 36) and [his mother] Elizabeth Coningsby (age 26).
In 1514 [his father] Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford (age 44) died at Stoke Giffard, Gloucestershire.
In or after 1514 [his step-father] John Fitzjames (age 49) and [his mother] Elizabeth Coningsby (age 34) were married; her second husband.
by 1537 Maurice Berkeley (age 31) was a member of Thomas Cromwell's (age 52) household.
In 1539 Maurice Berkeley (age 33) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 47).
In 1541 [his son] Henry Berkeley was born to Maurice Berkeley (age 35) and [his future wife] Catherine Blount (age 23) at Bruton, Somerset. He married 1576 his half sixth cousin Margaret Lygon and had issue.
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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After 1541 Maurice Berkeley (age 35) and Catherine Blount (age 23) were married. They were sixth cousins.
In 1544 Maurice Berkeley (age 38) was appointed Constable of Berkeley Castle.
In 1544 Maurice Berkeley (age 38) commanded a troop of light horse in the Italian War of 1542-46.
In 1544 Maurice Berkeley (age 38) was appointed Chief Banner Bearer of England succeeding his elder brother [his brother] John Berkeley (age 38).
Before 8th May 1546 [his mother] Elizabeth Coningsby (age 66) died.
In 1547 Maurice Berkeley (age 41) was elected MP Somerset.
In 1547 Maurice Berkeley (age 41) was appointed Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 9).
In March 1553 Maurice Berkeley (age 47) was elected MP Bletchingley.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Before 15th March 1554 Thomas Wyatt (age 33) surrendered to Maurice Berkeley (age 48).
In 1555 [his sister-in-law] Mary Blount (age 57) died.
On 25th September 1558 [his sister-in-law] Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter (age 55) died.
On 12th March 1560. [Some sources say 25th February 1560] [his former wife] Catherine Blount (deceased) died. On 11th August 1580 Maurice Berkeley (age 54) died. Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map]. Elizabethan Period recumbent effigies of himself and his two wives Catherine Blount and [his future wife] Elizabeth Sands (age 27) in an Easter sepulchre-type recess with double round arched front, Corinthian pilasters and strapwork panels. Ruff. Panel with quartered arms 1 
Berkeley Arms 2 probably 
Tiptoft Arms, possibly Wotton Arms 3 Unknown Arms 4 probably 
Babington Arms, possibly 
Zouche Arms differenced with a label three points, overall a Crescent.
Catherine Blount: John Champernowne and she were married. Around 1518 she was born to William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy and Alice Keble Baroness Mountjoy. After 1541 Maurice Berkeley and she were married. They were sixth cousins. Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th March 1560. The xij day of Marche was bered at Dyttun [Map] my lade Barkeley, the wyff of ser Mores Barthelay knyght, with a penon of armes and a iiij dosen of skochyons, and a harold of armes, master Rychemond.
Elizabeth Sands: In 1533 she was born to Anthony Sands of Throwley in Kent. In 1562 Maurice Berkeley and she were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. On 16th June 1585 she died at Berkeley House. She was buried at the St James' Church, Clerkenwell where a monument was constructed. Before 16th June 1685 she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th March 1560. The xij day of Marche was bered at Dyttun [Map] my [his former wife] lade Barkeley (deceased), the wyff of ser Mores Barthelay (age 54) knyght, with a penon of armes and a iiij dosen of skochyons, and a harold of armes, master Rychemond.
In 1562 Maurice Berkeley (age 56) and Elizabeth Sands (age 29) were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years.
In 1563 Maurice Berkeley (age 57) was elected MP Somerset.
In 1567 Maurice Berkeley (age 61) was appointed High Sheriff of Dorset and High Sheriff of Somerset.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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In 1572 Maurice Berkeley (age 66) was elected MP Somerset.
Around 1576 [his son] Henry Berkeley (age 35) and [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Lygon (age 36) were married. They were half sixth cousins.
Before 1581 Maurice Berkeley commissioned the building of Berkeley House.
On 16th June 1585 [his former wife] Elizabeth Sands (age 52) died at Berkeley House. She was buried at the St James' Church, Clerkenwell where a monument was constructed.
John Champernowne and Catherine Blount were married.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 22 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 15 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery de Vere 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Botetort 2nd Baron Botetort
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Botetort 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joyce Zouche 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Dynham
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Dynham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Courtenay 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Muriel Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandFather: William Berkeley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Father: Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 
GrandMother: Anne Stafford
Maurice Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Coningsby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Coningsby
GrandFather: Humphrey Coningsby
Mother: Elizabeth Coningsby
GrandMother: Alice Ferriby