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Geoffrey de Runcey (1340s?–1384) was a 14th century chronicler and abbey servant who wrote a valuable, although now-incomplete journal of his travels around medieval East Anglia. Little is known about de Runcey's ancestry, but his name suggests that he originated from North Runcton, now in the town of King's Lynn in Norfolk, "Runcey" being an archaic spelling (see also Oxburgh Hall at Oxborough). It has been speculated that he was the son of a landowner, free tenant, or even the illegitimate son of a priest, as despite not being ordained he was educated at Bury St. Edmunds Abbey and was in service with the monastery for the rest of his life.〔Tim Wells, (Biography and excerpts ) at the ''Geoffrey de Runcey Society'', retrieved 26 November 2006〕 He is best known for his ''Chronicle'' from circa 1379. De Runcey appears to have been sent by the priory to spread the news of the death of the high abbot of Bury around the Benedictine monasteries of East Anglia, in the process coming into contact with many walks of life. The chronicle was likely to have been written as evidence that the task was accomplished. He died in 1384, although the cause of death is not recorded. He was interred at the priory of St Edmund, in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, although his tomb was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.〔"Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Bury St Edmunds" in ''A History of the County of Suffolk: Volume 2'' (1975), pp. 56-72〕〔"The Abbey of Bury St. Edmund's" in the ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1913)〕 ==The ''Chronicle''== The ''Chronicle'' is, unusually, written in late Middle English, although in a second version (B manuscript), de Runcey or another hand appears to have (poorly) translated sections into Latin for the newly chosen abbot's reading.〔 This version is of a more decorated nature.〔 His journal has proved particularly useful for historians researching Fen customs before Cornelius Vermuyden's great drainage scheme of the 1630s, and is notable for its whimsical, yet unusually secular outlook and lack of superstition.〔 In particular his vivid account of stilt walkers has provided the foundation for many histories of the area: ''Stilltemen are yfounden inn the Fenn regionis…Althow theyye are usually triumfant, manny younge boyes are accustomed to falle manny tymes beforr theyye are trewly sucsesfull.''〔〔(Article about the Fens and stilt-walkers ) from ''startlearningnow.com'', retrieved 22 December 2005〕 Much of his original journal has unfortunately been lost, although the remaining fragments are kept preserved at the Hillard Collection in Suffolk, the Wisbech Museum and a transcription into modern English of key parts of both manuscripts is available at the Chatteris Museum.〔(Wisbech Museum ) at ''Cornucopia.org.uk'', Retrieved 26 November 2006〕〔(Chatteris Museum ) at ''cambridgeshire.gov.uk'', retrieved 22 December 2005〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Geoffrey de Runcey」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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