The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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Around 1683 Samuel Kent was born to [his father] Thomas Kent of Southwark.
Before 10th June 1708 Samuel Kent (age 25) and Sarah Dean were married.
On or before 10th June 1708 [his daughter] Sarah Kent was born to Samuel Kent (age 25) and [his wife] Sarah Dean. She was christened on 10th June 1708 at St Saviour's Church, Southwark. She married 29th January 1743 Charles Egleton and had issue.
In 1729 Samuel Kent (age 46) was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey.
In 1730 Samuel Kent (age 47) was appointed Distiller to the Court.
In 1731 Samuel Kent (age 48) acquired Fornham Hall, Suffolk.
On 23rd January 1735 Samuel Kent (age 52) was elected MP Ipswich which seat he held until his death on 8th October 1759.
On 29th January 1743 [his son-in-law] Charles Egleton and [his daughter] Sarah Kent (age 34) were married.
On 8th October 1759 Samuel Kent (age 76) died. His estates, including Fornham Hall, Suffolk, passed to his son [his son] Thomas Kent, then, in 1762, to his [his daughter] daughter's (age 51) son [his grandson] Charles Egleton aka Kent 1st Baronet (age 16) who changed his surname from Egleton to Kent.
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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[his son] Thomas Kent was born to Samuel Kent and Sarah Dean.