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 1415 Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" was born.
Before 27th October 1441 Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester [age 41], wife of the heir presumptive Humphrey 1st Duke Gloucester [age 51], brother of the deceased King Henry V of England, uncle of King Henry VI of England and II of France [age 19], was tried for predicting the future of the King; in reality a veiled attack on her husband who had over-reached himself. She had consulted two astrologers Thomas Southwell and Roger Bolingbroke. All three were arrested, tried and found guilty. Eleanor denied most of the charges but confessd to obtaining potions from Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" [age 26]. She was sentenced to do public penance, divorce her husband and remain confined for the remainder of her life.
On 27th October 1441 Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" [age 26] was burned at the stake at Smithfield [Map].
Chronicle of Gregory. 27th October 1441. And on Syn Symon and Jude is eve was the wycche [age 26] be syde Westemyster brent in Smethefylde [Map], and on the day of Symon and Jude [28th October 1441] the person [parson] of Syn Stevynnys in Walbroke, whyche that was one of the same fore said traytours [Thomas Southwell], deyde in the Toure [Map] for sorowe.
Chronicle of William of Worcester. Another magical woman, commonly called Witch of Eye [Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" [age 26]], was captured near the town of Westminster on account of the aforementioned Eleanor and was burned at Smithfield [27th October 1441].
Alia mulier magica, vocata vulgariter Wyche of Eye, juxta villam Westmonasterii capta est pro prædicta Elianora, et apud Smythfeld cremata.
An English Chronicle. [27th October 1441]. And this same tyme was take a womman callid the wicche of Eye [Margery Jourdemayne "The Witch of Eye" [age 26]], whooȝ sorcerie and wicchecraft the said dame Alienore [age 41] hadde longe tyme vsid; and be suche medicineȝ and drynkis as the said wicche made, the said Alienore enforced the forsaid duke of Gloucestre to loue her and to wedde her. Wherfore, and also for cause of relaps, the same wicche was brend in Smythfeld, in the vigily of Saint Simon and Jude.