Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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Roger Whitley's Diary 1690 May is in Roger Whitley's Diary 1690.
1st May 1690. Thursday, Mr Salisbury brought me a periwig, dined, & went before 3; Morgan went about 8 towards Wales; Huson about 10, to Shotwick, Cheshire; about 3, Mr Jones his man brought a letter from his Master & Streete about the lands to be sold at Northop:
2nd May 1690. Friday, Dr Angell dined with us; went about 5.
3rd May 1690. Satorday, I went to Chester, visited Scranmore & Anderson & Angell; dined with G.Mainwaring (age 47) there was Crew, Sir William Russell, Palmer, 2 other Captaines Morgan, Bedisford & Minshall, &c. after dinner came Scranmore, then Angell; I left them past 4; visited Booth; went to Jacksons, discoursed Hunt awhile in the streete; Hall Bingley, Salisbury, came after me to Jacksons, dranck a glasse of wine, left us; then came Minshall, Richard Wright, Farington, Lloyd, Hardware, &c. I left them before 7, Morgan went home with me. I found Sir Michael Bidolph (age 36) at Peele.
4th May 1690. Sonday, was not at church; William Minshall came about one, stayd till neare 6.
5th May 1690. Monday, Grice came about the lease in Shorley, retorned past 11. Lightfoote (& Lawrison) came about a lease at Lach; dined, & went about 2; Dick Minshall came about 5; Judge Burton's man with his Master's debenter; & Jackson about 7; they all stayd all night.
6th May 1690. Tuesday, Huson went to Chester with Burton's man; Bidolph, Morgan, Minshall, Jackson, his wife, &c. dined with us; about 4 came Crew, & Sherrard, then Angell; Crew & Sherrard went before 7; the rest stayd all night.
7th May 1690. Wednesday, Huson came back from Chester, &c. Hardware came in the afternoone to see Bidolph.
8th May 1690. Thursday, Jackson & his wife went home; I went with Bidolph & Minshall about 3 to Tarvyn; there was Crew, Lee, Gleg, Aldersey, &c. about the militia; we parted about 5: 9. Friday, Scranmore & G.Mainwaring (age 47) came to dine with us (daughter Mainwaring went to Utkinton, Cheshire, & Charlotte & sisters to Mrs Williams funerall at Chester) Jackson, yong Henthorne, G.Mainwaring's cosen,&c. dined with us; Salisbury came with a periwig to Bidolph they all went about 6; Henthorne about 4; Minshall & Morgan stayd all night.
10th May 1690. Satorday, dined at home; with Bidolph, Minshall & Morgan went to Chester about 2; visited the Bishop; went to Quire service; Fog & another Gentleman came to the Bishop whilest we were with him; we left him about 5; went to Jacksons; there was Taylor, Wright, his sonne (age 39), Bell. Shales, Murray, Parry, G.Mainwaring (age 47),&c. Bidolph & I left them past 7; came home.
11th May 1690. Sonday, went to church in the afternoone with Bidolph daughters, &c. Morgan came at night.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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12th May 1690. Monday, Bidolph took phisick; Hardwar came to visit him in the evening, Morgan went to Chester, past 6.
13th May 1690. Tuesday, Huson went to Wales to the Receipte; Bidolph & Hardwar to Mr Lee's; Edisbury's man brought me a letter about Roger's debt; one Britaine of Chester & his daughter dined with us.
14th May 169014. Wednesday, Bidolph I, daughters, &c. dined at home; no company, nor businesse.
15th May 1690. Thursday, Peter Bostock came about work; Kat: Calvert came to see us; Bidolph & I went towards Chester, about 10 Hoole & his daughter came to see us; we alighted at Wrights, went to G.Mainwaring's (age 47): dined there with Scranmore, Streete, 2 Lees, Minshall, Frith, Shales, &c. Crew came past 3, left us past 4; I left them past 5, visited Hunt, there was Sherrard; I went thence to the Sunne; there was Deane, Murray, 2 Anderson's, G.Mainwaring, Lee, Minshall, Johnson, Bidolph,&c. Bidolph & I went thence past 7; called at the Golden Lyon on Sir William Aston; he was at supper with Hunt, Brook, & 3 or 4 more; we left them presently. went home.
