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.
Simon Fraser was born to [his father] Simon Fraser.
In 1291 [his father] Simon Fraser died.
On 22nd July 1298 King Edward I of England [aged 59] defeated the Scottish army led by William Wallace during the 22nd July 1298 Battle of Falkirk at Falkirk [Map] using archers to firstly attack the Scottish shiltrons with the heavy cavalry with infantry completing the defeat.
John de Graham [aged 31] and John Stewart of Bonkyll [aged 52] were killed.
The English were described in the Falkirk Roll that lists 111 men with their armorials including:
Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick [aged 26].
Walter Beauchamp [aged 55].
Roger Bigod 5th Earl Norfolk [aged 53].
Humphrey Bohun 3rd Earl Hereford 2nd Earl Essex [aged 49].
Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford [aged 24].
Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester [aged 37].
William Ferrers 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 26].
Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley [aged 52].
Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley [aged 27].
Henry Grey 1st Baron Grey of Codnor [aged 43].
Reginald Grey 1st Baron Grey of Wilton [aged 58].
John Grey 2nd Baron Grey of Wilton [aged 30].
John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster [aged 29].
Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu [aged 48].
William Ros 1st Baron Ros Helmsley [aged 43].
John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave [aged 42].
Nicholas Segrave [aged 42].
Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford [aged 41].
Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby [aged 30].
Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln [aged 20].
Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster [aged 17].
John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey [aged 67].
Henry Percy 9th and 1st Baron Percy [aged 25].
Hugh Courtenay 1st or 9th Earl Devon [aged 21].
Richard Fitzalan 1st or 8th Earl of Arundel [aged 31].
Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan [aged 19].
John II Duke Brittany [aged 59].
Philip Darcy [aged 40].
Robert Fitzroger.
Robert Fitzwalter 1st Baron Fitzwalter [aged 51], or possiby a Roger Fitzwalter?.
Simon Fraser.
Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 23].
John Wake 1st Baron Wake of Liddell [aged 30], and.
Henry Lacy 4th Earl Lincoln, Earl Salisbury [aged 47].
William Scrope [aged 53] was knighted.
John Moels 1st Baron Moels [aged 29] fought.
John Lovell 1st Baron Lovel [aged 44] fought.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
In July 1300 Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford [aged 26], Hugh Courtenay 1st or 9th Earl Devon [aged 23], Simon Fraser, John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster [aged 31] and Simon Montagu 1st Baron Montagu [aged 50] fought at Caerlaverock during the Siege of Caerlaverock Castle.
On 24th February 1303 at Roslyn a Scottish force commanded by Simon Fraser and John Comyn 3rd Lord Baddenoch [aged 34] ambushed the English army led by John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave [aged 47] who was captured and subsequently released.
John of Fordun's Chronicle. 24th February 1303. 108. When the aforesaid king [aged 63] had got news of this, he sent off a certain nobleman, Ralph Confrere, his treasurer (Ralph de Manton, the Cofferer), a man stout in battle, and of tried judgment and wisdom, with a certain body of chosen knights, thoroughly well-armed, to seek out, in every hole and corner, those who troubled and disturbed the king's peace, and not to forbear punishing them with the penalty of death. So they entered Scotland, and went about ranging through the land, until they, at Roslyn, pitched their tents, split up into three lines apart, for want of free camping room. But the aforesaid John Comyn [aged 34] and Simon, with their abettors, hearing of their arrival, and wishing to steal a march rather than have one stolen upon them, came briskly through from Biggar to Roslyn, in one night, with some chosen men, who chose rather death before unworthy subjection to the English nation; and, all of a sudden, they fearlessly fell upon the enemy. But having been, a little before, roused by the sentries, all those of the first line seized their weapons, and manfully withstood the attacking foe.
Around 20th February 1304 a chevauchée of English knights including Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford [aged 29], William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby [aged 28], John Mohun 1st Baron Dunster [aged 35], John Segrave 2nd Baron Segrave [aged 48] and the future King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland [aged 29] attempted, unsuccessfully, to capture Simon Fraser and William Wallace at Happrew, Peebles.
In 1306 Simon Fraser was hanged.
On 19th June 1306 the forces of Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke [aged 31], including Robert Pierrepont, ambushed and routed the Scottish army of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland [aged 31] including Simon Fraser, Christopher Seton and John Strathbogie 9th Earl Atholl [aged 40] at Methven. John Strathbogie 9th Earl Atholl was captured as well as many others.
After 19th June 1306 Simon Fraser was captured by Thomas Multon 1st Baron Multon [aged 30] and John Jose at Kirkencliff, Stirling.
John of Fordun's Chronicle. So that king of England went back with his men, having first appointed the officers of the sheriffdoms, and the wardens of the castles, in the districts beyond the water of Forth, which were then fully and wholly subject unto his sway - with the exception of a few outlaws (or, indeed, robbers), of Scottish birth, who were lurking in the woods, and could not, because of their misdeeds, submit to the laws. But John Comyn, then guardian of Scotland, and Simon Eraser, with their followers, day and night did their best to harass and annoy, by their great prowess, the aforesaid king's officers and bailiffs; and from the time of that king's departure, for four years and more, the English and the Anglicized Scots were harried by them, in manifold ways, by mutual slaughter and carnage, according to the issue of various wars.