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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
The London Gazette 5000-9999 is in The London Gazette.
St, James's, September 9 [1715]. His Majesty has been pleased to direct Letters Patents to pass the Seals for granting the Dignity of Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain to Robert Chaplin (age 45) of the Inner-Temple, Esq;
Whitehall, May 7.
His Majesty (age 64) has been pleased to order Letters Patents to pass the Great Seal for granting the Dignity of a Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain unto Henry Fermor, of Welche alias Welckes, in the County of Sussex, and of Sevenoak in the County of Kent, Esq; [Note. The Baronetcy was created with a special remainder, in default of male issue, to Charles Eversfield 2nd Baronet (age 17) who was a first cousin twice removed of his then wife's (Catherine Thomas) first husband Thomas Eversfield of Grove, Hastings. This suggests the Baronectcy was being awarded to his wife rather than him?]
His Majesty has been pleased to confer the Honour of Knighthood on Pr. Conrad Sprengell, Member of the College of Physicians, and Fellow bf the Royal Society.
27th May 1725. His Majesty has been pleased to order Letters Patents to be passed under the Great Seal of Great Britain, containing a Grant of the Dignity of a Baron of the Kingdom of Great Britain unto Sir Peter King (age 56), Kt, Lord Chief Justice of His Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, by the Name, Stile and Title of Lord King Baron of Ockham in the County of Surrey.
Whitehall, July 15 [1726].
His Majesty has been pleased to create his Highness Prince Frederick (age 19), a Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, and Duke of the Kingdom of Great Britain, by the Names Stiles and Titles of Baron of Snaudon in the County of Caernarvon, Viscount of Lanceston in the County of Cornwall, Earl of Eltham in the County of Kent, Marquess of the Isle of Wight [Note. An error for Isle of Ely], and Duke of Edinburgh.
His Majesty has been pleased to create his Highness Prince William (age 5), a Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, and Duke of the Kingdom of Great Britain, by the Names Stiles and Titles of Baron of the lsle of Alderney, Viscount of Trematon in the Councy of Cornwall, Earl of Kinnington in the County of Surrey, Marquess of Berkhamstead in the County of Hertford, and Duke of Cumberland.
Whitehall, February 29 [1731]. His Majesty has been pleased to grant unto John Baron, Master of Arts, the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, void by the Promotion of the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Thomas Tanner (age 57) to the Bishoprick of St. Asaph.
His Majesty has been pleased to confer the Dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain upon Robert Brown of the City and Liberty of Westminster, Esq;. [Note. Created with a special remainder to his brothers.]
Whitehall, October 29 [1757]. The King has been pleased to constitute and appoint the Right Honourable Sir John Ligonier, Knight of the Bath, to be Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Land Forces in Great Britain.
The King has been pleased to grant unto George Smith (age 43), of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Esq; and of East Stoke in the said County, Esq; and to his Heirs Male, the Dignity oa a Baronet of the Unite Kingdom of Great Britain. [Mary Howe Lady Smith (age 31) by marriage Lady Smith of Nottingham and East Stoke in Nottinghamshire]
Admiralty-Office, May 13 [1758]
On the 26th of last Month, His Majesty's Ship the Windsor, of 60 Guns, commanded by Capt. Faulkner, with the Escorte Frigate, were sent from Plymouth, in order to intercept two French Frigates, and three Storeships under their Convoy, which sailed a few Days before to the Dunkirk Road to the Westward. On the 27th towards Noon, about 16 Leagues from the Ramhead, Capt. Faulkner was in Sight of them, when the two Frigates brought to in a Line, as if they intended to receive him, and the Storeships continued standing to the Westward. When the Windsor came within about two Gun Shot of the Frigates, they made all the Sail they could towards the Coast of France: Upon which Capt. Faulkner sent the Escorte after the Storeships, while he gave Chace to the Frigates, and continued it till Four in the Afternoon; when finding they greatly outsailed him, he gave it over, and made after their Convoy, which could then but just be discerned from the Poop. The next Morning at Day-light, only one of them was to be seen, which the Windsor came up with and took. She is called the St. Peter, of near 400 Tuns Burthen, and far Cargo confistel of Provisions, and 1000 Stand of Arms, intended for Quebec. Another of these Storeships was fallen in with the fame Day by a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships to the Westward, commanued by Capt. Pratten, and was taken by Capt, Douglas in the Alcide. She is called the Baden, is about the same Size with the other, and loaded with Provisions.
On the 29th, about Three o'Clock in the Afternoon, Capt. Pratten seeing a Sail to the S. W. made a Signal for the Dorsetshire, of 70 Guns, and 520 Men, commanded by Captain Denis (age 45), to give Chace; and soon after observing the Chace to be a large Ship, dispatched the Achilles, of 60 Guns, commanded by the Honourable Captain Barrington, also after her, and then followed them with the rest of the Squadron. About Seven o'Clock the Dorsetshire came up with the Chace, which proved to be the Raisonable, a French Ship of War of 64 Gun, and 630 Men, and Capt. Denis began to engage her very closely, and they continued warmly engaged till about Nine o'Clock, when the Enemy's Ship, commanded by the Prince de Mombazon, Chevalier de Rohan, struck, having suffered greatly in her Hull, and had 61 Men killed, and 100 wounded. She was going from l'Orient to Brest, a new Ship, not above four or five Months off the Stocks. The Dorsetshire's Masts, Yards, and Sails, were greatly shattered. She had 15 Men killed, and 21 wounded, in the Action; and one of the Wounded is since dead.
Advice is received from Rear Admiral Broderick, who was oh his Passage to the Mediterranean, that, on the 13th of last Month, in the Latitude of 48:00, His Majesty's Ship the Prince George, of 80 Guns, in which the Rear Admiral hoisted his Flag, took Fire at Half an Hour after One in the Afternoon, and after burning down to the Water's Edge, the Remnant of her funk at a little before Six in the Evening. The Rear Admiral fays, he could not then give a particular Account of the People who were on board her, being about 780; but he feared the Number lost far exceeded ths Number saved.
Whitehall, November 13 [1759]. The King has been pleated to grant unto Sir Samuel Fludyer (age 55), Knt. Alderman of the City of London, and his Heirs Male, and in Default of such Issue, to Thomas Fludyer, of the said City of London, Esq; Brother to the said Sir Samuel Fludyer, and his Heirs Male, the Dignity of a Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Whitehall, March 22 [1760].
The King has been, pleased, in Consideration of the, many great, and eminent Services rendered unto His Majesty by Charles Watson, Esq; deceased, late Vice Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet, and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships in the East Indies, to grant unto Charles Watson (age 8), Esq. only Son of the said Charles Watson, and to his Heirs Male, the Dignity of a Baronet of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The King has been pleased to constitute and appoint James Wallace, Esq; Sir Francis Haskins Eyles Stiles, Bart, the Hon. Horatio Townshend (age 42), Francis Vernon, Esqrs. Sir Roger Burgoyne (age 49), Bart. Robert Pell, Esq; together with John Rule, Esq. Commisioners for Victualling His Majesty's Navy Royal.
The King has been pleased to constitute and appoint John Paul Yvounet, Edward Montagu, Robert Coney, and John Cowsland, together with John Bridges the Younger, Esqrs. to be Commissioners for Appeals and regulating ths Duties of Excise.