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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On 29th August 1189 King John of England [aged 22] and [his future wife] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 16] were married at Marlborough Castle [Map]. He by marriage Earl Gloucester. See Gesta Regis Henrici and Gesta Regis Henrici by Benedict of Peterborough. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 67]. They were half second cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In or before 1191 [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 28] and [his mother] Beatrice Saye were married.
Around 1191 Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex was born to [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 29] and [his mother] Beatrice Saye.
In 1199 [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 37] was created 1st Earl Essex.
Around April 1200 King John of England [aged 33] and [his future wife] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 27] marriage annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England [aged 12] who he married on 24th August 1200.
Before 1204 [his brother-in-law] Henry Bohun 1st Earl Hereford [aged 27] and [his sister] Maud Mandeville Countess Hereford [aged 26] were married. She by marriage Countess Hereford. She the daughter of [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 41] and [his mother] Beatrice Saye. He the son of Humphrey Bohun and Margaret Dunkeld Duchess Brittany.
In or before 1205 [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 42] and Aveline Clare Countess Essex were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. She the daughter of Roger Clare 2nd Earl Hertford and Maud St Hilary Countess Hertford.
In 1213 [his father] Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex [aged 51] died. His son Geoffrey [aged 22] succeeded 2nd Earl Essex. [his future wife] Matilda Clare Countess Essex by marriage Countess Essex.
Before 1214 Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex [aged 22] and Matilda Clare Countess Essex were married. He the son of Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex and Beatrice Saye.
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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On 20th January 1214 Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex [aged 23] and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 41] were married. She by marriage Countess Essex, Countess Gloucester. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex and Beatrice Saye.
On 15th June 1215 King John of England [aged 48] met with his Baron's at Runnymede [Map] where he agreed to the terms of the Magna Carta which attempted to reduce the King's authority through political reform. Those who signed as surety included:
Roger Bigod 2nd Earl Norfolk [aged 71]
his son Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk [aged 33]
[his brother-in-law] Henry Bohun 1st Earl Hereford [aged 39]
Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford [aged 62]
his son Gilbert Clare 5th Earl Gloucester 4th Earl Hertford [aged 35]
William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 25]
William Mowbray 6th Baron Thirsk [aged 42]
Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester [aged 45]
Robert Ros [aged 43], Richard Percy 5th Baron Percy Topcliffe [aged 45]
Robert de Vere 3rd Earl of Oxford [aged 50]
Eustace Vesci [aged 46]
John Fitzrobert 3rd Baron Warkworth [aged 25]
John Lacy Earl Lincoln [aged 23].
William de Albini [aged 64], Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex [aged 24]
William Forz 3rd Earl Albemarle
William Hardell
William Huntingfield
William Llanvallei
William Malet 1st Baron Curry Mallet
Roger Montbegon, Richard Montfichet
Geoffrey Saye [aged 60] signed as surety the Magna Carta.
Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 45] witnessed.
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On 23rd February 1216 Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex [aged 25] was killed in a tournament. His brother William succeeded 3rd Earl Essex.
In September 1217 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent [aged 47] and [his former wife] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 44] were married. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester.
On 14th October 1217 [his former wife] Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex [aged 44] died.
Father: Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex
Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex 
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Saye 
GrandFather: William Saye
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey Mandeville
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Mandeville
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adeliza Unknown
Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Mandeville
Great x 3 Grandfather: Eudo Dapifer
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Dapifer
Mother: Beatrice Saye