The chronicle: 1133-86

Annales Cestrienses Chronicle of the Abbey of S. Werburg, At Chester. Originally published by Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, London, 1887.

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'The chronicle: 1133-86', in Annales Cestrienses Chronicle of the Abbey of S. Werburg, At Chester, ed. Richard Copley Christie( London, 1887), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lancs-ches-record-soc/vol14/pp20-35 [accessed 23 November 2024].

'The chronicle: 1133-86', in Annales Cestrienses Chronicle of the Abbey of S. Werburg, At Chester. Edited by Richard Copley Christie( London, 1887), British History Online, accessed November 23, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lancs-ches-record-soc/vol14/pp20-35.

"The chronicle: 1133-86". Annales Cestrienses Chronicle of the Abbey of S. Werburg, At Chester. Ed. Richard Copley Christie(London, 1887), , British History Online. Web. 23 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lancs-ches-record-soc/vol14/pp20-35.

1133-86

mcxxxiij Fundata abbatia de Cumbermare. 1133 The abbey of Combermere was founded.
mcxxxiiij Fundata est domus de Northon a Willelmo filio Nigelli constabulario Cestrie. (fn. 1) 1134 The priory of Norton was founded by William, son of Nigel, constable of Chester.
mcxxxv Obiit Henricus Rex.
Obiit Hugo Malbanc iv Cal. Januarias. (fn. 2) 		1135 King Henry [I.] died.
Hugh Malbanc died, Dec 29.
mcxxxvj (Ind. lxxvj). 1136 (Indiction 76).
mcxxxvij Obiit Willelmus archiepiscopus Cantuariensis.
Theobaldus archiepiscopus factus. 		1137 William [de Curbolio], archbishop of Canterbury, died.
Theobald [abbot of Bec] made archbishop.
mcxxxviij Bellum inter Gallos (fn. 3) et Scocios. 1138 A war between the French (?) and the Scots.
mcxl (fn. 4) ij kal. Julii urbs cestria combusta et castellum de Bromfeld v non. Martii.
iij non. octobris obiit Willelmus abbas Cestrie cui successit Radulphus (fn. 5) abbas xi kal. Feb. 		1140 The city of Chester was burned down on June 30, and the castle of Bromfield on March 3.
October 5, William, abbot of Chester, died. Ralph succeeded him as [third] abbot on January 22 [1141].
mcxlj iijo non. Februarii Stephanus rex Anglie a duobus comittibus, id est, a Ranulpho comite Cestriæ et a Roberto comite Gloucestrie captus in bello apud Lincolniam. 1141 On February 3, Stephen, king of England, was made prisoner in battle at Lincoln by two earls, namely, Randle, earl of Chester, and Robert, earl of Gloucester.
mcxliiij Willelmus puer crucifigitur apud Norwich et fames maxima eodem anno. 1144 A boy named William is crucified at Norwich, and there is a very great famine in the same year.
mcxlvj Ranulphus comes de Cestrie dolo captus est a rege Stephano apud Northamantiam iiij kal. Septembris. Quo audito Walenses vastaverunt provinciam. Contra quos Robertus dapifer (fn. 6) cum paucis armatis perrexit ad bellum, et multa millia occidit apud Wichum iij non. Septembris. 1146 Randle, earl of Chester, was made prisoner by stratagem by king Stephen at Northampton, August 29. When the Welsh heard of it, they laid waste the province [of Chester]. Against whom Robert [de Montalt] the seneschal [of Chester] advanced to battle with a few armed men, and killed many thousands at Nantwich on September 3.
mcxlvij Natus comes Hugo II. 1147 Hugh II., earl [of Chester], was born.
mcxlix Reversio regis Franciæ a Hierusalem. 1149 The return of [Louis VII.], king of France, from Jerusalem.
mclj (Ind. lxxvij). 1151 (Indiction 77).
mclij Obiit Matildis regina Anglorum tertia. 1152 Matilda III., queen of the English, died.
mcliij Obiit Stephanus Rex Angliæ.
