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All About History Books
The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Paternal Family Tree: Chaucer
Around 1343 Geoffrey Chaucer was born.
Before 1367 Geoffrey Chaucer (age 23) and Philippa Roet (age 20) were married at St Mary de Castro Leicester, Leicestershire [Map].
In or before 1367 Hugh Swynford and [his sister-in-law] Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 16) were married.
Around 1367 [his son] Thomas Chaucer was born to Geoffrey Chaucer (age 24) and [his wife] Philippa Roet (age 21).
In June 1368 Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 29) and Violante Visconti (age 14) were married in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Milan [Map]. The wedding festivities were lavish and ostentatious. The banquet, held outside, included 30 courses of meat and fish presented fully gilded. Between the courses the guests were given gifts such as suits of armour, bolts of cloth, war horses, arms, and hunting dogs. Among the guests were Geoffrey Chaucer (age 25), Petrarch, Jean Froissart and John Hawkwood. He the son of King Edward III of England (age 55) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 53). They were fourth cousin once removed.
Around 1387 [his wife] Philippa Roet (age 41) died.
In September 1389 the Scrope vs Grosvenor Case was brought to the Court of Chivalry. Up to that time two families, Scrope and Grosvenor, had been using the armorial 
Scrope Arms: Azure, a bend or.
Several hundred witnesses were called including John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 49), Geoffrey Chaucer (age 46) and John Savile of Shelley and Golcar (age 64).
On 3rd September 1386 Owain ap Gruffudd "Glyndŵr" Mathrafal Prince Powys (age 27) gave evidence at the Church of John the Baptist, Chester [Map].
The Court decided in favour of Scrope.
Neither party was happy with the decision so King Richard II (age 22) was called upon to give his personal verdict.
On 27th May 1390 he confirmed that Grosvenor could not bear the undifferenced arms.
As a consequence of the case the Grosvenor has for many years used the name Bendor for horses and nicknames.
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On 25th October 1400 Geoffrey Chaucer (age 57) died. He was buried at Poets Corner Westminster Abbey [Map].
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
John Evelyn's Diary. 9th June 1654. Dined at Marlborough [Map], which having been lately fired, was now new built. At one end of this town, we saw my Lord Seymour's (age 64) house, but nothing observable save the Mount, to which we ascended by windings for near half a mile. It seems to have been cast up by hand. We passed by Colonel Popham's (age 49), a noble seat, park, and river. Thence, to Newbury [Map], a considerable town, and Donnington, famous for its battle, siege, and castle, this last had been in the possession of old Geoffrey Chaucer. Then to Aldermaston, a house of Sir Humphrey Forster's, built à la moderne. Also, that exceedingly beautiful seat of my Lord Pembroke (age 33), on the ascent of hill, flanked with wood, and regarding the river, and so, at night, to Cadenham, the mansion of Edward Hungerford (age 21), Esq, uncle to my wife (age 19), where we made some stay. The rest of the week we did nothing but feast and make good cheer, to welcome my wife.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th June 1663. By and by in comes Sir J. Minnes (age 64) and Sir W. Batten (age 62), and so we sat talking. Among other things, Sir J. Minnes brought many fine expressions of Chaucer, which he doats on mightily, and without doubt he is a very fine poet1. Sir W. Pen (age 42) continues lame of the gout, that he cannot rise from his chair. So after staying an hour with him, we went home and to supper, and so to prayers and bed.
Note 1. Pepys continued through life an admirer of Chaucer, and we have the authority of Dryden (age 31) himself for saying that we owe his character of the Good Parson to Pepys's recommendation.
John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd August 1667. Went to Mr. Cowley's (deceased) funeral, whose corpse lay at Wallingford House, and was thence conveyed to Westminster Abbey [Map] in a hearse with six horses and all funeral decency, near a hundred coaches of noblemen and persons of quality following; among these, all the wits of the town, divers bishops and clergymen. He was interred next Geoffry Chaucer, and near Spenser. A goodly. Monument is since erected to his memory.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Chaucer was born to Geoffrey Chaucer and Philippa Roet.