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 Northampton is in Member Parliament. See Northampton [Map].
In October 1553 Francis Morgan (age 42) was elected MP Northampton.
In April 1554 Francis Morgan (age 43) was elected MP Northampton.
In 1597 Henry Yelverton (age 30) was elected MP Northampton. He was elected again in 1604 and 1614.
In 1690 Thomas Samwell 1st Baronet (age 36) was elected MP Northampton which seat he held until February 1694.
In August 1727 George Compton 6th Earl of Northampton (age 35) was elected MP Northampton.
On 13th April 1744 George Montagu (age 31) was elected MP Northampton which seat he held unti 1754.
In 1761 Spencer Compton 8th Earl of Northampton (age 22) was elected MP Northampton.
In 1780 George Rodney 2nd Baron Rodney (age 26) was elected MP Northampton.
In 1782 Charles Bingham 1st Earl Lucan (age 46) was elected MP Northampton.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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In 1830 George Robinson 5th Baronet was elected MP Northampton which seat he held until 1832.
In 1831 Robert Smith aka Vernon 1st Baron Lyveden (age 30) was elected MP Northampton which seat he held until 1859.