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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In 1701 Thomas Hudson was born.
Before 1725 Thomas Hudson [aged 23] studied under Johnathan "The Elder" Richardson [aged 57].
Around 1731. Thomas Hudson [aged 30]. Portrait of Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 20].
In 1739 Thomas Hudson [aged 38]. Portrait of Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden [aged 28].
In 1739 Thomas Hudson [aged 38]. Portrait of Admiral Edward Vernon [aged 54].
Admiral Edward Vernon: On 12th November 1684 he was born to James Vernon in Westminster [Map]. On 11th August 1740 James Annesley signed on as a midshipman on HMS Falmouth under the command of Admiral Edward Vernon. In 1745 he was appointed Admiral. On 30th October 1757 Admiral Edward Vernon died in Nacton, Suffolk.
In 1739 Thomas Hudson [aged 38]. Portrait of John Carteret 2nd Earl Granville [aged 48].
Around 1740 Thomas Hudson [aged 39]. Portrait of Henry Herbert 1st Earl Powis [aged 36].
Henry Herbert 1st Earl Powis: Before 9th April 1703 he was born to Francis Herbert of Oakley Park Montgomeryshire and Dorothy Oldbury. In 1748 Henry Herbert 1st Earl Powis was created 1st Earl Powis. On 30th March 1751 Henry Herbert 1st Earl Powis and Barbara Herbert Countess Powis were married. She by marriage Countess Powis. The difference in their ages was 32 years. On 10th September 1772 Henry Herbert 1st Earl Powis died at Bath, Somerset [Map]. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Welshpool. His son George succeeded 2nd Earl Powis.
In 1740 Mary Reynolds [aged 23] paid half of the £120 for her brother's [aged 16] education by Thomas Hudson [aged 39].
Around 1740 Thomas Hudson [aged 39]. Portrait of Anne Lee [aged 14].
Anne Lee: Around 1726 she was born to Thomas Lee 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Sandys Lady Lee. In 1741 George Venables-Vernon 1st Baron Vernon and she were married. On 22nd September 1742 she died.
Around 1740 Thomas Hudson [aged 39]. Portrait of Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford [aged 57].
Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford: Around 1683 he was born to Heneage Finch 1st Earl Aylesford and Elizabeth Banks Countess Aylesford. Before 6th November 1715 Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford and Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford were married. He the son of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Aylesford and Elizabeth Banks Countess Aylesford. On 22nd July 1719 Heneage Finch 1st Earl Aylesford died. His son Heneage succeeded 2nd Earl Aylesford. Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford by marriage Countess Aylesford. On 29th June 1757 Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford died. His son Heneage succeeded 3rd Earl Aylesford. Charlotte Seymour Countess Aylesford by marriage Countess Aylesford.
In 1740 Thomas Hudson [aged 39]. Portrait of Watkin Williams-Wynn 3rd Baronet [aged 48].
In 1744 Thomas Hudson [aged 43]. Portrait of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 60].
Around 1745 Thomas Hudson [aged 44]. Portrait of Anne Lennox Countess Albermarle [aged 41].
Anne Lennox Countess Albermarle: On 24th June 1703 she was born to Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond and Anne Brudenell Duchess Richmond. She a granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 21st February 1722 William Anne Keppel 2nd Earl Albermarle and she were married at Caversham, Reading. She by marriage Countess Albermarle. She the daughter of Charles Lennox 1st Duke Richmond and Anne Brudenell Duchess Richmond. He the son of Arnold Keppel 1st Earl Albermarle and Geertruid Johanna Quirina Van Der Duyn Countess Albermarle. On 20th October 1789 Anne Lennox Countess Albermarle died in Admiralty House Whitehall Palace.
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.'
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In 1745 Thomas Hudson [aged 44]. Portrait of William Howard [aged 30].
In 1745 Thomas Hudson [aged 44]. Portrait of William Anne Keppel 2nd Earl Albermarle [aged 42].
In 1746 Thomas Hudson [aged 45]. Portrait of Mary Finch [aged 29].
Mary Finch: On 1st March 1716 she was born to Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford and Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford. On 6th November 1736 William Howard and she were married. She the daughter of Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford and Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford. He the son of Henry Bowes Howard 4th Earl Berkshire 11th Earl Suffolk and Catherine Graham Countess Berkshire and Suffolk.
1746. Thomas Hudson [aged 45]. Portrait of Admiral Charles Knowles 1st Baronet [aged 44].
Around 1746 Thomas Hudson [aged 45]. Portrait of Admiral George Pocock [aged 39].