Obiit Ranulphus II. comes Cestrie, et Eustachius filius Stephani. 		1153 Stephen, king of England, died.
Randle, earl of Chester, and Eustace, son of king Stephen, died.
mcliiij Obiit rex Scocie et fere omnes primates totius Anglie. 1154 The king of Scotland died, and almost all the chief men of the whole of England.
mclvj Hic primo duxit Henricus Rex Angliæ exercitum suum in Walliam contra Owinum. 1156 In this year Henry, king of England, first led his army into Wales against Owen.
mclvij Obiit Radulphus abbas Cestrie pie recordacionis Dompnus Robertus abbas eligitur, in die Sancti Nicholai apud Lichesfeld benedicitur. Hoc anno Basiwerk (fn. 7) fundatus.
Bellum Regium apud Colesul in quo obiit Eustagius constabularius cum multis commilitonibus et rex Henricus Ruelan et Basiwerch firmavit et Walenses sibi subjugavit. 		1157 Ralph, abbot of Chester, of pious memory, died. The lord Robert [Fitz-Nigel] is elected abbot, and receives the benediction at Lichfield on S. Nicholas' day [Dec. 6]. In this year [the abbey of] Basingwerk is founded.
A battle royal fought at Coleshill, in which Eustace [Fitz-John, fourth baron of Halton], the constable [of Cheshire], perished, with many of his comrades; and king Henry fortified Rhuddlan and Basingwerk, and conquered the Welsh.
mclx Obiit Walterus episcopus Cestrensis cui successit Ricardus Pecche cognomine episcopus.
Obiit Theobaldus archiepiscopus Cantuariensis.
Henricus III. (fn. 8) filius Henrici Regis filii imperatricis rex desponsavit filiam regis Franciæ. 		1160 Walter, bishop of Chester, died. Richard, surnamed Peche, succeeded him as bishop.
Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, died.
King Henry III., son of king Henry Fitz-Empress, married the daughter of the king of France.
mclxij Consecratus pater Sanctissimus Thomas archiepiscopus Cantuariensis iij nonis Junii. 1162 The most holy father Thomas [à Becket] was consecrated archbishop of Canterbury on June 3.
mclxiiij Thomas archiepiscopus Cantuariensis exivit de Anglia. 1164 Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, departed out of England.
mclxiiij Justicia de obsidibus Walensium. (fn. 9) 1164 Justice was done on the Welsh hostages.
mclxv Rex Henricus III. [II.] duxit in Walliam exercitum et perdidit obsides Owini. 1165 King Henry II. led an army into Wales and killed the hostages of Owen.
mclxvj (Ind. lxxviij). (fn. 10)
Obiit Matildis imperatrix mater Regis Henrici II. 		1166 (Indiction 78).
The empress Matilda, mother of king Henry II., died.
mclxviij Matildis filia regis Henrici II. duci Saxonum data. 1168 Matilda, daughter of king Henry II., was given in marriage to the duke of Saxony.
mclxix In hoc anno factus Hugo comes Cestrie miles, eodem vero anno duxit Hugo comes Cestrie uxorem filiam Simonis comitis Ebroensis nomine Bertrad quam Rex Henricus II. Angliæ ei tradidit quia ipsius cognata fuit. 1169 In this year Hugh [II., Kyveliock], earl of Chester, was made a knight. In the same year, Hugh, earl of Chester, took to wife Bertrada, daughter of Simon, count of Evreux. Henry II., king of England, gave her to [the earl] because she was his own [the king's] cousin.
mclxx Sanctus Thomas in Angliam rediit.
Hic natus Ranulphus III. filius Hugonis comes Cestrie.
xviij kal. Julii coronatus Henricus tertius apud Londoniam ab archiepiscopo Eboracensi.
ix kal. Septembris venit Ricardus comes de Striguil in Hiberniam.
Mense Octobris, obiit Owinus Rex Wallie.
Quarto kal. Januarii martirizatus Sanctus Thomas archiepiscopus Cantuariensis in ecclesia Sancte Trinitatis ante altare Sancti Benedicti.
