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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In 1512 Thomas Becon was born.
On 24th March 1548 Thomas Becon (age 36) was instituted to the rectory of St Stephen's Church, Walbrook.
On 16th August 1553 Thomas Becon (age 41) was committed to the Tower by an order of council, as a 'seditious preacher'. He was released on 22nd March 1554 after which he travelled to Strasbourg.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 16th April 1560. The xvj day of Aprell was bered in the parryche of sant Myghell in Quen-heyff master John Bedy .. sqwyre latt clarke of the gren cloth unto quen [Mary?] with the compene of the Clarkes of London, and then cam the morners, and then the corse, with vj skochyons with ys armes a-pone hym, and master Beycun (age 48) mad the sermon, and after to ys plasse to dener, for ther was a grett [dinner].
On 22nd October 1560 Thomas Becon (age 48) was admitted to the rectory of Buckland, Hertfordshire.
On 10th August 1563 Thomas Becon (age 51) was appointed to the rectory of St Dionis Backchurch.
In 1567 Thomas Becon (age 55) died.