Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Wriothesley's Chronicle 1553 is in Wriothesley's Chronicle.
Saterday, beinge the 8 of July, 1553, my Lord Mayor was sent for to the Court at Grenewich by a letter, and to bringe with him 6 or 8 Aldermen, 6 Merchaunt Staplers, and 6 Merchant Adventurers; which he did the same day in the afternone; and when they were before the Counsell, there was declared secretly the death of the Kinges Maiestie, which dyed the 6 day of July, beinge Thursday; and allso howe he had by his letters patents ordayned for the succession of the imperiall crowne of England and Ireland; which, opened unto them by the mouth of the Counsell, they were sworne to yt and to keepe yt secret. The sayd Kinge Edward had rayned 6 yeares full the 28 of January last past, and so much more, since which was in the 7th year of his raigne.
The 9 of August [1553], in the afternone, the Quene helde an obsequy for the Kinge within the church in the Tower, her Grace beinge present, and had a solemne dirige songe in Latine.
The morrowe, beinge Thursday the 10 of August [1553], the Quenes highnes had a solemne masse of Requiem songe within the chappell in the Tower for the Kinge; hir Highnes offringe at the masse with all her ladyes and gentlewomen.
Allso this day the corps of the Kinges Maiestie was solemnely caryed from Whitehall, at Westminster, to the minster of St. Peters Church, where was a rich hearse made like an imperiall crowne without lightes afore the steps where the high aulter stoode; where his Highnes body remayned, till the Communion seruice and a sermon made by Doctor Day [aged 52], Bishop of Chichester, was done; and then the corps was honourably conveyed from thence up into the chappell, where Kinge Henry the VIIth lyeth, where the Kinges Majesties body was buryed. The solemnity of the offringe by the estates, mourners, and other was lyke the enterment of Kinge Henry the VIII his father, savinge the seruice of the Communion and buryall, which was all in Englishe, without any copes or vestmentes, but onely surples, accordinge to the Booke of Common Prayer last sett forth by Act of Parliament.
And this day was a great dole of mony geven within euery warde within the City of London, euery poore house-hould havinge viii d. the peece.
The Duke of Norfolke [aged 80] and my Lord Courtney [aged 26] were deliuered out of the Tower this 10th of August[ 1553].