In hoc etiam anno interfecit Hugo comes Cestrie magnam multitudinem Walensium juxta pontem de Baldert de quorum capitibus factum unum de aggeribus apud Hospitalem infirmorum extra Cestriam. 		1170 S. Thomas [àBecket] returned into England.
This year Randle III., son of Hugh, earl of Chester, was born.
On June 14, Henry the third [eldest son of Henry II.] was crowned at London by the archbishop of York.
On August 24, Richard, earl of Striguil [and Pembroke, 'Strongbow'] came into Ireland.
In the month of October, Owen, king of Wales, died.
On December 29, S. Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, was martyred in the church of the Trinity, before the altar of S. Benedict.
In this year also Hugh, earl of Chester, slew a great multitude of Welshmen, near the bridge of Baldert, of whose heads one of the mounds at the hospital for the sick outside Chester is formed.
mclxxj In [hoc] anno ivit Henricus Rex in Hiberniam.
Nata Matildis filia Hugonis comitis Cestrie.
Tempestas valida tonitru fuit natali domini. 		1171 In this year king Henry went into Ireland.
Matilda, daughter of Hugh, earl of Chester, was born.
There was a heavy thunderstorm on Christmas day.
mclxxiij Obiit Rogerus comes de Clara. 1173 Roger, earl of Clare, died.
mclxxiij Hic cepit Henricus tercius Rex Anglie filius Henrici Regis Anglie inquictare patrem suum juncto sibi Rege Francie cujus filiam acceperat in uxorem et comite Flandrensi et eorum auxiliis necnon et duobus comitibus Anglie, videlicet Hugone comite Cestrensi et Roberto comite Leicestrie.
In hoc etiam anno captus est Hugo comes Cestrie apud Dol in Britanniam a Rege Henrico cum Radulpho de Feugis et aliis multis, et Robertus comes Lecestrie cum sua comitissa captus non longe a monasterio Sancti Edmundi et omnes Flandrenses qui cum eo venerant ut in Angliam guerram facerent sunt a comitibus Angliæ interempti vel vivi capti et retenti. 		1173 At this time Henry III., king of England, son of Henry II., king of England, began to disquiet his father in concert with the king of France, whose daughter he had married, and the count of Flanders, and with their assistance, and that of two English earls, namely Hugh, earl of Chester, and Robert, earl of Leicester.
In this year also Hugh, earl of Chester, was taken prisoner, at Dol in Brittany, by king Henry [II.] with Ralph de Feugeres and many others. And Robert, earl of Leicester, was taken prisoner with his countess not far from the monastery of S. Edmund, and all the Flemings who had accompanied him for the purpose of making war against England, were either killed by the English earls or captured alive and held prisoners.
mclxxiiij Obiit pie memoriæ dompnus Robertus abbas Cestrie ij kal. Februarii. 1174 The lord Robert [Fitz-Nigel] of pious memory, abbot of Chester, died January 31.
mclxxv Robertus II. abbas in die Sancte Werburge scilicet iij nonis Februariæ elegitur et in die Sancte Agathe virginis et martyris in ecclesia Sancti Johannis apud Cestriam benedicitur. 1175 Robert II. is elected [5th] abbot [of Chester] on S. Werburg's day, that is to say February 3, and on the festival of S. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, [February 5] he receives the benediction in the church of S. John, at Chester.
mclxxvij Hugo comes Cestrie cepit totam Bromfeld in idibus Junii feria secunda in crastino Penticostes adjuncto sibi David filio Owino cum parva manu.
In eodem anno Philippus comes Flandriæ et comes Willelmus de Mandvile cum multis aliis perregerunt ierusalem. 		1177 Hugh, earl of Chester, took the whole of Bromfield, Monday, June 13, on the morrow of Pentecost [Whit Monday] with the assistance of David, the son of Owen, and a small body of men.
