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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Norwich Cathedral is in Norwich, Norfolk [Map], Cathedrals in England.
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 1094. On the death of Herfast, who had been a chaplain to earl William and afterwards to king William, and in process of time bishop of Thetford, and the death also of William, his successor, Herbert, surnamed Losing, for his address in flattery, from being prior of Fecamp and abbot of Ramsey, became by purchase bishop of Thetford; and his father Robert, of the same surname, became intrusive abbot of Winchester. But he was absolved by penitence from the errors of his faults; for going to Rome in more mature years he there laid down his simoniacal staff and ring, which were restored to him by the indulgence of that most merciful see. Returning home, he transferred the seat of his bishopric to a town celebrated as a place of trade and general resort, called Norwich [Map], and founded there a convent of monks.
In 1096 Bishop Herbert of Losinga commissioned the building of Norwich Cathedral [Map] and was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 12th June 1121. After a few days, one named Everard, attached to the king's chapel, was elected bishop of Norwich, and consecrated at Canterbury [Map] by archbishop Ralph on the second of the ides [the 12th] of June; Arnulph, bishop of Rochester, Richard, bishop of Hereford, and Robert, bishop of Coventry, having met for the purpose.
In 1147 Bishop William Turbeville (age 52) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1200 Bishop Geoffrey Burgh (age 20) was appointed Archdeacon of Norwich.
Around 7th September 1200 Bishop John de Gray was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
On 20th December 1226 Bishop Thomas Blunville was consecrated Bishop of Norwich.
On 4th February 1335 Bishop Thomas Percy was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
On 23rd January 1344 Bishop William Bateman (age 46) was elected Bishop of Norwich.
On 3rd April 1370 Bishop Henry Despencer (age 29) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1385 Bishop Richard Mitford was appointed Archdeacon of Norwich which he held until 1390.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1413 Bishop Richard Courtenay was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
On 21st September 1437 Bishop Thomas Brunce (age 49) was collated to Bishop of Norwich.
On 17th July 1472 Bishop James Goldwell was elected Bishop of Norwich.
On 4th October 1472 Bishop James Goldwell was consecrated Bishop of Norwich at Saints Blaise and Charles in Catinari Church.
In 1500 Christopher Urswick (age 52) was appointed Archdeacon of Norwich.
In 1501 Bishop Richard Nix aka Nykke (age 54) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1554 Bishop John Christopherson was appointed Dean of Norwich which post he held until 1557.
In 1558 Dean John Harpsfield (age 42) was appointed Dean of Norwich.
On 13th April 1560 Bishop John Parkhurst (age 48) was elected Bishop of Norwich.
In September 1560 Bishop John Parkhurst (age 48) was installed as Bishop of Norwich.
In 1585 Bishop Edmund Scambler (age 65) was translated to Bishop of Norwich.
In 1611 Bishop John King (age 52) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
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 1618 Bishop Thomas Morton (age 53) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
On 22nd January 1629 Bishop Francis White (age 65) was elected Bishop of Norwich.
In 1635 Bishop Matthew Wren (age 49) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1641 Bishop Joseph Hall (age 66) was translated to Bishop of Norwich.
John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd December 1657. Dr. Raynolds (age 58) (since Bishop of Norwich) preached before the company at St. Andrew Under-shaft [Map], on Nehemiah xiii. 31, showing, by the example of Nehemiah, all the perfections of a trusty person in public affairs, with many good precepts apposite to the occasion, ending with a prayer for God's blessing on the company and the undertaking.
John Evelyn's Diary. 17th October 1671. Next morning, I went to see Sir Thomas Browne (age 65) (with whom I had some time corresponded by letter, though I had never seen him before); his whole house and garden being a paradise and cabinet of rarities; and that of the best collection, especially medals, books, plants, and natural things. Among other curiosities, Sir Thomas had a collection of the eggs of all the fowl and birds he could procure, that country (especially the promontory of Norfolk) being frequented, as he said, by several kinds which seldom or never go further into the land, as cranes, storks, eagles, and variety of water fowl. He led me to see all the remarkable places of this ancient city, being one of the largest, and certainly, after London, one of the noblest of England, for its venerable cathedral [Map], number of stately churches, cleanness of the streets, and buildings of flint so exquisitely headed and squared, as I was much astonished at; but he told me they had lost the art of squaring the flints, in which they so much excelled, and of which the churches, best houses, and walls, are built. The Castle [Map] is an antique extent of ground, which now they call Marsfield, and would have been a fitting area to have placed the Ducal palace in. The suburbs are large, the prospects sweet, with other amenities, not omitting the flower gardens, in which all the inhabitants excel. The fabric of stuffs brings a vast trade to this populous town.
In 1681 Archbishop John Sharp (age 35) was appointed Dean of Norwich.
In 1685 Bishop William Lloyd (age 48) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1691 Bishop John Moore (age 45) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
John Evelyn's Diary. 5th June 1698. Dr. White, late Bishop of Norwich, who had been ejected for not complying with Government, was buried in St. Gregory's Churchyard, or vault, at St. Paul's. His hearse was accompanied by two non-juror bishops, Dr. Turner of Ely, and Dr. Lloyd, with forty other non-juror clergymen, who would not stay the Office of the burial, because the Dean of St. Paul's had appointed a conforming minister to read the Office; at which all much wondered, there being nothing in that Office which mentioned the present King.
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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On 15th March 1706 Rose Moore (age 25) died. She was buried in Norwich Cathedral [Map] under a white marble tablet with an inscription to her memory.
On 11th June 1718 Frances Preston (age 40) died. She was buried on the south side of the bishop's chapel in Norwich Cathedral [Map].
In 1721 Bishop Thomas Green (age 63) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1st November 1724 Humphrey Prideaux (age 76) was appointed Dean of Norwich.
On 13th October 1749 Bishop Thomas Hayter (age 47) was elected Bishop of Norwich.
On 3rd December 1749 Bishop Thomas Hayter (age 47) was consecrated Bishop of Norwich.
In 1761 Dean Edward Townshend (age 41) was appointed Dean of Norwich.
In 1783 Bishop Lewis Bagot (age 42) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
In 1837 Bishop Edward Stanley (age 57) was appointed Bishop of Norwich.
Before 1854. Frederick Mackenzie (age 65). Norwich Cathedral [Map]. This work comes from one of sixteen volumes of Royal Academy Annual Exhibition catalogues that were collected and extra-illustrated by the lawyer and antiquarian Edward Basil Jupp F.S.A. (1812 - 1877). The catalogues span the period from the first annual exhibition in 1769 up to 1875. Jupp added drawings, prints, letters and autographs by, or referring to, Academicians and other exhibitors at the Academy's annual exhibition.
Before March 1870 Venerable Charles Nourse Wodehouse (age 79) was appointed Archdeacon of Norwich.
In 1942 Bishop Percy Herbert (age 56) was appointed Bishop of Norwich whic office he held until 1959.
On 19th July 1549 Edmund Sheffield 1st Baron Sheffield (age 27) was killed at Cathedral Close, Norwich Cathedral [Map] during Kett's Rebellion. His son John (age 11) succeeded 2nd Baron Sheffield of Butterwick in Lincolnshire.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 13th August 1444 William Paston (age 66) died. He was buried at Lady Chapel Norwich Cathedral [Map].