Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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Bishop of Ely is in Bishop. See Ely Cathedral [Map].
On 6th October 1174 Bishop Geoffrey Ridel was consecrated Bishop of Ely at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
On 15th September 1189 King Richard "Lionheart" I of England [aged 32] held a Council meeting at Pipewell [Map] at which he appointed a number of Bishops:
Bishop William Longchamp was elected Bishop of Ely.
Bishop Godfrey Lucy was elected Bishop of Winchester.
Bishop Richard Fitzneal [aged 59] was elected Bishop of London.
Archbishop Hubert Walter [aged 29] was elected Bishop of Salisbury.
On 31st December 1189 two of Richard I's new bishops were consecrated...
Bishop William Longchamp was consecrated Bishop of Ely.
Bishop Richard Fitzneal [aged 59] was consecrated Bishop of London.
On 6th January 1190 Bishop William Longchamp was enthroned Bishop of Ely at Ely Cathedral [Map].
In 1225 Bishop Geoffrey Burgh [aged 45] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
On 3rd February 1229 Bishop Hugh of Northwold was elected Bishop of Ely.
On 19th June 1229 Bishop Hugh of Northwold was consecrated Bishop of Ely at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
In 1257 Bishop Hugh de Balsham was elected Bishop of Ely by the monks of Ely contrary to King Henry III of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury Boniface of Savoy [aged 50]. Boniface declared the election invalid, and attempted to install Adam Marsh in the see. Both sides appealed to Rome. The election was confirmed by Pope Alexander IV in 1257.
On 14th October 1257 Bishop Hugh de Balsham was consecrated Bishop of Ely by the Pope in Rome.
On 26th July 1283 Bishop John Kirkby was elected Bishop of Ely.
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 22nd September 1286 Bishop John Kirkby was consecrated Bishop of Ely.
On 24th December 1286 Bishop John Kirkby was enthroned Bishop of Ely.
Around 20th June 1316 Bishop John Hotham was elected Bishop of Ely.
On 3rd October 1316 Bishop John Hotham was consecrated Bishop of Ely.
In 1337 Bishop Simon Montagu was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In July 1345 Bishop Thomas Lisle [aged 47] was consecrated as Bishop of Ely.
On 15th July 1345 Bishop Thomas Lisle [aged 47] was elected Bishop of Ely.
On 13th August 1373 Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel [aged 20] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
On 3rd April 1388 Bishop John Fordham was translated to Bishop of Ely.
Around 1437 Louis of Luxembourg travelled to England where he was appointed Bishop of Ely.
Around 1437 Louis of Luxembourg travelled to England where he was appointed Bishop of Ely.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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In 1443 Cardinal Thomas Bourchier [aged 25] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1454 Bishop William Grey was appointed Bishop of Ely.
On 8th August 1478 Cardinal John Morton [aged 58] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
On 6th October 1486 Bishop John Alcock [aged 56] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
On 26th May 1501 Bishop Richard Redman was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1506 Bishop James Stanley [aged 41] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1515 Bishop Nicholas West [aged 54] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
Before 19th April 1534 Bishop Thomas Goodrich was elected Bishop of Ely.
On 19th April 1534 Bishop Thomas Goodrich was consecrated Bishop of Ely by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer [aged 44] assisted by Bishop John Longland [aged 61] and Bishop Christopher Lord.
In July 1554 Bishop Thomas Thirlby [aged 48] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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In 1559 Bishop Richard Cox [aged 66] was appointed Bishop of Ely where he remained for twenty-one years.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 5th July 1559. The v day of July was deposyd of ther byshopeprykes the archebyshope of Yorke doctur Heth [aged 58], and the bysshope of Ely docthur Thurlbe [aged 53], at my lord treysorer('s) [aged 76] plasse at Frers Augustyne.
On 22nd September 1609 Bishop Lancelot Andrewes [aged 54] was elected Bishop of Ely.
In 1628 Bishop John Buckeridge [aged 66] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
On 15th November 1631 Bishop Francis White [aged 67] was elected Bishop of Ely.
In 1638 Bishop Matthew Wren [aged 52] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1667 Bishop Benjamin Lany [aged 75] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1674 Bishop Peter Gunning [aged 60] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
John Evelyn's Diary. 26th March 1675. Dr. Brideoak [aged 62] was elected Bishop of Chichester, on the translation of Dr. Gunning [aged 61] to Ely.
John Evelyn's Diary. 20th February 1676. Dr. Gunning [aged 62], Bishop of Ely, preached before the King [aged 45] from St. John xx. 21, 22, 23, chiefly against an anonymous book, called "Naked Truth", a famous and popular treatise against the corruption in the Clergy, but not sound as to its quotations, supposed to have been the Bishop of Hereford and was answered by Dr. Turner, it endeavoring to prove an equality of order of Bishop and Presbyter.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 16th July 1684 Bishop Francis Turner [aged 46] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
John Evelyn's Diary. 4th November 1684. Dr. Turner [aged 47], now translated from Rochester to Ely upon the death of Dr. Peter Gunning, preached before the King [aged 54] at White-hall on 3 Romans 8, a very excellent sermon, indicating the Church of England against the pernicious doctrines of the Church of Rome. He challenged the producing but of five Cleargymen who forsooke our Church and went over to that of Rome, during all the troubles & rebellion In England, which lasted neere twenty yeares; and this was to my certaine observation a greate truth.
In 1691 Bishop Simon Patrick [aged 64] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
In 1707 Bishop John Moore [aged 61] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
In 1723 Bishop Thomas Green [aged 65] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1781 Bishop James Yorke [aged 50] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In May 1812 Bishop Bowyer Sparke [aged 53] was translated to Bishop of Ely which position he held until his death in 1836.
In 1836 Bishop Joseph Allen [aged 66] was translated to Bishop of Ely.
In 1886 Bishop Alwyne Compton [aged 61] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
In 1924 Bishop Leonard Jauncey White Thompson [aged 60] was appointed Bishop of Ely.