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: Archer
Maternal Family Tree: Sarah West Baroness Archer
Before 1762 [her father] Andrew Archer 2nd Baron Archer (age 25) and [her mother] Sarah West Baroness Archer were married.
In 1762 Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst was born to [her father] Andrew Archer 2nd Baron Archer (age 25) and [her mother] Sarah West Baroness Archer.
On 19th October 1768 [her grandfather] Thomas Archer 1st Baron Archer (age 73) died. His son [her father] Andrew (age 32) succeeded 2nd Baron Archer of Umberslade. [her mother] Sarah West Baroness Archer by marriage Baroness Archer of Umberslade.
On 21st April 1771 Other Lewis Windsor 4th Earl Plymouth (age 39) died. His son [her future husband] Other (age 19) succeeded 5th Earl Plymouth, 11th Baron Windsor of Stanwell in Buckinghamshire.
In 1778 Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth (age 26) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 16) were married. She by marriage Countess Plymouth. He the son of Other Lewis Windsor 4th Earl Plymouth and Catherine Archer Countess Plymouth (age 41). They were first cousins.
On 18th April 1778 [her father] Andrew Archer 2nd Baron Archer (age 41) died at Portland Square Marylebone. Baron Archer of Umberslade extinct.
On 2nd July 1789 [her son] Other Archer Windsor 6th Earl Plymouth was born to [her husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth (age 38) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 27). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%. He married 5th August 1811 Mary Sackville Countess Plymouth Amherst, daughter of John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset and Arabella Diana Cope 3rd Duchess Dorset.
In 1790 [her daughter] Maria Windsor Marchioness Downshire was born to [her husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth (age 38) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 28). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%. She married 1811 her half third cousin Arthur Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill 3rd Marquess Downshire, son of Arthur Hill 2nd Marquess Downshire and Mary Sandys Marchioness Downshire, and had issue.
On 30th July 1797 [her daughter] Harriet Windsor was born to [her husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth (age 46) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 35). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%. She married 1819 Robert Henry Herbert, son of Edward Clive 1st Earl Powis and Henrietta Antonia Herbert 3rd Countess Powis, and had issue.
On 3rd August 1797 Jeffrey Amherst 1st Baron Amherst (age 80) died. Baron Amherst of Holmesdale in Kent extinct. His nephew [her future husband] William (age 24) succeeded 2nd Baron Amherst of Montreal in Kent.
On 12th June 1799 [her husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth (age 48) died. His son [her son] Other (age 9) succeeded 6th Earl Plymouth, 12th Baron Windsor of Stanwell in Buckinghamshire.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In 1800 William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 26) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 38) were married.
On 9th July 1801 [her daughter] Sarah Elizabeth Amherst was born to [her husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 28) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 39). She married 1842 John Hay-Williams 2nd Baronet, son of John Williams 1st Baronet and Margaret Williams Lady Williams.
In 1802 [her son] Jeffrey Amherst was born to [her husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 28) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 40).
Around 1804. Thomas Lawrence (age 34). Portrait of Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 42).
On 30th September 1805 [her son] William Amherst 2nd Earl Amherst was born to [her husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 32) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 43). He married 1834 his third cousin once removed Gertrude Percy Countess Amherst, daughter of Bishop Hugh Percy and Mary Manners Sutton, and had issue.
In 1811 [her son-in-law] Arthur Blundell Sandys Trumbull Hill 3rd Marquess Downshire (age 22) and [her daughter] Maria Windsor Marchioness Downshire (age 21) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Downshire. She the daughter of [her former husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 49). He the son of Arthur Hill 2nd Marquess Downshire and Mary Sandys Marchioness Downshire (age 46). They were half third cousins.
On 5th August 1811 [her son] Other Archer Windsor 6th Earl Plymouth (age 22) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Sackville Countess Plymouth Amherst (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Plymouth. She the daughter of John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset and Arabella Diana Cope 3rd Duchess Dorset (age 42). He the son of [her former husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 49).
In 1819 [her son-in-law] Robert Henry Herbert (age 29) and [her daughter] Harriet Windsor (age 21) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] Other Windsor 5th Earl Plymouth and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 57). He the son of Edward Clive 1st Earl Powis (age 64) and Henrietta Antonia Herbert 3rd Countess Powis (age 60).
In 1826 [her son] Jeffrey Amherst (age 24) died.
In 1826 [her husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 52) was created 1st Earl Amherst. Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 64) by marriage Countess Amherst.
On 20th July 1833 [her son] Other Archer Windsor 6th Earl Plymouth (age 44) died aboard his yacht at Deptford, Kent [Map]. His uncle [her former brother-in-law] Andrew (age 69) succeeded 7th Earl Plymouth. Baron Windsor of Stanwell in Buckinghamshire abeyant between his daughters [her daughter] Maria Windsor Marchioness Downshire (age 43) and [her daughter] Harriet Windsor (age 35).
In 1834 [her son] William Amherst 2nd Earl Amherst (age 28) and [her daughter-in-law] Gertrude Percy Countess Amherst (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Bishop Hugh Percy (age 49) and Mary Manners Sutton. He the son of [her husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 60) and Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 72). They were third cousin once removed.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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In May 1838 Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst (age 76) died.
In 1839 [her former husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 65) and [her former daughter-in-law] Mary Sackville Countess Plymouth Amherst (age 46) were married. She by marriage Countess Amherst. She the daughter of John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset and Arabella Diana Cope 3rd Duchess Dorset.
On 13th March 1857 [her former husband] William Pitt Amherst 1st Earl Amherst (age 84) died at Knole House, Sevenoaks. His son [her son] William (age 51) succeeded 2nd Earl Amherst, 3rd Baron Amherst of Montreal in Kent. [her daughter-in-law] Gertrude Percy Countess Amherst (age 42) by marriage Countess Amherst.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 25 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Archer
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Archer 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Ferrers of Tamworth Castle 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Ferrers 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Andrew Archer 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Leigh
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Leigh
GrandFather: Thomas Archer 1st Baron Archer 15 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Samuel Dashwood 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Dashwood
Great x 2 Grandfather: Samuel Dashwood
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Sleigh
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Sleigh
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Dashwood
Father: Andrew Archer 2nd Baron Archer 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Tipping
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Tipping 1st Baronet
GrandMother: Catherine Tipping Baroness Archer 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Cheeke
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Cheeke 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Radclyffe 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Cheke of Pirgo 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Essex Rich 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Cheke 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford 
10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Russell 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Laetitia Russell 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Moyses Hill Marshall of Ulster
Great x 3 Grandmother: Penelope Hill
Sarah Archer Countess Plymouth and Amherst 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: James West 
Mother: Sarah West Baroness Archer