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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Knightsbridge, Kensington is in Kensington.
John Evelyn's Diary. 25th March 1674. I dined at Knightsbridge, Kensington, with the Bishops of Salisbury, Chester [aged 61], and Lincoln [aged 66], my old friends.
On 11th May 1941 June Mary Forbes-Semphill [aged 18] was killed at 15 Basil aka North Street, Kensington on the last day of the London Blitz whilst serving with the Women's Voluntary Services Mobile Canteen Service.
On 1st January 1957 Luisa Adele Rosa Maria Amman Marchesa Casati [aged 75] died at 32 Beaufort Gardens. She was buried at Brompton Cemetery, Kensington.
On 1st December 1934 Anthony Powell [aged 28] and Violet Pakenham [aged 22] were married at All Saints Church, Ennismore Gardens. She the daughter of Thomas Pakenham 5th Earl of Longford and Mary Julia Child-Villiers Countess Longford.
On 14th March 1867 Henry Cubitt 2nd Baron Ashcombe was born to George Cubitt 1st Baron Ashcombe [aged 38] at 17 Prince's Gate, Knightsbridge. He married 21st August 1890 Maud Marianne Calvert and had issue.
On 26th September 1842 Richard Wellesley 1st Marquess Wellesley [aged 82] died at Kingston House Knightsbridge, Kensington. His brother William [aged 79] succeeded 3rd Earl Mornington, 3rd Viscount Wellesley of Dangan Castle. Katherine Forbes Countess Mornington [aged 81] by marriage Countess Mornington.
On 29th January 1667 John Wilmot 2nd Earl Rochester [aged 19] and Elizabeth Malet Countess Rochester [aged 16] were married at Knightsbridge Chapel. She by marriage Countess Rochester. They having eloped and married against her families wishes. Two years previously he had abducted her for which he spent three weeks in prison. Her father being dead it isn't clear whose ward she was. He the son of Henry Wilmot 1st Earl Rochester and Anne St John Countess Rochester [aged 52].
On Willam Humphreys 1st Baronet married Ellen, the widow of Colonel Robert Lancashire of London, at Knightsbridge Chapel.
On 1st July 1906 Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet [aged 76] died at 18 Ovington Square, Knightsbridge. His funeral was held at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map] amidst a large gathering of members of Parliament, family members, personal friends, and representatives of public bodies. He was buried at St Kentigern's Church, Aspatria. His son Wilfrid [aged 43] succeeded 3rd Baronet Lawson of Brayton House in Cumberland. Mary Camilla Macan Lady Lawson [aged 41] by marriage Lady Lawson of Brayton House in Cumberland.
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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On 12th December 1977 Clementine Hozier [aged 92] died at 7 Princes Gate. She was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon [Map] in the same grave as her husband Winston Churchill who died in 1965.
On 30th June 1839 Richard Bingham 2nd Earl Lucan [aged 74] died at Serpentine Terrace, Knightsbridge. His son George [aged 39] succeeded 3rd Earl Lucan of Castlebar in Mayo, 3rd Baron Lucan of Castlebar in Mayo, 9th Baronet Bingham of Castlebar in County Mayo. Anne Brudenell Countess Lucan [aged 30] by marriage Countess Lucan of Castlebar in Mayo.
World's End Knightsbridge, Kensington [Map]. The location of the World's End is uncertain.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 9th May 1669. Thence towards the Park, but too soon to go in, so went on to Knightsbridge, and there eat and drank at "The World's End [Map]", where we had good things, and then back to the Park, and there till night, being fine weather, and much company, and so home, and after supper to bed. This day I first left off both my waistcoats by day, and my waistcoat by night, it being very hot weather, so hot as to make me break out, here and there, in my hands, which vexes me to see, but is good for me.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st May 1669. Thence to "The World's End [Map]", a drinking-house by the Park; and there merry, and so home late.