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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Sheen Priory, Richmond is in Richmond, Surrey [Map], Priories in England.
Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map] was a Carthusianmonastery founded for 40 monks in 1414 within the royal manor of Sheen [Richmond], on the south bank of the Thames. All above-ground traces of the priory have disappeared.
On 9th September 1513 at the Battle of Flodden was fought at the Branxton, Northumberland [Map]. the English army was commanded by Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 70], Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 40], Edmund Howard [aged 35], Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 45], Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle [aged 51] and Marmaduke Constable [aged 56].
The English army included: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford [aged 59], William Conyers 1st Baron Conyers [aged 44], Thomas Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley [aged 41] and Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape [aged 45].
Father and son Ralph ellerker of risby in yorkshire and Ralph Ellerker were knighted by Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey, as were Marmaduke Constable [aged 33], William Constable [aged 38], George Darcy 1st Baron Darcy Aston [aged 16], Edmund Walsingham [aged 33], Thomas Burgh 7th Baron Cobham 5th Baron Strabolgi 1st Baron Burgh [aged 25] and Walter Stonor [aged 36].
John Booth [aged 78], Randall Babington, John Bigod [aged 38] and Thomas Fitzwilliam [aged 39], Christopher Savage [aged 49], Thomas Venables [aged 44] and Brian Tunstall [aged 33] were killed.
Bryan Stapleton of Wighill [aged 55] was killed. (Some reports have him dying in 1518).
The Scottish army suffered heavy casualties:
King James IV of Scotland [aged 40] was killed. His body was taken to London, then to Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map]; thereafter it disappeared. His son James [aged 1] succeeded V King Scotland.
Archbishop Alexander Stewart [aged 20] was killed.
David Kennedy 1st Earl Cassilis [aged 43] was killed. His son Gilbert [aged 18] succeeded 2nd Earl Cassilis. Isabel Campbell Countess Cassilis by marriage Countess Cassilis.
William Sinclair 2nd Earl Caithness [aged 54] was killed. His son John succeeded 3rd Earl Caithness.
Matthew Stewart 2nd Earl Lennox was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Earl Lennox.
William Hay 4th Earl Erroll was killed. His son William [aged 18] succeeded 5th Earl Erroll.
John Douglas 2nd Earl Morton was killed. His son James succeeded 3rd Earl Morton, 6th Lord Dalkeith.
Adam Hepburn 2nd Earl Bothwell was killed. His son Patrick [aged 1] succeeded 3rd Earl Bothwell.
Alexander Stewart 4th of Garlies [aged 32] was killed. His son Alexander [aged 6] succeeded 5th Lord Garlies.
Alexander Elphinstone 1st Lord Elphinstone was killed. His son Alexander [aged 3] succeeded 2nd Lord Elphinstone.
Thomas Hay, George Hepburn Bishop Isles [aged 59], Adam Hepburn Master [aged 56], Thomas "Younger of Cushnie" Lumsden
William Douglas 6th Lord Drumlanrig was killed. William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig succeeded 7th Lord Drumlanrig.
George Seton 5th Lord Seton was killed. His son George succeeded 6th Lord Seton.
John Hay 2nd Lord Hay of Yester was killed. His son John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Lord Hay of Yester. Elizabeth Douglas Lady Hay by marriage Lord Hay of Yester.
Henry Sinclair 3rd Lord Sinclair [aged 48] was killed. His son William succeeded 4th Lord Sinclair.
James Stewart 1st Lord of Traquair [aged 33] was killed. His son William [aged 7] succeeded 2nd Lord Traquair.
John Maxwell 4th Lord Maxwell [aged 57] was killed. His son Robert [aged 20] succeeded 5th Lord Maxwell.
George Home 4th Lord Home and John Stewart 2nd Earl Atholl [aged 38] fought.
William Graham 1st Earl Montrose [aged 49] was killed. His son William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Earl Montrose.
Robert Erskine 4th Lord Erskine 16th Earl of Mar was killed. His son John [aged 26] de jure 17th Earl Mar, Lord Erskine.
Thomas Stewart 2nd Lord Innermeath [aged 52] was killed. His son Richard succeeded 3rd Lord Innermeath.
Robert Crichton 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar [aged 41] was killed. His son Robert [aged 22] succeeded 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar
Father and son William Rollo [aged 59] and Robert Rollo 5th of Duncrub [aged 34], brothers David Lyon of Cossins, William Lyon and George Lyon were killed. John Somerville 1st of Cambusnethan [aged 55], William Keith of Inverugie [aged 43], David Wemyss of Wemyss [aged 40], Robert Keith Master of Marischal [aged 30], Guiscard Harbottle [aged 28], John Erskine, David Home [aged 22], Andrew Stewart 1st Lord Avondale [aged 43], Archibald Campbell 2nd Earl Argyll [aged 64], Robert Douglas of Lochleven [aged 89] were killed. William Murray [aged 43], Colin Oliphant [aged 26], William Ruthven [aged 33], George Douglas [aged 44] and William Douglas [aged 42] were killed. Walter Lindsay of Arden and Walter Lindsay [aged 33] were killed.
In 1539 Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map] was dissolved.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 4th December 1557. The iiij day of Desember was bered at Sheen at the charter-howse [Map] ser Robart Rochester [deceased] knyght, the wyche he was chossen knyght of the garter, but he was never stallyd at Wyndsore, so [he] was not bered with the garter, butt after [the manner of another] knyght, for ther was a goodly herse of wax, v prensypalles, with viij dosen penselles, and viij dosen skochyons, and vj dosen torchys, and ij whyt [branches]; and a standard, and a penon of armes, and cot armur, elmett, targett, sword, mantylles, and iiij baners of emages, and a majeste and valanse, and master Claren[ceux] and master Lankester aroldes [heralds], and mony morners in [black]; and the masse and a sermon, and after a grett dener.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 4th July 1559. The iiij day of July, the Thursday, the prests and nuns of Syon [Map] whent a-way, and the Charter-howsse [Map].
On 4th January 1688 Henry Brouncker 3rd Viscount Brounckner [aged 61] died without issue at Sheen Priory, Richmond [Map]. He was buried in the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, Surrey. Viscount Brouckner of Lyons in Leinster extinct.