Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II, and Richard I

The third volume of this four-volume set of Latin chronicles, edited by Richard Howlett (1841-1917) and published between 1884 and 1889, contains five separate works. The Gesta Stephani regis Anglorum ('Deeds of King Stephen') is a primary source for Stephen's reign and especially his wars with his cousin Maude. This is supplemented by the shorter De gestis regis Stephani by Richard, prior of Hexham, covering the years 1135-9. The treatise Relatio de standardo by St Aelred, abbot of Rievaulx, is a partisan account of the Battle of the Standard in 1138. Jordan Fantosme's long poem (in French, with an English translation) describes the rebellion against Henry II of 1173-4. Finally, Richard of Devizes chronicles the deeds of Richard I in De rebus gestis Ricardi Primi, which is 'one of the most amusing products of the middle ages' according to Howlett, whose introduction provides historical background and manuscript details. English side-notes to the Latin texts are provided throughout.