In the same year, Philip, count of Flanders, and earl William of Maundeville [earl of Essex], with many others, proceeded to Jerusalem.
mclxxviij Erupit mare in Holland ij idus Januarii noctis media. Submersit homines et peccora et mala innumerabilia. 1178 The sea broke in, in Holland [Lincolnshire], on January 12, in the middle of the night. It drowned men and cattle, and wrought innumerable evils.
mclxxix Concilium generale in urbe Roma sub Alexandro IIIo papa in quo erant episcopi cccti et ij o. (fn. 11) 1179 A general council was held in the city of Rome, under pope Alexander III., at which three hundred and two bishops were present.
mclxxx Cestria tota fere combusta id est major pars urbis dominica in medio xl hora die octava. 1180 Chester was almost entirely burnt down, that is to say, the greater part of the city, on Mid-Lent Sunday at 2 o'clock p.m.
mclxxxj Obiit Alexander III. et Roger archiepiscopus Eboracensis, et Adam episcopus Sancti Asaph.
Obiit Hugo II., ij kal. Julii comes Cestrie apud Lech.
Eodem anno obiit Simon comes Ebroensis socer Hugonis comitis Cestrie. 		1181 Pope Alexander III. died, also Roger, archbishop of York, and Adam, bishop of S. Asaph.
Hugh II., earl of Chester died at Leek.
The same year died Simon, count of Evreux, father-in-law of Hugh, earl of Chester.
mclxxxij Obiit Ricardus Pech episcopus Cestrie ij non. Octobris. 1182 Richard Peche [or Peckham], bishop of Chester, died on Wednesday, October 6.
mclxxxiij In hoc anno consecratus Gerardus Pucelle episcopus Cestrie a Ricardo archiepiscopo Cantuariensi vij kal. Octobris apud Cantuariam; et Wallterius de Custane Lincolniensis episcopus in Normannia apud Chain (fn. 12) vij kal. Julii, et Johannes episcopus Sancti Asaph.
Eodem anno ivit quidam monachus de Cestra nomine Willelmus de Eccleshall in Hulestire ad Dun, et prioratum ecclesie Sancti Patricij ab episcopo Mallachia de Dun, et a domino (fn. 13) Johanne de Curci suscepit.
Fames magna pro panis inopia. 		1183 In this year, on September 25, Gerard Puella was consecrated bishop of Chester, at Canterbury, by Richard, archbishop of Canterbury; and Walter of Coutances [was consecrated] bishop of Lincoln, in Normandy, at Caen, on June 25; and John [was consecrated] bishop of S. Asaph.
In the same year, a certain monk of Chester, named William of Eccleshall, went into Ulster, to Down, and received the priory of the church of S. Patrick from Malachi, bishop of Down, and the lord John de Courcy [Earl of Ulster].
A great famine owing to the want of bread.
mclxxxiiij Obiit piæ memoriæ Gerardus episcopus Cestre idus Januarii apud Lichfeld. Eodem anno obiit Ricardus archiepiscopus Cantuariensis apud Cantuariam (fn. 14) et Jocelinus episcopus de Salesberie et episcopus Cicestrensis (fn. 15) et Waleramus episcopus Rofensis Bartholomeus Exoniensis. 1184 Gerard [Puella], bishop of Chester, of pious memory, died January 13, at Lichfield. In the same year there died Richard, archbishop of Canterbury, at Canterbury, and Jocelin, bishop of Salisbury, and the bishop of Chichester, and Waleran, bishop of Rochester, and Bartholomew, bishop of Exeter.
mclxxxiiij Item obiit Symon comes Northantonie filius Simonis comitis cum sua comittessa, et comes de Waren (?) (fn. 16) et multi alii barones in Anglia.
Item apud Lundonias in Westminster, Baldwinus episcopus Wigornie electus est in archiepiscopum de Cantuaria ab Henrico II. rege Anglie et ab episcopis Anglie ceterisque personis. Priore quidem Alano et toto conventu ecclesie Christi de Cantuarie omnimodis contradicentibus et electionem prefati Baldwini episcopi plenarie refutantibus.
