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.
Paternal Family Tree: Boyle
Maternal Family Tree: Joan Lovel Baroness Maynard 1297-1337
On 5th July 1635 [his father] Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 22) and [his mother] Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 21) were married at Skipton Castle [Map]. She by marriage Countess Burlington. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland (age 44) and [his grandmother] Frances Cecil Countess Cumberland (age 42). He the son of [his grandfather] Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 68) and [his grandmother] Catherine Fenton Countess Cork.
On or before 12th December 1639, the date he was baptised, Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford was born to [his father] Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 27) and [his mother] Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 26).
On 15th September 1643 [his grandfather] Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork (age 76) died. His son [his father] Richard (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl Cork.
On 11th December 1643 [his grandfather] Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland (age 52) died. Earl of Cumberland extinct. His daughter [his mother] Elizabeth (age 30) succeeded 2nd Baroness Clifford.
Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 53) regained the estates she had been legally entitled to since her father died in 1605.
On 7th May 1661 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 21) and Jane Seymour (age 24) were married. She the daughter of William Seymour 2nd Duke of Somerset and Frances Devereux Duchess of Somerset (age 61). He the son of Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 48) and Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 47). They were half sixth cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1662 [his daughter] Elizabeth Boyle Countess Barrymore was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 22) and [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 25). She married before 1703 her second cousin James Barry 4th Earl Barrymore, son of Richard Barry 2nd Earl Barrymore.
Around 1664 [his daughter] Mary Boyle Duchess Queensbury was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 24) and [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 27). She married before 1696 James Douglas 2nd Duke Queensberry, son of William Douglas 1st Duke Queensberry and Isabel Douglas Countess Queensberry, and had issue.
In 1664 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 24) was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1664 [his father] Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 51) was created 1st Earl Burlington.
In 1665 [his brother-in-law] Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester (age 22) and [his sister] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester (age 19) were married. She the daughter of [his father] Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 52) and [his mother] Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 51). He the son of Edward Hyde 1st Earl Clarendon (age 55) and Frances Aylesbury Countess Clarendon (age 47).
On 6th January 1667 Margaret Brooke Lady Denham (age 27) died. She was rumoured to have been poisoned by her husband John Denham (age 52) by giving her a poisoned cup of chocolate. In any case rumour named several other possible poisoners, including her former lover James (age 33), his wife Anne Hyde (age 29) and his sister-in-law, [his sister] Lady Rochester (age 21).
In or before 1668 [his son] Charles Boyle 2nd Earl Burlington was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 28) and [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 30). He married 26th January 1688 his sixth cousin Juliana Noel Countess Burlington and had issue.
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.
On 12th July 1669 [his son] Henry Boyle 1st Baron Carleton was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 29) and [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 32). He was educated at Westminster School [Map].
In 1670 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 30) was elected MP Tamworth which seat he held until 1679.
Around 1671 [his daughter] Arabella Boyle Countess Shelburne was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 31) and [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 34). She married 1699 Henry Petty 1st Earl Shelburne, son of William Petty and Elizabeth Waller 1st Baroness Shelburne.
On 12th December 1671 William Seymour 3rd Duke of Somerset (age 17) died. His uncle [his brother-in-law] John (age 26) succeeded 4th Duke Somerset, 3rd Marquess Hertford, 4th Earl Hertford, 4th Baron Beauchamp of Hatch Beauchamp in Somerset. Sarah Alston Duchess Somerset (age 29) by marriage Duchess Somerset.
On 10th April 1673 [his sister-in-law] Mary Seymour Countess Winchelsea (age 36) died.
On 29th April 1675 [his brother-in-law] John Seymour 4th Duke of Somerset (age 30) died. He was buried at Salisbury Cathedral [Map]. Marquess Hertford extinct. His first cousin once removed Francis (age 17) succeeded 5th Duke Somerset, 5th Earl Hertford, 5th Baron Beauchamp of Hatch Beauchamp in Somerset.
In 1676 Conyers Darcy 2nd Earl Holderness (age 54) and [his sister-in-law] Frances Seymour Countess Southampton (age 58) were married. She the daughter of William Seymour 2nd Duke of Somerset and [his mother-in-law] Frances Devereux Duchess of Somerset. He the son of Conyers Darcy 1st Earl Holderness (age 76) and Grace Rokeby. They were sixth cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1679 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 39) and Arethusa Berkeley Baroness Clifford (age 15) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of George Berkeley 1st Earl Berkeley (age 51) and Elizabeth Massingberd Couness Berkeley. He the son of Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington (age 66) and Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 65). They were fifth cousin once removed.
In 1679 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 39) was elected MP Yorkshire.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 23rd November 1679 [his wife] Jane Seymour (age 42) died.
In 1682 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 42) puchased Chiswick House.
On 29th November 1682 [his brother-in-law] Lawrence Hyde 1st Earl Rochester (age 40) was created 1st Earl Rochester. [his sister] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester (age 36) by marriage Countess Rochester.
On 12th April 1687 [his sister] Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester (age 41) died.
In 1688 [his daughter] Arethusa Berkeley Boyle was born to Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 48) and [his wife] Arethusa Berkeley Baroness Clifford (age 24). She married 1713 James Vernon and had issue.
On 26th January 1688 [his son] Charles Boyle 2nd Earl Burlington (age 20) and [his daughter-in-law] Juliana Noel Countess Burlington (age 16) were married. She by marriage Countess Burlington. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 6th January 1691 [his mother] Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington (age 77) died. Her son Charles (age 51) succeeded 3rd Baron Clifford.
On 12th October 1694 Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford (age 54) died. His son Charles (age 26) succeeded 4th Baron Clifford.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 11th February 1743 [his former wife] Arethusa Berkeley Baroness Clifford (age 79) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 16 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 22 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 17 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 25 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
GrandFather: Richard Boyle 1st Earl Cork 
Father: Richard Boyle 2nd Earl Cork 1st Earl Burlington
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Fenton
Great x 1 Grandfather: Geoffrey Fenton
GrandMother: Catherine Fenton Countess Cork
Charles Boyle 3rd Baron Clifford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Shepherd Lord" Clifford 10th Baron Clifford 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne St John Baroness Clifford 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Spencer Countess Northumberland 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Clifford 4th Earl of Cumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Dacre 3rd Baron Dacre Gilsland 7th Baron Greystoke 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Greystoke 6th Baroness Greystoke Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Dacre Countess Cumberland 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Talbot Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: Henry Clifford 5th Earl of Cumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Grisold Hughes Countess Cumberland
Mother: Elizabeth Clifford Countess Burlington 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: David Cecil 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Cecil
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Dicons
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Heckington
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Heckington
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cooke of Gidea Hall
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Cooke
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Saunders
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 
8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandMother: Frances Cecil Countess Cumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Brooke 8th Baron Cobham 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Brooke 9th Baron Cobham 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Heydon Baroness Cobham 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Braye 1st Baron Braye 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Braye Baroness Cobham 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Halwell Baroness Bray 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Brooke 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Newton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Newton of Hawtrey 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Gorges 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Newton Baroness Cobham 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Poyntz 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Poyntz 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Huddersfield 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England