Admiral George Pocock: On 6th March 1706 he was born at Thames Ditton, Surrey [Map]. In 1718 Admiral George Pocock served aboard HMS Superb. On 3rd April 1792 Admiral George Pocock died.
In 1749 Thomas Hudson [aged 48]. Portrait of Admiral John Byng [aged 44].
Admiral John Byng: Before 29th October 1704 he was born to George Byng 1st Viscount Torrington. On 28th December 1756 Admiral John Byng was subject to a court-martial aboard the 96-gun vessel HMS St George, which was anchored in Portsmouth Harbour. On 14th March 1757 Admiral John Byng was executed by firing squad for having been found guilty of his perceived failure to relieve the garrison at Menorca. The execution caused public outrage among fellow officers and the country at large. He was buried in the Bing Vault, All Saints Church, Southill.
Around 1750. Attributed to Thomas Hudson [aged 49]. Portrait of Admiral Peircy Brett [aged 41].
Admiral Peircy Brett: In 1709 he was born to Peircy Brett Master. In January 1745 he and Henrietta Colby were married. On 14th October 1781 he died.
In 1750 Thomas Hudson [aged 49]. Portrait of Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 42].
Around 1750 Thomas Hudson [aged 49] (attributed). Portrait of Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg [aged 30].
Before 14th April 1750 Thomas Hudson [aged 49]. Portrait of Fitzroy Lee [aged 51].
Fitzroy Lee: On 10th May 1698 he was born to Edward Lee 1st Earl Lichfield and Charlotte Fitzroy Countess Lichfield. He a grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
In 1751 Joseph Wright of Derby [aged 16] went to London where he studied under Thomas Hudson [aged 50] and Joshua Reynolds [aged 27].
In 1754 Thomas Hudson [aged 53]. Portrait of George Parker 2nd Earl Macclesfield [aged 58].
In 1754 Thomas Hudson [aged 53]. Portrait of Martha Tyrrell Lady Drury [aged 37] and her daughter Mary Anne Drury Countess Buckinghamshire [aged 14].
Martha Tyrrell Lady Drury: On 27th December 1716 she was born to John Tyrrell 3rd Baronet. On 11th October 1737 Thomas Drury 1st Baronet and she were married at Chapel, Somerset House. On 16th February 1739 Thomas Drury 1st Baronet was created 1st Baronet Drury of Overstone in Northamptonshire. She by marriage Lady Drury of Overstone in Northamptonshire. On 17th June 1768 Martha Tyrrell Lady Drury died.
Mary Anne Drury Countess Buckinghamshire: John Hobart 2nd Earl Buckinghamshire and she were married. He the son of John Hobart 1st Earl Buckinghamshire and Judith Britiffe. They were sixth cousins. In 1740 she was born to Thomas Drury 1st Baronet and Martha Tyrrell Lady Drury. On 22nd September 1756 John Hobart 1st Earl Buckinghamshire died. His son John succeeded 2nd Earl Buckinghamshire, 2nd Baron Hobart, 6th Baronet Hobart of Intwood in Norfolk. She by marriage Countess Buckinghamshire. On 30th December 1769 Mary Anne Drury Countess Buckinghamshire died.
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 1754 Thomas Hudson [aged 53]. Portrait of Thomas Drury 1st Baronet [aged 41].
Around 1755. Thomas Hudson [aged 54]. Portrait of Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet [aged 33].
Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet: On 5th September 1721 he was born to George Oxenden 5th Baronet and Elizabeth Dunch Lady Oxenden. On 28th July 1755 Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet and Margaret Chudleigh Lady Oxenden were married at Westminster Abbey [Map]. On 20th January 1775 George Oxenden 5th Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 6th Baronet Oxenden of Dene in Kent. Margaret Chudleigh Lady Oxenden by marriage Lady Oxenden of Dene in Kent. On 15th July 1803 Henry Oxenden 6th Baronet died. His son Henry succeeded 7th Baronet Oxenden of Dene in Kent. Mary Graham Lady Oxenden by marriage Lady Oxenden of Dene in Kent.
In 1756 Thomas Hudson [aged 55]. Portrait of Charles Yorke [aged 33].
In 1756 Thomas Hudson [aged 55]. Portrait of Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke [aged 65].
In 1759 Thomas Hudson [aged 58]. Portrait of Elizabeth Yorke [aged 33].
Elizabeth Yorke: In August 1725 she was born to Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke and Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke. On 1st April 1748 George Anson 1st Baron Anson and she were married. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke and Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke. In 1760 Elizabeth Yorke died.
