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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Chunky Lions Mane

Chunky Lions Mane is in Church Monument Details.

After 1391. St Peter's Church, Elford [Map]. Some discussion as to whether a monument to Thomas Arderne (age 54) and Catherine Stafford (age 53), or to his son John Arderne (age 21) and Margaret Pilkington (age 20). Early Plate Bascinet Period. Holding Hands. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields. Chunky Lions Mane. Angels Supporting Pillow. Possibly Sutton and Prentys.

After 1418. Monument to John Harrington 4th Baron Harington (age 34) and Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington. Finely carved alabaster. Monument of the Early Plate Bascinet and Gorget Period. Decorated orle and the plate gorget (throat protection), Hip Belt and the Horses Head Crest. She wearing a Crespine Headress. Chunky Lions Mane. Angels Supporting Pillow.

John Harrington 4th Baron Harington: In 1384 he was born to Robert Harrington 3rd Baron Harington and Isabel Loring Baroness Harington. On 21st May 1406 Robert Harrington 3rd Baron Harington died at Aldingham Furness, Lancashire. His son John succeeded 4th Baron Harington. On 11th April 1418 John Harrington 4th Baron Harington died. He was buried in the Lady Chapel of St Dubricius Church, Porlock [Map]. His brother William succeeded 5th Baron Harington. After 17th February 1461 John Harrington 4th Baron Harington and Elizabeth Courtenay Baroness Bonville and Harington were married. She by marriage Baroness Harington. She the daughter of Edward Courtenay 3rd or 12th Earl Devon and Maud Camoys Countess Devon.

After 17th January 1425. Monument in Church of St Oswald, Methley [Map] to Robert Waterton (deceased) and Cecily Fleming.

York School of Carving. Crocketed arch. He in Early Plate Bascinet Period armour. Large Orle highly decorated with head resting on great helm with feathered crest. Beard with spiral twists. Collar Esses and Crowns Alternating. Misericorde. Hip Belt with decorated buckle. She wearing a squared crespine headress and small Esses Collar. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields. Chunky Lions Mane.

Cecily Fleming: she was born to Robert Fleming of Woodhall. Before 1398 Robert Waterton and she were married. Around 1424 she died.

After 1488. St Marys and St Nicholas Church Beaumaris [Map]. Monument to William Bulkeley (deceased) and Ellen Griffith. Early Plate Bascinet and Gorget Period. Finely made in alabaster. Dress Folds at Feet. Chunky Lions Mane. Chest with Weepers.

William Bulkeley: Around 1418 he was born to Richard Bulkeley. In 1440 he was appointed Constable of Beaumaris Castle. Before 1444 William Bulkeley and Ellen Griffith were married. In 1488 William Bulkeley died.

Ellen Griffith: she was born to Guilim ap Griffith Griffith.

After 10th May 1490 Alice Southill (deceased) was buried at Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map]. After 5th November 1524 John Harrington (age 10) was buried with his wife.

Fluted Period. Esses and Roses Collar. The Bedesman, Chunky Lions Mane, Swirling Tail, Dogs chewing at her dress with Studded Collar, Dress Folds at Feet and Angels supporting the pillow are all indicative of Harpur and Moorecock of Burton on Trent.

Alice Southill: Around 1460 she was born to Henry Southill at Everingham. Before 10th May 1490 she died. In 1500 John Harrington and she were married. The difference in their ages was 20 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

John Harrington: After 1480 he was born to Robert Harrington at Exton, Rutlandshire. Date adjusted from 1473 to 1480 to be consistent with father's birth in 1465. On 5th November 1524 John Harrington died at Exton, Rutlandshire.

The Bedesman and Swirling Tail under his feet. Chunky Lions Mane.

Angels holding the pillow.

