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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Around 1390 Bishop Thomas Beckington was born at Beckington, Somerset.
In 1443 Bishop Thomas Beckington [age 53] was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.
On 13th October 1443 Bishop Thomas Beckington [age 53] was consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Chronicle of William of Worcester. [January 1465]. In the same month, Master Thomas Beckington [age 75], Keeper of the Privy Seal, died, and Master Robert Stillington [age 45], Doctor of Decrees, became his successor, and Dean of St. Martin's Church in London.
Eodem mense obiit magister Thomas Bekyngtone, cui successit magister Robertas Stilyngtone, decretorum doctor, custos Privati Sigilli ac decanus Sancti Martini Londoniæ.
On 14th January 1465 Bishop Thomas Beckington [age 75] died at Wells, Somerset [Map].
Patent Rolls. 20th January 1465. Grant to Master Robert Stillyngton [age 45], king's clerk, keeper of the privy Westminster, seal, by mainprise of John Brewester of London, 'gentilman,' and Thomas Wode of Farnham, co. Essex, 'gentilman,' of the custody of all the temporalities of the Bishopric of Bath and Wells, in the king's hands by the death of Thomas, late bishop [deceased], so long as they remain in the king's hands, rendering as much as may be agreed upon between him and the treasurer before Midsummer and supporting all charges, and also all advowsons belonging to the king by reason of the said temporalities. By K.
Patent Rolls. 29th January 1466. Mandate to the escheator in the county of Somerset for the restitution of the temporalities of the Bishopric of Bath and Wells to Master Robert Styllyngton [age 46], whom the pope has appointed bishop in the place of Thomas, late bishop, deceased, and who has renounced everything prejudicial to the king and his crown. [Foedera.] By p.s. The like to the escheators in the following counties:- Middlesex. Oxford and Berks. Gloucester. Southampton. Writ de intendendo in pursuance to the tenants.