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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Before 1st May 1829 [his father] Anthony Sands [aged 23] and [his mother] Mary Ann Brown were married.
On 1st May 1829 Frederick Sandes was born to Anthony Sands [aged 23] and Mary Ann Brown. His birth name being Antonio Frederic Augustus Sands.
In 1843 [his sister] Emma Sandes was born to [his father] Anthony Sands [aged 37] and [his mother] Mary Ann Brown. Note she was some fourteen years younger than her brother Frederick Sandes [aged 13]. Named Mary Ann Emma Sands at birth.
Around 1847. Frederick Sandes [aged 17]. Portrait of his mother Mary Ann Brown.
Mary Ann Brown: Before 1st May 1829 Anthony Sands and she were married. In 1883 she died.
1848. Frederick Sandes [aged 18]. Self-Portrait.
1848. [his father] Anthony Sands [aged 42]. Portrait of his son Frederick Sandes [aged 18].
1849. Frederick Sandes [aged 19]. Portrait of his father Anthony Sands [aged 43].
On 28th May 1853 Frederick Sandes [aged 24] and Georgiana Creed [aged 28] were married at St Pancras Old Church [Map]. He the son of Anthony Sands [aged 47] and Mary Ann Brown.
Around 1854. Frederick Sandes [aged 24]. Portrait of his sister Emma Sandes [aged 11].
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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1857 . Frederick Sandes [aged 27]. "A Nightmare of Sir Isumbras at the Ford". A parody of John Everett Millais' [aged 27] "Sir Isumbras at the Ford". See description in George Price Boyce's Diary.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857. 29th June 1857. Rossetti [aged 29] and his friend Morris [aged 23] (of 17 Red Lion Square), called on me in Buckingham St. and had tea. R. told me he was sure it was a man of the name of Sandys [aged 28] who had done the caricature.
1858. Frederick Sandes [aged 28]. "Queen Eleanor". Note the cup of poison in her right hand and the dagger in her left hand with which she would offer Rosamund, mistress of her husband Henry II, a choice as to how to die.
1859. Frederick Sandes [aged 29]. Portrait Adelaide Mary d'Eye [aged 24].
Adelaide Mary d'Eye: On 31st December 1834 she was born to Reverend Edgar Rust d'Eye of Abbot's Hall. In June 1855 Philip Bedingfeld of Ditchingham Hall Norfolk and she were married. On 19th September 1912 she died.
1859. Frederick Sandes [aged 29]. "Study of the head of a young mulatto woman, full face". Model Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton [aged 23].
1859. Frederick Sandes [aged 29]. "Mary Magdalene". Mary is depicted in front of a patterned forest-green damask. She holds an alabaster ointment cup, a traditional attribute which associates her with the unnamed sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet in Luke 7:37. In 1894 the painting was acquired by Samuel Bancroft.
In the 1860s and 1870s James Anderson Rose [aged 40] collected the works of Frederick Sandes [aged 30] and James Abbott McNeill Whistler [aged 25].
1860. Frederick Sandes [aged 30]. Drawing of Fanny Entwhistle aka Eaton [aged 24].
1860. Frederick Sandes [aged 30]. Portrait Hannah Louisa Blyth [aged 35].
Hannah Louisa Blyth: On 21st November 1824 she was born. On 11th June 1846 William Houghton Clabburn Shawl Manufacturer and she were married. Around February 1878 she died.
1860. Frederick Sandes [aged 30]. Portrait Philip Bedingfeld of Ditchingham Hall Norfolk [aged 29].
Philip Bedingfeld of Ditchingham Hall Norfolk: On 25th April 1830 he was born to John Longeville Bedingfield. In December 1870 he died.
1861. Frederick Sandes [aged 31]. "Oriana". This subject is taken from a poem The Ballad of Oriana by Alfred Tennyson. Oriana stands on the wall of a castle, watching her betrothed in battle below. An arrow aimed at him goes astray and she is killed instead.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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1862. Frederick Sandes [aged 32]. Fanny Eaton [aged 26] as Morgan le Fay.
1862. Frederick Sandes [aged 32]. Portrait of Susanna Rose nee Anderson [aged 67]. Mother of collector James Anderson Rose [aged 42]. Sandys exhibited this portrait at the Royal Academy in 1863.
Susanna Rose nee Anderson: In 1795 she was born to William Anderson at Manchester, Lancashire. On 19th May 1818 Arthur Miller Rose and she were married at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch. In 1870 she died.
In 1863 [his illegitimate daughter] Ethel Gray was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 33] and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 21].
