Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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MP Cockermouth is in Member Parliament.
In 1641 John Fenwick 1st Baronet (age 71) was elected MP Cockermouth.
In 1659 Wilfrid Lawson (age 23) was elected MP Cockermouth. He was re-elected in 1660.
In 1661 Wilfrid Lawson 1st Baronet (age 51) was elected MP Cockermouth.
In 1689 Henry Fletcher 3rd Baronet (age 27) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until 1690.
In 1690 Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until 1695.
In 1698 George Fletcher (age 32) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until 1701.
In February 1702 Thomas Lamplugh (age 45) was elected MP Cockermouth at a by-election.
In 1705 Thomas Lamplugh (age 48) was elected MP Cockermouth at a by-election.
In 1717 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 20) stood for the Cockermouth constituency after Nicholas Lechmere accepted a ministerial position and accordingly resigned the seat. However, the returning officer made a double return, returning both Lord Percy Seymour (age 20) and Sir Wilfrid Lawson. Both parties immediately petitioned against the result; Lord Percy, on the grounds that Lawson was a minor, (not having attained the age of 21), while Lawson based his petition on the grounds of bribery. Although both petitions were withdrawn, Sir Wilfrid did admit the charge and consequently, Lord Percy took the seat.
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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In 1722 Wilfrid Lawson 3rd Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until his death in 1737.
In 1754 Percy Wyndham O'Brien 1st Earl Thomond (age 41) was elected MP Cockermouth.
In 1800 Walter Spencer-Stanhope (age 49) was elected MP Cockermouth.
In 1818 John Beckett 2nd Baronet (age 42) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until 1821.
In 1830 Philip Pleydell-Bouverie (age 41) was elected MP Cockermouth.
In 1886 Wilfrid Lawson 2nd Baronet (age 56) was elected MP Cockermouth which seat he held until 1900.