Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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Paternal Family Tree: Brudenell
Before 1585 Edmund Brudenell and Agnes Bussy were married.
In 1521 Edmund Brudenell was born to [his father] Thomas Brudenell (age 24).
Around 14th March 1548 [his father] Thomas Brudenell (age 51) died.
On 12th August 1566 Edmund Brudenell (age 45) received Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 32) at Deene Park, Northamptonshire [Map].
In 1569 Edmund Brudenell (age 48) was given the family crest of a seahorse.
Before 1585. Unknown Painter. Portrait of Edmund Brudenell (age 63).
In 1585 Edmund Brudenell (age 64) died.
Adeline Horsey Recollections. [his father] Sir Thomas, who was a hospitable and generous man, died in 1549, and Deene [Map] passed to his son Edmund, who married Agnes Bussey, a member of the great Lincolnshire family. Sir Edmund Brudenell carried out extensive building operations at Deene, and the numerous initials of E. and A. and the many shields with the Brudenell and Bussey arms show that he considered his alliance with their family an important one. Camden mentions that Sir Edmund had literary and antiquarian tastes, which were also possessed by his nephew Thomas, who succeeded to the estates in 1606. He also built largely, but the great Tower was not finished until about 1628. Sir Thomas was a staunch cavalier, who raised soldiers for the King's garrisons, and he was made a Baron by Charles I. After the Royal cause was lost he suffered the penalty of his loyalty and was imprisoned in the Tower [Map] for twenty years. The brave old cavalier kept a most interesting diary during his imprisonment, which is still preserved in the library at Deene; it consists of about 30 or 40 volumes of MS., which give interesting details of his confinement and the principal events of the time.
GrandFather: Robert Brudenell
Father: Thomas Brudenell
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Entwhistle
GrandMother: Margaret Entwhistle