Eodem vero anno ceperunt filii Res Regis de South Wales inquietare terram regis Henrici Anglie contra quos Rannulphus de Glanvile justiciarius Anglie cum multa manu ivit et parum proficiens vicecomitem Wigornie et multos alios milites perdidit. Tandiu veniens Henricus rex de Normannia, prefatos Walenses pacificavit.
Item obiit Robertus secundus abbas Cestrie ij kal. Septembris et multi alii abbates de Anglia Mortuo itaque abbate Cestrensi domus Sancte Werburge in manu Regis saisiata est, et custodia magistro Thome de Heusseburne commendata est.
Eodem anno electus est Walterus de Custantiis Lincolniensis episcopus in archiepiscopum Rotomagensem ab universo clero Rotomagensi annuente rege Anglie.
Eodem anno venerunt in Angliam ad Sanctum Thomam archiepiscopum Cantuariensem archiepiscopus de Cholona et Philippus comes Flandrie. 		1184 Also there died Simon [de Senlis], earl of Northampton (son of earl Simon), and his countess, and [William] earl of Warwick, and many other barons of England.
Also at Westminster, near London, Baldwin, bishop of Worcester, was elected archbishop of Canterbury, by Henry, king of England, and by the bishops of England and others of the clergy. But Alan the prior, and the whole convent of Christ Church, Canterbury, altogether objected, and utterly refused to allow the election of the said bishop Baldwin.
In the same year, the sons of Rees, king of South Wales, began to disturb the land of king Henry of England. Ralph de Glanville, justiciary of England, marched against them with a considerable band [of men], but before he had advanced far he [was defeated] and lost the sheriff of Worcester, and many others of his soldiers. At length king Henry II. came himself from Normandy, and pacified the aforesaid Welsh.
Also Robert the second, [fifth] abbot of Chester, died August 31, also many other abbots of England. Upon the death of the abbot of Chester the monastery of S. Werburg was seized into the hands of the king, and the custody of it committed to master Thomas of Husseburne.
In the same year, Walter of Coutances, bishop of Lincoln, was elected archbishop of Rouen, by the whole of the clergy of the diocese of Rouen, and with the assent of the king of England.
In the same year there came into England to [the shrine of] S. Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, [Philip] archbishop of Cologne, and Philip, count of Flanders.
mclxxxiiij Item Johannes Cumin primus archiepiscopus de francis in Hirlandia apud Dublin in tertio anno sue consecrationis venit in Dublin mense Septembris.
Item dedit Henricus Rex Anglie primo Johanni filio suo dominium de Hibernia. Qui Johannes misit Philippum de Wigornia cum multa familia sua in Hiberniam ad suscipiendas munitiones Hibernie.
Eodem anno obiit Willelmus Patrich et Simon filius Osberni et Robertus de Aldeford, cujus terram dedit Henricus II. rex Anglie cum filia supradicti Roberti relicta non dum bima Roberto Pipard fratri Gilthleberti Pipard. (fn. 17) 		1184 Also John Cumin, first of the French, archbishop in Ireland, came to Dublin, in the third year of his consecration, in the month of September.
Also Henry [II.], king of England, first gave to his son John the lordship of Ireland. Which John sent Philip of Worcester with a great retinue into Ireland for the purpose of undertaking the defence of Ireland.
In the same year there died William Patrick, and Simon Fitz-Osbert, and Robert of Aldeford, whose land together with the orphan daughter of the above-named Robert, not yet two years old, Henry, king of England, gave to Robert Pipard, brother of Gilbert Pipard.
mclxxxv Johannes sine terra filius Regis Henrici II. cum multa manu armatorum et navium multitudine apud Penbroch Wallie mare ingrediens Ebdomada pascali Hiberniam Rex coronandus petiit. Ceteri vero Anglie cc justicie et primores cum ejus (?) sociis apud Cestria iter navale arripiunt.
Patriarcha de Jerusalem venit post Purificationem Sancte Marie mense Februarii in Angliam, ad auxilium expetendum contra Saracenos.