16th May 1690. Friday, Bidolph & I dined at home; after dinner came Kelsall the minister, another Kelsall & Whitley; they stayd above an houer; Bidolph went to meete Minshall at Trafford, brought him with him at night; Sefton came about carrying coales; stayd an houer.
17th May 1690. Satorday, Bidolph & Minshall dined with us & Jackson; they went to fish in the afternoone; Jackson went back at 7.
18th May 1690. Sonday, I was not at church; Bidolph & Minshall dined with us; Hardwar & his wife came with daughters & Bidolph from church; went away before supper.
19th May 1690. Monday, Jackson sent word that Scranmore woud dine with us; which he did & brought Shales, Newport & Jackson with him; Mr Gleg also came from Dodington; also Angell dined with us; they all went away in the evening; & Minshall also.
20th May 1690. Tuesday, I sent my coach to Chester to bring Mrs Mainwaring to dinner; G.Mainwaring (age 47) his wife & daughter; Deane, Murray, Pemberton, Edwards, Fernaught, with 3 Londoners, Crew, Mackworth, Hardwar, his wife, &c. dined with us; parted about 6 or 7, &c. my carts, &c. brought 16 loade of coales.
21st May 1690. Wednesday, the fast day, I was at home all day; Huson retorned at night from the Receipte in Wales: 22. Thursday, Bidolph went to the forest to fish about 11; with Houseman, & Bills; Randle Foster came to work in the little house by the well; about 5 the carts retorned with coales; severall of the men that I hyred (as 2 Seftons, Mouldsdale, &c.) came up to me in the Hall; I gave them some ale & a bottle of wine.
23rd May 1690. Friday, Huson went to the Receipte at Tarvyn; Houseman to Chester; Vernon to Staffordshire;,&c. Foster came to work, &c. Jordan also came in the evening about work; Nat. Booth's man came with a letter about 4; Mr Lee came to see us from Lady Warrington; he supt with us, stayd all night; Morgan came about 10.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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24th May 1690. Satorday, Lee went about 9; Morgan & Huson went to Tarvyn, & Chester, &c. Fletcher came in the evening.
25th May 1690. Sonday, I was not at church: Morgan & Huson came to Peele at night; I discoursed Harry Syddall about Clares removing to Moldsworth & his going in the morning with Huson to buy a fat oxe at Aston.
26th May 1690. Monday, Bostock & his men & Foster came to work; Mr Traverse came to see us & Savage to daughter Mainwaring; they dined with us, Bidolph Angell & Morgan daughters & sister Anne went (about 3) to Utkington; retorned about 7; Angell about 5; Traverse supt with us;.
27th May 1690. Tuesday, Traverse, Morgan & one Lenox (a Chester Barber) dined with us; he went about 4; Bidolph, Morgan & Traverse went a shooting; Scranmore sent his man to invite me & Bidolph to dine with him tomorrow; about 7 Bowyer of Sandwich called to see Charlotte's mayde, but would not alight; Traverse came back with Bidolph & Morgan; did stay till past 10; I left them.
28th May 1690. Wednesday, Morgan & Huson went to Chester past 8; Bidolph & I went after them past 9; went to visit G.Mainwaring (age 47) & Angell; dined with Scranmore; there was Shomberg, Newport, Cuffe, Warburton; the Bishop, Fog, Streete, Bidolph Mainwaring & Compton,&c. parted past 3, went to the Quire, then to the Bishop: then to Jacksons; the Keeper spoke with me about the paling; at Jacksons was Cuffe, Streete, Wright, Mnshull, Scranmore, Farington, &c. I left them past 7; called at Ephrahim Bennets; dranck at the doore (in the coach). Fox drank with me; we stayd not, went home [fo. 118v] May: 29. Thursday, my daughters & sister Anne went to dine with Lady Aston; I & Sidney dined at home; past 4 came the Parson of Barrow with severall of his parishoners having bin theire Perambulation to the Bounds of the Parish, they had a bottle of wine, beere, &c. & went past 5; Morgan came from Chester about 10; Huson & Thomas Hughes about 11.
30th May 1690. Friday, Partridge (a Chester gardiner) Thomas Hughes, Morgan & Bidolph dined with us; the first went away past 2; Morgan past 6; the cooper of Frodsam came about buying wood; a man with wine from Badely; Fletcher came to work.
31st May 1690. Satorday, Huson & Hughes went to Chester; no company all day.