Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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Seventh Crusade

Seventh Crusade is in 1230-1259 Henry III.

See: Battle of Mansoura.

In 1247 William Longespée (age 39) went on pilgrimage.

In 1248 Alexander Giffard took part during the Seventh Crusade.

In 1249 John Stewart was killed at Damietta during the Seventh Crusade.

On 24th October 1249 Alphonse Count Poitiers II Count Toulouse (age 28) arrived at Damietta during the Seventh Crusade.

After 1262. St Mary's Church, Boyton [Map]. Monument to Alexander Giffard. Believed to represent Alexander Giffard; possibly his father Hugh Giffard. Early Medieval Period effigy. Alexander fought on the Seventh Crusade and may possibly have died at the Battle of Mansoura in 1250. The effigy notable for the Otter at his feet, biting his sword, and for the Giffard Arms on the shield with a label five points indicating the son, possibly grandson, of the current owner of the arms. The Otter may actually be a badly carved lion! Right Leg over Left.

Hugh Giffard: Around 1195 he was born to Walter Giffard at Warminster, Wiltshire [Map]. Before 18th March 1217 Hugh Giffard and Sibyl Cormeilles were married. Around 1246 Hugh Giffard died at Warminster, Wiltshire [Map].