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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Exeter Conspiracy is in June 1536-1540 Marriage to Jane Seymour and Rebellions.
Before August 1538 the Exeter Conspiracy was an attempt to overthrow Henry VIII [aged 47] and replace him with Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 42], grandson of Edward IV, Henry's first cousin. Thomas Audley 1st Baron Audley Walden [aged 50] presided. John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford [aged 67] sat in judgement. Thomas Fiennes 9th Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 23] was juror.
In August 1538 Geoffrey Pole [aged 37] was arrested. He had been corresponding with Cardinal Reginald Pole [aged 38]. The investigation of Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 42] had turned up his name; he had appealed to Thomas Cromwell, who had him arrested and interrogated. Under interrogation, Geoffrey said that his eldest brother Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu [aged 46], and Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter had been party to his correspondence with Cardinal Reginald Pole.
In November 1538 Margaret Pole Countess Salsbury [aged 65], her son Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu [aged 46], his son Henry Pole [aged 18], and other Pole family members, and Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 42], his wife Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter [aged 35], their son Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 11] and Edward Neville [aged 67] were arrested and imprisoned on charges of treason. Cromwell had previously written that they had "little offended save that he [Reginald Pole] is of their kin". They were committed to the Tower of London [Map].
On 9th December 1538 at Tower Hill [Map]:
Edward Neville [aged 67] was beheaded
Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 42] was beheaded with a sword. Marquess Exeter, Earl Devon, Earl Devon, Baron Okehampton forfeit as a consequence of his attainder.
Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu [aged 46] was beheaded
In January 1539 Cardinal Reginald Pole [aged 38] was attainted in absentia.
In January 1539 Geoffrey Pole [aged 38] was, somewhat surprisingly given the executions of the rest of his family, pardoned.
On 3rd March 1539 Nicholas Carew of Beddington in Surrey [aged 43] was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map].
In 1540 Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter [aged 37] was released.
Around September 1542, after three years of imprisonment, Henry Pole [aged 22] died, possibly starved to death.
On 3rd August 1553 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon [aged 26] was finally released from imprisonment after fifteen years by Queen Mary I of England and Ireland [aged 37] who was a close friend of his mother Gertrude Blount Marchioness of Exeter [aged 50].
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 9th December 1538. ... and the ninth day of Januarie1, were the said two lords [Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 42] and Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu [aged 46]] and Sir Edward Neville [aged 67] beheaded at the Tower Hill, and the two priests and Holande were drawnn to Tyburn, and there hanged and quartered, and Sir Geoffrey Pole [aged 37] was pardoned.
Note 1. Proably a mistake for December 1538.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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Chronicle of Greyfriars. 9th December 1538. And this yere in December was beheddyd at the Towre-hyll lorde Henry markes of Exceter [aged 42], lorde Henry Montegew [aged 46], and sir Edward Nevelle [aged 67].
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 9th December 1538. Allso, the 9th day of December,c beinge Mondaye, Doctor Croft, Chauncellor of Chichester, my Lord Montagues chaplaine, and Holland, were drawne from the Towre of London to Tyburne, and there hanged and quartered, their heades sett on London Bridge, and theyr quarters on divers gates about London; and, incontinent after the shrives had brought the sayd persons to Newegate, the Kinges shrive, which was Mr. Wilkinson, mercer, returned backe againe to the Tower Hill, and there see execution done on the Lord Marques of Exceter [aged 42], the Lord Montague [aged 46], and Sir Edward Nevill [aged 67] which three persons were there beheaded, and theyr heds and bodyes were buryed in the chappell within lower London, and Sir Jeffrey Poole [aged 37] had his pardon given him after Christmas by the Kinge.
Note c. Other authorities have 9th January, 1539. See Hall and Stow.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1539. 14 Feb. [1539]. R. O. 290. TRIAL OF SIR NICHOLAS CAREWE [aged 43].
File of documents in Baga de Secretis, pouch XI., bundle 3, consisting of the following:—
(1.) Surrey: Special commission to Cromwell, lord Privy Seal*, Wm. earl of Southampton*, Sir Chr. Hales*, M.R., Sir Thos. Willoughby,* Sir Ric. Riche, Sir Matth. Brown, Sir Ric. Weston, Sir John Gage, Sir Edm. Walsyngham, John Danester* baron of the Exchequer, and Chr. More, to receive indictments in co. Surrey; to be returned into Chancery. [The asterisks indicate the quorum.] Westm., 10 Feb., 30 Hen. VIII.
