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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Serjeant at Law is in Sarjeant.
In 1330 Robert Parning was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 2nd January 1453 Thomas Billing was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1478 Roger Townshend [aged 53] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1478 Humphrey Starkey of Wouldham in Kent [aged 39] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
Around May 1478 William Hussey [aged 35] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1503 Robert Brudenell [aged 42] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 9th July 1507 Lewis Pollard [aged 42] was appointed Serjeant at Law amidst a great celebration at Lambeth, with the king and a thousand guests in attendance.
In 1521 Robert Norwich was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1531 Roger Cholmeley [aged 36] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1540 Robert Townshend was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1547 John Pollard was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1552 Robert Keilway [aged 55] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
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 1552 William Stanford [aged 42] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 18th June 1567 Christopher Wray [aged 43] was appointed Serjeant at Law at Lincoln's Inn.
In 1577 Robert Bell [aged 38] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1580 John Puckering [aged 36] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 16th October 1580 Edward Flowerdew was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1589 John Glanville [aged 47] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In February 1604 Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet [aged 54] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
After 22nd June 1623 Heneage Finch [aged 43] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In October 1623 John Bridgeman [aged 86] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
Before 1631. Unknown Painter. Portrait of Heneage Finch [aged 50] in the robes of Serjeant at Law.
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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In 1654 Thomas Twisden 1st Baronet [aged 51] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 8th November 1661 John Kelyng [aged 54] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
On 20th May 1668 John Vaughan of Transgoed [aged 64] was knighted and appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1677 Thomas Strode of Parnham [aged 49] was appointed Serjeant at Law.