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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Between 1590 and 1593. John Critz [aged 39]. Portrait of Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton [aged 16]. The Latin inscription 'In vinculis invictus' ("in chains unconquered")
Around 1602 John Critz [aged 51]. Portrait of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 38].
Around 1604 John Critz [aged 53] is believed to have contributed to the Somerset House Conference painting of the negotiation of the Treaty of London in which Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 68], Charles Howard 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 68], Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 41], Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 63] and Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 40] are represented on the right side.
Around 1605 John Critz [aged 54]. Portrait of Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland [aged 30].
Around 1605 John Critz [aged 54]. Portrait of Anne Vavasour [aged 45].
Around 1605 John Critz [aged 54]. Portrait of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 38] with Garter Collar and Leg Garter.
Around 1606 John Critz [aged 55]. Portrait of Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford [aged 26].
In 1607 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 56] was appointed Sarjeant Painter to King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 40] sharing the office with John Critz [aged 56].
In 23rd June 1607 Princess Sophia Stewart died. She was buried in Westminster Abbey were she has a monument resembling a crib by Maximilian Colt [aged 32], gilded by John Critz [aged 56].
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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In 1609 John Critz [aged 58] and Sarah Pookes were married. She the widow of Cornelis de Neve the Elder and mother of painter Corneilus de Neve [aged 7].
Around 1615 John Critz [aged 64]. Portrait of William Parker 4th Baron Monteagle 14th Baron Marshal 13th Baron Morley [aged 40].
Around 1615 John Critz [aged 64]. Portrait of Mary Sidney Lady Wroth [aged 28] holding a Theorbo.
Mary Sidney Lady Wroth: In 1587 she was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester. In 1683 Mary Sidney Lady Wroth died.
Before 14th March 1642 John Critz [aged 91] died. He was buried on 14 Mar 1642.