The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbrook.pdf

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THE CHRONICLE OF
GEOFFREY LE BAKER OF SWINBROOK
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 vignettes which 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.
THE C HRO NIC LE O F
GE O F F RE Y LE BA KE R
OF SW I NBRO O K
Translated by David Preest
Introduction and Notes by Richard Barber
THE BOYDELL PRESS
Translation © David Preest 2012
Introduction and notes © Richard Barber 2012
All rights reserved.
Except as permitted under current legislation
no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system,
published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast,
transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means,
without the prior permission of the copyright owner
First published 2012
The Boydell Press, Woodbridge
ISBN 978 1 84383 6919
The Boydell Press is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd
PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3DF, UK
and of Boydell & Brewer Inc.
668 Mount Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
website: www.boydellandbrewer.com
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
Papers used by Boydell & Brewer Ltd are natural, recyclable products
made from wood grown in sustainable forests
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
CPI Anthony Rowe, Chippenham & Eastbourne

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