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After 1503. Monument to John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk and Elizabeth York Duchess Suffolk (age 58) in St Andrew's Church, Wingfield [Map]. Finely made Fluted Period alabaster monument. Both wearing their ducal coronets. He wearing a Leg Garter. His head resting on a great helm with Saracen's Head Crest, feet resting on a Lion. Chunky Lions Mane.

After 11th September 1504. All Saints Church, Turvey [Map]. Monument to John Mordaunt (deceased) and Edith Latimer (deceased).

Fluted Period. Angels Supporting Pillow. Dress Folds at Feet. Misericorde. Tassets. Crespine Headress. Lancastrian Esses Collar with Big Esses. Screaming Man crest, possibly Saracen's Head Crest. Harpur and Moorecock of Burton on Trent. Dogs chewing at her dress. Some uncertainty about the attribution. Dogs chewing at her dress with Studded Collar. Swirling Tail. Chunky Lions Mane.

Edith Latimer: Before 1479 John Greene and she were married. Around 1450 she was born to Nicholas Latimer and Joan Hody at Duntish, Dorset. Before 1475 John Mordaunt and she were married. The date somewhat unreliable. Her first husband John Greene is supposed to have died in 1483 which makes the date of her marriage to John Mordaunt and the birth of her sons by him unreliable? On 1st September 1504 Edith Latimer died at Turvey, Bedfordshire. She was buried at All Saints Church, Turvey [Map].

After 29th July 1509. St Mary the Virgin Church, Chipping Norton [Map]. Monument to Richard "The Elder" Croft and Eleanor Cornwall (age 81). Finely made in alabaster. Fluted Period. Two complete effigies,still Gothic in line and detail, on a crocketed niched chest with angels and shields. Chunky Lions Mane. Chest with Weepers. Chest with Angels with Rounded Wings holding Shields. Gabled Headress with Lappets.

Richard "The Elder" Croft: he was born to William Croft in Croft Castle, Herefordshire [Map]. Before 1458 Richard "The Elder" Croft and Agnes or Annes Fox were married. In or before 1470 Richard "The Elder" Croft and Eleanor Cornwall were married. On 29th July 1509 Richard "The Elder" Croft died in Croft Castle, Herefordshire [Map].

Eleanor Cornwall: In 1428 she was born to Edmund Cornwall and Elizabeth Barre at Burford, Shropshire [Map]. Around 1454 Hugh Mortimer and she were married. On 23rd December 1519 Eleanor Cornwall died at Yarpole, Herefordshire.

Around 1526. Monument in St Peter's Church, Elford [Map] to Isabel Neville, William Smythe (age 46) and Anne Staunton.

Fluted Period. Lancastrian Esses Collar with Big Esses. Gabled Headress with Lappets. Probably Harpur and Moorecock of Burton on Trent. Angels Supporting Pillow. Dogs chewing at her dress with Studded Collar. Swirling Tail. Chunky Lions Mane. Chest with Weepers.

Isabel Neville: William Huddlestone and she were married. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. After 25th April 1457 she was born to John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. In or before 1492 William Smythe and she were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. On 12th October 1516 Isabel Neville died.

William Smythe: In 1480 he was born. In 1526 he died.

Anne Staunton: she was born to William Staunton and Margery Stanley. Before 29th November 1529 she died.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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On 30th January 1531 Robert Brudenell (age 70) died. Monument to Robert Brudenell and his two wives: Margaret Entwhistle and Philippa Power in St Peter's Church, Deene [Map]. The incription reads: Of your charite pray for the soules of Syr Robert Brudenell, Knight, late Chief Justice of the Kyngg's Common Bench at Westm. And Margaret, and Dame Philippe his wyves. Syr Robert dyed the xxx daye of Januaris, Anno Domini M[C/V]XXXI, and the said dame Philippe dyed xxviii daye of March, Anno Domini M[C/V]XXXII, and lye here, on whose soulles Jhu have mercy. Chunky Lions Mane. Swirling Tail.

Philippa Power: In 1505 Robert Brudenell and she were married. On 28th March 1532 she died.