The Chronica Maiora of Thomas Walsingham, 1376-1422Translated by David Preest with introduction and notes by James G. Clark Thomas Walsingham's Chronica maiora is one of the most comprehensive and colourful chronicles to survive from medieval England. Walsingham was a monk at St Albans Abbey, a royal monastery and the premier repository of public records, and therefore well placed to observe the political machinations of this period at close hand. Moreover, he knew the monarchs and many of the nobles personally and is able to offer insights into their actions unmatched by any other authority. It is this narrative, transmitted through the popular Tudor histories of Hall, Stow and Holinshed, which provides the principle source for Shakespeare's sequence of history plays. Covering almost fifty years, the narrative provides the most authoritative account of one of the most turbulent periods in English history, from the last years of Edward III (1376-77) to the premature death of Henry V (1422). Walsingham describes the many dramas of this period in vivid detail, including the Peasants' Revolt (1381), the deposition and murder of Richard II (1399-1400), The Welsh revolt of Owain Glyn Dwr (1403) and Henry V's victory at Agincourt (1415); they are brought to life here in this new translation. |
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abbey abbot Anonimalle appointed archbishop of Canterbury army arrived Arundel asked attack battle bishop Brittany brother Burgundy Calais captured cardinals castle chancellor Charles Christ Chroniques church citizens commons council death duke of Burgundy duke of Gloucester duke of Ireland duke of Lancaster duke of Orléans Edmund enemy English envoys esquires FCBuchon force French Froissart Gaunt Gesta abbatum hands happened Henry IV Henry Percy Historia vitae holy honour Hugh Calveley HVRS John Wyclif killed King Henry king of England king of France king's kingdom kingdom of England Knighton knights land Lollards London Lord matter monastery monastic monks nobles oath Oxford parliament peace pope priest Prince prisoner rebels regni Ricardi secundi reports Richard II Robert Roman royal Saul Scotichronicon Scots sent ships siege Sir John St Albans summoned took town townsmen vitae et regni Walsingham Westminster chronicler William wish Wyclif Wylie