Baldwinus archiepiscopus Cantuariensis pallium a dompno papa sibi delegatum suscepit, dieque Sancti Dunstani xiiij kal. maii [junii ?], primo missam apud Canterburiam celebravit. Eodem anno obiit Lucius papa et subrogatus est Urbanus Papa.
Prima quoque die post ramis Palmarum id est, feria secunda hoc est xvij kal. Aprilis, magnus terre motus plerisque locis Anglie et ut aiunt quidam omni particulariter orbis climate hora diei sexta contigit. 		1185 John Lackland, son of king Henry II., with a great band of armed men, and a multitude of ships, arrived by sea at Pembroke in Wales. On the Sunday after Easter he started for Ireland in order to be crowned king there. But two hundred other justices and nobles of England, with his [their ?] companions, commence their sea voyage to Ireland at Chester.
In February, after the feast of the Purification of S. Mary, [Heraclius,] patriarch of Jerusalem, came to England to seek assistance against the Saracens.
Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, received the pall committed to him by our lord the pope, and on S. Dunstan's day, May 19, he celebrated his first mass at Canterbury. In the same year pope Lucius [III.] died, and Urban [III.] was elected pope in his place.
On the first day after Palm Sunday, that is on Monday, April 15, there was a great earthquake in very many places in England, and as some say particularly, in every region of the earth; it happened at the sixth hour of the day.
mclxxxv Eodem anno successit in episcopatum Hereford Willelmus de Ver, et Willelmus de Norhahe in episcopatum Wigorniensi.
Sed et Henricus II. Rex et Baldwinus archiepiscopus posuerunt unum abbatem ad Cestriam nomine Robertum de Hastiges qui apud Cantuariam ab archiepiscopo Baldwino est benedictus.
Eodem anno interfectus Hugo de Lacy a quodam Hiberniense in Hibernia. Quo audito Henricus rex preparuit Johannem filium suum iterum mittere in Hibernia. Qui Johannes veniens Cestriam dum ventum ibi expectat, nuntiatur patri suo mors Galfridi fratris sui comitis de Britania. Qua audita Henricus rex revocare fecit Johannem filium suum et misit in Hiberniam Phillippum de Wigornia cum aliis quam paucis. 		1185 In the same year William de Vere succeeded to the see of Hereford, and William of Northall to the see of Worcester.
But king Henry II. of England, and Baldwin, archbishop [of Canterbury], placed as abbot of Chester a certain Robert of Hastings, who received the benediction at Canterbury from archbishop Baldwin.
The same year Hugh de Lacy was killed in Ireland by a certain Irishman. When king Henry heard of it, he prepared to send his son John again into Ireland. But when John had come to Chester, and was waiting for a [favourable] wind, the death of his brother Geoffry, count of Brittany, is announced to his father; when Henry heard of this, he caused his son John to be recalled, and sent Philip of Worcester with a very few others to Ireland.
mclxxxvj Henricus II. Rex Anglie et Baldwinus Cantuariensis archiepiscopus volentes consulere episcopatus et abbatias vacantes in Anglia, primo apud Oxenford congregatis ibi quam plurimis de Anglia personis, electi sunt ibi episcopus Lincolniensis quidam prior de ordine de Chartuse. Et episcopus de Sancto Asaph quidam canonicus de Haheman, nomine Reinerus, Et Abbas. de Abendon prior de Redigs (fn. 18) nomine . . . .; Et Abbas de Burton qui fuit prior de Habendon nomine Nicholas.
Item apud Northamtunam facta est item congregacio eodem anno et electi sunt ibi coram Henrico Rege et Baldwino archiepiscopo Cantuariensi feria tertia id est kal. Julii Godefrei de Luci in episcopum Exoniensem, sed eodem Godefrei de Luci renunciante suo episcopatui, subdecanus Salesberie pro eo in ecclesia Exonie subrogatus est. 		1186 Henry II., king of England, and Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, wishing to provide for the vacant bishoprics and abbeys, in the first place assembled at Oxford as many of the clergy of England as possible, and there elected a certain prior of the Carthusian order [S. Hugh, prior of Witham] as bishop of Lincoln, and a certain canon of Haghmon [in Shropshire], named Reiner, as bishop of S. Asaph; and as abbot of Abingdon, the prior of Rochester, [Alfred] by name; and as abbot of Burton, Nicolas, who was then prior of Abingdon.
