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: Paston
Between April 1440 and November 1440 [his father] John Paston [aged 18] and [his mother] Margaret Mautby were married.
In 1442 John Paston was born to [his father] John Paston [aged 20] and [his mother] Margaret Mautby.
On 5th November 1459 John Fastolf [aged 79] died at Caister, Norfolk [Map]. He was buried at St Benet's Abbey, Norfolk [Map]. William Yelverton [aged 59] was executor. Fastolf's will was disputed by Yelverton and the other executors once it was discovered that [his father] John Paston [aged 38] was to inherit the estates. The dispute between Yelverton and Paston was taken up by the Lord Chancellor's office and went on for many years.
On 22nd May 1466 [his father] John Paston [aged 44] died.
In 1469 Roger Townshend [aged 44] bought numerous holdings in Norfolk from Sir John Paston [aged 27], his client who owed him a considerable sum.
On 14th April 1471 Edward IV [aged 28] commanded at the Battle of Barnet supported by his brothers George [aged 21] and Richard [aged 18], John Babington [aged 48], Wiliam Hastings [aged 40] (commanded), Ralph Hastings, William Norreys [aged 30], William Parr [aged 37], John Savage [aged 49], William Bourchier Viscount Bourchier [aged 41], Thomas St Leger [aged 31], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 45], Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 40], John Scott [aged 48] and Thomas Strickland.
The Yorkists William Blount [aged 29], Humphrey Bourchier [aged 36], Henry Stafford [aged 46] and Thomas Parr were killed.
Humphrey Bourchier 1st Baron Cromwell [aged 40], was killed. Baron Cromwell extinct.
The Lancastrians...
Warwick the Kingmaker [aged 42] was killed. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu and Baron Monthermer forfeit on the assumption he was attainted either before or after his death; the date of his attainder is unknown. If not attainted the titles may have been abeyant between his two daughters Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence [aged 19] and Anne Neville Queen Consort England [aged 14].
John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 40] was killed. Marquess Montagu, Baron Montagu forfeit; unclear as to when he was attainted. He was buried at Bisham Abbey [Map].
William Tyrrell was killed.
William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele [aged 43] was killed. His son Henry [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Baron Saye and Sele. Anne Harcourt Baroness Saye and Sele by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.
Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 40] commanded the left flank, was badly wounded and left for dead, Henry Stafford and John Paston [aged 27] were wounded, John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 28] commanded, and John Paston [aged 29] and William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 33] fought.
Robert Harleston [aged 36] was killed.
Thomas Hen Salusbury [aged 62] was killed.
Thomas Tresham [aged 51] escaped but was subsequently captured and executed on the 6th of May 1471.
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Paston Letters Volume 5 782. 18th April 1471. 774. Sir John Paston [aged 29] to [his mother] Margaret Paston.
To my Moodre
Moodre, I recomande me to yow, letyng yow wette that, blyssed be God, my brother John [aged 27] is a lyffe and farethe well, and in no perell off dethe. Never the lesse he is hurt with an arow on hys ryght arme, be nethe the elbow; and I have sent hym a serjon, whyche hathe dressid hym, and he tellythe me that he trustythe that he schall be all holl with in ryght schort tyme. It is so that John Mylsent is ded, God have mercy on hys sowle! and Wylliam Mylsent is on lyffe, and hys other servants all be askepyd by all lyklihod. Item, as ffor me, I ame in good case, blyssyd be God; and in no joparte off my lyffe, as me lyst my self; for I am at my lyberte iff nede bee.
Item, my Lorde Archebysshop [aged 39] is in the Towr; neverthelesse I trust to God that he schall do well i noghe; he hathe a saffe garde for hym and me bothe. Neverthelesse we have ben troblyd syns, but nowe I undrestande that he hathe a pardon; and so we hope well.
Ther was kyllyd uppon the ffelde, halffe a myle ffrom Bernett, on Esterne Daye, the Erle of Warwyk [deceased], the Marqweys Montacu [deceased], Sir William Terrell, Sir Lewes Johns, and dyverse other Esquiers off owr contre, Godmerston and Bothe.
And on the Kynge Edwardes partye, the Lord Cromwell [deceased], the Lord Saye [deceased], Sir Omffrey Bowghsher off owr contre, whyche is a sore moonyd man her, and other peple off bothe part yes to the nomøre off mor then a Ml [1,000].
As for other tythynges, is undrestande her that the Qwyen Margrett is verrely londyd and hyr sone in the west contre, and I trow that as to morow, or ellys the next daye, the Kynge Edwarde wyll depart ffrom hense to hyr warde, to dryve her owt ageyn.
Item, I beseche yow that I may be recomendyd to my cosyn Lomner, and to thanke hym for hys goode wyll to me wardes, iff I had hadde nede, as I undrestoode by the berer heroff; and I beseche you on my behalve to advyse hym to be well ware off hys delyng or langage as yit, ffor the worlde, I ensur yow, is ryght qwesye, as ye schall know with in thys monthe; the peple heer feerythe it soor.
God hathe schewyd Hym selffe marvelouslye lyke Hym that made all, and can undoo ageyn whan Hym lyst; and I kan thynke that by all lyklyod schall schewe Hym sylff as mervylous ageyn, and that in schort tyme; and, as I suppose, offter than onys in casis lyke.
