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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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On 19th April 1550 William Thomas was appointed Clerk to the Privy Council.
Henry Machyn's Diary. Before 8th May 1554. The day of May was raynyd at Yeld-hall [Map] master Wylliam Thomas, clarke to the consell, and cast to suffer deth, to be dran and quartered.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th May 1554. The xviij day of May was drane a-pone a sled a proper man namyd Wylliam Thomas from the Towre [Map] unto Tyborne [Map]; the .. he was clarke to the consell; and he was hangyd, and after ys hed stryken of, and then quartered; and the morow after ys hed was sett on London bryge, and iij quarters set over Crepullgate.
Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1554. 18th May 1554. The xviij. daie of May was master William Thomas drawne to Tyborne, and ther hanged and quarteryd, who saide he dyed for his country with the three (?) points declared.
On 18th May 1554 William Thomas was hanged, beheaded, and quartered.
Chronicle of Greyfriars. 18th May 1554. Item the xviij. day of May was draune from the tower of London Thomas a Vane1 unto Tyborne, and there put to execucion.
Note 1. This is a mistake: the sufferer on that day was William Thomas, late clerk of the council: see Machyn, p. 63, and the Chron. of Queen Jane and Queen Mary, p. 76.