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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Ayrshire is in Scotland.
Around 1836 James Currie was born in Ayr.
In 1362 was born to King Robert II of Scotland (age 45) and Euphemia Ross Queen Consort Scotland at Dundonald Castle. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England. She married before 1387 her half first cousin once removed and had issue.
On 24th October 1769 (age 46) was shot and killed by an excise officer or Gaudger (Scots) named Mungo Campbell following a dispute about the latter's right to bear arms on the Earl's grounds. The Earl died from his abdominal wounds late that evening at one o'clock on the morning of the 25th October 1769 at Eglinton Castle. His brother Archibald (age 43) succeeded 11th Earl Eglinton.
John Brown, tide-officer or tide-waiter (a customs officer who boarded and inspected incoming ships) at Saltcoats, gave evidence that on the day of the earl's death, Tuesday 24 October 1769, he was on duty and walking with Mungo Campbell "They passed through the grounds of Montfodd, and thereafter crossed a burn, which is the march between Montfodd and the earl of Eglintoun's property, and went through lord Eglintoun's ground towards the sea."
The trial of Mungo Campbell, before the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland, for the murder of Alexander Earl of Eglintoun. Extracted from the records of the court:
That the earl faid to him, That he might have a right to carry a gun, but not upon his lands, without his liberty. That the pannel upon this faid to the earl, I beg your lordfhip's pardon: or, I beg your pardon. That at this time lord Eglintoun was difmounted from his horfe, and advancing nearer the pannel, who again was retiring fometimes backwards, at other times tideways, having his mufket dill pointed at the earl. But the deponent did not obferve whether he had his hand upon the cock or not; neither drd the deponent hear any threatnings uled by the pannel againft the earl. Depones, whein the pannel was retreating, he fell clofe by where the deponent was fitting on his horfe, and by his fall frightened the deponent's horfe, fo that the horfe reeled a little; during which time the deponent did not obferve the pannel, but immediately thereafter, having got -his horfe fettled, he faw the pannel half fitting half lying, and faw him point his gun towards Lord Eglintoun, and immediately fire it. — That at this time lord Eglintoun was within two or three yards of the pannel. That upon this lord Eglintoun gave three or four loud cries, that he was gone. Depones, that the pannel fired his gun without putting it to his fhoulder, but raifed the butt above his haunch, and pointed it at the earl.
Campbell was convicted of murder but hanged himself with a silk scarf provided by his friends before the sentence could be carried out.
A map of the lands of Montfode and Ardrossan in 1769 showing the details of the incident.
: On 10th February 1723 he was born to Alexander Montgomerie 9th Earl Eglinton and . On 18th February 1729 Alexander Montgomerie 9th Earl Eglinton died. His son Alexander succeeded 10th Earl Eglinton.
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On 16th December 1853 Theresa Howe Newcomen (age 44) died at Eglinton Castle.
In 1470 was born to (age 15) and (age 31) at Maybole. He married (1) before 29th September 1494 Agnes Borthwick (2) before 1509 his half second cousin , daughter of Thomas Boyd 1st Earl Arran and .
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 1271 Robert Bruce Earl Carrick (age 27) and Marjorie Carrick 3rd Countess Carrick (age 18) were married at Turnberry Castle. He by marriage Earl Carrick. She the daughter of Niall Carrick 2nd Earl Carrick and . They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
On 11th July 1274 King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland was born to Robert Bruce Earl Carrick (age 31) and Marjorie Carrick 3rd Countess Carrick (age 21) at Turnberry Castle. He married (1) 1296 his fifth cousin Isabella Mar, daughter of Donald Mar 7th Earl of Mar and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar, and had issue (2) 1302 his fifth cousin once removed Elizabeth Burgh Queen Consort Scotland, daughter of and , and had issue.