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.
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Paternal Family Tree: Cecil
In 1745 [his father] James Cecil 6th Earl of Salisbury [aged 31] and [his mother] Elizabeth Keet Countess of Salisbury [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess Salisbury. He the son of [his grandfather] James Cecil 5th Earl Salisbury and [his grandmother] Anne Tufton Countess of Salisbury.
On 4th September 1748 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury was born to [his father] James Cecil 6th Earl of Salisbury [aged 34] and [his mother] Elizabeth Keet Countess of Salisbury [aged 27].
In 1771 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 22] was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.
On 2nd December 1773 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 25] and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of Wills Hill 1st Marquess Downshire [aged 55] and Margaretta Fitzgerald. He the son of James Cecil 6th Earl of Salisbury [aged 60] and Elizabeth Keet Countess of Salisbury [aged 52]. They were fifth cousin once removed.
In 1774 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 25] was elected MP Gravesend.
In 1776 John Chetwynd-Talbot 1st Earl Talbot [aged 26] and [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Augusta Hill Countess Talbot were married. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Wills Hill 1st Marquess Downshire [aged 57] and Margaretta Fitzgerald.
In 1776 [his mother] Elizabeth Keet Countess of Salisbury [aged 55] died.
In 1780 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 31] was appointed Treasurer of the Household.
On 19th September 1780 [his father] James Cecil 6th Earl of Salisbury [aged 66] died. His son James [aged 32] succeeded 7th Earl Salisbury. [his wife] Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 30] by marriage Countess Salisbury. Mary Grave of Baldock received over £50,000 in his Will, besides jewellery, silver and furniture. In addition, the Earl bequeathed £43,000 to his seven children by her.
In 1784 John Chetwynd-Talbot 1st Earl Talbot [aged 34] was created 1st Earl Talbot, 1st Viscount Ingestre. [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Augusta Hill Countess Talbot by marriage Countess Talbot.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 29th June 1786 [his brother-in-law] Arthur Hill 2nd Marquess Downshire [aged 33] and Mary Sandys Marchioness Downshire [aged 22] were married. He the son of [his father-in-law] Wills Hill 1st Marquess Downshire [aged 68] and Margaretta Fitzgerald.
On 14th July 1789 [his daughter] Emily Anne Bennet Elizabeth Cecil Marchioness Westmeath was born to James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 40] and [his wife] Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 38]. She married 29th May 1812 George Nugent 1st Marquess Westmeath and had issue.
The London Gazette 13123. Whitehall, August 18 [1789].
The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Marquess of the Kingdom of Great Britain to the Right Honourable James Earl of Salisbury [aged 40], and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, by the Name, Stile and Title of Marquess of Salisbury, in the County of Wilts. [[his wife] Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 39] by marriage Marchioness Salisbury in Wiltshire.]
The King has also been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Marquess of the Kingdom of Great Britain to the Right Honourable Thomas Viscount Weymouth [aged 54], Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Heirs Male of his body lawfully begotten, by the Name, Stile and Title of Marquess of Bath, in the County of Somerset. [Elizabeth Bentinck Marchioness Bath [aged 54] by marriage Marchioness of Bath.]
The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of an Earl of this Kingdom of Great Britain to the Right Honourable George Viscount Mount-Edgcumbe and Valletort [aged 69], and the Heirs Male of liis Body lawfully begotten, by the Name, Stile and Title of Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe. [Emma Gilbert Countess Mount Edgcumbe by marriage Countess of Mount Edgcumbe.]
The King has been pleased to grant the Dignities of Viscount and Earl of the Kingdom of Great Britain to the Right Honourable Hugh Lord Fortescue [aged 36], and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, by the Name, Stile and Title of 1stViscount Ebrington, of Ebrington in the County of Gloucester, and Earl Fortescue. [Hester Granville Countess Fortescue [aged 23] by marriage Countess Fortescue.]
Around 1790 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 41] commissioned the demolition of Quickswood, Clothall following th death of Mary Grave of Baldock.
On 17th April 1791 [his son] James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil 2nd Marquess Salisbury was born to James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 42] and [his wife] Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 40]. He married (1) 2nd February 1821 Frances Mary Gascoyne Marchioness Salisbury and had issue (2) 29th April 1847 his fourth cousin twice removed Mary Catherine Sackville-West Marchioness Salisbury, daughter of George Sackville-West 5th Earl De La Warr and Elizabeth Sackville Countess De La Warr, and had issue.
In 1793 King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 54] created new Garter Knights as follows:
614th James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 44],
615th John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland [aged 33],
616th Frederick Howard 5th Earl Carlisle [aged 44].
On 7th October 1793 [his father-in-law] Wills Hill 1st Marquess Downshire [aged 75] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Arthur [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Marquess Downshire. Mary Sandys Marchioness Downshire [aged 29] by marriage Marchioness Downshire.
On 7th September 1801 [his brother-in-law] Arthur Hill 2nd Marquess Downshire [aged 48] committed suicide suspected to be as a consequence of his political life. His son Arthur [aged 12] succeeded 3rd Marquess Downshire.
In 1804 [his sister-in-law] Charlotte Augusta Hill Countess Talbot died.
On 29th May 1812 [his son-in-law] George Nugent 1st Marquess Westmeath [aged 26] and Emily Anne Bennet Elizabeth Cecil Marchioness Westmeath [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 63] and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 61].
Before 1821 [his son-in-law] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley [aged 47] and Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Cecil Baroness Cowley were married. She the daughter of James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 72] and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 70]. He the son of Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington and Anne Hill Countess Mornington [aged 78]. They were second cousin once removed.
On 2nd February 1821 James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil 2nd Marquess Salisbury [aged 29] and Frances Mary Gascoyne Marchioness Salisbury [aged 15] were married. He the son of James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 72] and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 70].
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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On 13th June 1823 James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury [aged 74] died. His son James [aged 32] succeeded 2nd Marquess Salisbury in Wiltshire, 8th Earl Salisbury. Frances Mary Gascoyne Marchioness Salisbury [aged 17] by marriage Marchioness Salisbury in Wiltshire.
On 22nd November 1835 [his former wife] Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury [aged 85] died.
[his daughter] Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Cecil Baroness Cowley was born to James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury. She married before 1821 her second cousin once removed Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley, son of Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington and Anne Hill Countess Mornington.
[his daughter] Caroline Cecil was born to James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Cecil 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: James Cecil 3rd Earl Salisbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Maxwell 1st Earl Dirletoun 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Diana Maxwell
Great x 1 Grandfather: James Cecil 4th Earl Salisbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Manners Countess of Salisbury 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: James Cecil 5th Earl Salisbury 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Bennett
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Bennett
Great x 2 Grandfather: Simon Bennett
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cradock
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Craddock
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Bennett Countess of Salisbury
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gilbert Moorwood
Great x 2 Grandmother: Grace Moorwood
Father: James Cecil 6th Earl of Salisbury 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Tufton 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Nicholas Tufton 1st Earl of Thanet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Christian Browne 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Tufton 2nd Earl of Thanet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Cecil Countess Isle Thanet 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Tufton 6th Earl of Thanet 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Howard 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Sackville Countess Isle Thanet 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandMother: Anne Tufton Countess of Salisbury 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Cavendish 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Ogle 8th Baroness Ogle 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bassett 
11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Cavendish Countess Isle Thanet 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pierrepont of Thoresby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harries aka Harris
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Gifford
James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
GrandFather: Edward Keet of Canterbury
Mother: Elizabeth Keet Countess of Salisbury