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All About History Books

The 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.

Biography of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk 1361-1415

Paternal Family Tree: De La Pole

1386 Wonderful Parliament

1415 Siege of Harfleur

In or before 1356 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 25) and [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 15) were married.

In 1361 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 31) and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 21).

In 1386 [his mother] Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk (age 46) died.

Wonderful Parliament

Chronicle of Adam of Usk. September 1386. Owing to the many ill-starred crises of king Richard's (age 19) reign, which were caused by his youth, a solemn parliament was holden at Westminster, wherein twelve of the chief men of the land were advanced, by full provision of parliament, to the government of the king and the kingdom, in order to bridle the wantonness and extravagance of his servants and flatterers, and, in short, to reform the business of the realm; but alas! only to lead to the weary deeds which are hereinafter written1.

Note 1. The actual number of the commissioners appointed by the Wonderful Parliament of 1386 was eleven, or fourteen if the three principal officers of state be included. The eleven were: the archbishops of Canterbury (age 44) and York (age 45), the dukes of York (age 45) and Gloucester (age 31), the bishops of Winchester (age 66) and Exeter, the abbot of Waltham, the earl of Arundel, John de Cobham, Richard le Scrope, and John Devereux. Thomas Arundel (age 33), bishop of Ely, had replaced Michael de la Pole (age 25), earl of Suffolk, as chancellor; John Gilbert, bishop of Hereford, was treasurer; and John de Waltham, keeper of the privy seal. It will be remembered that John of Gaunt (age 46) was at this time in Spain, as a reason for his name not appearing on the commission.

On 5th September 1389 [his father] Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk (age 59) died in Paris [Map]. His son Michael (age 28) succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk, 2nd Baron Pole.

Around 1390 [his daughter] Elizabeth Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 29) and [his future wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 14).

Before 1394 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 32) and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. She the daughter of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 59). He the son of Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk.

In 1394 [his son] Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 33) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 18).

On 6th April 1395 [his brother-in-law] William Stafford 4th Earl Stafford (age 19) died at Pleshey Castle [Map]. He was buried at Tonbridge, Kent [Map]. His brother [his brother-in-law] Edmund (age 17) succeeded 5th Earl Stafford, 6th Baron Stafford.

On 16th October 1396 [his son] William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 35) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 20) at Cotton, Suffolk.

After 1397 [his son] Thomas Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 36) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 21).

On 25th April 1397 Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent (age 47) died. He was buried in Bourne Abbey, Lincolnshire [Map]. His son Thomas (age 23) succeeded 3rd Earl Kent, 2nd Baron Holand, 7th Baron Wake of Liddell. [his sister-in-law] Joan Stafford Countess Kent (age 19) by marriage Countess Kent.

On 28th June 1398 [his brother-in-law] Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford (age 20) and Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess Stafford. She had, around eight years previously, married his brother Thomas Stafford 3rd Earl Stafford who had died in 1392; an example of Married to Two Siblings. She the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester and Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester (age 32). He the son of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford (age 64). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

After 7th January 1400. The names of the lords who were present at the said declaration are as follows:

Henry, prince of Wales (age 13).

Edmund, duke of York (age 58).

Edward, earl of Rutland (age 27).

Thomas, earl of Arundel (age 18).

John, earl of Somerset (age 27).

[his brother-in-law] Edmund, earl of Stafford (age 21).

Henry, earl of Northumberland (age 58).

Ralph, earl of Westmorland (age 36).

Thomas, earl of Worcester (age 57).

Michael, earl of Suffolk (age 39).

Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor (age 29).

Thomas, Lord Berkeley (age 48).

John, Lord Charlton.

Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin (age 38).

Thomas, Lord Camoys (age 49).

Thomas, Lord Furnivall (age 38).

Robert, Lord Scales (age 28).

John, Lord Beaumont.

William, Lord Willoughby (age 30).

Hugh, Lord Burnell (age 53).

William, Lord Ferrers of Groby (age 27).

William, Lord Bergavenny (age 57).

John, Lord Lovell (age 59).

Robert, Lord Harrington (age 44).

Richard Lescrope (age 73).

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All About History Books

The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Before 5th February 1403 [his son-in-law] Thomas Morley 6th Baron Marshal 5th Baron Morley (age 10) and [his daughter] Isabel Pole Baroness Marshal and Morley were married. She the daughter of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 42) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 27). They were fourth cousin twice removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Around May 1403 [his brother-in-law] Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford (age 25) was appointed 104th Knight of the Garter by King Henry IV of England (age 36).

Before 6th May 1410 [his son] Michael de la Pole 3rd Earl Suffolk (age 16) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mowbray Countess Suffolk (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 44). He the son of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 49) and [his wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 34). They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Siege of Harfleur

On 17th September 1415 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 54) died of dysentery. His son [his son] Michael (age 21) succeeded 3rd Earl Suffolk, 3rd Baron Pole. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Mowbray Countess Suffolk (age 21) by marriage Countess Suffolk.

After 1419. Monument to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and [his former wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 43) in St Andrew's Church, Wingfield [Map]. Early Plate Bascinet Period.

Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk: Around 1376 she was born to Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England. Before 1394 Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and she were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. She the daughter of Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford and Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford. He the son of Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk and Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk. On 8th April 1419 Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk died.

On 8th April 1419 [his former wife] Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk (age 43) died.

[his daughter] Isabel Pole Baroness Marshal and Morley was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.

[his son] Abbess Katherine Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.

[his son] John Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.

[his son] Alexander Pole was born to Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk and Katherine Stafford Countess Suffolk.

Royal Descendants of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk 1361-1415

Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor

Maximilian "The Great" Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria I Elector Bavaria

Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress

Marie de Medici Queen Consort France

Ferdinand of Spain II Holy Roman Emperor

Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain

Anna of Austria Holy Roman Empress

Eleonora Gonzaga Queen Consort Bohemia

Maria Leopoldine Habsburg Spain Queen Consort Bohemia

Maria Anna Neuburg Queen Consort Spain

Joseph I Holy Roman Emperor

Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor

King George III of Great Britain and Ireland

Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England

Caroline Matilda Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway

Caroline of Brunswick Queen Consort England

Frederica Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort Hanover

King Christian I of Norway and VIII of Denmark

Frederick William IV King Prussia

William I King Prussia

Frederick VII King Denmark

Queen Louise Hesse-Kassel of Denmark

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom

Queen Sophia of Sweden and Norway

Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Brigadier-General Charles FitzClarence

Frederick Charles I King Finland

Constantine I King Greece

Alexandrine Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark

Victoria Eugénie Mountbatten Queen Consort Spain

Louise Mountbatten Queen Consort Sweden

Ingrid Bernadotte Queen Consort Denmark

Philip Mountbatten Duke Edinburgh

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Carl XVI King Sweden

Queen Consort Camilla Shand

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk 1361-1415

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Pole

GrandFather: William Pole

Father: Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk

Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Norwich

GrandMother: Katherine Norwich

Michael de la Pole 2nd Earl Suffolk

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Wingfield

GrandFather: John Wingfield

Mother: Katherine Wingfield Countess Suffolk