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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Paternal Family Tree: Melton
Around 1275 Archbishop William Melton was born to [his father] Nicholas Melton [aged 25] in Melton Welton.
In 1307 Archbishop William Melton [aged 32] was appointed Controller of the Wardrobe.
Close Rolls Edward II 1307-1313. 8th January 1308 King Edward II of England [aged 23] To the Sheriff of Leicester. Order to cause a coroner for that county to be elected in place of John de Noveray, of Burton, lately elected in the late King's reign, who is insufficiently qualified.
Memorandum, that on Sunday before the Feast of St Vincent the Martyr [22 Jan], at Dover, Kent [Map] in the King's chamber in the Priory of St Martin, Dover [Map], in the evening (crepsusculo noctis), in the presence of William Inge, knight, William de Melton and Adam de Osgoodby, clerks, Bishop John Langton, the King's Chancellor, delivered under his seal to the said King his great seal; and the King received the said seal in his own hands, and delivered it to Sir William Melton [aged 33] to be carried with him in the wardrobe beyond sea; and the King straightaway delivered by his own hand another seal of his shortly before made anew at London for the government of the realm in the King's absence in a red bag (bursa) sealed with the seal of William Inge to the chancellor. With which seal the chancellor caused writs to be sealed, after the King's passage, in the hospital of Domus Dei, under the testimony of Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 24] then Keeper of the realm of England, on the Monday next following, on which day the King in the early morning (summo mane) passed the sea at Dover, Kent [Map].
Fine Rolls. On 7th February 1308 King Edward II of England [aged 23] and Isabella of France Queen Consort England [aged 13] returned from their wedding in Boulogne sur Mer [Map] to Dover, Kent [Map].
7th February 1308. Be it remembered that on Wednesday after the Purification, Edward II, the king, returning from beyond seas, to wit, from Boulogne sur Mer [Map], where he took to wife Isabel, daughter of the king of France [aged 39], touched at Dover, Kent [Map] in his barge about the ninth hour [1500], Hugh le Despenser [aged 46] and the lord of Castellione of Gascony being in his company, and the Queen a little afterward touched there with certain ladies accompanying her, and because the great seal which had been taken with him beyond seas then remained in the keeping of the keeper of the wardrobe who could not arrive on that day, no writ was sealed from the hour of the king's coming until Friday following on which day the bishop of Chichester, chancellor, about the ninth hour [1500] delivered to the king in his chamber in Dover castle [Map] the seal used in England during the king's absence, and the king, receiving the same, delivered it to William de Melton [aged 33], controller of the wardrobe, and forthwith delivered with his own hand to the chancellor the great seal under the seal of J. de Benstede, keeper of the wardrobe, and Master John Painter Fraunceis, in the presence of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster [aged 30], Peter, Earl of Cornwall [aged 24], and Hugh le Despenser, William Martyn and William Inge, knights, and Adam de Osgodby, clerk; and the chancellor on that day after lunch in his room (hospicio) in God's House, Dover, sealed writs with the great seal.
In January 1315 Archbishop William Melton [aged 40] was elected Archbishop of York.
In September 1317 Archbishop William Melton [aged 42] was consecrated Archbishop of York at Avignon [Map].
On 24th January 1328 King Edward III of England [aged 15] and Philippa of Hainault [aged 17] were married at York Minster [Map] by Archbishop William Melton [aged 53]. She by marriage Queen Consort England. She was crowned the same day. She the daughter of William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland [aged 42] and Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut [aged 34]. He the son of King Edward II of England and Isabella of France Queen Consort England [aged 33]. They were second cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.
The marriage was the quid pro quo for her father William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland having supported his mother Isabella of France Queen Consort England and Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March [aged 40] returning to England to usurp the throne of Edward's father King Edward II of England.
In 1330 Archbishop William Melton [aged 55] was appointed Lord Treasurer.
In 1330 [his father] Nicholas Melton [aged 80] died.
On 5th April 1340 Archbishop William Melton [aged 65] died at Cawood Palace [Map].
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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Adam Murimuth Continuation. Also in that year, in [5th] April 1340, William Melton [aged 65], archbishop of York, died; and afterwards two were elected in dispute, namely William la Zouche and William Killesby.
Hoc anno Domini MCCCXL, mense Aprilis, moritur Willelmus de Meltone, archiepiscopus Eboracensis, et postea eliguntur duo in discordia, scilicet Willelmus la Zouche et Willelmus de Killesby.