Archives: Resources

    Song against Richard of Cornwall

    Any chance to hear the authentic voice of ordinary people is rather exceptional for the early and mid medieval period – but here’s one example. It’s a political song ofRead More

    Description of the Battle of Lewes, 1264

    The passage below comes from the chronicles of William of Rishanger, and normally pretty reliable observer, though not at the battle itself.  Earl Simon passed that night without sleep, givingRead More

    The Provisions of Westminster, 1259

    The Provisions of Westminster set into law the reforms of the rebels, outside the constitutional matters covered by the Provisions of Oxford. In fact, Henry III and Edward I wereRead More

    The Song of Lewes, 1264

    This is part of a book for which copyright has expired, digitised by Google. There are a few passages that haven’t digitized very well. Where, with my limited Latin, IRead More

    The Forest Charter, 1217

    So here’s the reason why Magna Carta is Magna – because of this, smaller, Forest Charter. The Royal Forest really ticked off anyone who wasn’t the king. At times, RoyalRead More

    The Provisions of Oxford, 1258

    The Provisions of Oxford are one of the most radical documents in English history, if such a sentence means anything – they were such a change from the medieval wayRead More

    The Assize of Clarendon, 1166

    Henry II and his justices had an enormous impact on the development of the English legal system. This Assize concerns process rather that any changes in the law itself, andRead More

    The Constitutions of Clarendon, 1164

    The Constitutions are part of the struggle between Henry and his Archbishop – Thomas Becket – and between Church and State. Thomas initially accepted the document, deserting his bishops underRead More

    The Character of Henry II

    Henry was well known by Peter of Blois, who worked at court – much to his despair. The survival of documents gives us a relatively rich understanding of what HenryRead More

    A 12th Century Village

    This contemporary survey gives an insight into the economic and social life of the country at this time. Notes in blue are my text.  Survey of the Manor of Elton,Read More

    The Charter of Liberties of Stephen

    In essence, this is a Coronation Charter. Stephen arrived on the throne without too much debate or trouble, given the problems that were later to arise. However, there would alwaysRead More

    The Hundred Ordinance, 939-961

    This Old English legal text regulating the schedule and procedures of the hundred courts was, based on its contents, likely produced during or soon after the reign of King EdmundRead More

    Treaty of Wedmore, 878-890

    The treaty came after Alfred’s victory at Edington. After the battle, the Viking leader Guthrum was baptised, and became Alfred’s adopted son. This ‘Peace of Wedmore’ is referred to inRead More

    Family Trees, 1225 – 1485

    Family Trees below are: English royal family, John (1199)-Henry IV (1414) Princes of Gwynedd, 11th – 13th Centuries Plantagenet to Henry IV (House of Lancaster)        The PrincesRead More

    Maps, 1225 – 1327

    Gascony   Gascony around 1300. The St Sardos war with Edward II removed most of the saintonge from English control. Scotland     Wales       Ireland   

    Drawings of Matthew Paris

    Matthew Paris was an engaging, well informed chronicler who had contacts with leading men of the realm such as Hubert de Burgh; though it appears he had a tendency toRead More

    Regnal Lists: 1050-1270

    Billy the Conq changed everything of course; and one of those many changes was to bring England into the world of Western Europe; external relations were now more with France,Read More

    Feast Days in Medieval England

    Jennifer asked a question about Feast days… so here is a list of the main ones in Medieval England, for the year 1200 – since as Les noted, Easter floats.Read More

    Maps: 1000 – 1225

    Maps, 1000 – 1225 – Contents of this web page Maps below include: England in Stephen’s Reign The Regions of France Normandy The Crusades – Outremer in 1140, 1190 andRead More

    Maps: 500 – 1000

    The maps below include: Roman Britain A general map of the people of Britain in the 6th Century The Heparchy – those 7 Anglo Saxon Kingdoms The main English rivers:Read More

    Family Trees: 500-1066

    I couldn’t find exactly the right family tree, so we have a few unfortunately, which overlap a bit. Still, find the one that works for you. The Family trees belowRead More

    Regnal Lists: 870-1050

    After Alfred and his descendants put the Anglo Saxon kingdoms back together as one England, they were very much part of not just the British work, but the northern EuropeanRead More

    The Burghal Hidage

    Alfred’s Burghs would not just make the life of the Vikings in 892 a misery – they often formed the basis of England’s towns

    Regnal Lists: 650 to 870

    This list covers the final flowering of the community of Anglo Saxon kingdoms, until the point where the Great Heathen Army changed the rules of the game completely. It covers theRead More

    The Tribal Hidage

    The Tribal Hidage is a fascinating document; a chance survival that gives us a glimpse of the tribes and proto-kingdoms that formed in the 6th and 7th centuries. There’s a goodRead More

    Regnal Lists: To 650

    This list shows each of the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms. It also shows some of the mythology – their legendary predecessors who were normally traced back to a God. And theRead More