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.

Effigy of John Wantley

Effigy of John Wantley is in Monumental Effigies of Great Britain.

ALL that we can find relative to the person represented by this sepulchral brass, is little more than may be learned from its inscription. He was of an ancient family, settled at Amberley, in Sussex, died in 1424, and was buried in the village church. Two farms in the parish of Amberley are called Wantley's at this day. In his dress we have an example of the surcoat, assuming the form of the habiliment commonly known as a tabard: the surcoat and tabard are, however, synonymous terms. Wantley's tabard bears, Vert, three lions' heads langued Argent, represented in enamel on the brass. The upper part of a shirt of mail appears about the neck, where uncovered by the tabard. Under his feet, in the black letter, is this inscription:

Hic jacet Joh'es Wantele, qui obiit xxix die Januar', anno D'ni mill'o CCCCXXIIII, cui' aie' p'picetur deus.