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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Esquire to the Body is in Royal Household.
In 1441 John Norreys [aged 41] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1460 John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 18] was appointed Esquire to the Body to Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 23].
Before December 1462 Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 31] was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Edward IV of England [aged 20], and to the Privy Council.
In 1469 William Norreys [aged 28] was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Edward IV of England [aged 26].
On 27th October 1485 Thomas Lovell was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland [aged 28].
In 1509 Edward Chamberlayne [aged 25] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1509 Giles Strangeways [aged 22] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In or before 1522 Francis Bryan [aged 31] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Before 1525 Robert Tyrwhitt Master [aged 21] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 1528 William Carey [aged 27] was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Before 1528 Thomas Morgan [aged 45] was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland [aged 36].
In 1533 George Harper [aged 29] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Before 1534 Edward Rogers [aged 35] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1539 Richard Manners [aged 30] was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1541 Robert Oxenbridge [aged 33] was appointed Esquire to the Body.
On 5th January 1656 Sharington Talbot was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 25].
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Edward Neville was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Henry Knollys was appointed Esquire to the Body to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
Ambrose Willoughby was appointed Esquire to the Body to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
