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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.
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Bletchingley, Surrey is in Surrey.
In or before 1515 Richard "The Great Black Knight of the North" Cholmeley was born to Roger Cholmley (age 54) and Catherine Constable (age 16) at Bletchingley, Surrey [Map]. He married after 22nd June 1549 his fourth cousin once removed Catherine Clifford Baroness Scrope Bolton, daughter of Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland and Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford, and had issue.
In 1542 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1547 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch was elected MP Bletchingley.
On 7th April 1547 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch came into the possession of Bletchingley, Surrey [Map]. Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 31) had formerly owned it.
Diary of Edward VI. 24th May 1551. An earthquake was at Croidon [Map] and Blechingliee [Map], and in the most part of Surrey, but no harme was donne.
In March 1553 Maurice Berkeley (age 47) was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1597 John Trevor (age 34) was elected MP Bletchingley.
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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In 1604 and 1614 John Trevor (age 41) was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1625 Thomas Gresham (age 78) was elected MP Bletchingley.
John Evelyn's Diary. 6th November 1643. Lying by the way from Wotton, Surrey [Map] at Sir Ralph Whitfield's, at Blechingley [Map] (whither both my brothers had conducted me), I arrived at London on the 7th, and two days after took boat at the Tower-wharf, which carried me as far as Sittingbourne, Kent [Map], though not without danger, I being only in a pair of oars, exposed to a hideous storm: but it pleased God that we got in before the peril was considerable. From thence, I went by post to Dover, Kent [Map], accompanied with one Mr. Thicknesse, a very dear friend of mine.
Diary of Isabella Twysden 1645. My nan went with my Servt whitfield into the contry to blechinly [Map] July 17.
In 1677 Robert Clayton (age 48) purchased the manor of Bletchingley by which he gained control of the two seats for MP Bletchingley.
John Evelyn's Diary. 3rd July 1677. I sealed the deeds of sale of the manor of Blechingley [Map] to Sir Robert Clayton (age 48), for payment of Lord Peterborough's (age 55) debts, according to the trust of the Act of Parliament.
In 1685 Ambrose Browne (age 25) was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1727 Orlando Bridgeman 2nd Baronet (age 48) was elected MP Calne and MP Bletchingley. He chose to sit for the latter.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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In 1745 William Clayton (age 27) was elected MP Bletchingley which seat he held until 1761.
In February 1789 Benjamin Hobhouse 1st Baronet (age 32) was elected MP Bletchingley.
In 1805 Nicholas William Ridley-Colborne 1st Baron Colborne (age 25) was elected MP Bletchingley which seat he held until 1806.
John Evelyn's Diary. 13th July 1700. I went to Harden, which was originally a barren warren bought by Sir Robert Clayton (age 71), who built there a pretty house, and made such alteration by planting not only an infinite store of the best fruit; but so changed the natural situation of the hill, valleys, and solitary mountains about it, that it rather represented some foreign country, which would produce spontaneously pines, firs, cypress, yew, holly, and juniper; they were come to their perfect growth, with walks, mazes, etc., among them, and were preserved with the utmost care, so that I who had seen it some years before in its naked and barren condition, was in admiration of it. The land was bought of Sir John Evelyn, of Godstone, and was thus improved for pleasure and retirement by the vast charge and industry of this opulent citizen. He and his lady received us with great civility. The tombs in the church at Croydon of Archbishops Grindal, Whitgift, and other Archbishops, are fine and venerable; but none comparable to that of the late Archbishop Sheldon, which, being all of white marble, and of a stately ordinance and carvings, far surpassed the rest, and I judge could not cost less than £700 or £800.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 5th September 1559. The v day of September was bered at [Bletchingley] ser Thomas Karden knyght, with a standard and .... of armes and a cot of armes, a helmet, targat, .... with the mantylls and crest, and a iij [3] dosen of skochyons of armes, the wyche he had mony goodly offeses in ....
Henry Machyn's Diary. 23rd February 1560. The xxiij day of Feybruary was cared from (Black) frers over the water to Parys garden, and ther was a hors-lytter rede to care her to Blechyng-led, [my] lade Carden, the wyff of ser Thomas Carden, to be bered.