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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Natural History of Ireland by Thomas Molyneux

Natural History of Ireland by Thomas Molyneux is in Prehistory.

When first the cave was opened, the bones of two dead bodies entire, not burnt, were found upon the floor, in likely hood the reliques of a husband and wife; whose conjugal affection had joyn'd them in their grave, as in their bed.

In each of the three cells was placed upon the ground, a broad and shallow cisfern, somewhat round, but rudely formed out of a kind of free-stone; they all were rounded a little at the bottom so as to be convex, and at the top were slightly hollowed, but their cavities contained but little; some of their brims or edges were sinuated or scolopt [scalloped], the diameter of these cisterns was more than two foot wide, and in their height they measured about eighteen inches from the floor.

The cell that lay upon the right hand was larger, and seemed more regular and finish'd than the rest; for rude as it was it shewed the workman: had spent more of his wild art and pains upon it, than the other two: the cistern it contained was better shaped, and in the middle of it was placed another smaller cistern, better wrought, and of a more curious make; and fill, for greater ornament, the stone that lay along as lintal, o'er the entrance of this cell was cut with many spiral, circular, and waved lines, that with their rude and shallow traces, covered the surface of the stone. This barbarous kind of carving l obeserved in many other places of this cave, promiscuously disposed of here and there, without the least rule or order but it was exprest nowhere with so much industry and profuseness, as on the stones belonging to this cell: yet tho' they were so lavish of their art, not the least footsteps of writing, or any thing like characters were found in the whole work; which my convince us; that the Danes, then in this kingdom, were not masters of any letters; for had they been we might be sure they would not have fail'd to exprest them on so remarkable an occasion, as the compleating this extraordinary monument.

The basons in the several niches of the cave, were certainly designed for altars, to offer sacrifice upon to pagan Gods, in favour, of the dead: and being three in number, shew they wert dedicated, to the deities of the three prime idols, religiously adored by all nations of the north. That this is more than bare conjecture, appears by a passage in the author we have often mentioned, Olaus Wormius, where speaking of the heathen altars of the Danes, he saysk, They built their altars here with us of various fashions; it rarely happens one single altar is found alone, but often three together, rais'd to the honour of the tree chief idols.

Note k. Ararum structuraapud nos varia, raro unican solam invenies, sæpias tres brevi intervallo aseinvicem distantes, in honorem trium primariorun idolorum erectas. Olaii Wormii monument. Dnic. lib. 1. cap. 3. pag. 7.