Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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Paternal Family Tree: Compton
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Whittle 1696
In 1686 [his father] George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 21) and [his mother] Jane Fox Countess Northampton (age 17) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton and [his grandmother] Mary Noel Countess Northampton.
On 2nd May 1687 James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton was born to [his father] George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 22) and [his mother] Jane Fox Countess Northampton (age 18).
In 1702 [his father] George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 37) was appointed Privy Council.
In 1710 James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 22) was elected MP Warwickshire.
On 1st January 1712 Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46), on behalf of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 50), created a number of new Baronies to balance power in Parliament, known as Harley's Dozen,...
Allen Bathurst 1st Earl Bathurst (age 27) was created 1st Baron Bathurst.
Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 29) by writ of acceleration 3rd Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire.
James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 24) by writ of acceleration 6th Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.
Thomas Foley 1st Baron Foley (age 38) was created 1st Baron Foley.
George Granville 1st Baron Lansdowne (age 45) was created 1st Baron Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon. Mary Villiers Baroness Lansdowne by marriage Baroness Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon.
George Henry Hay 8th Earl Kinnoull (age 22) was created 1st Baron Hay of Pedwardine in Herefordshire.
Thomas Mansel 1st Baron Mansel (age 44) was created 1st Baron Mansel of Margam. Martha Millington Baroness Mansel by marriage Baroness Mansel of Margam.
Samuel Masham 1st Baron Masham (age 33) was created 1st Baron Masham of Otes in Essex. Abigail Hill Baroness Masham (age 42) by marriage Baroness Masham of Otes in Essex.
Henry Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge (age 48) was created 1st Baron Burton.
Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor Bromham (age 53) was created 1st Baron Trevor Bromham.
Thomas Willoughby 1st Baron Middleton (age 39) was created 1st Baron Middleton. Elizabeth Rothwell Baroness Willoughby and Middleton by marriage Baroness Middleton.
Thomas Windsor 1st Viscount Windsor (age 42) was created 1st Baron Mountjoy.
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In 1716 James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 28) and Elizabeth Shirley Countess Northampton (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. He by marriage Baron Ferrers of Chartley. He the son of George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 51) and Jane Fox Countess Northampton (age 47).
On 25th December 1717 Robert Shirley 1st Earl Ferrers (age 67) died. His son Washington (age 40) succeeded 2nd Earl Ferrers, 8th Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. Mary Levinge Countess Ferrers by marriage Countess Ferrers. His granddaughter [his wife] Elizabeth (age 23) succeeded 15th Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
On 10th June 1721 [his mother] Jane Fox Countess Northampton (age 52) died.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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On 3rd July 1726 [his father] George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 61) and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Rushout Countess Northampton were married. She by marriage Countess of Northampton. He the son of [his grandfather] James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton and [his grandmother] Mary Noel Countess Northampton.
On 15th April 1727 [his father] George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton (age 62) died. His son James (age 39) succeeded 5th Earl of Northampton. [his wife] Elizabeth Shirley Countess Northampton (age 32) by marriage Countess of Northampton.
On 13th March 1741 [his wife] Elizabeth Shirley Countess Northampton (age 46) died. Baron Ferrers of Chartley abeyant.
On 19th December 1751 [his son-in-law] George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend (age 27) and [his daughter] Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton were married. He by marriage Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire. She the daughter of James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 64) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Shirley Countess Northampton. They were sixth cousins.
On 3rd October 1754 James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 67) died. His brother [his brother] George (age 62) succeeded 6th Earl of Northampton. His daughter [his daughter] Charlotte succeeded 7th Baroness Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.
[his daughter] Charlotte Compton 16th Baroness Ferrers Chartley 7th Baroness Compton was born to James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton and Elizabeth Shirley Countess Northampton. She married 19th December 1751 her sixth cousin George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend, son of Charles Townshend 3rd Viscount Townsend and Audrey aka Etheldreda Harrison, and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 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 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 16 Grand Son of Louis VII King of the Franks
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Compton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Compton 1st Baron Compton 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Talbot Countess Pembroke 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Compton 1st Earl of Northampton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Hastings Baroness Compton 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Spencer Compton 2nd Earl of Northampton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Spencer 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Spencer
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Spencer Countess Northampton
GrandFather: James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Beaumont 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Beaumont 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Bassett 
13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Beaumont 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Armstrong
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Armstrong
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Beaumont Countess of Northampton 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: George Compton 4th Earl of Northampton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Noel 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Andrew Noel
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hopton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Noel 2nd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Harrington 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mabel Harrington
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hicks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baptist Hicks 1st Viscount Campden
Great x 2 Grandmother: Juliana Hicks Viscountess Campden
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard May
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth May Viscountess Campden
GrandMother: Mary Noel Countess Northampton
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Wotton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Wotton 1st Baron Wotton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Wotton 2nd Baron Wotton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Hester Wotton Viscountess Campden
James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Fox of Farley Wiltshire 
GrandFather: Stephen Fox
Great x 1 Grandmother: Christian Palfreyman
Mother: Jane Fox Countess Northampton
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Whittle of the City of London
GrandMother: Elizabeth Whittle