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.
Paternal Family Tree: Grey
Maternal Family Tree: Emmeline Riddlesford 1223-1276
Around 1432 John Grey was born to [his father] Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 17] and [his mother] Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby [aged 13].
On 18th May 1445 William Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 73] died at Woodham Ferrers, Essex. His granddaughter [his mother] Elizabeth [aged 26] succeeded 6th Baroness Ferrers of Groby. [his father] Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 30] by marriage Baron Ferrers of Groby.
Around 1454 John Grey [aged 22] and Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 49] and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [aged 39].
In 1455 [his son] Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset was born to John Grey [aged 23] and [his wife] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 18]. He married (1) October 1466 his fourth cousin once removed Anne Holland, daughter of Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter and Anne York Duchess Exeter (2) 5th September 1474 his half second cousin once removed Cecily Bonville Marchioness Dorset, daughter of William Bonville 6th Baron Harington and Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings, and had issue.
In 1457 [his son] Richard Grey was born to John Grey [aged 25] and [his wife] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 20].
In 1457 [his father] Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 42] died.
On 20th July 1460 Thomas Scales 7th Baron Scales [aged 63] was murdered by boatmen whilst travelling from the Tower of London [Map] to Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His daughter Elizabeth succeeded 8th Baroness Scales. She was, or had been married to, Henry Bourchier (the year of his death may been 1458). She was in 1466 married to [his brother-in-law] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers [aged 20], brother of King Edward IV's [aged 18] wife Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 23]; an example of the Woodville family marrying rich heiresses.
On 17th February 1461 the Lancastrian army defeated the Yorkist army at Second Battle of St Albans and rescued King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 39]. The Lancastrian army was commanded by Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 30] and included Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland [aged 39], John Mowbray 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 45], Henry Grey 4th or 7th Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 26], Henry Roos and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby [aged 33].
Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley [aged 33], William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme [aged 46], John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 12] and Thomas Tresham [aged 41] were knighted.
The Yorkist army included Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury [aged 32], William Fitzalan 9th or 16th Earl of Arundel [aged 43], John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 61] and Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 57]. John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 30] was captured. Robert Poynings [aged 42] and James Luttrell [aged 34] were killed.
John Grey [aged 29] was killed fighting for Lancaster. A death that was to have far reaching consequences; his widow [his wife] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 24] subsequently married King Edward IV of England [aged 18].
During the battle William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville [aged 68] and Thomas Kyriell [aged 65] were assigned to the protection of the King Henry VI. After the battle both were beheaded against all decent laws of battle.
William Bonville 1st Baron Bonville was beheaded. His great granddaughter [his future daughter-in-law] Cecily succeeded 2nd Baroness Bonville.
Thomas Kyriell was beheaded.
William Cotton [aged 21] was killed.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 17th February 1461. And so after her long jorney, she came to the town of sainct Albons: wherof ye duke of Northfolke, ye erle of Warwvcke, and other, whom ye duke of Yorke had lefte to governe the kyng in his absence, beyng advertised, by the assent of ye kyng, gathered together a great hoste, and set forward towarde saincte Albons, havyng the kyng in their company, as the head and chefetayn of the warre, and so not mynding to differre the time any farther, upon shrovetuesday early in the morning, set upon their enemies. Fortune ye day so fauored the Quene, that her parte prevayled, and the duke and the erle were discomfited, and fled: leaving the king accompanied with the lord Bonvile, and syr Thomas Kyriell of Kent, whiche vpon assuraunce of his promise, taried still and fled not, but their trust, them deceived. For after the victorie obteyned, and the kynge broughte to the Quene, they two were deteyned as prisoners, and so continued till the kynges departyng from that towne. In this battayl were slayn. xxiii. C. [2300] men, and not above, of whome no noble man is remebred, saue syr Ihon Gray [aged 29], which thesame day was made knight, with xii. other, at ye village of Colney.
Before 2nd May 1462 [his step-father] John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 24] and [his mother] Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby [aged 43] were married. He by marriage Baron Ferrers of Groby. He the son of Henry Bourchier 2nd Count of Eu 1st Earl Essex [aged 58] and Isabel York Countess Eu and Essex [aged 53]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 1st May 1464 King Edward IV of England [aged 22] and [his former wife] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 27] were married at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire [Map]. [his former mother-in-law] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford [aged 49], Elizabeth's mother, being the only witness. The date not certain. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers [aged 59] and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford. He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York [aged 48]. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Chronicle of Gregory. 1st May 1464. That same year, the first day of May before said or written, our sovereign lord the King, Edward the iiij [aged 22], was wedded to the [his former father-in-law] Lord Rivers [aged 59] daughter; her name is Dame Elizabeth [aged 27], that was wife unto Syr John Grey, son and heir unto the Lady Ferrers of Groby [aged 45]. And this marriage was kept full secretly long and many a day, that no man knew it; but men marvelled that our sovereign lord was so long without any wife, and were ever feared that he had be not chaste of his living.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. When these lords [Note. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 52], John Grey] with diverse others of both parties were come into his presence, the King [aged 40], lifting up himself and propped up with pillows, as it is reported, after this fashion said unto them:
My lords, my dear kinsmen and allies, in what plight I lie, you see, and I feel. By which, the less while I expect to live with you, the more deeply am I moved to care in what case I leave you, for such as I leave you, such be my children like to find you. That if they should (God forbid) find you at variance, might by chance fall themselves at war before their discretion would serve to set you at peace. You see their youth, of which I reckon the only security to rest in your concord. For it suffices not that all you love them, if each of you hate the other. If they were men, your faithfulness by chance would suffice. But childhood must be maintained by men's authority, and slippery youth supported with elder counsel, which neither they can have unless you give it, nor can you give it if you do not agree. For where each labors to break what the other makes, and for hatred of each other's person impugns each other's counsel, it must needs be long before any good conclusion go forward. And also while either party labors to be chief, flattery shall have more place than plain and faithful advice, of which must needs ensue the evil bringing up of the Prince, whose mind in tender youth infected shall readily fall to mischief and riot, and draw down with this noble realm to ruin-unless grace turn him to wisdom, which if God send, then they who by evil means before pleased him best shall after fall furthest out of favor, so that ever at length evil plans drive to nothing and good plain ways prosper.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. King Edward in his life, although this dissension between his friends somewhat irked him, yet in his good health he somewhat the less regarded it because he thought whatsoever business should fall between them, he should always be able to rule both parties. But in his last sickness, when he perceived his natural strength so sore enfeebled that he despaired all recovery, then he, considering the youth of his children, suspecting nothing less than what would happen, and well foreseeing that many harms might grow by family debates while the youth of his children lacked discretion of themselves, and good counsel of their friends-because either party should counsel for their own advantage and by pleasant advice win themselves favor, rather than by profitable advertisement do the children good-he called some of them before him who were at variance, and especially, the Lord Marquis Dorset [aged 30], the Queen's [aged 48] son by her first husband, and Lord Hastings [Note. Text says Richard? Should be William!], a noble man, then Lord Chamberlain, against whom the Queen specially grudged for that great favour the King showed him, and also because she thought him secretly familiar with the King in wanton company. Her kindred also bore him dislike, as well for that the King had made him Captain of Calais (which office the Lord Rivers, brother to the Queen, claimed because of the King's former promise), and for diverse other great gifts which he received that they looked for.
