Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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Ponthieu is in Picardy.
In 1064 King Harold II of England [aged 42] shipwrecked at Ponthieu [Map]. He was captured by Bishop Guy of Ponthieu and imprisoned in Beaurain Castle, Beaurainville.
On 18th May 1302 Matilda Somery [aged 65] died at Ponthieu [Map].
Around 1583 Bridget Copley [aged 48] died in Ponthieu [Map]
In 1512 John de Bruges 2nd Earl of Winchester [aged 54] died at Abbeville [Map].
On 9th October 1514 Louis XII King France [aged 52] and Mary Tudor Queen Consort France [aged 18] were married at Abbeville [Map], Somme. She by marriage Queen Consort France. Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset [aged 37], Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West [aged 57], Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham [aged 44] and his son George Brooke 9th Baron Cobham [aged 17], Bishop Thomas Ruthall [aged 42] and Margaret Wotton Marchioness Dorset [aged 27] attended. The difference in their ages was 33 years. She the daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England. He the son of Charles Valois Duke Orléans and Mary de la Marck Duchess Orléans. They were second cousin twice removed.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 9th October 1514. A peace betwene the King [aged 23] and French King [aged 52] duringe both their lives; and the Ladie Marie [aged 18], sister to the King, married to the French King,d at Abireld [Map],e in Picardye, in October.f
Note d. The Princess Mary was in her seventeenth year, and her husband Louis XII, to whom she was third wife, in his fifty-fourth year.
Note e. At Abbeville [Map], in Picardy. From which place Mary, three days after her marriage, wrote letters to her brother and Wolsey.
Note f. The marriage ceremony had been preriously celebrated at Greenwich by proxy, but was not consummated till October 9th. For fuller particulars, see Ellis's Original Letters, First and Second Series.
Ellis' Letters. 12th October 1514. Mary Queen of France [aged 18] to King Henry the Eighth [aged 23].
[MS. COTTON. CALIG. D. vi. fol. 253. Orig.]
MY good Brother as hertly as I can I recomaund me unto your Grace, mervelynge moch that I never herd from you syns... re depertynge, so often as I have sent and wrytten to you. And now am I left post a lone in effect; for on the morn next after... e maryage my chambirlayn with all other men servants wer dischargd and in lyke wyse my mother Guldeford [aged 51] with other my women and maydyns, except such as never had experiens nor knowlech how to advertyse or gyfe me counsell yn any tyme of nede, which is to be fered more schortly then your Grace thought at the tyme of my depertynge, as my mother Guldeford can more playnly schew your Grace then I cann wryt; to whom I beseche you to gyve credens. And yf hit may be by eny meane possible, I humbly requyr you to cause my seyd mother Guldeford to repayr hither once agayn. For ells if any chauns happe other then weale I schall not knowe wher nor of whom to aske any good counsell to your pleasur, nor yet to myn own proffit. I merveill moche that my Lord of Northfolke [aged 41] wold at all tymes so lyghtly graunt every thynge at ther reqwests here. I am weale assured that when ze know the trouth of every thyng as my mother Guideford can schew you, ze wold full lyttyll have thowght I schold have ben thus intreated: that wold God my Lord of Zorke [aged 41] had com with me yn the rome of Northfolke: for then am I sure I schuld have bene left moch more at my herti.... then I am now.
And thus I byd your Grace fare weale with.... as ever had Prince; and more herds ease then I have now... a Abvile [Map] the xijth. day of October.
.... gef gredens to my mowder Geldeford.
your lowyng syster MARY QUENE OF FRANCE.
Note a. From Henry the Eighth and his Court accompanied the young Queen to Dover, whence on the second of October she sailed to Boulogne. She reached Abbeville on the 8th and was married on the 9th of that month. The original List of the persons who went in her retinue, signed by Louis himself, is still preserved among the Cottonian Manuscriptsb; though strange as it may seem, almost the whole were dismissed the morning after her marriage. "The Tewesdaye, being the x. daye of October," says Hall, "all th'Englishmen except a fewe that were officers with the sayde Quene, were discharged; whiche was a great sorowe for theim, for some had served her long in hope of prefermente, and some, that had honest romes, lefte them to serve her; and now they were with out service; which caused them to take thought, in so much that some dyed by the way returning, and some fell mad; but ther was no remedy." The Queen's own account of this Transaction will be found in this, and the following Letter. Mother Guldeford who is so particularly mentioned in these Letters, was apparently the Governess, or, as she was sometimes called, the Mother to the Maids of Honor.
