A Soldiers' Chronicle of the Hundred Years War : College of Arms Manuscript M 9

A remarkable and very important unpublished chronicle written by two soldiers, covering in detail the English campaigns in France from 1415 to 1429. It lists many individuals who served in the war, and was written specifically for Sir John Fastolf, the English commander. This previously unpublished chronicle from the mid-fifteenth century covers the English wars in France from 1415 to 1429. It is highly unusual in that it was written by two soldiers, Peter Basset and Christopher Hanson. William Worcester, secretary to the English commander Sir John Fastolf, also had a hand in it, and it was specifically written for Sir John. The content is unusual, as it includes many lists of individuals serving in the war, and records their presence at battles, naming more than 700 in all. Over half these individuals are French or Scottish, so it would seem that the authors had a particularly detailed knowledge of French military participation. The narrative is important for the English campaigns in Maine in the 1420s in which Fastolf was heavily involved and which otherwise receive little attention in chronicles written on either side of the Channel. The progress of the war is well mapped, with around 230 place names mentioned. The chronicle was extensively used in the sixteenth century by several heralds and by Edward Hall. As a result, it had an influence on Shakespeare. The death of the Earl of Salisbury at Orleans in 'Henry VI Part I' Follows the chronicle closely. The 'Mirror for Magistrates' Salisbury narrative is also derived from the chronicle. Another point of interest is that the chronicle is by a scribe who can be identified, and proves to be the only known fifteenth-century account of the war written in England in French, which adds an important linguistic dimension to its study.-- Provided by publisher Una notable y muy importante crónica inédita escrita por dos soldados, que cubre con detalle las campañas inglesas en Francia desde 1415 hasta 1429. Enumera a muchos individuos que sirvieron en la guerra, y fue escrita específicamente para Sir John Fastolf, el comandante inglés. Esta crónica inédita de mediados del siglo XV abarca las guerras inglesas en Francia de 1415 a 1429. Es muy inusual porque fue escrita por dos soldados, Peter Basset y Christopher Hanson. William Worcester, secretario del comandante inglés Sir John Fastolf, también participó en él, y fue escrito específicamente para Sir John. El contenido es inusual, ya que incluye muchas listas de individuos que sirvieron en la guerra, y registra su presencia en las batallas, nombrando a más de 700 en total. Más de la mitad de estos individuos son franceses o escoceses, por lo que parece que los autores tenían un conocimiento especialmente detallado de la participación militar francesa. La narración es importante para las campañas inglesas en Maine en la década de 1420, en las que Fastolf estuvo muy involucrado y que, de otro modo, reciben poca atención en las crónicas escritas a ambos lados del Canal. El desarrollo de la guerra está bien cartografiado, con unos 230 nombres de lugares mencionados. La crónica fue ampliamente utilizada en el siglo XVI por varios heraldos y por Edward Hall. Por ello, influyó en Shakespeare. La muerte del conde de Salisbury en Orleans en "Enrique VI Parte I" sigue de cerca la crónica. La narración de Salisbury en "Espejo para los magistrados" también se deriva de la crónica. Otro punto de interés es que la crónica es obra de un escriba que puede ser identificado, y resulta ser el único relato conocido del siglo XV sobre la guerra escrito en Inglaterra en francés, lo que añade una importante dimensión lingüística a su estudio This previously unpublished chronicle from the mid-fifteenth century covers the English wars in France from 1415 to 1429. It is highly unusual in that it was written by two soldiers, Peter Basset and Christopher Hanson. William Worcester, secretary to the English commander Sir John Fastolf, also had a hand in it, and it was specifically written for Sir John. The content is unusual, as it includes many lists of individuals serving in the war, and records their presence at battles, naming more than 700 in all. Over half these individuals are French or Scottish, so it would seem that the authors had a particularly detailed knowledge of French military participation. The narrative is important for the English campaigns in Maine in the 1420s in which Fastolf was heavily involved and which otherwise receive little attention in chronicles written on either side of the Channel. The progress of the war is well mapped, with around 230 place names mentioned.
The chronicle was extensively used in the sixteenth century by several heralds and by Edward Hall. As a result, it had an influence on Shakespeare. The death of the earl of Salisbury at Orleans in 'Henry VI Part I' Follows the chronicle closely. The 'Mirror for Magistrates' Salisbury narrative is also derived from the chronicle. Another point of interest is that the chronicle is by a scribe who can be identified, and proves to be the only known fifteenth-century account of the war written in England in French, which adds an important linguistic dimension to its study.