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 1616 William Faithorne "The Elder" was born.
1654. William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 38]. Portrait of James Harington 3rd Baronet [aged 46].
1654. William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 38]. Portrait of Katherine Wright Lady Harington [aged 37].
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th June 1660. To Mr. Crew's [aged 62], whither came Mr. Greatorex [aged 35], and with him to the Faithornes [aged 44], and so to the Devils tavern [Map]. To my Lord's and staid till 12 at night about business. So to my father's [aged 59], my father and mother in bed, who had been with my uncle Fenner, &c., and my wife all day and expected me. But I found Mr. Cook there, and so to bed.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 3rd January 1662. So to dinner to my Lord Crew's [aged 64] with him and his Lady, and after dinner to Faithorne's [aged 46], and there bought some pictures of him; and while I was there, comes by the King life-guard, he being gone to Lincoln's Inn this afternoon to see the Revells there; there being, according to an old custom, a prince and all his nobles, and other matters of sport and charge.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 20th June 1666. Thence to the Hall and with Mrs. Martin home and staid with her a while, and then away to the Swan [Map] and sent for a bit of meat and dined there, and thence to Faythorne [aged 50], the picture-seller's, and there chose two or three good Cutts to try to vernish, and so to Hales's [aged 66] to see my father's picture, which is now near finished and is very good, and here I staid and took a nap of an hour, thinking my father and wife would have come, but they did not; so I away home as fast as I could, fearing lest my father this day going abroad to see Mr. Honiwood at Major Russell's might meet with any trouble, and so in great pain home; but to spite me, in Cheapside I met Mrs. Williams in a coach, and she called me, so I must needs 'light and go along with her and poor Knipp (who is so big as she can tumble and looks-every day to lie down) as far as Paternoster Row [Map], which I did do and there staid in Bennett's shop with them, and was fearfull lest the people of the shop, knowing me, should aske after my father and give Mrs. Williams any knowledge of me to my disgrace. Having seen them done there and accompanied them to Ludgate I 'light and into my owne coach and home, where I find my father and wife had had no intent of coming at all to Hales's. So I at home all the evening doing business, and at night in the garden (it having been these three or four days mighty hot weather) singing in the evening, and then home to supper and to bed.
Before 7th November 1666. William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 50]. Portrait of Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland [aged 25]. See Samuel Pepys' Diary 1666 November 07.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th November 1666. Thence to Westminster Hall [Map], and, it being fast day, there was no shops open, but meeting with Doll Lane, did go with her to the Rose taverne, and there drank and played with her a good while. She went away, and I staid a good while after, and was seen going out by one of our neighbours near the office and two of the Hall people that I had no mind to have been seen by, but there was no hurt in it nor can be alleged from it. Therefore I am not solicitous in it, but took coach and called at Faythorne's [aged 50], to buy some prints for my wife to draw by this winter, and here did see my Baroness Castlemayne's [aged 25] picture, done by him from Lilly's [aged 48], in red chalke and other colours, by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed. The picture in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think; and did desire to buy it; but he says he must keep it awhile to correct his copper-plate by, and when that is done he will sell it me.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 1st December 1666. However, I was not much sorry for it, but by coach home, in the evening, calling at Faythorne's [aged 50], buying three of my Baroness Castlemayne's [aged 26] heads, printed this day, which indeed is, as to the head, I think, a very fine picture, and like her.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th January 1667. Thence to Faythorne [aged 51], and bought a head or two; one of them my Lord of Ormond's [aged 56], the best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House [Map], where first the Royall Society meet, by the favour of Mr. Harry Howard [aged 38], who was there, and has given us his grandfather's library, a noble gift, and a noble favour and undertaking it is for him to make his house the seat for this college. Here was an experiment shown about improving the use of powder for creating of force in winding up of springs and other uses of great worth. And here was a great meeting of worthy noble persons; but my Lord Bruncker [aged 47], who pretended to make a congratulatory speech upon their coming hither, and in thanks to Mr. Howard, do it in the worst manner in the world, being the worst speaker, so as I do wonder at his parts and the unhappiness of his speaking.
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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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th April 1669. Thence out, and slipped out by water to Westminster Hall [Map] and there thought to have spoke with Mrs. Martin, but she was not there, nor at home. So back again, and with W. Hewer [aged 27] by coach home and to dinner, and then to the office, and out again with W. Hewer to the Excise-Office, and to several places; among others, to Mr. Faythorne's [aged 53], to have seen an instrument which he was said to have, for drawing perspectives, but he had it not: but here I did see his work-house, and the best things of his doing he had by him, and so to other places among others to Westminster Hall [Map], and I took occasion to make a step to Mrs. Martin's, the first time I have been with her since her husband went last to sea, which is I think a year since.... But, Lord! to hear how sillily she tells the story of her sister Doll's being a widow and lately brought to bed; and her husband, one Rowland Powell, drowned, sea with her husband, but by chance dead at sea, cast When God knows she hath played the whore, and forced at this time after she was brought to bed, this story.
1671. William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 55]. Portrait of Roger Palmer 1st Earl Castlemaine [aged 37].
1684. William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 68]. Portrait of Bevil Grenville [aged 88].
Bevil Grenville: St James the Great Church, Kilkhampton [Map]. Sir Bevil Grenville, lord of the manors of Bideford in Devon and of Stowe in the parish of Kilkhampton, Cornwall, was a Royalist commander in the Civil War. He was killed in action in heroic circumstances at the Battle of Lansdowne in 1643. On 23rd March 1595 he was born to Bernard Grenvlle. In 1618 Bevil Grenville and Grace Smith were married. They were fourth cousin once removed.
On 13th May 1691 William Faithorne "The Elder" [aged 75] died.