Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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On 8th May 1858 John Meade Falkner was born at Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire [Map].
In 1894 John Meade Falkner (age 35) published Handbook for Travellers in Oxfordshire.
In 1895 John Meade Falkner (age 36) published his novel The Lost Stradivarius.
In 1898 John Meade Falkner (age 39) published his novel Moonfleet.
In 1899 John Meade Falkner (age 40) published History of Oxfordshire.
In 1902 John Meade Falkner (age 43) published Handbook for Berkshire.
From 1902 John Meade Falkner (age 43) lived at Divinity House (now the University Music School) on Palace Green in front of Durham Cathedral [Map].
In 1903 John Meade Falkner (age 44) published his novel The Nebuly Coat.
In 1915 John Meade Falkner (age 56) was Chairman of Armstrong Whitworth Co., one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world.
In 1921 John Meade Falkner (age 62) became Honourary Reader in paleography at the University of Durham, as well as Honourary Librarian to the Dean and Chapter Library of Durham Cathedral [Map].
In 1925 John Meade Falkner (age 66) published A History of Durham Cathedral Library, with an Additional Chapter on some Late Durham Bibliophiles, authored with H.D. Hughes.
On 22nd July 1932 John Meade Falkner (age 74) died. He was buried at St John the Baptist Church, Burford.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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After 22nd July 1932. Durham Cathedral [Map]. Memorial in the South Cloister to John Meade Falkner (deceased).