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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Groom of the Bedchamber is in Grooms.
In 1532 John Seymour [aged 58] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber.
In 1622 James Palmer [aged 36] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber.
On 12th April 1645 Colonel William Legge was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 44].
After 1657 Colonel Silius Titus [aged 34] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 26] for having published a pamphlet "Killing No Murder" advocating the assassination of Oliver Cromwell [aged 57].
Before 20th March 1658 Edward Wray was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber.
In 1665 Henry Savile [aged 23] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to the Duke of York [aged 31].
In 1670 Sidney Godolphin 1st Earl Godolphin [aged 24] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber.
From 1673 to May 1678 Henry Savile [aged 31] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 42].
John Evelyn's Diary. 16th May 1675. This day was my dear friend, Mrs. Blagg [aged 22], married at the Temple Church [Map] to my friend, Mr. Sidney Godolphin [aged 29], Groom of the Bedchamber to his Majesty [aged 44].
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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John Evelyn's Diary. 11th June 1683. The Lord Dartmouth [aged 10] was elected Master of the Trinity House; son to George Legge [aged 36], late Master of the Ordnance, and one of the grooms of the bedchamber; a great favorite of the Duke's [aged 49], an active and understanding gentleman in sea affairs.
In 1714 General Henry Cornewall [aged 29] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George I [aged 53]. He continued to serve in Royal Household until the King's death in 1727.
In 1714 John Trelawny 4th Baronet [aged 22] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 6].
In 1718 Langham Booth [aged 33] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales.
In 1720 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet [aged 23] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George I [aged 59] which position he held until 1725.
In 1727 Thomas Paget was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 43].
In 1728 James Lumley [aged 22] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 20].
In 1733 John Evelyn 2nd Baronet [aged 26] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 25].
In 1760 James Peachey 1st Baron Selsey [aged 36] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 21].
After 31st July 1760 John Waldegrave 3rd Earl Waldegrave [aged 42] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber.
On 12th November 1764 Edward Ligonier 1st Earl Ligonier [aged 24] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to William Henry Hanover 1st Duke Gloucester and Edinburgh [aged 20].
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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On 24th August 1765 Henry Wallop [aged 22] was appointed a Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 27] which office he held until 1771.
Before 1794 Henry Wallop [aged 50] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 55].
In August 1812 Augustus Cavendish-Bradshaw [aged 44] was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber, worth £500 a year.
Henry Murray of Berkhampstead was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.