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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Half Fifth Cousin Once Removed

Half Fifth Cousin Once Removed is in Fifth Cousin.

Around 1133 William Percy 3rd Baron Percy Topcliffe and Alice Clare Baroness Percy Topcliffe were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Topcliffe. She the daughter of Richard de Clare and Alice Gernon. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Around 1230 Ralph Mortimer (age 39) and Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw (age 35) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.

In or before 1347 John Grey 2nd Baron Grey (age 30) and Maud Burghesh Baroness Grey Rotherfield (age 31) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Rotherfield. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.

In or before 1362 Reginald Grey 2nd Baron Grey Ruthyn (age 39) and Alianore Strange Baroness Grey Ruthyn (age 30) were married. She by marriage Baroness Grey of Ruthyn. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.

Before 16th January 1362 Thomas de Vere 8th Earl of Oxford (age 26) and Maud Ufford Countess of Oxford (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She the daughter of Ralph Ufford and Maud Plantagenet Countess Ulster (age 52). He the son of John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford and Maud Badlesmere Countess of Oxford (age 53). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

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.

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Before 15th February 1404 Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter (age 27) and Margaret Neville Countess Dorest (age 20) were married. He the illegitmate son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.

After 25th January 1410 William Eure (age 14) and Maud Fitzhugh (age 19) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Before 27th April 1416 Henry Bromflete 1st Baron Vesci (age 27) and Joan Holland Duchess York (age 36) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (deceased). They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Before 21st February 1421 Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby (age 36) and Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Willoughby Eresby (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. She the daughter of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury (age 57). They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Around 1434 Henry Bromflete 1st Baron Vesci (age 45) and Eleanor Fitzhugh Baroness Darcy Knayth and Fitzhugh were married. His second marriage, her third. cgEAWYvAOn 24th January 1449 Henry Bromflete 1st Baron Vesci was created 1st Baron Vesci. She by marriage Baroness Vesci. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

In 1435 Louis Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol (age 17) and Jeanne of Bar Countess Soissons (age 20) were married. He by marriage Count Soissons. She the daughter of Robert of Bar Count Soissons Count Marle and Jeanne Countess Marle, Soissons and Meaux. He the son of Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Margherita Baux (age 41). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 1st September 1466 a double wedding ceremony was held whereby two siblings, children of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (age 43) married:

William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon (age 15) and Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 10) were married. See Woodville Marriages. She the daughter of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 61) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 51). He the son of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke and Anne Devereux (age 36).

Thomas Talbot 2nd Viscount Lisle (age 17) and Margaret Herbert Viscountess Lisle were married. She the daughter of William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke and Anne Devereux. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.

Before April 1475 John Stewart 1st Earl Atholl (age 35) and Eleanor Sinclair Countess Atholl (age 18) were married. She by marriage Countess Atholl. She the daughter of William Sinclair 3rd Earl Orkney 1st Earl Caithness (age 65) and Marjory Sutherland Countess Orkney and Caithness. He the son of James "Black Knight of Lorn" Stewart and Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

After 4th August 1509 Vice-Admiral Thomas Wyndham (age 43) and Elizabeth Wentworth Countess Bath (age 39) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1563 Francis Willoughby (age 17) and Elizabeth Lyttelton (age 15) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Before 16th April 1565 Nicholas Throckmorton (age 50) and Anne Carew (age 45) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1579 Edward Unton (age 23) and Katherine Hastings (age 22) were married. There were no children from the marriage. She the daughter of George Hastings 4th Earl Huntingdon (age 39) and Dorothy Port Countess Huntingdon. He the son of Edward Unton (age 45) and Anne Seymour Countess of Warwick (age 41). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

In 1591 Gervase Clifton 1st Baron Clifton (age 21) and Katherine Darcy (age 20) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

In or before 1595 Richard Stapleton and Elizabeth Pierrepont Countess Kellie (age 26) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

After 1607 Heneage Finch (age 27) and Frances Bell were married. He the son of Moyle Finch 1st Baronet (age 57) and Elizabeth Heneage 1st Countess Winchelsea (age 50). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 12th October 1609 William Keith 6th Earl Marischal (age 24) and Mary Erskine were married. She the daughter of John Erskine 19th Earl of Mar (age 47) and Mary Stewart Countess Mar (age 27). He the son of George Keith 5th Earl Marischal (age 56) and Margaret Home Countess Marischal. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

In or before 1625 Edward Bishopp 2nd Baronet (age 22) and Mary Tufton (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Nicholas Tufton 1st Earl of Thanet (age 46) and Frances Cecil Countess Isle Thanet (age 43). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

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.

