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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Biography of Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract 1075-1129

Paternal Family Tree: Lacy

Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract built at Clitheroe Castle [Map].

Around 1075 Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract was born to Ilbert Lacy 1st Baron Pontefract (age 30).

In 1090 Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract (age 15) founded at Pontefract Priory [Map].

Pontefract Priory [Map] was a Cluniac monastery founded about 1090 by Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract (age 15). It was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. The Priory was a dependency of the Abbey of la Charité-sur-Loire, which supplied the first monks.

In 1093 [his father] Ilbert Lacy 1st Baron Pontefract (age 48) died at Pontefract [Map]. His son Robert (age 18) succeeded 2nd Baron Pontefract.

In 1097 [his daughter] Albreda Lacy was born to Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract (age 22).

In or before 1128 [his son-in-law] Robert Lissours (age 30) and [his daughter] Albreda Lacy (age 30) were married.

Before 1130 Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract (age 54) died. Baron Pontefract forfeit. The Barony, or the Honour of Pontefract, was awarded by the King to Hugh de Laval. Following Hugh's death around 1129 William Maltravers paid £1,000 for the reversion of Laval's estate for the term of 15 years.

[his son] Ilbert Lacy 3rd Baron Pontefract was born to Robert Lacy 2nd Baron Pontefract.