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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Paternal Family Tree: Dryden
In 1551 [his father] John Dryden of Canons Ashby [aged 26] and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Cope [aged 22] were married.
On 20th December 1553 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet was born to John Dryden of Canons Ashby [aged 28].
On 21st January 1558 John Cope [aged 54] died. [his father] John Dryden of Canons Ashby [aged 33] and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Cope [aged 29] inherited Canons Ashby House.
In 1571 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 17] was admitted to Magdalen College, Oxford University.
In or before 1580 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 26] and Frances Wilkes were married. They had 3 sons and 4 daughters.
Around 1580 [his son] John Dryden 2nd Baronet was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 26] and [his wife] Frances Wilkes. He married (1) 8th October 1605 Priscilla Quarles (2) in or before 1631 Anne Parvish (3) 3rd July 1632 Honora Beville and had issue.
In 1583 [his daughter] Susannah Dryden was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 29]. She married 1609 John Pickering and had issue.
On 30th September 1584 [his father] John Dryden of Canons Ashby [aged 59] died.
In 1586 [his son] Erasmus Dryden was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 32] and [his wife] Frances Wilkes. He married before 9th August 1631 Mary Pickering and had issue.
1590 [his son] William Dryden was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 36] and [his wife] Frances Wilkes.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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In 1599 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 45] was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.
On 8th October 1605 [his son] John Dryden 2nd Baronet [aged 25] and [his daughter-in-law] Priscilla Quarles [aged 17] were married.
Before 1608 [his son-in-law] Edward Hartopp 1st Baronet [aged 35] and [his daughter] Mary Dryden Lady Hartopp were married.
In 1609 [his son-in-law] John Pickering [aged 24] and [his daughter] Susannah Dryden [aged 26] were married.
In 1618 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 64] was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.
On 16th November 1619 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 65] was created 1st Baronet Dryden of Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire.
In or before 1631 [his son] John Dryden 2nd Baronet [aged 50] and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Parvish [aged 42] were married.
Before 9th August 1631 [his son] Erasmus Dryden [aged 45] and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Pickering [aged 39] were married.
On 22nd May 1632 Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet [aged 78] died. His son John [aged 52] succeeded 2nd Baronet Dryden of Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire.
[his daughter] Mary Dryden Lady Hartopp was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet and Frances Wilkes. She married before 1608 Edward Hartopp 1st Baronet and had issue.
[his daughter] Dorothy Dryden was born to Erasmus Dryden 1st Baronet and Frances Wilkes. She married Edward Salwey and had issue.