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: Coke Trusley
On 5th March 1563 John Coke was born to [his father] Richard Coke of Trusley (age 33).
On 20th November 1582 [his father] Richard Coke of Trusley (age 52) died.
In 1607 [his son] John Coke was born to John Coke (age 43).
Around 1610 [his son] Thomas Coke was born to John Coke (age 46).
In 1621 John Coke (age 57) was elected MP Warwick.
In 1622 John Coke (age 58) was appointed Master of Requests.
Around 1623. Unknown Painter. Portrait of John Coke (age 59).
In 1624 John Coke (age 60) was elected MP St Germans.
In 1625 John Coke (age 61) was elected MP St Germans.
In 1626 John Coke (age 62) was elected MP Cambridge.
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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In 1628 John Coke (age 64) was elected MP Cambridge.
On 10th February 1633 [his brother] Bishop George Coke (age 62) was consecrated Bishop of Bristol.
In July 1636 [his brother] Bishop George Coke (age 65) was translated to Bishop of Hereford.
After 1640 John Coke (age 76) retired to his estates in Melbourne, Derbyshire [Map].
On 18th March 1644 [his son-in-law] Henry Danvers (age 22) and [his daughter] Anne Coke were married.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th June 1664. Thence walked with Mr. Coventry (age 36) to St. James's, and there spent by his desire the whole morning reading of some old Navy books given him of old Sir John Cooke's by the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 65) that now is; wherein the order that was observed in the Navy then, above what it is now, is very observable, and fine things we did observe in our reading.
[his daughter] Mary Coke was born to John Coke. She married 1664 Major General Charles Fleetwood.
[his daughter] Anne Coke was born to John Coke. She married 18th March 1644 Henry Danvers and had issue.
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Coke of Trusley
GrandFather: William Coke of Trusley
Father: Richard Coke of Trusley