Roger Whitley's Diary 1690 January is in Roger Whitley's Diary 1690.
1st January 1690: Wednesday (new yeares day) I took phisick; Tovey came (past 10) to see me; I dined at home with Biddolph, Thomas &c; Lady Wood supt with us.
3rd January 1690. Friday, went to Parliment; dined with G.Mainwaring [aged 47] & Kirby at the Bell; went with G.Mainwaring to his wine coopers in Roode Lane; had some sherry & other wine; then called on Mr Meade; stayd awhile; went then to the Sunne in Milk Streete; there was 2 Mainwarings, Hannibal Baskerville, Baroby, Herle, Minshall & another Manchester man; parted past 9.
4th January 1690. Satorday, went to Parliment; dined at Prior's Winehouse with 2 Mainwarings, Dousdale & Burrage; Bromley came to us before & after dinner; I left them together, went to Committe; called at the Rummer Tavern (neare Lockets) at my retorne for Roger, he went home with me; stayd neare an houer &c; I stayd at home all night.
5th January 1690. Sonday, was not at church; dined at home with Mainwaring, his brother, my brother & Minshall; in the evening my sonne [aged 39] & his wife came to see us; past 6, I went to Woods; went with him to Nag's Head; there was also Mainwaring & Cooper; we parted before 9; came home.
6th January 1690. Monday, I dined at home with brother & daughters; in the evening Beversham came to see me; went in my coach to the end of Suffolk Streete; I went to Lord Macclesfeild [aged 31]; Thomson was with him; did not speake to me; went away; then Atwood came but stayd not; I stayd neare ½ houer; then went to Edisbury's lodging; his cosen, Sir John Wynne & another with him; I went then to Mr Halles of Lincolnes Inne; gave him my papers & 2 guineys; then went to the Nag's Head; there was Wood, Coling, Harris, Hales & 2 or 3 more & Mainwaring; parted past 9.
7th January 1690. Tuesday, went to Parliment; dined at Prior's Winehouse with Mainwaring, Borage & Blake; came home about 6; Mr Thomas came & supt; parted neare 8.
8th January 1690. Wednesday, went to Parliment dined at Prior's Winehouse with 2 Mainwarings, Andrews, Hussey &c; went to the Committe; called on Roger at the Rummer Tavern, parted past 9.
9th January 1690. Thursday, went to Parliment dined at Prior's Winehouse with 2 Mainwarings, Andrews, Guyse, sollicitor &c; went to Committe, then (with 2 Mainwarings) to the Castle in Fleet Streete; there was Dashwood, Lewes, Thomas & my sonne [aged 39]; afterwards came Edisbury; we parted past 10.
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.
10th January 1690. Friday, went to Parliment, sate till 9 at night; went with 2 Mainwarings & Smith to Nag's Head; supt there; Wood came to us, then we went to another roome where was Maxwell, Rogers, Gilmore, Coling & Partridge; parted about 12.
11th January 1690. Satorday, went to Parliment; dined at home with my sonne [aged 39], daughters & Thomas; about 4 went to the Sunne in Westminster (with my sonne), there we met Humfreys at the doore, we went up to Lownds & another with him (I know not his name); I left them past 6; went to Halles at Lincolns Inne; then home (past 8); there was Lady Wood & daughters; they went before 9.
12th January 1690. Sonday, was not at church; Mainwaring & his brother & mine dined with us; in the evening came Mrs Fenwick also another man about money Roger owes them, Wood, his Lady, daughter, G.Mainwaring [aged 47] & Thomas supt with us; parted about 9.
13th January 1690. Monday, went to Parliment; dined at Prior's Winehouse with G. Mainwaring [aged 47], Foly, 2 Harleys, Blake, Montague & 3 other Members (I know not theire names) went to the Commite & to the Cellar (to Roger) past 7; stayd till neare 9; then went home.
14th January 1690. Tuesday, went to Parliment dined at home with brother, Roger, Thomas &c; went to Committe; then home with Sir John Guise [aged 36], Smith; Dutton walked with Mainwaring; Sir Scroope How came to us; then G.Mainwaring [aged 47] wee parted past 11.
15th January 1690. Wednesday, went to Parliment; dined at home; went to Committe, then to Fenick (at the Mewes) with Mainwaring; found Roger there; G.Mainwaring [aged 47] came to us; parted about 10.
