Geoffrey le Baker's chronicle covers the reigns of Edward II and Edward III up to the English victory at Poitiers. David Preest's new translation includes extensive notes and an introduction by Richard Barber. Geoffrey le Baker's chronicle covers the reigns of Edward II and Edward III up to the English victory at Poitiers. It starts in a low key, copying an earlier chronicle, but by the end of Edward II's reign he offers a much more vivid account. His description of Edward II's last days is partly based on the eyewitness account of his patron, Sir Thomas de la More, who was present at one critical interview. Baker's story of Edward's death, like many other details from his chronicle, was picked up by Tudor historians, particularly by Holinshed, who was the source for Shakespeare's history plays. The reign of Edward III is dominated, not by Edward III himself, but by Baker's real hero, Edward prince of Wales. His bravery aged 16 at Crécy is presented as a prelude to his victory at Poitiers, a battle which Baker is able to describe in great detail, apparently from what he was told by the prince's commanders. It is a rarity among medieval battles, because - in sharp contrast to the total anarchy at Crécy - the prince and his staff were able to see the enemy's manoeuvres. Throughout the chronicle there are sharply defined vignetteswhich stay in the mind - the killing of the Scottish champion on Halidon Hill, the drowning of Sir Edward Bohun, the earls of Salisbury and Suffolk as prisoners carried in a cart, the death of Sir Walter Selby and his two sons, the bravery of Sir Thomas Dagworth against a cobbler's son, the duel between Otho and the duke of Lancaster, John Dancaster and the lewd washerwoman. Baker writes in a complex Latin which even scholars find problematic, and David Preest's new translation will be widely welcomed by anyone interested in the fourteenth century. There are extensive notes and an introduction by Richard Barber.

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Excerpt from Chronicon Galfridi Le Baker De Swynebroke: Edited With Notes The authorship of the chronicle and 'chroniculum' which are printed in this volume is disclosed in the colophon of the smaller work (p. I73). The writer, Geoffrey le Baker, of Swinbrook, an Oxford shire village lying two miles east of Burford, there tells us that he wrote, or rather finished writing, this little chronicle at Osney on Friday, the festival of St. Margaret [20th July], 1347; and that the work was done at the request of sir Thomas de la More, knight. The 'chroniculum has no other historical importance. It is a jejune record of events, beginning with the Six days of creation, the ages of the world, and a few notes of early history, and proceeding with two short series in chronological sequence: the first from the birth of Our Lord to the year 1320, touching chie y on matters of ecclesias tical history and ending with the succession of bishops of certain English sees (pp. 158 the other beginning with the death of Augustus, but immediately passing on to events in English history. Down to the year 1336 - 7 (pp. 164 - i73). The dates of the entries in both series are calculated both in the ordinary manner by the year of Our Lord, and also back from the year of compilation, 1347. Baker styles himself clericus but by this term he probably does not mean that he was a canon of Osney. Had he been one of the brethren of that house, we might expect that he would have found room in his brief record for more notes connected with the abbey than he has done. Only in two places does he mention Osney: the one referring to the benefactions of John de Pagham, bishop of Worcester (p. The other to the burial of Ela, countess of Warwick (p. I69). About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."

Here is the astonishing blow-by-blow account of how, against fearful odds, freedom-fighter Bruce led the Scots to win their greatest victory ever in the War of Independence. The trail takes us to Bruce sites in Scotland and beyond, over 70 in all, with fully detailed maps. Elaborate illustrations help set the scene on the Bruce's story, which is one part blood and gore, two parts love and laughter. Ross proves himself a master of writing hands-on history with attitude.

This collection of essays explores the intersection of art and violence in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It will appeal primarily to students and scholars in the fields of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and will also be of interest to readers with an interest in medieval and early modern art history.

The Livre Charny (Charny's Book), by the 14th century French knight Geoffroi de Charny, translated here by Nigel Bryant with an introduction by Ian Wilson.