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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Henry St John 1st Viscount St John 1652-1742

Paternal Family Tree: St John

In 1651 Walter St John 3rd Baronet [aged 28] and Johanna St John Baroness St John Lydiard Tregoze [aged 19] were married. They were sixth cousins.

On 17th October 1652 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John was baptised.

On 11th January 1673 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 20] and Mary Rich [aged 35] were married. She the daughter of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick and Anne Cheeke Countess Warwick.

On 16th June 1674 Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 26] and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick and Anne Cheeke Countess Warwick. He the son of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 52] and Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch [aged 47].

On 16th September 1678 Henry St John 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was born to Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 25] and [his wife] Mary Rich [aged 40]. He married 22nd May 1701 Frances Winchcombe Viscountess Bolingbroke, daughter of Henry Winchcombe 2nd Baronet.

On 30th September 1678 [his wife] Mary Rich [aged 40] died in childbirth.

In October 1679 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 26] was elected MP Wootton Bassett which seat he held until March 1681. He also held the seat in 1685–87, 1689–95 and 1698–1700.

Before 20th November 1684 William Estcourt 3rd Baronet [aged 30] served as foreman of the jury which acquitted Edward Nosworthy [aged 46]. During the course of the celebrations that followed in the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street an altercation broke out between Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 32] and Francis Stonehouse [aged 31]. William Estcourt 3rd Baronet was killed by either or both Henry St John 1st Viscount St John and Francis Stonehouse. Both were fined and pardoned. Baronet Estcourt of Newton in Wiltshire extinct.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th December 1684. A villainous murder was perpetrated by Mr. St. John [aged 32], eldest son to S' Walter St. John [aged 62], a worthy gentleman, on a knight of quality [Sir William Estcourt], in a tavern. The offender was sentenc'd and repriev'd. So many horrid murders and duels were committed about this time as were never before heard of in England, which gave much cause of complaint and murmurings.

Note. Following the aquittal of Edward Nosworthy the jury repaired to the Globe tavern in Fleet Street. An altercation broke out between St John and Francis Stonehouse. St. John and Edmund Webb both ran Estcourt through with their swords. Both were found guilty of murder, and condemned to death. St. John's mother [Johanna St John Baroness St John Lydiard Tregoze [aged 53]] obtained a pardon for him at the reported price of £16,000. St. John was expected to go abroad for some time, but publicly entered the next parliamentary election at Wootton Bassett a few weeks after the close of his case, and was duly elected to James II's first Parliament.

In 1685 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 32] was elected MP Wiltshire which seat he held until 1698.

On 1st January 1687 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 34] and Angelica Magdalena Pellissary Viscountess St John [aged 21] were married.

Before 1691. John Riley [aged 44]. Portrait of Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 38].

On 3rd May 1702 John St John 2nd Viscount St John was born to Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 49] and Angelica Magdalena Pellissary Viscountess St John [aged 36]. He married before 21st December 1732 Anne Furnese, daughter of Robert Furnese 2nd Baronet and Anne Balam, and had issue.

Before 21st December 1732 John St John 2nd Viscount St John [aged 30] and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Furnese [aged 20] were married.

On 5th August 1736 Angelica Magdalena Pellissary Viscountess St John [aged 70] died.

Before 1739. Circle of John Vanderbank [aged 44]. Portrait of Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 86].

On 8th April 1742 Henry St John 1st Viscount St John [aged 89] died. He was buried at St Mary's Church Battersea, Surrey. His son John [aged 39] succeeded 2nd Viscount St John, 5th Baronet St John Lydiard Tregoze in Wiltshire.

Royal Ancestors of Henry St John 1st Viscount St John 1652-1742

Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 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 10 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King William I of Scotland

Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Philip III of France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Kings Spain: Great x 15 Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon

Ancestors of Henry St John 1st Viscount St John 1652-1742

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grandson of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Iwardby

Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas St John 6 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Carew 4 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Carew 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Malyn Oxenbridge

Great x 1 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Blount of Iver in Buckinghamshire 11 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Blount of Mapledurham in Oxfordshire 12 x Great Grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Blount 13 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Grandfather: John St John 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Hungerford 8 x Great Grandson of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 1st Baron Hungerford Heytesbury 9 x Great Grandson of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Zouche 9 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 10 x Great Grandson of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Danvers

Great x 3 Grandmother: Susan Danvers

Great x 1 Grandmother: Lucy Hungerford 11 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Dormer of Wing

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Dormer

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Dormer

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Sidney

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Sidney

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham

Father: Walter St John 3rd Baronet 9 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Leighton

Grandmother: Anne Leighton

Henry St John 1st Viscount St John 10 x Great Grandson of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander St John 9 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Alexander St John 10 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Oliver St John 11 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Grandfather: Oliver St John 12 x Great Grandson of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Bulkeley

Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah Bulkeley

Mother: Johanna St John Baroness St John Lydiard Tregoze 13 x Great Granddaughter of King John of England