Barnwell chronicler

The Barnwell Chronicle is a thirteenth-century Latin chronicle named after the priory at Barnwell near Cambridge, where the manuscript was kept.

The historian J.C. Holt described the Chronicler as "The most intelligent and valuable" [1] and "perceptive" [2]writer of his time.

The Chronicler gives the fairest account of the reign of King John of England of any contemporaries[3] describing him as a "great prince". He indicates that John's reforms of 1213 were worthy of being remembered. The Chronicler disliked foreigners and regrets John's use of foreign mercenaries, blaming them for the initial failures against the French invasion in 1215[4]. The Chronicle implies John's failure was due to bad luck[5].

The Chronicler also wrote of the reign of Henry III, regarding the struggle against the rebel barons as a crusade against infidels[6] and would comment on the increasing French acculturation in Scotland[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Holt, J.C. The Northerners: A Study in the Reign of King John Oxford University Press(1992) p9
  2. ^ Holt, J.C. Magna Carta Cambridge University Press(1992)p223
  3. ^ Gransden, AntoniaHistorical Writing in England: c. 500 to c. 1307 Routledge (1976) p343
  4. ^ Gransden, Antonia Historical Writing in England: c. 500 to c. 1307 Routledge (1976) p344
  5. ^ Clanchy, M. T. England and its rulers, 1066-1272 Blackwell 2nd edition (1998) p136
  6. ^ Carpenter,David The minority of Henry III University of California Press (1990) p28
  7. ^ Daniell, Christopher From Norman Conquest to Magna Carta: England, 1066-1215 Routledge (2003) p60