Endorsed: Execution in two schedules attached; also as answered by Hales, Weston, Danester, and More.
(2.) Certificate to the King in Chancery by Hales, Weston, Danester and More, commissioners, returning the bill found, at Southwark, 10 Feb. 30 Hen. VIII., by the jury (viz., Wm. Muschamp, Thos. Heron, John Scott, Wm. Wylde, Wm. Sakvyle, Ralph à Legh, Hen. Gaynesford, Austin Skerne, John Burley, John Weston of Okkam, Thos. Furmans, John Sydolfe, Ric. Bedon, Ric. Bygge and Thos. Lussher).
(3.) Surrey: Indictment which, after setting forth the traitorous discourses of which Henry Marquis of Exeter was indicted at Southwark, 29 Nov. 30 Hen. VIII., before Sir Chr. Hales, and others (see Vol. XIII. Pt. II. No. 979.), and afterwards attainted, 3 Dec. 30 Hen. VIII., before the lord Chancellor, charges that Sir Nic. Carewe of Bedyngton alias of Westminster, knowing the said Marquis to be a traitor, did, 20 Aug. 28 Hen. VIII., at Westhorseley, Surr., and at other times, falsely abet the said Marquis, and, 24 Aug. ao 28, and at other times, had conversations with him about the change of the world, and also with his own hand wrote him divers letters, at Bedyngton, 4 Sept. ao 28o and at other times, and the said Marquis at that or other times sent divers traitorous letters to the said Carewe from Westhorseley which the said Carewe traitorously received, which letters they afterwards, to conceal their treason, traitorously burnt at Westhorseley and Bedyngton, 1 Sept. 30 Hen. VIII. and at other times; and afterwards, knowing that the said Marquis was indicted as aforesaid, 29 Nov. ao 30o, the said Carewe at Bedyngton traitorously said these words in English, "I marvel greatly that the indictment against the lord Marquis was so secretly handled and for what purpose, for the like was never seen"; contrary to his allegiance, &c.
Endorsed: Billa vera.
(4.) Midd.: Special commission to Sir Edw. Mountagu*, Sir Chr. Hales*, M.R., Sir John Baldewyn*, Sir Ric. Riche*, Sir John Daunce, Sir Roger Cholmeley*, Sir Ric. Grosham, John Pakyngton*, and John Conyngesby, to receive indictments in co. Midd.; to be returned into Chancery. [The asterisks indicate the quorum.] Westm. 10 Feb. 30 Hen. VIII.
Endorsed: Execution in two schedules attached; and also as answered by Montague, Hales, Baldewyn, Riche, Daunce, Cholmeley, and Pakyngton.
(5.) Commissioners' precept to the sheriff of Middlesex for the return of a grand jury (24 good and lawful men out of any hundred, and also 24 of the more discreet and sufficient persons from the body of the county) at Westminster on Tuesday, 11 Feb. Teste Edw. Montagu, 10 Feb., 30 Hen. VIII.
Endorsed: Execution in panel annexed; and also as answered by Wm. Wylkynson and Nich. Gybson, sheriffs.
(6.) Grand jury panel, viz.: —Sir John Gresham, Mich. Dormer, John Sadler, John Hewyse*, Wm. Bowyer, John Tawe, John Lymsey*, Walter Mersshe, John Palmer, Hen. Whytreson, Wm. Abrey*, Jasper Leeke,* Thos. Burbage*, John Callard, Fras. Goodyere*, Jasper Fesaunt*, Robt. Warner*, John Newdygate*, Wm. Goddard*, John Avery, Wm. Curteyse, Ric. Harryyong*, Ralph Caldwall*, John Wysse*, Edm. Shawe*, Wm. Shawe* and Hen. Lodesman*. [The asterisks indicate those sworn.]
(7.) Certificate of the commissioners Montagu,. Hales, Baldewyn, Riche, Daunce, Cholmeley and Pakyngton, to the King in Chancery, returning the indictment found by the jury (named) at Westminster, 11 Feb., and their commission.
(8.) Midd.: Indictment in the same form as that taken in Surrey (§ 3), omitting the last count, i.e., Carewe's speech about the indictment against the Marquis. The dates, however, are Westminster 26 Aug., 29 Aug. and 14 Sept. 28 Hen. VIII.; and the letters are said to have been written to the Marquis at Hampton Court, and burnt at Westminster and Hampton Court 12 Oct. 29 Hen. VIII.