On 8th June 1492 [his former wife] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 55] died at Bermondsey Abbey [Map]. She was buried in the Chantry Chapel next to the Altar, St George's Chapel [Map] with her husband King Edward IV of England.
[his father] Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby and [his mother] Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby were married. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
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.
Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. Such was the successe of this second battell fought at S. Albons, upon Shrouetuesdaie, the seventeenth of Februarie, in which were slaine three and twentie hundred men, of whom no noble man is remembred, save sir John Graie, which the same daie was made knight, with twelve other, at the village of Colneie. Now after that the noble men and other were fled, and the king left in maner alone without anie power of men to gard his person, he was counselled by an esquier called Thomas Hoo, a man well languaged, and well scene in the lawes, to send some conuenient messenger to the northerne lords, advertising them, that he would now gladlie come unto them (whome he knew to be his verie freends, and had assembled themselves togither for his service) to the end he might remaine with them, as before he had remained under the governement of the southerne lords.
Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 8 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 14 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 9 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 19 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 16 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 1st Baron Grey of Wilton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Wilton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Roger Grey 1st Baron Grey Ruthyn 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Basset 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Basset Baroness Grey Wilton 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Somery Baroness Basset Drayton 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 2nd Baron Grey Ruthyn 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Hastings 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Hastings 13th Baron Abergavenny 1st Baron Hastings 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Cantilupe 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hastings Baroness Grey Ruthyn 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Valence Baroness Bergavenny Baroness Hastings
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke
GrandFather: Reginald Grey 3rd Baron Grey Ruthyn 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Strange 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fulk Strange 1st Baron Strange Blackmere
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Blancminster
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Strange 2nd Baron Strange Blackmere 3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Giffard 1st Baron Giffard Brimpsfield 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Giffard Baroness Strange Blackmere 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Clifford 
Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alianore Strange Baroness Grey Ruthyn 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Boteler
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Boteler 1st Baron Wem and Oversley
Great x 4 Grandmother: Angharad Mathrafal
Great x 2 Grandmother: Ankaret Boteler Baroness Strange Blackmere 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Herdeburgh
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ela Herdeburgh Baroness Wem and Oversley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ida Odingsells Baroness Clinton 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Astley 1st Baron Astley
Great x 3 Grandfather: Giles Astley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Astley 3rd Baron Astley
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Astley 4th Baron Astley 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Astley 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Tosny 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Tosny Countess Warwick 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandMother: Joan Astley Baroness Grey Ruthyn 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Willoughby 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 1st Baron Willoughby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Beke 
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Deincourt 1st Baron Deincourt
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Deincourt Baroness Willoughby of Eresby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Mohun Baroness Deincourt 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Willoughby Baroness Astley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Roscelyn Baroness Willoughby and Latimer
John Grey 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Ferrers 2nd Baron Ferrers of Groby 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Groby 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Verdun Baroness Ferrers Groby 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Groby 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Groby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Hoo
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Hoo Baroness Ferrers Groby
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St Leger of Offley 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel St Leger
GrandFather: Henry Ferrers 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Clifford 3rd Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Clare Baroness Clifford Baroness Welles 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Roger Clifford 5th Baron Clifford 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley 
2 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Berkeley Baroness Clifford Baroness Musgrave 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eva Zouche 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Philippa Clifford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tosny Countess Warwick 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Beauchamp Baroness Clifford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March 
3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Mother: Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Mowbray 2nd Baron Mowbray 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Mowbray 3rd Baron Mowbray 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aline de Braose Baroness Mowbray 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Mowbray 4th Baron Mowbray Baron Segrave 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Plantagenet Baroness Mowbray 
Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Chaworth 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen Segrave 3rd Baron Segrave 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Segrave 4th Baron Segrave 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Baroness Segrave 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Segrave 5th Baroness Segrave Baroness Mowbray Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Plantagenet 1st Duchess of Norfolk 
Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Hales Countess Norfolk
GrandMother: Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Warenne Countess Arundel
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Chaworth
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Princess Elizabeth of Rhuddlan Countess Essex, Hereford and Holland Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Clare Baroness Badlesmere 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England