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Primary sourceDocument1846 edition, covering events to 1540

The Chronicle of Calais to 1540

Richard Turpyn (supposed) · 1846 edition, covering events to 1540

A contemporary chronicle describing events in the English town of Calais during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, including Henry VIII's own reign.

A contemporary chronicle recording events in Calais during Henry VIII's reign, offering a primary view of his rule.

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The Chronicle of Calais to 1540PDF · 304 pages
Richard Turpyn (supposed), The Chronicle of Calais to 1540, 1846 edition. Scanned book, Internet Archive.

About this source

What it is

This is The Chronicle of Calais, a record of events in Calais, an English-held town in France, covering the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII up to 1540. It is supposed to have been written by Richard Turpyn, who died around 1541, and was edited from manuscripts held in the British Museum, published in 1846 for the Camden Society.

Why it matters

Because it was written during Henry VIII's own lifetime, this chronicle is a primary source for events of his reign as seen from an English outpost abroad. It gives historians a local, on-the-ground view of how Henry VIII's rule affected English territory outside England itself.

Look closer

  • Why might a chronicle from Calais give a different view of Henry VIII's reign than one written in London?
  • What does it mean that the author is only

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