Also a council was held at Northampton the same year, and there in the presence of king Henry and of Baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, on Tuesday, July 1, Godfrey de Lucy [afterwards bishop of Winchester] was elected to the bishopric of Exeter, but upon his refusal of the see, [John,] subdean of Salisbury, was elected to the church of Exeter in his place.

Footnotes

  • 1. In the margin is written "Norton in Com. Cestria." According to Sir Peter Leycester (Antiquities), Arts. "Norton" and "Halton," Ormerod's Cheshire, New Edit., i. 681, 690, 691, and Dugdale's Monasticon, p. 87), this statement respecting the foundation of the priory of Norton is not strictly accurate. William Fitz-Nigel, second baron of Halton, is by these writers stated to have founded a priory at Runcorn in 1133, the year of his death, the canons of which were, by his son and successor William, removed to Norton a few years later. Leycester gives a charter of this William Fitz-William (undated but clearly very shortly after 1133) and seems to assume that it was the charter removing the canons to Norton, but in fact it recognises the priory of Norton as then existing.
  • 2. Hugh Malbanc ór Maubanc was the founder of Combermere Abbey.
  • 3. "Gallos" may be an error of the copyist for "Anglos," and the war referred to the invasion of England by David I. of Scotland on behalf of his niece, the Empress Maud, though it is possible that the chronicler intends to describe the adherents of Stephen, who were chiefly Normans, as the French.
  • 4. "1141" (Kennet).
  • 5. "Radulphus suc. 1141, II Cal. Feb." (Wharton).
  • 6. A full and accurate pedigree of the Barons of Montalt, re-constructed from original evidences, will be found in the new edition of Ormerod's Cheshire, i. 58. They appear to have held the office of Dapifer or Seneschal of the Earldom of Chester, during the two centuries which followed the Conquest.
  • 7. The date of the foundation of the abbey of Basingwerk has been considered as doubtful, and Sir Henry Ellis remarks (Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. v. p. 261), that the information respecting it is more scanty than in the case of most Cistercian houses. But this Chronicle of S. Werburg is erroneously cited in the Monasticon as an authority for the statement that Ranulph, or Ralph, earl of Chester, founded this monastery in the year 1131. Leland, however, in his Collectanea considers king Henry II. as the founder. "Tanner is of opinion that it was begun by the Earl about the time above mentioned, but probably improved and made an abbey of the Cistercians about A.D. 1159. Leland, in another part of his Collectanea, speaks of this monastery as founded by King Henry II. when he began his wars with the Welsh, and after he had fortified Rudland Castle, that is, after 1156" (Mon. loc. cit.). This latter statement of Leland is borne out by our Chronicle. The foundation of Basingwerk was of special interest to the monks of S. Werburg at the time the Annales Cestrienses were composed, as the two abbeys were then in litigation, respecting the advowson of West Kirkby, which each claimed. The litigation was decided in 14 Edward I., 1286, in favour of the abbey of S. Werburg. (See an account of the matter in Ormerod's Cheshire, New Edit., ii. 485.)
  • 8. Here as in one or two other places the younger Henry is referred to as "Henricus III."
  • 9. After the word "Walensium" there occur in the manuscript the words "obsides owini," while the entry in the following year, 1165, ends with the word "perdidit"; but it is clear that the words "obsides owini" ought to follow here, and that by an error of the scribe they have been inserted in the entry of the year before. In the Annales de Waverleia, under 1164, is "Justitia de obsidibus Wallensium," as in this Chronicle, and in the following year "(Henricus) duxit exercitum suum in Waliam tertio, et perdidit obsides regis Audœni." The justice that was done upon them would seem to be putting out their eyes and otherwise mutilating them, which the Annales Cambriœ ascribe to Henry under the year 1166.
