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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St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf is in Paul's Wharf [Map], Churches in City of London.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 6th November 1558. The vj day of November was bered at sent Benettes at Powlles Warff [Map] master John Stokes (the) quen('s) servand and bruar [brewer], with ij whytt branchys and x gret stayffes-torchys and iiij gret tapurs; and x pore men had rosett gownes of iiijs. the yerd, and xvj gownes, and cottes of xijs. the yerd.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 27th October 1559. The xxvij day of October was cristened at sant Benettes at Powlles warff [Map] ser Thomas Chamburlayn's [aged 55] son, and the chyrche hangyd with cloth of arres, the godfathers names the prynche of Swaynthen [aged 21] one and my lord Robart Dudley [aged 27], and the godmoder was my lade of Northamtun [aged 33]; after the cristenyng waffers, spysbred, comfettes, and dyver odur bankettes, dysses [dishes], and epocras and muskadyll [in great] plente; the lade was the wyff of master Machyll, altherman and clothworker.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th January 1561. The xij day, the wyche was the vj day of January, was bered in sant Benettes [Map] at Powlles warff master Antony Hyll, on of the quen('s) gentyllman of (blank), and a xvj clarkes syngyng to the chyrche, and to the berehyng.... a] boyffe iiijxx of gentyll-women [to .... whe]re they had as grett chere as have bene sene, behyng a fysse day; and after ther w .... the cheff men of the parryche and odur, and [they had] a grett dener and grett chere for fysse.
On 11th January 1626 Augustine Vincent [aged 42] died. He was buried at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map].
On 25th October 1632 Charles Dormer 2nd Earl Carnarvon was born to Robert Dormer 1st Earl Carnarvon [aged 22] and Anne Sophia Herbert Countess Carnarvon. He was baptised at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]. He married (1) before 25th June 1652 his fourth cousin Elizabeth Capell Countess Carnarvon, daughter of Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham and Elizabeth Morrison Baroness Capell Hadham, and had issue (2) after 1678 his second cousin once removed Mary Bertie Countess Carnarvon, daughter of Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey and Bridget Wray Countess Lindsey.
Archaeologia Volume 13 Section XXV. From the Baptisms is this entry.
"The lord Dormer, viscount Askot, eldest son to the right honourable the earl of Carnarvon [aged 22], was born on Fryday Oct. 25, and christened [Note. at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]] on Tuesday November 26, 1632."
Robert Dormer, baron Dormer of Winge, and baronet, was created by king Charles I. viscount Ascot, and earl of Caernarvon, August 2, 1628. This nobleman, alike distnguished for his virtue, wisdom, and valour, fell after the battle of Newberry, Sept. 20, 1643, in his return from pursuing a party of the parliamentary forces, being killed by a trooper, who, knowing his lordship, ran, him through the body with a sword, and he expired in about an hour. He married Anna-Sophia, daughter of Philip [aged 48], earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, by whom he had an only child, whose birth and baptism are mentioned above. He was William [Note. A mistake for Charles?], the second earl of Caernarvon, who dying November 29, 1709, without male issue, that title became extinct, but the barony descended to the issue of Anthony Dormer, of Grove Park, in Warwickshire, second son of Robert, the first lord Dormer; but after being possessed by Robert [Note. Rowland?], the eldest son of that Anthony, it went to the issue male of Robert, the third son of the first baron, and is still posssessed by that branch.
On or before 7th May 1650, the date she was baptised at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map], Susan Herbert Baroness Poulett was born to Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 29] and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 29]. She married in or before 1668 her third cousin once removed John Paulett 3rd Baron Paulett, son of John Paulett 2nd Baron Paulett and Catherine Vere Baroness Poulett, and had issue.
Archaeologia Volume 13 Section XXV. From the Baptisms [Note. at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]] are these other entries.
Lady Susanna, daughter of Phillip erle of Pembroke [aged 29], and the lady Katheran [aged 29] his wife, was baptized May 7, 1650.
Lady Mary, daughter of Phill. earle of Pembroke, baptized 13 Dec. 1651."
Phillip, sonne of Phillip earle of Pembroke and the lady Katherine his wife, was baptized 3 January 1652."
Lady Katheran, the daughter of Phillip earl of Pembrooke and Katheran his wife, borne 9 June, and baptized the 10 June 1634.'