16th January 1690. Thursday, went to Parliment dined at Prior's Winehouse with 2 Mainwarings & Stratford; went to Committe (till past 9) then to the Cellar with 2 Mainwarings; parted neare 11.
17th January 1690. Friday, went to Parliment; dined at Prior's Winehouse with 2 Mainwarings went to Committe; then to the Globe in Chancery Lane; there was Halles & 2 Mainwarings parted past 10.
18th January 1690. Satorday, went to Parliment; dined at home with sonne [aged 39], Thomas, Morgan & daughters; Roger & Mainwaring came after dinner; I went to Committe past 4; retorned home past 7:
19th January 1690. Sonday, I took phisick; 2 Mainwarings brother Peter, Morgan, Roger, Baroby & his frind (a minister) dined with us; in the evening came Wood, his Lady, daughters & G.Mainwaring [aged 47] supt, parted past 9.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
20th January 1690. Monday, 2 men came to me about copper oare & one Nicolls about money Roger owes his son in law (a corne chandler); went to Parliment, sate till neare 6; went home with Mainwaring supt, stayd within all night.
21st January 1690. Tuesday, went to Parliment sate till 5; supt with G. Mainwaring [aged 47] at Nag's Head; there was also Mainwaring, Wood, Titus, Gilmore, Coling, Rogers, Maxwell, Craven, Harris & 2 more, parted past 9.
22nd January 1690. Wednesday, went to Parliment dined (past 3) at Lockets with 2 Mainwarings Lawton, Conwey, & 2 other Gentlemen (strangers to me) after dinner came Coll: Darcy & another officer; I left them neare 6; came home.
24th January 1690. Friday, went to Parliment; dined at home with daughters & Thomas; went to Committe's; they did not sit; then went to Goslin's about my tooth, then to Nag's Head; there was Wood, Maxwell, Harris, Partridge & another; then came Mainwaring then G.Mainwaring [aged 47] parted past 9; Roger came to the next roome but stayd not.; parted paast 9.
25th January 1690. Satorday, went to Goslin's; had my tooth filed; then went to Parliment & home (neare 5) to dinner; with Mainwaring stayd at home all night.
26th January 1690. Sonday, was not at church, dined at home with 2 Mainwarings, Roger & brother William Mainwaring came but did not dine; in the evening I went to Nag's Head; there was Wood, Maxwell, 2 Mainwarings parted about 9.
27th January 1690. Monday, went to Parliment; were Prorogued about 12; dined at home with Colt, Wynne, & 2 Mainwarings; went about 7 to Nag's Head; there was Harris, Maxwell, Rogers, Coling, Craven &c; parted past 9.
28th January 1690. Tuesday, went to Lord Delamer [aged 38] (with G.Mainwaring [aged 47]) then to the Treasurer of Chambers office; spoke with Hall about my warrants; he hath them all together (being 5 & the summe 336:6:6) I went to Lord Shrewsbury's office, spoke with Vernon about the Mayor of Chester's having Pooles Armes; went with G.Mainwaring & Elwyn to London; then to Mosier; then to [fo. 114r] Jan: the Sunne with the spectacle maker; there were 2 Radfords; gave them a bottle of wine; I dined at Pontacks with Mainwaring my sonne [aged 39] & 2 Edisbury's; went (with 2 Mainwarings) to the Post office. there was Wildman & his sonne; then to the Sunne Taverne; there were 2 Edisbury's, my sonne, Dashwood, 2 Mainwarings, Hannibal Baskerville, Monteage & another (the 2 last went first) Mainwaring & I left them neare 8, went to Nag's Head; there was Wood, Titus, Harris, Craven, Maxwell, Partridge &c; parted past 9; found Biddolph at home.
29th January 1690. Wednesday, Mainwaring went to meete Crew at Dunstable; I dined at home with Biddolph, Roger, & Thomas; went in the evening to Woods, saw Lady & daughters; called on Biddolph in Holborne; went to Bishop of Chester; Kidder was with him; stayd awhile; called on Baroby, went to the printer; there was Biddolph, Baroby, Dashwood, G.Mainwaring [aged 47] Gerard & Wade; parted past 9, came home.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
30th January 1690. Thursday, Jarrat came about money for Rogers watch; I dined at home; Biddolph & I went to Nag's Head about 7; there was Wood, Biddolph, G.Mainwaring [aged 47] Maxfeild, Coling.