Item, it is soo that my brother is on purveyed off monye. I have holpyn hym to my power and above. Wherffor as it pleasythe yow remembre hym, Wherffor kan not purveye ffor my selffe in the same case.
Wretyn at London the thorysdaye in Esterne weke. I hope hastely to see yow.
All thys bylle most be secrett. Be ye not adoghtyd off the worlde, ffor I trust all schall be wen. Iff it thusse contenewe, I ame not all undon, nor noon off us; and iff otherwyse, then, &c. &c.
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Paston Letters Volume 5 782. 781. Sir JOHN PASTON [aged 29] To John Paston3
To hys well belovyd John Paston, Esquier, at Norwyche, or to Mestresse [his mother] Margret, his Modre.
28th September 1471
I COMANDE me to yow, letyng yow weet that, &c.4
I wolde ffayne have the mesur wher my ffadre lythe at Bromholm; bothe the thyknesse and compase off the peler at hys hed, and ffrom that the space to the alter, and the thyknesse off that alter, and imagery off tymbre werk; and what hyght the arche is to the grounde off the ilde, and how hye the grounde off the qwyr is hyer than the grownde off the ilde.
Item, I praye yowe late the me sur by pekthred be taken or elt mesured by yerde, how moche is ffrom the northe gate, ther the brygge was, at Gressham to the sowthewall, and in lyke fforme ffrom the este syde to the west, also the hyght off the estewall, and the hyght of the sowthest towr ffrom the grownde, iff ye maye easely. Also what bred de every towr is within the wall, and whych towr is moor then other within.
Alsso how manye ffote, or what brede eche towr takythe within iche corner off the quadrate1 ovyrthwert the dorys, and how many taylors yards is from the moote syde, wher the brygg was, to the hyghe weye, or to the heddge all a longe the entre, and what brede the entre is be twyen the dykys. I praye yow, iff ye have a leyser in any wyse, se thys doone yowrselffe iff ye maye; or ellys iff Pampyng do it, or who that ye thynke can doo it, I wolle spende xxd. or as ye seme to have the sertayn off every thyng her in. And as for my Hiders tombe, I charge yow se it yowr selffe, and when I speke with yow I woll tell yow the cawses why that I desyr thys to be doon.
As ffor tydyngs, the Kyng, and the yen, and moche other pepell, ar ryden and goon to Canterbery, nevyr so moche peple seyn in Pylgrymage hertofor at ones, as men seye.
Alsso it is seyde that the Erle of Penbroke [aged 39]2 is taken on to Brettayn; and men saye that the Kynge schall have delyvere off hym hastely, and som seye that the Kynge off France woll hym saffe, and schall sett hym at lyberte ageyn.
Item, Thomas Fauconbrydge [deceased] hys hed was yesterdaye sett uppon London Brydge, lokyng into Kent warde; and men seye that hys brother was sor hurte, and scope to seyntwarye [sanctuary] to Beverle [Map].
Sir Thomas FulfForthe escaped owt of Westminster with an C. sperys, as men seye, and is in to Devenshyr; and ther he hathe strekyn off Sir John Crokkers hed, and kylt an other knyght off the Corteneys, as men seye. I wolde ye hadd yowr verry pardon at onys; wherfor I praye yow ffayle not to be at London within iiij. daye afftr Seynt Feythe;1 ye schall do goode in many thynges, and I praye yow sende me worde heroff by the next mas senger; and if it come to Mestresse Elysabeth H yggens, at the Blak Swan, sche schall conveye it to me, fFor I woll not fFayle to be ther at London ageyn within thys vj. dayes.
Mestresse Elysabeth hathe a son, and was delyveryd within ij. dayes afFtr Seynt Bertelmew;2 and hyr dowtr A. H. was the next daye afftr delyveryd off an other sone, as sche seythe, xj. weks er hyr tyme; it was crystened John, and is ded. God save all! No mor tyll I speke with yow.
Wretyn at London on Mychellmesse Evyn.
J. P., K.
Item, I praye yow late some wytty felaw, or ellys yowrselff, goo to the townes ther as thes ij. women dwelle, and inquire whether they be maryed syns and ageyn or not, ffor I holde the hoorys weddyd; and iff they be, than the appelys wer abbatyd ther by. I remembr not ther names; ye knowe them better then I. Alsso in the Schreffvys bookys ther maye ye ffynde off them
Note 3. [From Fenn, ii. 80.] The evidences of date in this letter are the same as in the last.
Note 4. Here follows an account that the Duchess of Suffolk and Duke of Norfolk intend again commencing appeals against Sir John Paston and his brother, etc., concerning Caister, etc.-F.
Note 2. Jasper Tudor.
Note 1. A drawing is here given in the original letter, apparently designed as a plan of the quadrangle of Gresham, of which the subjoined is a facsimile.
Note 1. 5 th of October.
Note 2. 24 th of August.
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In 1479 John Paston [aged 37] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Clement Paston 
GrandFather: William Paston
Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Somerton
Father: John Paston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund Barry
GrandMother: Agnes Barry
GrandFather: John Mautby
Mother: Margaret Mautby