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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Cobham
Around 1260 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham was born to [his father] John Cobham (age 19) and [his mother] Joan Septvans.
Before 1285 [his son] John Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham was born to Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 24) and [his future wife] Maud Moreville (age 20) at Cobham, Kent. He married (1) Agnes Stone Baroness Cobham (2) Joan Beauchamp, daughter of John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Somerset and Joan Cheduit Baroness Beauchamp Somerset, and had issue.
Before July 1285 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 25) and Maud Moreville (age 21) were married.
In July 1285 [his wife] Maud Moreville (age 21) died.
In 1298 [his mother] Joan Septvans died.
In 1300 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 40) was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
In March 1300 [his father] John Cobham (age 59) died at Cobham, Kent.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In 1304 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 44) was appointed Constable of Rochester Castle.
In 1307 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 47) was appointed Warden of the Cinque Ports.
On 8th January 1313 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 53) was created 1st Baron Cobham.
In 1315 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 55) was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
On 31st March 1317 [his brother] Bishop Thomas Cobham (age 49) was appointed Bishop of Worcester.
On 22nd May 1317 [his brother] Bishop Thomas Cobham (age 49) was consecrated Bishop of Worcester.
On 14th April 1322 Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere (age 46) was tried by Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 62) at Canterbury, Kent [Map].
Sentenced to death Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere was drawn for three miles behind a horse to Blean, Canterbury, where he held property, where he was beheaded. His head was displayed on the Burgh Gate, Canterbury and the rest of his body left hanging at Blean, Canterbury. He was buried at Whitefriars. His nephew Henry Burghesh's (age 30) lands were also seized. These were restored around 1326.
In 1324 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 64) was appointed Constable of Dover Castle.
In 1324 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 64) was appointed Constable of Tonbridge Castle.
On 27th August 1327 [his brother] Bishop Thomas Cobham (age 59) died.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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On 25th August 1339 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 79) died at Hache, Somerset. His son John (age 54) succeeded 2nd Baron Cobham. Agnes Stone Baroness Cobham by marriage Baroness Cobham.
[his father] John Cobham and [his mother] Joan Septvans were married.
GrandFather: Robert Septvans
Mother: Joan Septvans
