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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: Cholmeley
Around 1495 Roger Cholmeley was born illegitimately to [his father] Richard Cholmeley (age 35).
On 22nd May 1518 Roger Cholmeley (age 23) and Christine Hurst were married.
In March 1521 [his father] Richard Cholmeley (age 61) died.
In 1531 Roger Cholmeley (age 36) was appointed Serjeant at Law.
In 1545 Roger Cholmeley (age 50) was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer which position he held until 1552.
In 1547 Roger Cholmeley (age 52) was appointed Custos Rotulorum Middlesex.
In 1552 Roger Cholmeley (age 57) was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench which position he held until 1553.
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.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 17th April 1553. The xvij day of Aprell cam a commondement [down] unto London that alle the cherche-wardens of London [should go] unto Gyldhall a-ffor the commyssyonars, the bysshope of London, and my lord mare, and master Chamlay (age 58) the kynges cheyff justes, [and that] thay shuld bryng a truw sertycatt of alle the chy[rch goods,] juelles and monay, and belles, and alle copes and ornaments that [belong] to the chyrche.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th July 1553. The xxvj day of July cam unto the Towre my lord marqwes of Northamton (age 41), by and my lord Robart Dudley (age 21), and the bysshop of London (age 53), and ser Recherd Corbett; and after cam in to the Towre my lord cheyffe justes Chamley (age 58), the lord Montyguw (age 68), at v of the cloke at nyght.
Note. The lord Montague. The person intended by this designation was sir Edward Montague, who was lord chief justice of the common pleas, as sir Roger Cholmley was of the king's bench. The new queen appointed sir Richard Morgan and sir Thomas Bromley in their places.
Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. September 1553. Note, that the (blank) daye of September, the lord Ferris (age 65)1, the lord chefe justice Chumbley (age 58)2, and the lorde Montegue (age 68)3, wer dysmyssed of ther imprysonement in the Tower.
Note 1. Walter Devereux, who had been created viscount Hereford in 1550, though both in this Diary and in that of Machyn he is still called lord Ferrars, and by Stowe lord Ferrers of Chartley. In the register of the Privy Council he is properly styled viscount Hereford. He had married lady Mary Grey, aunt to the duke of Suffolk (age 36).
Note 2. Sir Roger Cholmley: see notes to Machyn's Diary, p. 368.
Note 3. Sir Edward Montagu: see notes to Machyn's Diary, p. 356.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 6th September 1553. The vj day of September cam owt of the Towre my lord Ferrys, my lord cheyff justys Chamlay (age 58) and my lord Montyguw (age 24), unto the denes place, for ther satt the consell, and ther thay wher delevered and dyscharged of the Towre with a grett fyne.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 7th December 1558. The vij day of Desember was bered my lade Chamley, the wyff of ser Roger Chamley (age 63) knyght and late lord cheyffe barne, [chief baron] in the parryche of sant Marten's at Ludgate; and ther was iiij branche tapers, garnyshed with iiij dosen pensels; and the howse hangyd with blake and armes, and the strett and the chyrche with blake and armes; and ther was a harold of armes; and ij whyt branchys, and xxiiij torchys, and mony morners; and the morow masse and a sermon, and after a grett dener; and she had iiij baners of santtes.
Note. P. 181. Funeral of lady Cholmley. The wife of sir Roger Cholmley, made serjeant at law 1532, king's serjeant 1545, chief baron of the exchequer 1546, chief justice of the king's bench 1552, and imprisoned for a time after queen Mary's accession (see before, pp. 38, 43).
Malcolm quotes from the register of St. Martin's Ludgate the burial of lady Cholmley as having taken place Dec. 8, 1558, and that of sir Roger Cholmley, July 2, 1565. Londinium Rediv. iv. 358. His daughter "my [his daughter] lady Beckwyth" was married at the same church to [his future son-in-law] Christian Ken, esq. April 19, 1559. (Ibid. p. 357.) Sir Roger Cholmley and Christian his wife had a grant to purchase of the crown the manors of East and West Ham and Pleshey in Essex, March 24, 1552–3. (Strype.)
Before 1559 [his son-in-law] Leonard Beckwith of Selby, Yorkshire and [his daughter] Elizabeth Cholmeley were married.
In 1559 [his son-in-law] Christopher Kern of Kern, Somerset and [his daughter] Elizabeth Cholmeley were married at St Martin's Church, Ludgate.
On 21st June 1565 Roger Cholmeley (age 70) died.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Cholmeley was born to Roger Cholmeley and Christine Hurst. She married (1) before 1559 Leonard Beckwith of Selby, Yorkshire (2) 1559 Christopher Kern of Kern, Somerset.
[his daughter] Frances Cholmeley was born to Roger Cholmeley and Christine Hurst. She married Thomas Russell of Strensham, Worcestershire.
GrandFather: John Cholmeley
Father: Richard Cholmeley