The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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Midlothian is in Scotland.
Around 1413 Janet Borthwick was born to William Borthwick 2nd of Borthwick at Borthwick Castle. She married (1) before 22nd May 1441 James Douglas 1st Lord Dalkeith and had issue (2) 1450 George Crichton 1st Earl Caithness and had issue.
Around October 1559 James Hamilton 3rd Earl Arran [aged 27] attacked Crichton Castle.
Jean Hepburn was born to Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell at Crichton Castle. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.13%. She married (1) her half third cousin once removed John "Lord Darnley" Stewart and had issue (2) before 1567 her half third cousin John Sinclair, son of George Sinclair 4th Earl Caithness and Elizabeth Graham Countess Caithness, and had issue.
On 25th January 1350 John Douglas [aged 47] died at Dalkeith.
On 26th February 1629 Archibald Campbell 9th Earl Argyll was born to Archibald Campbell 1st Marquess Argyll [aged 21] and Margaret Douglas Marchioness Argyll [aged 19] at Dalkeith. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.20%. He married 13th May 1650 his half second cousin once removed Mary Stewart Countess Argyll, daughter of James Stewart 4th Earl of Moray and Margaret Home Countess Moray, and had issue.
On 13th May 1877 Cecil Chetwynd-Talbot Marchioness Lothian [aged 69] died at Rome, Italy [Map]. She was buried at the Church of St David's Dalkeith.
Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. The IIJd Day of the said Monneth [3rd August 1503] the Qnene departed from the said Abbay wher sche and her Company had grett Chere, and in fayr Aray and Ordre past thorough the said Towne of Hadington, wher sche was sen of the People in grett Myrthe. And from that sche paffed to hyr Lodyngs to Acquik [Dalkieth].
Half a Mylle ny to the said Towne sche apoynted hyr rychly, and hyr Ladyes and Lordes, and others of hyr Company did the same, and in fayr Ordre entred into the Castell [Map], wher cam before hyr without the Gatt the Lord of the said Place called the Counte of Morton, honnestly apoynted and acompayned of many Gentylmen in presentynge hyr the Kees of the said Castell. And she was wellcomed as Lady and Maistresse.
Betwyxt the two Gatts was the Lady Morton [aged 31] acompayned of Gentylmen and Ladyes. The wiche kneeled downe, and the said Qwene toke hyr up, and kyssed hyr, and so she was conveyd to hyr Chammer within the said Castell, the wich was well ordonned and a strong Place.
After that sche was come and well apoynted, and also hyr Lordes, Ladyes, Knyghts, Gentylmen and Gentylwomen, the Kynge cam arayd of a Jakette of Cramsyn Velvet borded with Cloth of Gold. Hys Lewre behinde hys Bake, hys Beerde somthynge long, acompayned of the Rlght Reverend Father in God my Lord th Arch Bischop of Saunte Andrews [aged 27], Brother of the said Kynge, and Chaunceller of Scotlaunde, the Bischop of Caslenate, the Erls of Huntley, Argyle [aged 54], and Lennos, and the Lord Hambleton [aged 28], Cousin of the said Kyng, with many others, Lordes, Knyghtes, and Gentylmen, to the Nombre of LX Horsys.
The King was conveyd to the Qwenes Chamber, wher she mett hym at her grett Chamber Dore, right honorable acompayned. At the Mettynge he and she maid grett Reverences the one to the tother, his Hed belng bare, and they kyssed togeder, and in lykwys kyssed the Ladyes, and others also. And he in especiall welcomed th Erle of Surrey [aged 60] varey hertly.
Then the Qnene and he went asyd and commoned togeder by long Space. She held good Manere, and he bare heded during the Tym, and many Courteyfyes passed. Incontynent was the Bord sett and served. They wasched their Haunds in humble Reverences, and after, sett them downe togeder wher many good Devyses war rehersed.
After the Soupper they wasched ageyn, with the Reverences, Mynstrells begonne to blowe, wher daunced the Qwene, acompayned of my Lady of Surrey [aged 26]. This doon, the Kynge tuke Licence of hyr, for yt was latte, and he went to hys Bed at Edinborg varey well countent of so fayr Metting, and that hee had found the fayr Company togader.
At the Castell and Abbay of Newbottell, halfe a Mille thens, was ordonned Mett and Drynke by the Space of foure Dayes that she was ther, with Liveray of Horsys, as in the Places beforsaid.
On 11th March 1725 Alexander Simpson was born at Slackend.
On 12th June 1760 David Simpson was born to Alexander Simpson [aged 35] and Isabella Grindlay at Slackend. He married 9th January 1792 Mary Jarvey and had issue.
In 1786 Isabella Grindlay died at Slackend.
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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On 26th February 1816 Alexander Simpson [aged 90] died at Slackend.