Note b. It was as follows:
"Premierement
Mons. le Conte de Nrushere.
Maistre docteur Denton aumosmer.
Messe. Richard Blounte escuyer de scuierie.
Enffans d'onneur: Le filz de Mons. Roos, Le filz de Mons. Cobham, Le filz de Messe. Seymor,
Evrard frere du Marquis.
Arthus Polle [aged 12], frere de Monsr. de Montagu.
Le Poulayn.
Francoye Buddis, huissier de Chambre.
Maistre Guille, Medicin.
Henry Calays varler des robes.
Robert Wast.
Madamoyselle Grey, seur du Marquis. [Note. Possibly Elizabeth Grey Countess Kildare [aged 17]]
Madamoyselle Marie finis fille de Monsr. Dacres. [Note. Possibly Mary Dacre [aged 12]]
Madamoyselle Elizabet seur de Monsr. Grey.
Madamoyselle BOLEYNE. [Note. A reference to Mary Boleyn [aged 15] rather than Queen Anne Boleyn of England [aged 13] since her father Thomas wrote to Margaret of Austria on the 14th of October 1514 requesting the return of Anne see Manuscripts of J Eliot Hodgkin].
Maistres Anne Jenyngham [aged 10]. femme de Chambre.
Johanue Daruossc, chamberiere."
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th November 1643. The next morning, in some danger of parties [Spanish] surprising us, we came to Montreuil [Map], built on the summit of a most conspicuous hill, environed with fair and ample meadows; but all the suburbs had been from time to time ruined, and were now lately burnt by the Spanish inroads. This town is fortified with two very deep dry ditches; the walls about the bastions and citadel are a noble piece of masonry. The church is more glorious without than within; the market place large; but the inhabitants are miserably poor. The next day, we came to Abbeville [Map], having passed all this way in continual expectation of the volunteers, as they call them. This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we descended: nor does it deceive us; for it is handsomely built, and has many pleasant and useful streams passing through it, the main river being the Somme, which discharges itself into the sea at St. Valery, almost in view of the town. The principal church is a very handsome piece of Gothic architecture, and the ports and ramparts sweetly planted for defence and ornament. In the morning, they brought us choice of guns and pistols to sell at reasonable rates, and neatly made, being here a merchandise of great account, the town abounding in gunsmiths.
John Evelyn's Diary. 27th June 1650. I made my will, and, taking leave of my wife [aged 15] and other friends, took horse for England, paying the messenger eight pistoles for me and my servant to Calais [Map], setting out with seventeen in company well-armed, some Portuguese, Swiss, and French, whereof six were captains and officers. We came the first night to Beaumont; next day, to Beauvais, and lay at Pois, and the next, without dining, reached Abbeville [Map]; next, dined at Montreuil, and proceeding met a company on foot (being now within the inroads of the parties which dangerously infest this day's journey from St. Omers and the frontiers), which we drew very near to, ready and resolute to charge through, and accordingly were ordered and led by a captain of our train; but, as we were on the speed, they called out, and proved to be Scotchmen, newly raised and landed, and few among them armed. This night, we were well treated at Boulogne. The next day, we marched in good order, the passage being now exceeding dangerous, and got to Calais by a little after two. The sun so scorched my face, that it made the skin peel off.
John Evelyn's Diary. 1st February 1652. I dined at Abbeville [Map]; 2nd, dined at Montreuil [Map], lay at Boulogne; 3rd, came to Calais [Map], by eleven in the morning; I thought to have embarked in the evening, but, for fear of pirates plying near the coast, I dared not trust our small vessel, and stayed till Monday following, when two or three lusty vessels were to depart.
On 1st April 1917 Second Lieutenant Robert Bosse [aged 27] died from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme. He was buried at Tempeux-la-Fosse and subsequently buried at Peronne Communal Cemetery. Memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall [Map].
Second Lieutenant Robert Bosse: On 19th May 1889 he was born at Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
On 1st April 1917 Second Lieutenant Robert Bosse [aged 27] died from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme. He was buried at Tempeux-la-Fosse and subsequently buried at Peronne Communal Cemetery. Memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall [Map].
Second Lieutenant Robert Bosse: On 19th May 1889 he was born at Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
On 17th December 943 William "Longsword" I Duke Normandy [aged 50] was assassinated at Picquigny by the followers of Arnulf "Great" I Count Flanders [aged 53] with whom he was attending a peace conference. He was buried at Rouen Cathedral [Map]. His son Richard [aged 11] succeeded I Duke Normandy. Gunnora Countess Ponthieu by marriage Countess Ponthieu.