1863. Frederick Sandes [aged 33]. "Vivien". The subject of the picture is Vivien, also known as the Lady of the Lake, the enchantress of Merlin from Alfred Tennyson's [aged 53] poetic work Idylls of the King. The model was Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 21].
In 1863 Frederick Sandes [aged 33] and Georgiana Creed [aged 37] were divorced; or, he petitioned for divorce. It may not have been completed.
Around 1863. Frederick Sandes [aged 33]. "Cassandra". The model was Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 21].
Letters of James McNeill Whistler 1863. 31st May 1863. 7 Lindsey Row Old Chelsea. Sunday
Dear Sandys [aged 34] -
You have done the proper thing thoroughly and I only wish I could accept your jolly invitation and do the yachting and eat the dinner which I have no doubt will be stunning -
but it's of no use - I must stick to a couple of pictures, commissions! for I am just about cleaned out - and tin will be forked over on their completion -
Your "Vivien" is splendid in tone and colour especially the head - of course it is badly hung -
One of my pictures [is] refused and one put on the floor - You will perhaps be pleased to hear that the "White Girl" is a real success in Paris - and already I have had a letter to know if it may be possessed for gold! -
Adieu mon cher - Remember me to Tom Geckyl [aged 35] -
Jo [aged 20] says many things aimables - and if ever I lent her to anyone to paint, it should certainly be to you mon ami -
Adieu again - and success to the trip -
Ever yours,
J. Whistler [aged 28]
Around 1864. Frederick Sandes [aged 34]. "Morgan-le-Fay". The enchantress of Arthurian legend also known as Morgana. Fay meaning Fairy. The model was Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 22].
In 1865 Frederick Sandes [aged 35] exhibited "Gentle Spring" at the Royal Academy. To the frame was attached a sonnet by Algernon Charles Swinburne [aged 27] also called "Gentle Spring" as follows:
O Virgin Mother! of gentle days and nights,.
Spring of fresh buds and spring of soft delights,.
Come, with lips kissed of many an amorous hours,.
Come, with hands heavy from the fervent flower,.
The fleet first flower that feels the wind and sighs,.
The tenderer leaf that draws the sun and dies;.
Light butterflies like flowers alive in the air.
Circling and crowning thy delicious hair,.
And many a fruitful flower and floral fruit.
Born of thy breath and fragrant from thy foot.
Thee, Mother, all things born desire, and thee.
Earth and the fruitless hollows of the sea.
Praise, and thy tender winds of ungrown wing.
Fill heaven with murmurs of the sudden spring.
In 1865 [his illegitimate son] Frederick Cyril Gray was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 35] and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 23].
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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The Diary of George Price Boyce 1865. 5th December 1865. December 5. To Gabriel Rossetti [aged 37]'s at Chelsea. He at home and Wm. and Fanny—Sandys [aged 36] and his gipsy girl (Kiomi [aged 24]) there also.
1866. Frederick Sandes [aged 36]. "Perdita". Model Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 21].
1867. Frederick Sandes [aged 37]. "Isolde with the Love Potion".
In 1867 [his illegitimate daughter] Madeline Gray was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 37] and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 25].
1867. Frederick Sandes [aged 37]. "Berenice, Queen of Egypt".
1867. Frederick Sandes [aged 37]. "Grace Rose". Lady Grace Charlotte Rose was the daughter of Captain Winterton Snow of the Madras Army and the wife of Sir William Anderson Rose [aged 46], whose portrait Frederick Sandys also painted, along with several other members of the family. The armorial shield and crest in the top right of this picture carries the Rose family motto: "Constant and true."
Grace Charlotte Snow: she was born to Captain Winterton Snow. Before 1866 Colonel William Anderson Rose and she were married.
1867. Frederick Sandes [aged 37]. "Love's Shadow". The model Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 22].
1867. Frederick Sandes [aged 37]. "Helen of Troy". The model probably Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 22].
In 1868 [his illegitimate son] Henry Herbert Gray was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 38] and Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 26].
1868. Frederick Sandes [aged 38]. "Medea". From Wikipeadia: In Greek mythology, Medea is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios. Medea figures in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, appearing in Hesiod's Theogony around 700 BC, but best known from Euripides's tragedy Medea and Apollonius of Rhodes' epic Argonautica. Medea is known in most stories as a sorceress and is often depicted as a priestess of the goddess Hecate. The model was Keomi aka Keytumas Gray [aged 26].
