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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Biography of Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury 1682-1747

Paternal Family Tree: Bruce of Elgin

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth May Viscountess Campden 1562-1643

On 31st August 1676 [his father] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 20) and [his mother] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 21) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Seymour and [his grandmother] Mary Capell Duchess Beaufort (age 45). He the son of [his grandfather] Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 50). They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 29th May 1682 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury was born to [his father] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 26) and [his mother] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 27).

In 1697 [his mother] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 42) died.

On 27th April 1700 [his father] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 44) and [his step-mother] Charlotte Argenteau Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 21) were married at Brussels [Map]. She by marriage Countess Elgin, Countess Ailesbury. The difference in their ages was 22 years. He the son of [his grandfather] Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury.

Around 1706 Thomas Howard 8th Duke of Norfolk (age 22) was in secret negotiations for a marriage to [his sister] Elizabeth (age 17), daughter of [his father] Thomas Bruce (age 50), 2nd earl of Ailesbury. When her brother, Charles (age 23), the future 3rd earl, discovered the intrigue he was horrified. He insisted that he would never give his consent to her marrying a Catholic, though he seems to have been just as worried about the 'worldly concerns' of Catholics who were 'in a very precarious way', as about their religious beliefs, citing the bill to limit their rights of inheritance which was then before Parliament. Instead, Norfolk began his pursuit of Maria (age 13), then only thirteen, daughter of Nicholas Shireburn 1st Baronet (age 47).

On 15th May 1707 [his brother-in-law] George Brudenell 3rd Earl Cardigan (age 21) and [his sister] Elizabeth Bruce 3rd Countess Cardigan (age 18) were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cardigan. She the daughter of [his father] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 51) and [his mother] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

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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In 1710 [his daughter] Mary Bruce was born to Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 27) and [his future wife] Anne Savile (age 19). She married 21st December 1728 her fifth cousin Henry Brydges 2nd Duke Chandos, son of James Brydges 1st Duke Chandos and Mary Lake, and had issue.

In December 1711 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 29) by writ of acceleration 4th Baron Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire.

Harley's Dozen

On 1st January 1712 Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46), on behalf of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 50), created a number of new Baronies to balance power in Parliament, known as Harley's Dozen,...

Allen Bathurst 1st Earl Bathurst (age 27) was created 1st Baron Bathurst.

Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 29) by writ of acceleration 3rd Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire.

James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 24) by writ of acceleration 6th Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.

Thomas Foley 1st Baron Foley (age 38) was created 1st Baron Foley.

George Granville 1st Baron Lansdowne (age 45) was created 1st Baron Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon. Mary Villiers Baroness Lansdowne by marriage Baroness Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon.

George Henry Hay 8th Earl Kinnoull (age 22) was created 1st Baron Hay of Pedwardine in Herefordshire.

Thomas Mansel 1st Baron Mansel (age 44) was created 1st Baron Mansel of Margam. Martha Millington Baroness Mansel by marriage Baroness Mansel of Margam.

Samuel Masham 1st Baron Masham (age 33) was created 1st Baron Masham of Otes in Essex. Abigail Hill Baroness Masham (age 42) by marriage Baroness Masham of Otes in Essex.

Henry Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge (age 48) was created 1st Baron Burton.

Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor Bromham (age 53) was created 1st Baron Trevor Bromham.

Thomas Willoughby 1st Baron Middleton (age 39) was created 1st Baron Middleton. Elizabeth Rothwell Baroness Willoughby and Middleton by marriage Baroness Middleton.

Thomas Windsor 1st Viscount Windsor (age 42) was created 1st Baron Mountjoy.

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Before 1717 [his daughter] George Bruce was born to Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 34) and [his wife] Anne Savile (age 25).

Before 1717 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 34) and Anne Savile (age 25) were married. She the daughter of William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax and Elizabeth Grimston. He the son of Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 60) and Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In July 1717 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 35) and Juliana Boyle (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Charles Boyle 2nd Earl Burlington and Juliana Noel Countess Burlington (age 45). He the son of Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 61) and Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. They were second cousins.

On 18th July 1717 [his wife] Anne Savile (age 26) died.

On 21st March 1720 [his brother-in-law] Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington (age 25) and [his former sister-in-law] Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington (age 21) were married. She by marriage Countess Burlington. She the daughter of William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax and Mary Finch Duchess Roxburghe (age 43). He the son of Charles Boyle 2nd Earl Burlington and [his mother-in-law] Juliana Noel Countess Burlington (age 48). They were fourth cousin once removed.