Rebeccah, daughter of Philip earl of Pembroke and lady Katheran his wife, was borne the 18th July, baptized 22 July 1633.
Philip, earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, was the fourth, but eldest surviving son of Philip earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, a nobleman, who every way disgraced himfelf by his violence, his vulgarity, and his severity to his second countess, Ann [aged 60], sole daughter and heir to George earl of Cumberland, widow of Richard earl of Dorset, one of the greatest female characters that this kingdom ever gave birth to. His first lady was Susan, daughter of Edward, earl of Oxford, by whom he had the nobleman who was the father of these children. He also had two wives, Penelope, sole daughter and heir to Sir Robert Naunton, knt. master of the court of Wards and Liveries, widow of Paul, viscount Banning [Note. This appears to be a mistake. Paul Viscount Bayning married Anne Glemham Viscountess Bayning], by whom he had an only son, William, who succeeded him. His second wife was the mother of the children whose baptisms are here given; She was Catherine, daughter of Sir William Villiers of Brookesby, in the county of Leicester, bart. Their issue, besides the above children, were Thomas, and Ann who died an infant. The Philip mentioned as baptized Jan. 5, 1652, succeeded to the family honours upon the death of his half brother, William, earl of Pembroke, &c. I shall not particularize what was the history of the others, as it is done by Mr. Collins in his peerage, who also has given their baptisms from this register.
It appears from these insertions that at the same time, two noblemen of high rank resided in this small parish, and in the heart of the city. I do not know the exact spot; but from the many children mentioned of the earl of Pembroke he must have made it his constant town residence; and we must suppose it was also of the earl of Caernarvon, for had he had more children, it is most reasonable to suppose we should have had their baptisms registered there, had they been born in London. As the earls of Caernarvon and Pembroke, who resided in this parish, were brothers-in-law, and as one was cut off in 1643, and the baptisms of the other's children do not commence until 1651, it seems not improbable but that the earl of Pembroke might purchase or hire the house of the executors of the earl of Caernarvon, during the minority of that nobleman's son, and continue to rent it for some years after he became of age; but the fact is not so; each had his own house.
On or before 5th January 1652 Philip "Infamous Earl" Herbert 7th Earl Pembroke 4th Earl Montgomery was born to Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 31] and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 31]. He was baptised at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map] on 5th January 1652. He married 17th December 1674 Henrietta Kéroualle Countess Pembroke and Montgomery and had issue.
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 or before 1654 George Bingham 2nd Baronet [aged 28] and Anne Partiger [aged 13] were married at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map].
On 9th June 1654 Catherine Herbert was born to Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 33] and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 33]. She was baptised on 10th June 1654 at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map].
On 18th July 1655 Rebecca Herbert was born to Philip Herbert 5th Earl Pembroke 2nd Earl Montgomery [aged 34] and Catherine Villiers Countess Pembroke and Montgomery [aged 34]. She was baptised on 22nd July 1655 at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map].
On 2nd March 1706 Charles Howard 9th Earl Suffolk [aged 31] and Henrietta Hobart Countess Suffolk [aged 17] were married at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]. He the son of Henry Howard 5th Earl Suffolk [aged 78] and Mary Stewart.
On 1st February 1725 John Aubrey 3rd Baronet [aged 44] and Jane Thomas Lady Aubrey were married at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]. She by marriage Lady Aubrey of Llantrithyd in Glamorganshire.
On 24th October 1742 John Rogers 3rd Baronet [aged 34] and Hannah Trefusis were married at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map].
On 7th June 1749 Charles Fane 2nd Viscount Fane [aged 41] and Susanna Marriott Viscountess Fane were married at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]. She by marriage Viscountess Fane.
On 11th May 1759 John Warburton [aged 77] died. He was buried at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map] in the South Aisle.
Archaeologia Volume 13 Section XXV. Extracts from the Parish Regifler of St. Bennet's, St. Paul's Wharf [Map], London. Communicated by the Rev. Mark Noble, F. A. S. In a Letter to the Rev. John Brand, Secretary. Read May 3, 1798.
On 11th December 1815 William Wynne [aged 86] died. He was buried at St Benet's Church, Paul's Wharf [Map]. His sister Margaret Wynne and her husband Henry Bankes inherited Soughton Hall [Map].