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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Biography of James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale 1736-1802

Paternal Family Tree: Lowther

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Aldersley Baroness Coventry 1580-1653

On 22nd June 1731 [his father] Robert Lowther (age 49) and [his mother] Katherine Pennington were married. They were first cousin twice removed.

On 5th August 1736 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale was born to [his father] Robert Lowther (age 54) and [his mother] Katherine Pennington.

In September 1745 [his father] Robert Lowther (age 63) died.

On 10th December 1748 Michael le Fleming 4th Baronet was born to William Fleming 3rd Baronet. At some point in his life he changed his surname from Fleming to Le Fleming. James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 12) became his guardian. He married 23rd November 1782 Diana Howard Lady le Fleming, daughter of Thomas Howard 14th Earl Suffolk 7th Earl Berkshire, and had issue.

On 19th March 1757 [his brother-in-law] Henry Vane 2nd Earl Darlington (age 30) and [his sister] Margaret Lowther Countess Darlington (age 29) were married at London. He the son of Henry Vane 1st Earl Darlington (age 52) and Grace Fitzroy Countess Darlington (age 59).

On 6th March 1758 Henry Vane 1st Earl Darlington (age 53) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Henry (age 31) succeeded 2nd Earl Darlington, 2nd Viscount Barnard, 4th Baron Barnard. [his sister] Margaret Lowther Countess Darlington (age 30) by marriage Countess Darlington.

On 7th September 1761 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 25) and Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 20) were married. She the daughter of John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 48) and Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 43).

In 1764 [his mother] Katherine Pennington died.

On 8th April 1765 [his brother-in-law] Harry Powlett 6th Duke Bolton (age 44) and [his sister] Katherine Lowther Duchess of Bolton (age 29) were married. He the son of Harry Powlett 4th Duke Bolton and Catherine Parry.

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 5th July 1765 Charles Powlett 5th Duke Bolton (age 47) committed suicide at Grosvenor Square, Belgravia shooting himself in the head with a pistol. His brother [his brother-in-law] Harry (age 44) succeeded 6th Duke Bolton, 11th Marquess Winchester, 11th Earl Wiltshire, 11th Baron St John. [his sister] Katherine Lowther Duchess of Bolton (age 29) by marriage Duchess Bolton.

On 12th November 1766 [his brother-in-law] John Stuart 1st Marquis of the Isle of Bute (age 22) and Charlotte Jane Windsor Marchioness Bute (age 20) were married. He the son of [his father-in-law] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 53) and [his mother-in-law] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 48). They were half fifth cousin once removed.

Before 26th January 1779 Thomas Hudson (age 78). Portrait of James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 42).

Before 1781 John Dawson 1st Earl Portarlington (age 36) and [his sister-in-law] Caroline Stuart Countess Portarlington (age 18) were married. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 67) and [his mother-in-law] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 62).

On 24th May 1784 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 47) was created 1st Earl Lonsdale. [his wife] Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 43) by marriage Countess Lonsdale.

On 24th May 1784 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 47) was created 1st Baron Lowther. [his wife] Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 43) by marriage Baroness Lowther.

In 1785 John Dawson 1st Earl Portarlington (age 40) was created 1st Earl Portarlington. [his sister-in-law] Caroline Stuart Countess Portarlington (age 22) by marriage Countess Portarlington.

On 10th March 1792 [his father-in-law] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 78) died. His son [his brother-in-law] John (age 47) succeeded 4th Earl Bute. Charlotte Jane Windsor Marchioness Bute (age 46) by marriage Countess Bute.

On 26th October 1797 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 61) was created 1st Viscount Lowther. [his wife] Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 56) by marriage Viscountess Lowther.

On 12th December 1799 [his brother-in-law] John Stuart 1st Marquis of the Isle of Bute (age 55) was appointed Fellow of the Royal Society.

On 28th January 1800 [his brother-in-law] John Stuart 1st Marquis of the Isle of Bute (age 55) and Frances Coutts Marchioness Bute were married. She by marriage Marchioness of the Isle of Bute. He the son of [his father-in-law] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute and [his mother-in-law] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute.

Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses

Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.

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On 10th September 1800 [his sister] Margaret Lowther Countess Darlington (age 72) died. She has a monument sculpted by Richard Cooke at St Mary's Church, Staindrop [Map] commissioned by her son [his nephew] William Henry Vane 1st Duke Cleveland (age 34).

Margaret Lowther Countess Darlington: In 1728 she was born to Robert Lowther and Katherine Pennington. On 19th March 1757 Henry Vane 2nd Earl Darlington and she were married at London. He the son of Henry Vane 1st Earl Darlington and Grace Fitzroy Countess Darlington. On 6th March 1758 Henry Vane 1st Earl Darlington died. His son Henry succeeded 2nd Earl Darlington, 2nd Viscount Barnard, 4th Baron Barnard. She by marriage Countess Darlington.

On 24th May 1802 James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale (age 65) died. His third cousin once removed William (age 44) succeeded 2nd Viscount Lowther, 2nd Baron Lowther. Augusta Fane Countess Lonsdale (age 40) by marriage Viscountess Lowther.

On 5th April 1824 [his former wife] Mary Stuart Countess Lonsdale (age 83) died.

Royal Ancestors of James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale 1736-1802

Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings Godwinson: Great x 23 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Ancestors of James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale 1736-1802

Great x 3 Grandfather: Christopher Lowther

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Lowther of Lowther Hall

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Lowther 1st Baronet

GrandFather: Richard Lowther

Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Fletcher

Father: Robert Lowther

James Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

GrandFather: Joseph Pennington 2nd Baronet

Mother: Katherine Pennington 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Lowther of Lowther Hall

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Lowther 1st Baronet

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Lowther

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Fletcher

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Lowther 1st Viscount Lonsdale

Great x 4 Grandfather: James Bellingham

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Bellingham 1st Baronet

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bellingham

GrandMother: Margaret Lowther Lady Pennington 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Thynne

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Thynne

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Hayward

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Thynne 1st Baronet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Lyte aka Howard 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Howard 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Thynne Viscountess Lonsdale 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Coventry

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Coventry 1st Baron Coventry

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Coventry Lady Thynne Kempsford

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Aldersley of Spurstow in Cheshire

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Aldersley Baroness Coventry