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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Morice
In or before 1628 [her father] William Morice (age 25) and Elizabeth Prideaux were married.
Around 1653 Anne Morice Lady Pole was born to [her father] William Morice (age 50).
Around 1666 John Pole 3rd Baronet (age 16) and Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 13) were married.
On 12th December 1676 [her father] William Morice (age 74) died.
In 1678 [her son] William Pole 4th Baronet was born to [her husband] John Pole 3rd Baronet (age 28) and Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 25).
Around 1683 [her daughter] Urith Pole Lady Trevelyan was born to [her husband] John Pole 3rd Baronet (age 33) and Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 30). She married in or before 1697 John Trevelyan 2nd Baronet, son of George Trevelyan 1st Baronet and Mary Willoughby Lady Trevelyan.
On 25th May 1686 [her son] Carolus Pole was born to [her husband] John Pole 3rd Baronet (age 36) and Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 33).
Before 1691. John Riley (age 44). Portrait of Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 37).
Before 13th April 1695 [her father-in-law] Courtenay Pole 2nd Baronet (age 76) died. He was buried in Shute, Devon. His son [her husband] John (age 45) succeeded 3rd Baronet Pole of Shute House in Devon. Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 42) by marriage Lady Pole of Shute House in Devon.
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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Before 1696 Jacob Huysmans (age 62). Portrait of Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 42).
In or before 1697 [her son-in-law] John Trevelyan 2nd Baronet (age 26) and [her daughter] Urith Pole Lady Trevelyan (age 13) were married. She by marriage Lady Trevelyan of Nettlecombe.
Around 1697 [her daughter] Urith Pole Lady Trevelyan (age 14) died.
On 13th March 1708 [her husband] John Pole 3rd Baronet (age 58) died. His son [her son] William (age 30) succeeded 4th Baronet Pole of Shute House in Devon.
Around 28th February 1713 Anne Morice Lady Pole (age 60) died.