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All About History Books

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Biography of William Beechey 1753-1839

William Beechey is in Painters.

On 12th December 1753 William Beechey was born.

1789. William Beechey (age 35). Portrait of Paul Sandby (age 58).

Before 1790. William Beechey (age 36). Portrait of George Brudenell aka Montagu 1st Duke Montagu (age 77) in the Windsor Uniform.

In 1797. William Beechey (age 43). Portrait of Princess Amelia Hanover (age 13).

Princess Amelia Hanover: On 7th August 1783 she was born to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland and Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England. On 2nd November 1810 Princess Amelia Hanover died. Before September 1823 Elizabeth Boughton Baroness Templetown was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Princess Amelia Hanover.

Around 1800. William Beechey (age 46). Portrait of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 61).

All About History Books

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.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

1800. William Beechey (age 46). Self-Portrait.

1803. William Beechey (age 49). Portrait of Henry Addington 1st Viscount Sidmouth (age 45).

Around 1815. William Beechey (age 61). Portrait of Harriet Mellon Duchess St Albans (age 37).

1818. William Beechey (age 64). Portrait of Princess Augusta Hesse-Kassel Duchess Cambridge (age 20).

1826. William Beechey (age 72). Portrait of Thomas Assheton-Smith of Ashley in Cheshire (age 74).

Around 1830. William Beechey (age 76). Portrait of King William IV of the United Kingdom (age 64).

Before 1835 . William Beechey (age 81). Portrait of Joseph Nollekens. An autographed replica by Beechey of the work which now hangs in the Tate Britain, London

Before 28th January 1839. William Beechey (age 85). Portrait of Charles Brudenell 1st Marquess Ailesbury (age 65).

On 28th January 1839 William Beechey (age 85) died.