Endd.: Billa vera.
(9.) Surr. and Midd.: Special commission of oyer and terminer to Sir Thomas lord Audeley*, chancellor, the dukes of Norfolk* and Suffolk, Cromwell, lord Privy Seal*, the earls of Shrewsbury, Sussex, Hertford and Southampton, Sir Wm. Paulett, treasurer of the Household, Sir John Russell, comptroller, Sir Edw. Montagu*, Sir Chr. Hales* (name inserted), Sir John Baldewyn*, Sir Ric. Riche* (name inserted), Sir John Porte*, Sir Walter Luke*, Sir Wm. Shelley*, Sir Thos. Willoughby*, and Sir Chr. Jenny*; for the trial at Westminster of Sir Nich. Carewe, of Bedyngton, alias of Westminster, for high treason, of which he stands indicted. [The asterisks indicate the quorum.] Westm. 13 Feb. 30 Hen. VIII.
(10.) Midd.: Writ of venire for the return of a jury, addressed to the sheriff of Middlesex. 13 Feb.
(11.) Surr.: The like addressed to the sheriff of Surrey. 13 Feb.
(12.) Habeas corpus addressed to the constable of the Tower. 13 Feb.
(13.) Justices' precept to the constable of the Tower to bring up the body of Sir Nicholas Carewe, before Audeley and the other justices, at Westminster on Friday, 14 Feb.
Endd. as answered by Sir Wm. Kyngston, constable of the Tower.
(14.) Justices' precept to the sheriff of Surrey for the return of the petty jury at Westm. this Friday 14 Feb. (viz., 24 knights, &c., dwelling near Westhorseley and Bedyngton) for the trial of Sir Nicholas Carewe.
Endd: Execution in panel annexed; and also as answered by Sir Edw. Bray, sheriff.
(15.) Jury panel, viz.—Sir Fras. Bryan*, Sir Hen. Knyvett*, Sir Anth. Seyntleger*, Sir John Dudley*, Sir Matth. Browne*, Sir John Gage*, Sir Wm. Barantyne*, Sir Roger Copley*, Sir Ric. Page*, Sir John Gresham*, Sir John Gaynesford, John Skynner, John Morreys*, Thos. Lysley*, Thos. Welles, Ambrose Wolley, Robt. Curson, Henry Goodyer, Ralph Johnson, Adam Beston, Hugh Eglesfeld, Robt. Wyntershull, Hen. Wylde, Ric. Morgan, Jas. Skinner and Hen. Vyne. [The asterisks indicate those sworn.] Which jury finds the said Nich. Carewe guilty.
(16.) Record of pleas before Audeley and his fellows (reciting §§ 9, 11, 10, 12), at Westm. 14 Feb. 30 Hen. VIII.
The lord Chancellor delivers into court the indictments (recited, §§ 3 and 8). Carewe, being brought to the bar, by the constable of the Tower, pleads, Not Guilty. Venire awarded from the county of Surrey. Verdict, Guilty. The King's serjeants at law and attorney seek judgment. Judgment as usual in cases of high treason; execution at Tyburn.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 3rd March 1539. Also on the third day of March, was sir Nicholas Carew [aged 43] of Bedington, in the countie of Surrey knight of the Gartier, and Maister of the kyngs horse, before attainted of treason, behedded at the tower hil, wher he made a godly confession, bothe of his foly and supersticious faith, geving God most harty thankes that ever he came in the prison of the tower, where he first favored the lyfe and swetenes of Gods moste holy word meaning the Bible in English, which there he read by the meane of one Thomas Phelips then keper of that prison, but before he was a citezen and poyntmaker of London, which Phillips two yeres before had ben ther prysoner himselfe, and sore troubled aswel by syr Thomas More as also by Doctor Stokesley [aged 64] bishop of London, who often tymes examined the sayd Phelips, and layed many articles to his charge, but he so wisely and coldly used him selfe, that he maugre their evyl willes, escaped clerly their handes.
Chronicle of Greyfriars. 3rd March 1539. Also the 3rd day of March was beheaded at Tower-hill [Map] Sir Nicholas Carew [aged 43].
On 27th May 1541, after some two and a half years of imprisonment, Margaret Pole Countess Salsbury [aged 67] was executed at Tower Green, Tower of London [Map] for her role in the Exeter Conspiracy.