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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On or before 8th April 1615 William Sydenham was born to William Sydenham of Wynford Eagle in Dorset. He was baptised 8th April 1615.
In 1637 William Sydenham (age 21) and Grace Trenchard were married.
On 17th June 1644 William Sydenham (age 29) was appointed Governor of Weymouth by Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 53).
On 10th August 1644 William Sydenham (age 29) and Anthony Ashley-Cooper 1st Earl Shaftesbury (age 23) captured Wareham, Dorset [Map].
In November 1645 William Sydenham (age 30) was elected MP Melcombe Regis.
On 14th August 1649 William Sydenham (age 34) and Colonel Fleetwood were appointed Governor of the Isle of Wight.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 17th January 1660. Thence I went to Westminster, and met Shaw and Washington, who told me how this day Sydenham (age 44) was voted out of the House for sitting any more this Parliament, and that Salloway was voted out likewise and sent to the Tower, during the pleasure of the House. Home and wrote by the Post, and carried to Whitehall, and coming back turned in at Harper's, where Jack Price was, and I drank with him and he told me, among other, things, how much the Protector (age 33) is altered, though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well, yet he is scarce able to talk sense with a man; and how he will say that "Who should a man trust, if he may not trust to a brother and an uncle;" and "how much those men have to answer before God Almighty, for their playing the knave with him as they did". He told me also, that there was; £100,000 offered, and would have been taken for his restitution, had not the Parliament come in as they did again; and that he do believe that the Protector will live to give a testimony of his valour and revenge yet before he dies, and that the Protector will say so himself sometimes. Thence I went home, it being late and my wife in bed.
In 1661 William Sydenham (age 45) died.
Around August 1661 [his former wife] Grace Trenchard died.