At the end of 1630, or early 1631, William Kerr 1st Earl Lothian (age 25) and Anne Kerr 3rd Countess of Lothian were married. He by marriage Earl Lothian. She the daughter of Robert Kerr 2nd Earl Lothian and Annabel Campbell Countess Lothian. He the son of Robert Kerr 1st Earl Ancram (age 52) and Anne Stanley (age 30). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 14th December 1637 George Brydges 6th Baron Chandos (age 17) and Susan Montagu Baroness Chandos were married. She by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley. She the daughter of Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 74) and Margaret Crouch Countess Manchester (age 32). He the son of Grey Brydges 5th Baron Chandos and Anne Stanley Countess Castlehaven (age 57). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 8th February 1650 Conyers Darcy 2nd Earl Holderness (age 28) and Frances Howard (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire (age 62) and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 54). He the son of Conyers Darcy 1st Earl Holderness (age 51) and Grace Rokeby (age 50). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Before 17th March 1668 Edward Montagu 2nd Earl Sandwich (age 20) and Mary Anne Boyle (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 55) and Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 54). He the son of Edward Montagu 1st Earl Sandwich (age 42) and Jemima Crew Countess Sandwich (age 43). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

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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Before 20th June 1677 John Stonor (age 22) and Mary Talbot (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Francis Talbot 11th Earl of Shrewsbury and Anna Maria Brudenell Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 35). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 7th June 1739 Henry Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge (age 76) and Elizabeth Bagot Countess Uxbridge (age 65) were married. She by marriage Countess Uxbridge. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

In or before 1753 Reverend Ashburnham Legh (age 36) and Charlotte Elizabeth Egerton (age 32) were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 12th November 1766 John Stuart 1st Marquis of the Isle of Bute (age 22) and Charlotte Jane Windsor Marchioness Bute (age 20) were married. He the son of John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 53) and Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 48). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 15th December 1825 Arthur Perceval (age 26) and Charlotte Anne Legge were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 24th August 1829 Archduke Joseph of Austria (age 53) and Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg (age 31) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.

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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On 11th May 1837 George William Frederick Brudenell 2nd Marquess Ailesbury (age 32) and Mary Herbert Marchioness Ailesbury (age 24) were married. She the daughter of George Augustus Herbert 11th Earl Pembroke 8th Earl Montgomery and Yekaterina Semyonovna Vorontsova Countess Pembroke and Montgomery (age 52). He the son of Charles Brudenell 1st Marquess Ailesbury (age 64) and Henrietta Maria Hill. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 20th April 1843 Thomas Coke 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 20) and Juliana Whitbread Countess Leicester (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. He the son of Thomas Coke 1st Earl of Leicester and Anne Amelia Keppel Countess Leicester (age 40). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 26th April 1864 Mervyn Wingfield 7th Viscount Powerscourt (age 27) and Julia Coke Viscountess Powerscourt (age 20) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Powerscourt. She the daughter of Thomas Coke 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 41) and Juliana Whitbread Countess Leicester (age 38). They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

Deeds of King Henry V

Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

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On 8th November 1864 John Russell (age 21) and Katherine Louisa Stanley (age 20) were married. They had four children, including a stillborn daughter. He the son of John Russell 1st Earl Russell (age 72) and Frances Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound Countess Russell (age 48). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 20th July 1878 Claud Hamilton (age 35) and Caroline Chandos-Pole (age 21) were married. He the son of James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn (age 67) and Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn (age 66). They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 28th October 1905 John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton 4th Earl Ellesmere (age 32) and Violet Lambton Countess Ellesmere (age 25) were married. She the daughter of Frederick Lambton 4th Earl Durham (age 50) and Beatrix Bulteel Countess Durham (age 46). He the son of Francis Egerton 3rd Earl Ellesmere (age 58) and Katherine Louisa Phipps Countess Ellesmere (age 55). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 22nd July 1931 David John Smith (age 24) and Helen Pleydell-Bouverie (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie 6th Earl Radnor and Julian Eleanor Adelaide Balfour. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

On 29th September 1942 Richard Sykes 7th Baronet (age 37) and Virginia Gilliat Lady Sykes were married. She by marriage Lady Sykes of Sledmere in Yorkshire. She the daughter of John Francis Grey Gilliat (age 60) and Lilian Florence Chetwynd Marchioness of Anglesey (age 66). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Guillaume Fitzwarin and Alice Somery were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

William Boteler 2nd Baron Wem and Oversley and Margaret Fitzalan Baroness Wem and Oversley were married. She the daughter of Richard Fitzalan 1st or 8th Earl of Arundel and Alice Saluzzo Countess Arundel. They were half fifth cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.

John Newton of Hawtrey and Margaret Poyntz were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.

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.

Henry Grey and Margery St John were married. He the son of Henry Grey 4th Earl Kent and Anne Blenerhassett. They were half fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Edmund Hungerford and Margaret Burnell were married. They were half fifth cousin once removed.