Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham

The Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham is a remarkable medieval history of one of England’s great Benedictine monasteries. Beginning with the abbey’s legendary and royal foundations, it traces the fortunes of Evesham through centuries of religious devotion, political conflict, legal struggle, rebuilding, reform, and royal patronage. At the heart of the chronicle is the abbey’s determination to defend its ancient liberties. Its monks record disputes with bishops, appeals to popes and papal legates, contested elections of abbots, lawsuits over lands and privileges, and the long struggle to preserve Evesham’s exemption from episcopal control. Alongside these institutional battles are vivid accounts of saints and miracles, including St Ecgwine, St Odulf and the royal martyr St Wistan, whose relics and cult formed an important part of the abbey’s identity. The chronicle also preserves a wealth of detail about everyday monastic life. It describes the building and repair of churches, cloisters, chapels, halls, mills, granges and fishponds; the acquisition of estates and revenues; the making of vestments, shrines, bells and liturgical books; and the provision of food, clothing, recreation and medical care for the monks. Successive abbots emerge not merely as religious superiors but as administrators, builders, patrons, diplomats and defenders of the community. Extending into the later Middle Ages, the narrative reflects the changing political world around Evesham, from the Norman Conquest and the Angevin kings to the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Henry VIII. The result is both a history of a single monastery and a richly detailed record of medieval English religious, legal, economic and political life. This edition offers modern readers direct access to one of the most important monastic chronicles of medieval England, revealing how the monks of Evesham understood their saints, their privileges, their rulers and their place in history.

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William Dethick 1542-1612

Around 1542 William Dethick was born to Gilbert Dethick [aged 32]. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].

On 29th April 1550 Gilbert Dethick [aged 40] was appointed Garter King of Arms.

In 1570 William Dethick [aged 28] was appointed York Herald of Arms in Ordinary.

On 3rd October 1584 Gilbert Dethick [aged 74] died. Robert Cooke [aged 49] served as Acting Garter King of Arms until the appointment of Gilbert's son William Dethick [aged 42] on 21st April 1586.

Archaeologia Volume 1 Section 55. On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 29th year of the reign of Elizabeth, the queens majestie of England, there went from Peterborough M.... Dethick [aged 45], alias Garter principal king of armes, and five heralds, accompanied with forty horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late queen of Scots, from Fotheringham Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire to Peterborough aforesaid, which queen had remained prisoner in England .... years; having for that purpose brought a royal coach, drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet richly set forth with escotcheons of the armes of Scotland, and little penons, round about it; the body being inclosed in lead, and the same coffined in wood, was brought down and reverently put into the coach, at which time the heralds put on their coats of arms, and bare-headed, with torches light, brought the same forth of the castle, about ten of the clock at night, and so conveyed it to Peterborough .... miles distant from Fotheringham Castle,

Tudor Tracts Chapter 20. The following is a truer account of the actual interment:

On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 20th year of the reign of Elizabeth the Queen's Majesty of England, there went from Peterborough Master William Dethick [aged 45], alias Garter Principal King of Arms, and five Heralds, accompanied by 40 horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late Queen of Scots, from Fotheringhay Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire (which Queen had remained prisoner in England nineteen years): having for that purpose, brought a royal coach drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet; richly set forth with escutcheons of the Arms of Scotland, and little pennons round about it.

The body (being enclosed in lead; and the same coffined in wood) was brought down, and reverently put into the coach.

At which time, the Heralds put on their Coats of Arms, and bareheaded, with torches' light, brought the same forth of the Castle, about ten of the clock at night: and so conveyed it to Peterborough [eleven] miles distant from Fotheringhay Castle.

On 13th May 1603 William Dethick [aged 61] was knighted by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 36].

In May 1604 Robert Spencer 1st Baron Spencer [aged 34] and William Dethick [aged 62] travelled to Frederick I Duke Württemberg [aged 46] to present jewels including two garters with diamonds and rubies, and two St Georges with diamonds and rubies, and a gold chain or collar, made by the London goldsmiths, John Spilman and William Herrick.

In 1612 William Dethick [aged 70] died. He was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map]. His grave was lost in the Great Fire of London.