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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Paternal Family Tree: Courtenay
In 1477 William "Great" Courtenay was born to [his father] William Courtenay (age 26) and [his mother] Cecily Cheney.
After 1503 William "Great" Courtenay (age 26) and Margaret Edgecumbe (age 22) were married.
In 1509 [his son] George Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 32) and [his wife] Margaret Edgecumbe (age 28) at Powderham, Devon. He married before 1529 his half fourth cousin Katherine St Leger and had issue.
In 1512 [his father] William Courtenay (age 61) died.
Before 27th October 1512 William "Great" Courtenay (age 35) and Mary Gainsford (age 13) were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years.
In 1519 [his wife] Margaret Edgecumbe (age 38) died.
In June 1520 Henry VIII (age 28) hosted Field of the Cloth of Gold at Balinghem [Map].
Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset (age 42) carried the Sword of State.
Bishop John Stokesley (age 45) attended as Henry VIII's chaplain.
Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye (age 36), Gruffydd ap Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 42), Anthony Poyntz (age 40), William Coffin (age 25), William "Great" Courtenay (age 43), Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 37), William Paston (age 41), William Denys (age 50), Richard Cecil (age 25), William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton (age 37), Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 22), John Mordaunt 1st Baron Mordaunt (age 40), Henry Guildford (age 31), Marmaduke Constable (age 40), William Compton (age 38), William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy (age 42), Thomas Cheney (age 35), Henry Willoughby (age 69), John Rodney (age 59), John Marney 2nd Baron Marney (age 36), William Sidney (age 38), John de Vere 14th Earl of Oxford (age 20), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 49), Edmund Walsingham (age 40), William Skeffington (age 55) and Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West (age 63) attended.
William Carey (age 20) jousted.
William Sandys 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne (age 50) organised.
Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford (age 15) attended.
Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham (age 50), Robert Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby 10th Baron Latimer (age 48), Anthony Wingfield (age 33), William Scott (age 61), Thomas Wriothesley (age 32), Bishop Thomas Ruthall (age 48), Margaret Dymoke aka Mistress Coffin (age 20) and Edward Chamberlayne (age 36) were present.
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In 1521 [his daughter] Catherine Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 44) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 22).
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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In 1521 [his daughter] Gertrude Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 44) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 22). She married 1529 John Chichester and had issue.
Around 1521 [his son] Philip Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 44) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 22).
In 1521 [his son] James Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 44) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 22).
In 1523 [his son] John Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 46) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 24).
Before 1529 [his son] George Courtenay (age 19) and [his daughter-in-law] Katherine St Leger (age 14) were married. They were half fourth cousins.
In 1529 [his son-in-law] John Chichester and [his daughter] Gertrude Courtenay (age 8) were married.
In 1529 [his daughter] Elizabeth Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 52) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 30).
On 14th January 1529 [his son] George Courtenay (age 20) died.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1533 [his son] Thomas Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay (age 56) and [his wife] Mary Gainsford (age 34).
In 1535 William "Great" Courtenay (age 58) died.
After 1535 Anthony Kingston (age 27) and [his former wife] Mary Gainsford (age 36) were married. She the widow of William "Great" Courtenay (deceased).
On 12th February 1572 [his former wife] Mary Gainsford (age 73) died.
[his son] Anthony Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay and Margaret Edgecumbe.
[his son] Peter Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay and Margaret Edgecumbe. He married 1549 Elizabeth Shilston.
[his father] William Courtenay and [his mother] Cecily Cheney were married.
[his son] Henry Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay and Margaret Edgecumbe.
[his son] Nicholas Courtenay was born to William "Great" Courtenay and Margaret Edgecumbe.
Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 10 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 11 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 18 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Courtenay Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bohun Countess Devon 
Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Courtenay 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Wake 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Courtenay 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Champernoun
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Champernoun 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Astley 3rd Baron Astley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Astley 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Astley 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandFather: William Courtenay 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hungerford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzjohn
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Hussey 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Hussey
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hungerford 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Peverell
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Peverell
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor or Catherine Peverell 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Courtenay 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Muriel Moels
Father: William Courtenay 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bonville 
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bonville
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Aumale
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Aumale
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Fitzroger
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzroger 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Holland 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzroger 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Margaret Bonville 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Grey 1st Baron Grey Ruthyn 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 2nd Baron Grey Ruthyn 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hastings Baroness Grey Ruthyn 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 3rd Baron Grey Ruthyn 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Strange 2nd Baron Strange Blackmere 
3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alianore Strange Baroness Grey Ruthyn 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ankaret Boteler Baroness Strange Blackmere 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Grey 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ros 2nd Baron Ros Helmsley 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Badlesmere Baroness Ros of Helmsley 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Ros Baroness Grey Ruthyn 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Countess Stafford 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
William "Great" Courtenay 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Mother: Cecily Cheney