On 21st December 1728 [his son-in-law] Henry Brydges 2nd Duke Chandos (age 20) and [his daughter] Mary Bruce (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 46) and [his former wife] Anne Savile. He the son of James Brydges 1st Duke Chandos (age 55) and Mary Lake. They were fifth cousins.

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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In 1730 [his brother-in-law] Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington (age 35) was appointed 548th Knight of the Garter by King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (age 46).

In 1732 [his son-in-law] Benjamin Bathurst and [his daughter] Elizabeth Bruce were married. She the daughter of Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 49) and [his former wife] Anne Savile. He the son of Allen Bathurst 1st Earl Bathurst (age 47) and Catherine Apsley Countess Bathurst Sussex.

On 14th August 1738 [his daughter] Mary Bruce (age 28) died.

On 30th August 1738 [his son] Robert Bruce died.

In 1739 [his wife] Juliana Boyle (age 42) died.

In March 1739 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 56) and Caroline Campbell Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 18) were married. The difference in their ages was 38 years. She the daughter of John Campbell 4th Duke Argyll (age 46) and Mary Drummond Bellenden. He the son of Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 83) and Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 16th December 1741 [his father] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury (age 85) died. His son Charles (age 59) succeeded 4th Earl Elgin, 3rd Earl Ailesbury, 3rd Viscount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire. [his wife] Caroline Campbell Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 20) by marriage Countess Elgin, Countess Ailesbury.

In 1745 [his sister] Elizabeth Bruce 3rd Countess Cardigan (age 56) died.

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.

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On 17th April 1746 Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 63) was created 1st Baron Bruce of Tottenham in Wiltshire with a special remainder to his nephew [his nephew] Thomas Brudenell 1st Earl Ailesbury (age 16).

On 19th December 1747 Field Marshal Henry Seymour-Conway (age 26) and [his former wife] Caroline Campbell Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] John Campbell 4th Duke Argyll (age 54) and Mary Drummond Bellenden.

On 17th January 1803 [his former wife] Caroline Campbell Countess Elgin and Ailesbury (age 82) died.

[his son] Robert Bruce was born to Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury and Anne Savile. He married Frances Blackett, daughter of William Blackett 1st Baronet and Julia Conyers.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Bruce was born to Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury and Anne Savile. She married 1732 Benjamin Bathurst, son of Allen Bathurst 1st Earl Bathurst and Catherine Apsley Countess Bathurst Sussex.

[his daughter] Mary Bruce Duchess Richmond was born to Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury and Caroline Campbell Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. She married 1st April 1757 her half sixth cousin Charles Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond, son of Charles Lennox 2nd Duke Richmond and Sarah Cadogan Duchess Richmond.

Royal Ancestors of Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury 1682-1747

Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 26 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury 1682-1747

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Bruce

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Bruce 1st Lord Kinloss

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin

GrandFather: Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Chichester 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Chichester 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Courtenay 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Chichester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Denys

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Denys 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Blount 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Chichester 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Harrington

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Harington 1st Baron Harington

Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney

Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Harrington

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Keilway

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Keilway Baroness Harington

Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily Bulstrode

Father: Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Seymour 1st Duke of Somerset 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Seymour 1st Earl Hertford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stanhope Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Seymour 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Grey Countess Hertford Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Seymour 2nd Duke of Somerset 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 2 Grandmother: Honora Rogers

GrandFather: Henry Seymour 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Knollys

Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Devereux Duchess of Somerset 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Walsingham

Great x 3 Grandfather: Francis Walsingham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joyce Denny 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Walsingham Countess Essex 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry St Barbe of Ashington Somerset

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ursula St Barbe

Mother: Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Capell 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Arthur Capell 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Manners 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Capell 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Grey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Grey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Browne 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Helen Roper

Great x 2 Grandmother: Theodosia Montagu 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Harrington

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington

Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney

GrandMother: Mary Capell Duchess Beaufort 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Morrison

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Morrison 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Morrison 1st Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Clerke

Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothea Clerke

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Morrison Baroness Capell Hadham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hicks

Great x 3 Grandfather: Baptist Hicks 1st Viscount Campden

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Hicks Lady Cooper and Morrison

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard May

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth May Viscountess Campden