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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Gaspar de Crayer is in Painters.
In 1607 Gaspar de Crayer (age 22) became a master in the Brussels Guild of Saint Luke. He was a dean of the Guild from 1611 to 1616 and was a member of the Brussels city council in 1626–1627.
Between 1627 and 1628. Gaspar de Crayer (age 42). Equestrian portrait of Diego Felipez de Guzmán 1st Marquess of Leganés (age 47).
Diego Felipez de Guzmán 1st Marquess of Leganés: In 1580 he was born to Diego Velázquez Dávila y Bracamonte Marquess of Loriana and Leonor de Guzmán. In 1655 he died.
Between 1627 and 1628. Gaspar de Crayer (age 42). Portrait of Ferdinand Habsburg Spain (age 17).
Ferdinand Habsburg Spain: On 16th May 1609 he was born to Philip III King Spain and Margaret of Austria Queen Consort Spain. Coefficient of inbreeding 10.92%. John Evelyn's Diary. 22nd September 1641. I went again to Rotterdam to receive a pass which I expected from Brussels [Map], securing me through Brabant and Flanders, designing to go into England through those countries. The Cardinal Infante, brother to the king of Spain, was then governor. By this pass, having obtained another from the Prince of Orange, upon the 24th of September I departed through Dort; but met with very bad tempestuous weather, being several times driven back, and obliged to lie at anchor off Keele, other vessels lying there waiting better weather. The 25th and 26th we made other essays; but were again repulsed to the harbour, where lay sixty vessels waiting to sail. But, on the 27th we, impatient of the time and inhospitableness of the place, sailed again with a contrary and impetuous wind and a terrible sea, in great jeopardy; for we had much ado to keep ourselves above water, the billows breaking desperately on our vessel: we were driven into Willemstad, North Brabant, a place garrisoned by the English, where the Governor of had a fair house. The works, and especially the counterscarp, are curiously hedged with quick, and planted with a stately row of limes on the rampart. The church is of a round structure, with a cupola, and the town belongs entirely to the Prince of Orange, as does that of Breda [Map], and some other places. John Evelyn's Diary. 8th October 1641. There was no Court now in the palace, the Infante Cardinal, who was the Governor of Flanders, being dead but newly, and every one in deep mourning. On 9th November 1641 Ferdinand Habsburg Spain died.
Around 1628. Gaspar de Crayer (age 43). Portrait of Philip IV King Spain (age 22) in armour.
Around 1640 Gaspar de Crayer (age 55) worked as a court painter for Leopold Wilhelm Habsburg Spain (age 26).
Before 1641 Anthony Van Dyck (age 41). Portrait of Gaspar de Crayer (age 56).
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.
1645. Gaspar de Crayer (age 60). "Caritas Romana". The scene depicted in the painting is set in Cimon's cell. Cimon, who occupies the center of the painting, is sitting with his hands tied and bound to the wall behind him, suckling at his daughter's breast. Pero is standing over her father, with her arm around his shoulder and her hand gently posed on his back.
Around 1645. Gaspar de Crayer (age 60). "Rinaldo and Armida".
in 1647 Gaspar de Crayer (age 62) received a commission from Dutch architect Jacob van Campen to assist in the decoration of Huis ten Bosch, the palace of stadtholder Frederick Henry in The Hague.
On 27th January 1669 Gaspar de Crayer (age 84) died.