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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 24th November 1778 Salusbury Pryce Davenport was born at Rectory, Clungunford.
In March 1805 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 26) and Jane Elizabeth Morin were married.
In September 1808 [his wife] Jane Elizabeth Morin died.
On 31st May 1810 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 31) and Maria Davenport (age 25) were married.
On 15th September 1811 [his son] William Davenport Davenport was born to Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 32) and [his wife] Maria Davenport (age 26). He married 14th November 1833 Camilla Maria Gott.
On 14th November 1833 [his son] William Davenport Davenport (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Camilla Maria Gott (age 15) were married at Malta.
In 1835 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 56) was knighted.
On 4th May 1838 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 59) changed his name by Royal License.
On 17th November 1845 Salusbury Pryce Davenport (age 66) died at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He was buried at Leckhampton Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 1st December 1866 [his former wife] Maria Davenport (age 81) died.