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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After 1451. St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map]. The Stanley Monument to, on top, Thomas Stanley and Margaret Vernon, below, their son Edward Stanley. The monument was originally beside the high altar.
The two epitaphs at each end of the monument are believed to have been written by William Shakespeare:
Ask who lyes heare but do not weep He is not dead he doth but sleep This stoney register is for his bones His fame is more perpetual than these stones And his own goodness with himself being gone Shall lyve when earthlie monument is none
Not monumental stone preserve our Fame Nor sky aspyring pyramids our name The memory of Him for whom this stands Shall outlive marble and defacers hands When all to tyme's consumption shall be geaven Standley for whom this stands shall be in Heaven
Thomas Stanley: he was born to Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby. In or before 1563 Thomas Stanley and Margaret Vernon were married. He the son of Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby. They were third cousin once removed. In 1576 Thomas Stanley died.
Margaret Vernon: In 1540 she was born to George Vernon "King of the Peak" and Margaret Tailboys. In 1610 Margaret Vernon died.
On or before 26th April 1564 William Shakespeare was born. He was baptised on 26th April 1654.
On 23rd April 1616 William Shakespeare (age 51) died.
Around 1660 Gilbert Soest (age 55). Portrait of William Shakespeare.
Around 1670 Pieter Borsseler (age 36) (possibly). Portrait of William Shakespeare known as the Chesterfield Portrait.
Richard III was written around 1592-1594 by William Shakespeare.