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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Bishop John D'Aldreby -1320

On 15th January 1300 Bishop John D'Aldreby was elected Bishop of Lincoln.

On 12th June 1300 Bishop John D'Aldreby was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. Meanwhile, the time drew near for the bishop to undertake the promised journey, and he began to appease the lord king more than usual, promising and assuring that he would do justice and provide good and faithful ministers; and his liberty was restored to him. At that same time, around the [1st August 1303], the aforesaid Prior Richard returned from the curia, and was received with joy by his brethren of Durham in the third year of his expulsion.1 The lord bishop then set his steps towards the Roman curia, but not, however, as he had promised, because Pope Boniface, mentioned above, had died. Pope Benedict having succeeded him, the lord bishop sought to be granted, for the purpose of carrying out the aforesaid business of the Holy Land, the tithes of the English Church, and also of Scotland and Ireland, for three continuous years. But he was mocked, and again poured out the very bowels of his wealth. He only managed to obtain that the Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 58] and the Bishops of Winchester and Lincoln should come in person to visit the chapter of Durham and make salutary corrections, both in head and in members. For the Bishop of Durham did not wish to conduct the visitation himself, because Pope Boniface had restricted him by issuing a special constitution on the matter (which begins Ad Audientiam), providing that the Bishops of Durham should not henceforth make a visitation except with only one religious [companion], and one cleric, and one notary. The bishop then returned to England, and in that same year Pope Benedict died; and thus, with the death of the one giving the mandate, the mandate itself expired. Afterwards, the aforesaid prior laid many complaints before the king's ears, and they could not be reconciled until the king's parliament at London, in Lent of the fourth year following.

Interim appropinquavit tempus episcopi, ut promissum iter arriperet, et incepit plus solito placare dominum regem, promisitque et assecuravit justitiam facere, et ministros præstare bonos et fideles, et restituta est ei libertas sua. Eodem tempore circa festum beati Petri ad Vincula, prædictus prior Ricardus reversus est de curia, et a fratribus suis Dunolmensibus cum gaudio susceptus est in anno tertio ejectionis suæ; et dominus episcopus ad Romanam curiam direxit gressus suos, non tamen ut promiserat, quia obierat Bonifacius papa prædictus. Succedente vero eidem papa Benedicto, dominus episcopus pro exequendo prædicto negotio Terræ Sanctæ decimas Anglicanæ ecclesiæ, Scotia et Hiberniæ, per tres annos continuos concedi sibi petiit. Sed irrisus est, effuditque iterato viscera pecuniæ suæ. Et solummodo impetravit, quod Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, Wintoniensis et Lincolniensis episcopi personaliter venirent et visitarent capitulum Dunolmense, et correctiones salubres facerent, tam in capite quam in membris. Noluit enim Dunolmensis episcopus visitare per se, eo quod dominus papa Bonifacius limitaverat eum, faciendo super hoc constitutionem specialem, (quæ "Ad Audientiam" incipit,) quod Dunolmenses episcopi non visitabunt de cætero, nisi cum uno religioso tantum, et uno clerico, et uno tabellione. Reversusque est episcopus in Angliam, et in eodem anno mortuus est ille papa Benedictus: et sic mortuo mandatore, expiravit mandatum. Deposuitque subsequenter prædictus prior ad aures regis querelas multas, nec concordari poterant usque ad parliamentum regis Londoniis, in Quadragesima anni quarti subsequentis.

Note 1. Godwin says the Prior of Durham died on his return home before reaching England.

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Life of Edward II of Caernarfon by a Monk of Bridlington. Likewise, in the same year, around the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord [6th January], John Dalderby, Bishop of Lincoln, died [on 12th January 1320]. Through his merits and prayers, divine benefits are bestowed upon many who are sick. Master Anthony Bek1, a theologian and chancellor of the same church, was elected on the second feast of Saint Agnes [28th January]. Since he was not admitted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, he went to the Roman Curia. The pope rejected him, and, at the king's insistence and also through the intervention of a considerable sum of money, Henry Burghersh was appointed bishop of the aforesaid church.

Item eodem anno circa festum Epiphaniæ Domini obiit Johannes Dalderby episcopus Lincolniensis, cujus meritis et precibus multis infirmatis divina beneficia largiuntur: et electus est magister Antonius de Bek thcologus, ejusdem ceclesiæ cancellarius, in festo Sanctæ Agnetis secundæ, sed, per archiepiscopum Cantuariensem non admissus, adivit curiam Romanam, quem papa repulit et ad regis instantiam ac etiam pecuniæ non modicæ interventionem præfectus est Henricus de Burghassche in cpiscopum ecclesiæ supradictæ.

Note 1. Anthony Bek, 1279-1343. He later became Bishop of Norwich in 1337. Not to be confused with his better known kinsman and namesake Bishop Anthony Bek, 1245-1311, Bishop of Durham.

On 12th January 1320 Bishop John D'Aldreby died.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. The final Mass was celebrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who was the Bishop of Durham, and he performed the burial rites. His ministers at the altar were two bishops: the Bishop of Winchester1, who read the Gospel, and the Bishop of Lincoln2, who read the Epistle. And so the most mighty, most prudent, and wisest king was laid to rest among his ancestors, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and the thirty-fifth of his reign.3

Ultimam autem missam celebravit patriarcha Jerosolimitanus, qui erat Dunolmensis episcopus, et officium sepulturæ peregit. Erantque ministri ejus ad altare duo episcopi, Wintoniensis scilicet qui evangelium, et Lincolniensis qui epistolam perlegerunt. Appositusque est ad patres suos rex fortissimus, prudentissimus, et sapientissimus, anno atatis suze sexagesimo octavo, et regni sui tricesimo quinto.

Note 1. Henry Woodlock, alias Merewell, formerly Prior of St. Swithun's, Winchester.

Note 2. John d'Aldreby.

Note 3. This terminates the portion of Guisborough given in MS. Lansdown, 239. After quinto, in a contemporary hand, is written,

Here end the three books compiled by Lord Walter of Guisborough, canon of Guisborough, concerning the deeds of the English from the coming of William the Bastard, the Conqueror, up to the death of the most valiant King Edward the First after the Conquest.

Expliciunt tres libri compilati a domino Waltero Guisborought canonico de Gyseburne, de gestis Anglorum ab adventu Willelmi Bastardi Conquæstoris usque ad mortem strenuissimi regis Edwardi primi post conquæstum. MS. C, C. C. Cant. 250, concludes the reign of Edward I at fol. 136, b, and continues the history of Edward II on the following page (f.137, a.) thus, "Liber Quartus. De Coronatione Regis Edwardi Secundi et Martyris."

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