Geoffrey de Runcey

Geoffrey de Runcey (1340s?–1384) was the writer of a valuable medieval chronicle of East Anglia.

Life

Little is known about his ancestry, but his name suggests that he originated from the town of North Runcton in Norfolk, ‘Runcey’ being the archaic spelling (see also Oxburgh Hall at Oxborough). It is likely that he was educated at Bury St. Edmunds Abbey and, although not ordained, was in service with the monastery for the rest of his life. After his death in 1384, 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.

Background

De Runcey appears to have been sent by the priory to spread the news of the death of the high abbot around the region, where he came into contact with many walks of life. The chronicle was likely to have been written as evidence that the task was accomplished. It is written in late Middle English, although he appears to have translated (poorly) some sections into Latin for the newly chosen abbot’s reading.

The "Chronicle"

His journal has proved particularly useful for historians researching Fen customs before Cornelius Vermuyden’s great drainage scheme of the 1630s. 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 usualy triumfant, manny younge boyes are accustomed to falle manny tymes beforr theyye are trully sucsesfull."

Much of his original journal has unfortunately been lost, although the remaining fragments are kept preserved at Wisbech Museum, the Hillard Collection in Suffolk and a complete transcription into modern English is available at the Chatteris Museum.

External links

* [http://www.startlearningnow.com/articles/The-Fens.htm Article about the Fens and stilt-walkers]
* [http://www.cornucopia.org.uk/html/search/verb/ListIdentifiers/set/location/1091 Wisbech Museum]
* [http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cambscc/infocam/cid.nsf/1a07a463d0114afd80256d1a00550114/d6337714ed12c36980256ce9003df2db Chatteris Museum]