The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342

The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.

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Watling Street

Wroxeter, Shropshire Dow Bridge High Cross, Warwickshire Watling Street Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans Watling Street 1h Wall to Wroxeter Watling Street 1e St Albans to Towcester Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross Watling Street 1g High Cross to Wall Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury

Watling Street is in Roman Roads.

Watling Street was a major Roman Road that travels from the Kent ports broadly north-west through London and St Albans, Hertfordshire [Map] to Viroconium Cornoviorum [Map]. Significant parts of Watling Street remain now being known as the A5.

Watling Street is number 1 in 'Roman Roads of Britain' by Ivan D Margary.

Dow Bridge [Map] is where Watling Street crossed the Warwickshire River Avon.

In the Roman Period High Cross, Warwickshire [Map] was known as Venonae. It was an important settlement being the crossing point of two major Roman Roads Watling Street and the Fosse Way.

Watling Street

Watling Street. From Durobrivae [Map] the road continues through Park Pale, Kent [Map], Vagniacis [Map], Dartford, Kent [Map], Noviomagus [Map], Bexley, Kent [Map], down Shooter's Hill, Greenwich [Map] past Eltham Common, Kent [Map] to Greenwich Park [Map] where the road either (or both):

1. went along the Old Kent Road [Map] and crossed the River Thames at either the London Bridge [Map] or a ford near Westminster Bridge [Map] after which it continued north past St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside [Map], Newgate Gate [Map], Ludgate Hill [Map] and over the River Fleet at Fleet Bridge [Map] to Marble Arch [Map].

2. continued north-west through Camberwell, Surrey [Map] crossing the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge [Map] after which it continued north to Marble Arch [Map].

Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester

Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester. From Durovernum [Map] the road continues in a north-east direction through Upper Harbledown, Kent [Map], Boughton Street, Kent [Map], Durolevo [Map], Key Street, Kent [Map], Gillingham, Kent [Map] to Durobrivae [Map] where it crosses the River Medway.

Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury

Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury. From the main Roman port of Portus Dubris [Map] to Durovernum [Map] via Kearnsey, Kent [Map], Lydden Hill, Kent [Map], Bridge, Kent [Map], and Renville, Kent [Map].

Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans

Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans. From Marble Arch [Map] Watling Street continues north-west along the Edgeware Road, Maida Vale [Map], Cricklewood [Map], Sulloniacis [Map], Radlett, Hertfordshire [Map], Park Street, Hertfordshire [Map] to Verulamium, Hertfordshire [Map] aka St Albans.

Watling Street 1h Wall to Wroxeter

Watling Street 1e St Albans to Towcester

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

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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Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross

Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross. From Lactodorum [Map] Watling Street continues north-west through Weedon, Northamptonshire [Map], Bannaventa [Map], Watford Gap, Northamptonshire [Map], Dunsmore Hill [Map], Tripontium, Warwickshire [Map] to Venonae [Map].

Watling Street 1g High Cross to Wall

Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury

Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury. Rutupiae [Map], Reculver, Kent [Map], Portus Lemanis [Map] to Durovernum [Map]. This route wasn't included in Margery's scheme for Watling Street.