Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Text this colour are links that disabled for Guests.
Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page.
Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.

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.

Biography of Andrew Judde 1492-1558

Before 5th September 1492 [his father] John Judde and [his mother] Margaret Chichele were married.

On 5th September 1492 Andrew Judde was born to [his father] John Judde and [his mother] Margaret Chichele at Tonbridge, Kent [Map].

In 1493 [his father] John Judde died.

Before 1523 Andrew Judde (age 30) and Mary Murfyn were married.

In 1523 [his wife] Mary Murfyn died.

Around 1537 Thomas Langton (age 22) and [his future wife] Mary Mathews were married.

In 1542 Andrew Judde (age 49) and Agnes m Judde were married.

In 1544 Andrew Judde (age 51) was elected Sheriff of London.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

In 1550 Andrew Judde (age 57) was elected Lord Mayor of London.

Before 19th November 1550 [his wife] Agnes m Judde died. She was buried at St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 19th November 1550. The xix day of November was buried my [his wife] lade Jude, ma[yress] of London, and wyff of sir Androw Jude (age 58), mayr of London, and bered in the parryche of saynt Ellen in Bysshope-gatt stret, for he gayff mony, gownes, and to the powre men and women ij C. gownes of mantyll ... and the Clarkes of London had the beryng of my lade, and then came ... with ij harolds a-for with iiij baners a-bowt her borne, and after my [lord] mayre and ys bredurne, and alle the stret and the chyrche wher hangyd with blake and with schochyons of ther armes, and a gret dolle and a grett [dinner.]

On 15th February 1551 Andrew Judde (age 58) was knighted.

Diary of Edward VI. 8th March 1551. Sir Jhon Yorke hade great losse, about 2,000 pounde weight of silver, by treason of English men, wich he brought for provision of the mintes. Also Judd (age 58)1 1,500; also Tresham (Gresham2) 500: so the hole came to 4,000 pound.

Note 1. Sir Andrew Judde, an alderman of London, the founder of Tunbridge school.

Note 2. Sir John Gresham (age 56), another alderman, uncle of the celebrated sir Thomas (age 32).

Before 1552 Thomas Langton and [his future wife] Mary Mathews were married.

In 1552 Andrew Judde (age 59) and Mary Mathews were married.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th September 1558. [The xiv day of September was buried sir Andrew Jud (age 66), skinner, merchant of Muscovy, and late mayor of London; with a] .... pennon of armes, and a x dosen penselles ... skochyons, and a herse of wax of v prynse [pals, garnished with] angelles, and a (blank) pormen [poor men] in nuw gownes, and master Clarenshus kyng of armes, and master Somersett harold, [and the morrow] masse and a sermon, and after my lord mare and the althermen had (unfinished)

Note. P. 173. Funeral of sir Andrew Judd. A name still well known as the founder of Tunbridge school. He also founded the Skinners' almshouses near Saint Helen's, Bishopsgate: see Herbert's City Companies, ii. 350. He had been sheriff in 1544, and lord mayor in 1551. His monument still remains in St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, and has kneeling effigies of himself, the first of his three wives, four sons, and one daughter: it is engraved in Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata, 1825, where also is a full memoir of him. Maitland, p. 1107, has printed the poetical epitaph without his name: it bears out our diarist's designation of him as a "merchant of Muscovy,"—

To Russia and Muscovea,

To Spayne, Gynny, withoute fable

Travaild he by land and sea

Both mayor of London and staple, &c.

"His only daughter Alice was maried to Tho. Smith customer, mother to sir John, sir Thomas, and sir Richard, now living." (1605). Arms, quarterly, 1 and 4, Gules, a fess regulée between three boar's heads couped argent; 2 and 3, Azure, three lyons rampant argent. (List by Wm. Smith, Rouge-dragon.)

Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

After 4th October 1558 Alderman James Altham (age 29) and [his wife] Mary Mathews were married.

Before 14th September 1588 Andrew Judde (age 96) died.

In 1602 [his former wife] Mary Mathews died.

Ancestors of Andrew Judde

Father: John Judde

Andrew Judde

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Chichele

GrandFather: Valentine Chichele

Mother: Margaret Chichele