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All About History Books

The 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." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Biography of John Felton 1595-1628

1625 Cádiz Expedition

1627 Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré

1628 Murder of the Duke of Buckingham

Around 1595 John Felton was born.

1625 Cádiz Expedition

The Cádiz expedition of 1625 was a naval expedition against Spain by English and Dutch forces led by George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 33).

The expedition left Plymouth, Devon [Map] on 6th October 1625.

In November 1625 the fleet attempted, unsuccessfully, to capture Cádiz.

In December 1625 the English returned home having achieved nothing other than spending £250,000, losing 62 out of 105 ships and 7000 English troops.

John Felton (age 30) served.

In 1626 John Felton (age 31) served as a lieutenant in Ireland.

Around May 1627 John Felton (age 32) petitioned to be appointed a captain on

1627 Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré

On 12th July 1627 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 34) led an English force of 100 ships and 6,000 soldiers to capture the city of Saint-Martin-de-Ré on the Île de Ré.

In August 1627 more troops, including the newly promoted Lieutenant John Felton (age 32), arrived.

On 3rd September 1627 two thousand Irish troops arrived under Ralph Bingley (age 57)

On 27th October 1627 a final assault was attempted; it failed because the attackers' siege ladders were shorter than the walls of the fortress.

In November 1627 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham retreated and returned to England having lost thousands of his men.

Murder of the Duke of Buckingham

On 23rd August 1628 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 35) was murdered at Greyhound Pub, Portsmouth by a disgruntled soldier John Felton (age 33). He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map]. His son George succeeded 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 2nd Marquess of Buckingham, 2nd Earl Buckingham.

Felton was considered a hero by many who blamed Buckingham for the failures of the 1625 Cádiz Expedition and 1627 Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Felton was subsequently hanged.

On 13th November 1628 Thomas Richardson (age 59) ruled that it was illegal to use the rack to elicit confession from John Felton (age 33), the murderer of Duke of Buckingham. His opinion had the concurrence of his colleagues and marks a significant point in the history of English criminal jurisprudence.

On 29th November 1628 John Felton (age 33) was hanged at Tyburn [Map] for having murdered the Duke of Buckingham.