Around 1760 Thomas Hudson [aged 59]. Portrait of Anne Somerset Countess Northampton [aged 18].
Before 25th October 1760 Thomas Hudson [aged 59]. Portrait of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 76].
Before 25th October 1760 Thomas Hudson [aged 59]. Portrait of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 76].
Before 1761 Thomas Hudson [aged 59]. Portrait of Frances Finch Countess Devon. Collection of The Huntingdon, San Marino.
Frances Finch Countess Devon: she was born to Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford and Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford. On 2nd April 1741 William Courtenay 7th Earl Devon and she were married. She by marriage Countess Devon. She the daughter of Heneage Finch 2nd Earl Aylesford and Mary Fisher Countess Aylesford. He the son of William Courtenay 6th Earl Devon and Anne Bertie Countess Devon. In 1761 Frances Finch Countess Devon died.
In 1763 Thomas Hudson [aged 62]. Portrait of Anne Gordon Countess Dumfries.
Anne Gordon Countess Dumfries: In 1709 she was born to William Gordon 2nd Earl Aberdeen and Mary Melville. On 2nd April 1731 William Dalrymple Crichton 5th Earl Dumfries 4th Earl of Stair and she were married. She by marriage Countess Dumfries. She the daughter of William Gordon 2nd Earl Aberdeen and Mary Melville. He the son of Colonel William Dalrymple Earl Dumfries and Penelope Crichton 4th Countess of Dumfries. On 2nd April 1731 she by marriage Countess Dumfries. In 1755 Anne Gordon Countess Dumfries died.
Before 1764 Thomas Hudson [aged 62] (After). Portrait of William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire [aged 43].
Before 27th July 1768 Thomas Hudson [aged 67]. Portrait of William Dalrymple Crichton 5th Earl Dumfries 4th Earl of Stair [aged 69].
Before 1770 Thomas Hudson [aged 68]. Portrait of Dorothy Cust [aged 40].
Dorothy Cust: In 1729 she was born to Richard Cust 2nd Baronet and Anne Brownlow Lady Cust. In 1770 Dorothy Cust died.
Before 1771 Thomas Hudson [aged 69]. Portrait of James Stanley "Lord Strange" [aged 54].
Before 1772 Thomas Hudson [aged 70]. Portrait of Robert Henley 1st Earl Northington [aged 63].
Robert Henley 1st Earl Northington: Around 1708 he was born to Anthony Henley. In 1764 Robert Henley 1st Earl Northington was created 1st Earl Northington. In 1766 Angelica Kauffmann was persuaded by Baroness Wentworth, wife of the Ambassador to Venice to accompany her to England. The identity of Baroness Wentworth is somewhat difficult. Probably Mary Henley Countess Ligonier daughter of Robert Henley 1st Earl Northington who subsequently married Thomas Noel 2nd Viscount Wentworth in 1788. On 14th January 1772 Robert Henley 1st Earl Northington died. His son Robert succeeded 2nd Earl Northington.
1772. Thomas Hudson [aged 71]. Portrait of Edmund Isham 6th Baronet [aged 81].
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.
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Before 12th October 1772 Thomas Hudson [aged 71]. Portrait of Samuel Scott [aged 70].
Before 31st October 1774 Thomas Hudson [aged 73]. Portrait of Edward Noel 1st Viscount Wentworth [aged 59].
Before 1779. Thomas Hudson [aged 77]. Portrait of Albinia Bertie Countess Buckinghamshire [aged 40].
Before 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson [aged 78]. Portrait of George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough [aged 39].
Before 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson [aged 78]. Portrait of James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale [aged 42].
Before 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson [aged 78]. Portrait of Laura Keppel Baroness Southampton [aged 13].
Laura Keppel Baroness Southampton: On 14th March 1765 she was born to Bishop Frederick Keppel and Laura Walpole. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 2nd July 1784 George Fitzroy 2nd Baron Southampton and she were married. She by marriage Baroness Southampton. She the daughter of Bishop Frederick Keppel and Laura Walpole. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 29th June 1798 Laura Keppel Baroness Southampton died in Dawlish, Devon.
Before 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson [aged 78]. Portrait of Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose [aged 62].
Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose: Around 1717 she was born to John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland and Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland. On 28th October 1742 William Graham 2nd Duke Montrose and she were married. She by marriage Duchess Montrose. She the daughter of John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland and Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland. He the son of James Graham 1st Duke Montrose. On 18th June 1788 Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose died.
On 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson [aged 78] died.