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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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Esquire to the Body is in Royal Household.
In 1441 John Norreys (age 41) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1460 John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 18) was appointed Esquire to the Body to Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 23).
Before December 1462 Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough (age 31) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Edward IV of England (age 20), and to the Privy Council.
In 1469 William Norreys (age 28) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Edward IV of England (age 26).
On 27th October 1485 Thomas Lovell was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 28).
In 1509 Edward Chamberlayne (age 25) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1509 Giles Strangeways (age 22) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In or before 1522 Francis Bryan (age 31) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Before 1525 Robert Tyrwhitt Master (age 21) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Before 1528 William Carey (age 27) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Before 1528 Thomas Morgan (age 45) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 36).
In 1533 George Harper (age 29) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Before 1534 Edward Rogers (age 35) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
In 1539 Richard Manners (age 30) was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1541 Robert Oxenbridge (age 33) was appointed Esquire to the Body.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 5th January 1656 Sharington Talbot was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 25).
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
Edward Neville was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
William Parr 1st Baron Parr of Horton was appointed Esquire to the Body to King Henry VIII of England and Ireland.
Henry Knollys was appointed Esquire to the Body to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
Ambrose Willoughby was appointed Esquire to the Body to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
