Book Description

Originally published in 1864-9, and still a standard reference work, this five-volume collection contains editions of key source texts for medieval English history, focusing mainly on the thirteenth century. Compiled in monasteries over many years, they record local, national and international events in chronological order, sometimes surprisingly briefly and at other times in great detail. The coverage includes aristocratic marriages and deaths, royal visits, appointments and acquisitions, astronomical observations, conflicts and power struggles, natural disasters, crimes, 'diabolick appearances' and excommunications. The editor, Henry Richards Luard (1825-91), an influential Cambridge clergyman and university administrator, provided introductions to the Latin texts, and sidenotes in English indicating their content. Volume 1 (1864) contains the Annals of Margan (Glamorganshire) for 1066-1232, Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire) for 1066-1263 and Burton-on-Trent (Staffordshire) for 1004-1263. As was usual, the earlier parts of each text closely follow older sources.