  • 10. This is the last indiction marked in the Chronicle.
  • 11. This entry is written in the margin of the manuscript, in a different hand to most of the entries on this page, but in the same as the entry for 1178. It is not very clear under what year it is intended to be inserted, but, as the council was actually held in 1179, I have placed it under that year. The entries on the page, which extends from 1177 to the beginning of 1184, are in three different hands.
  • 12. Le Neve states that Walter of Coutances was ordained priest on the Saturday in Pentecost, 1183, and was consecrated at Anjou by the archbishop of Canterbury the next day, Trinity Sunday, and for this he cites the Ymagines Historiarum of Ralph de Diceto, adding, "according to other accounts he was consecrated at Caen 25 June, 1183. See Rot. Pip. 30 Hen. II." R. de Diceto, however, after stating (ii. 14) that Walter of Coutances was ordained priest by John, archbishop of York, "in sabbata Pentecostes," adds "quem post modum Cantuariensis archiepiscopus episcopum consecravit Andegavis in ecclesia Sancti Laudi;" subsequently (p. 145) he gives a letter of the bishop referring to his consecration at Angers on the Sunday on which was sung Dominus illuminatio mea, i.e. the third Sunday after Trinity (July 3, 1183). It is probable that he was ordained priest at Caen, 25 June, the eve of Whitsunday. According to Le Neve, John, bishop of S. Asaph, was also consecrated at Caen, 25 June, 1183, and the Annales de Waverleia are cited as the authority for this statement, which, however, I have failed to find there. All that is there stated of John of S. Asaph (as of Walter of Coutances) is that in 1183 he was made bishop.
  • 13. The word above printed a domino is in the MS. Adic[..]o, which may possibly be a dicto, the compiler or copyist having copied a fragment only of a sentence in which John de Courcy had before been mentioned. (A similar case occurs under the year 116). The Gastrell MS. leaves a blank between et and Johanni, the transcriber having evidently been unable to make out the word.
  • 14. " Lichefield" has been written in the manuscript before "Cant.," and the pen afterwards struck through it.
  • 15. No bishop of Chichester died in the year 1184; Seffride was bishop of Chichester from 1180 to 1204. It is possible that "Cicestrensis" is a mistake for "Cestrensis"; though, as the death of Gerard Puella has been recorded a few lines before, this is not probable. Jocelin, bishop of Salisbury, resigned his see in 1184, and became a Cistercian monk (Annales de Waverleia). It seems probable that Cicestrensis is a mistake for Cisterciensis, and that the entry relating to Jocelin is an abridgment of that in the Annales de Waverleia, which is as follows:- "Jocelinus episcopus Salesbiriæ, dimisso episcopatu, factus est monachus ordinis Cisterciensis."
  • 16. Although the name in the manuscript is clearly "Waren," William, earl of Warwick, who died this year, must be intended, and the word Waren is probably a mistake of the copyist. No earl of Warren died in or about this year.
  • 17. Gilbert Pipard is stated by Foss (Judges) to have been one of the justices itinerant appointed by the Council of Northampton in 1176, and was again appointed in 1179. He is also there said to have succeeded his father as Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1168. He also appears to have been Sheriff of Essex and Herts, 1168-70, Hereford, 1172-4, and Cheshire 1185 (Earwaker's East Cheshire and Bishop Stubbs' notes on Roger de Hoveden, ii. 88 and 191). Robert de Aldeford is mentioned in Ormerod's Cheshire and Earwaker's East Cheshire.
  • 18. Although the name in the manuscript is clearly as given in the text, I find no prior of Reading, who became at this time abbot of Abingdon. It appears from the Anglia Sacra (i. 169) that upon the death of Roger, abbot of Abingdon, in 1185 or 1186, Thomas de Hussebourne or Husselbourne received the procuration of the monastery, and that, some time after, the king bestowed the abbey on Alfred or Aluredus, prior of Rochester, who died in 1189. "Redigs" would therefore seem to be an error of the copyist for "Roffns" (Roffensis).
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