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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1871. Frederick Sandes [aged 41]. "The Coral Necklace". Portrait of the artist's partner Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 26].
In January 1871 [his illegitimate daughter] Winifred Gertrude Sandes was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 41] and Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 26].
1872. Frederick Sandes [aged 42]. Portrait of Cyril Flower 1st Baron Battersea [aged 28].
Cyril Flower 1st Baron Battersea: On 30th August 1843 he was born. In 1877 he and Constance Rothschild Baroness Battersea were married. No issue. In 1892 Cyril Flower 1st Baron Battersea was created 1st Baron Battersea of Battersea in London and of Overstrand in Norfolk. On 27th November 1907 Cyril Flower 1st Baron Battersea died of pneumonia. Baron Battersea of Battersea in London and of Overstrand in Norfolk extinct.
In or after 1872 [his illegitimate daughter] Gertrude Sandes was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes [aged 42] and Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 27].
1874. [his sister] Emma Sandes [aged 31]. Portrait of her brother Frederick's [aged 44] partner Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive" [aged 29].
In November 1877 [his sister] Emma Sandes [aged 34] died.
In 1883 [his mother] Mary Ann Brown died.
1883. Frederick Sandes [aged 53]. Portrait of Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh 7th Baronet [aged 33].
Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh 7th Baronet: On 9th May 1849 he was born to Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 5th Baronet and Arabella Fermor Lady Hesketh. In 1876 Thomas Henry Fermor-Hesketh 6th Baronet died unmarried. His brother Thomas succeeded 7th Baronet Fermor-Hesketh of Rufford in Lancashire. On 22nd December 1880 Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh 7th Baronet and Florence Emily Sharon were married at Ralston Hall. On 19th April 1924 Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh 7th Baronet died. His son Thomas succeeded 8th Baronet Fermor-Hesketh of Rufford in Lancashire.
In 1883 [his father] Anthony Sands [aged 77] died.
1890. Frederick Sandes [aged 60]. Portrait of Julia Smith Caldwell.
1893. Frederick Sandes [aged 63]. Portrait of Marie Meredith [aged 22], daughter of his friend the novelist George Meredith [aged 64], (who sat for Henry Wallis's Death of Chatterton). This drawing was done in 1893, when Marie was 23, and just married. Sandys was fond of her and called her by the affectionate names of 'Marietta' or 'Riette', while her father called her 'Dearie'. In December 1894 Meredith wrote to Sandys 'I have bidden the Dearie march to the finish of her portrait, and she has vowed over again that she wished to and would. Your call will compel her. She has had visitings and receivings to do since her marriage'.
Marie Eveleen Meredith: In 1871 she was born to George Meredith. In 1933 she died.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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1902. Frederick Sandes [aged 72]. Portrait of Emily Winter Rose nee Chadwick [aged 77], wife of collector James Anderson Rose.
Emily Winter Rose nee Chadwick: In 1825 she was born. On 15th March 1849 James Anderson Rose and she were married. Possibly at Richmond, Surrey [Map]. In 1907 she died.
1902. Frederick Sandes [aged 72]. "The White Mayde of Avenel". Model [his illegitimate daughter] Winifred Gertrude Sandes [aged 30]. The subject is taken from Sir Walter Scott's novel, The Monastery, published in 1820. The beautiful white maid was a capricious spirit in the tradition of Shakespeare's Ariel. The product of a 'mysterious union between the creatures of the elements and the children of men' (Scott's Introduction to The Monastery, ed. 1830). She was first summoned by the young Halbert Glendenning at the close of chapter 11:
'Thrice to the holly brake-
Thrice to the well:-
I bid thee awake,
White Maid of Avenel!
Noon gleams on the Lake-
Noon Glows on the Fell-
Wake thee, O wake,
White Maid of Avenel!'
Winifred Gertrude Sandes: In January 1871 she was born illegitimately to Frederick Sandes and Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive". In July 1913 Lionel Francis Crane and Gertrude Sandes were married. an example of Married to Two Siblings - following her death in 1920 he married her sister Winifred Gertrude Sandes. She the illegitmate daughter of Frederick Sandes and Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive". He the son of Walter Crane and Mary Frances Andrews. In 1921 Lionel Francis Crane and she were married. an example of Married to Two Siblings - he had previously been married to her sister Gertrude Sandes who had died in 1920. She the illegitmate daughter of Frederick Sandes and Mary Emma Jones aka "Miss Clive". He the son of Walter Crane and Mary Frances Andrews. On 29th January 1944 she died.
On 25th June 1904 Frederick Sandes [aged 75] died.