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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
MP Malmesbury is in Member Parliament.
In 1554 Edward Unton [aged 20] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In 1572 Henry Bayntun [aged 36] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In 1593 Thomas Lake [aged 25] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In April 1640 Anthony Hungerford [aged 32] was elected MP Malmesbury during the Short Parliament.
In November 1640 Anthony Hungerford [aged 32] was elected MP Malmesbury during the Long Parliament.
On 16th January 1668 Edward Neville Poole [aged 51] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In March 1679 William Estcourt 3rd Baronet [aged 24] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In October 1679 William Estcourt 3rd Baronet [aged 25] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In 1681 William Estcourt 3rd Baronet [aged 26] was elected MP Malmesbury.
On 20th April 1713 John Rushout 4th Baronet [aged 28] was elected MP Malmesbury with the support of Thomas Wharton 1st Marquess Wharton [aged 64].
Between 22nd January 1715 and 9th March 1715 the 1715 General Election was held. The election had been caused by George I's [aged 54] succession. The Whig party, which supported George I, won an overwhelming majority.
John Rushout 4th Baronet [aged 29] was elected MP Malmesbury.
Leonard Smelt [aged 32] was elected MP Northallerton.
Thomas Frankland 3rd Baronet [aged 30] was elected MP Thirsk.
George Carpenter 1st Baron Carpenter [aged 57] was elected MP Whitchurch.
In 1722 John Rushout 4th Baronet [aged 36] was elected MP Malmesbury and MP Evesham in the 1722 General Election. He was unseated on petition at Malmesbury on 13th December 1722, and so took his seat at Evesham.
In 1761 John Tylney 2nd Earl Tylney [aged 48] was elected MP Malmesbury.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1792 James Sanderson 1st Baronet [aged 50] was elected Lord Mayor of London and MP Malmesbury,.
In 1794 Francis Glanville [aged 31] was elected MP Malmesbury.
In 1802 Claude Scott 1st Baronet [aged 59] was elected MP Malmesbury which seat he held until 1806.
In 1802 Samuel Scott 2nd Baronet [aged 29] was elected MP Malmesbury which seat he held until 1806.
In 1806 Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne 1st Baron Colborne [aged 26] was elected MP Malmesbury which seat he held until 1807.