Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'

This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.

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Biography of William de Albini 1151-1236

Paternal Family Tree: De Albini

Maternal Family Tree: Adelaide Normandy Countess Troyes and Meaux Champagne Aumale Ponthieu 1030-1089

1215 Magna Carta

1217 Second Battle aka Fair of Lincoln

Around 1151 William de Albini was born to William Meschines Brito de Albini [aged 21] and Maud de Clare [aged 19].

Around 1155 [his grandfather] William Brito de Albini died at Belvoir Castle [Map]. He was buried at Belvoir Priory [Map]. His son [his father] William Meschines Brito de Albini [aged 25] inherited Belvoir Castle [Map].

In 1168 [his father] William Meschines Brito de Albini [aged 38] died. His son William de Albini [aged 17] inherited Belvoir Castle [Map].

In or before 1171 [his father] William Meschines Brito de Albini and [his mother] Maud de Clare [aged 38] were married. They were brother and sister.

Around 1171 [his mother] Maud de Clare [aged 39] died.

Around 1188 [his son] William de Albini was born to William de Albini [aged 37] and [his future wife] Agatha Trusbut

In 1192 William de Albini [aged 41] and Margaret Umfraville [aged 27] were married. They were fifth cousins.

Before September 1198 [his wife] Margaret Umfraville [aged 33] died.

In or after 1199 William de Albini [aged 48] and Agatha Trusbut were married.

Magna Carta

                    On 15th June 1215 King John of England [aged 48] met with his Baron's at Runnymede [Map] where he agreed to the terms of the Magna Carta which attempted to reduce the King's authority through political reform. Those who signed as surety included:
                
                    Roger Bigod 2nd Earl Norfolk [aged 71]
                
                    his son Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk [aged 33]
                
                    Henry Bohun 1st Earl Hereford [aged 39]
                
                    Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford [aged 62]
                
                    his son Gilbert Clare 5th Earl Gloucester 4th Earl Hertford [aged 35]
                
                    William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 25]
                
                    William Mowbray 6th Baron Thirsk [aged 42]
                
                    Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 45]
                
                    Robert Ros [aged 43], Richard Percy 5th Baron Percy Topcliffe [aged 45]
                
                    Robert de Vere 3rd Earl of Oxford [aged 50]
                
                    Eustace Vesci [aged 46]
                
                    John Fitzrobert 3rd Baron Warkworth [aged 25]
                
                    John Lacy Earl Lincoln [aged 23].
                
                    William de Albini [aged 64], Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex [aged 24]
                
                    Robert Clare Fitzwalter                

                    William Forz 3rd Earl Albemarle                

                    William Hardell
                
                    William Huntingfield
                
                    William Llanvallei
                
                    William Malet 1st Baron Curry Mallet
                
                    Roger Montbegon, Richard Montfichet
                
                    Geoffrey Saye [aged 60] signed as surety the Magna Carta.
                
                    Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 45] witnessed.

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Second Battle aka Fair of Lincoln

                    On 20th May 1217 William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 71] and Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 47] fought at Lincoln, Lincolnshire [Map] during the Second Battle aka Fair of Lincoln.
                
                    Rebels William Mowbray 6th Baron Thirsk [aged 44] and William Ros [aged 17] were captured. William de Albini [aged 66] fought for the rebels. Thomas Chateaudun I Count Perche [aged 22] died fighting for the rebels.
                
                    Bishop Peter de Roches led a division of the royal army and earned some distinction by his valour.

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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Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. 6th May 1236. About this time, too, on the 6th of May, William Daubeny the elder [aged 85], a bold and magnanimous knight, and one endowed with all noble qualities, closed his life at an advanced age, leaving his son William [aged 48], his legitimate heir, who took after his father in every respect.

On 6th May 1236 William de Albini [aged 85] died at Uffington, Leicestershire. His remains were buried at Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire [Map] with his heart being buried at Belvoir Priory [Map].

[his son] Nicholas de Albini was born to William de Albini and Agatha Trusbut