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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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Dorset House, Fleet Street, City of London, England, British Isles

Dorset House is in Fleet Street [Map].

Diary of Anne Clifford. 24th March 1603. The 20th [Note. A mistake for the 24th?] Mr Flocknall, my Aunt Warwick's [aged 55] man, brought us word from his Lady, that the Queen died about 2/3 o'clock in the morning.

This message was delivered to my Mother [aged 42] and me in the same chamber where afterwards I was married.

Note 1. I was at Queen Elizabeth's death thirteen years and two months old, and Mr Richard Sackville was fourteen years old, he being then at Dorset House with his grandfather and that great family.

At the death of this worthy Queen my mother and I lay at Austin Friars in the same chamber where afterwards I was married.

On 27th February 1609 Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset [aged 48] died at Dorset House. He was buried at Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His son Richard [aged 19] succeeded 3rd Earl Dorset, 3rd Baron Buckhurst and inherited Knole House, Sevenoaks. Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke [aged 19] by marriage Countess Dorset.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 1st January 1616. Upon New Year's day1 I kept my chamber all day, my Lady Rich and my Sister Sackville supping with me but my Lord and all the company at Dorset House went to see the Masque at the Court.

Note 1. Jan. 1616. The 1st day Sir George Villiers [aged 23] was made Master of the Horse and my Lord of Worcester [aged 66] Privy Seal.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 17th February 1616. Upon the 17th my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 53], my Lord William Howard [aged 52]1, my Lord Rous [aged 25], my Coz. Russell [aged 23], my Brother Sackville [aged 25] and a great company of men of [erased in MS.] were all in the Gallery at Dorset House where the Archbishop took me aside and talked with me privately one hour and half and persuaded me both by Divine and human means to set my hand to their arguments. But my answer to his Lordship was that I would do nothing till my Lady and I had conferred together. Much persuasion was used by him and all the company, sometimes terrifying me and sometimes flattering me, but at length it was concluded that I should have leave to go to my Mother [aged 55] and send an answer by the 22nd of March next, whether I will agree to the business or not, and to this prayer my Lord of Canterbury and the rest of the Lords have set their hands.

Note 1. Her husband's uncle.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 10th April 1616. Upon the 10th we went from Ware to Tottenham where my Lord's [aged 27] coach with his men and horses met me and came to London to the lesser Dorset House.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 3rd May 1616. Upon the 3rd came Baskett1 down from London and brought me a letter from my Lord [aged 27] by which I might see it was his pleasure that the Child should go the next day to London, which at the first was somewhat grievous to me, but when I considered that it would both make my Lord more angry with me and be worse for the Child, I resolved to let her go, after I had sent for Mr Legg and talked with him about that and other matters and wept bitterly.2

Note 1. Mr. Peter Baskett, Gentleman of the Horse.

Note 2. My Lady Margaret lay in the Great Dorset House. For now my Lord and his whole company was removed from the Lesser Dorset House where I lay when I was first married.

About this time died my Lord of Shrewsbury [aged 63] at his House in Broad Street.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 1st July 1616. Upon the 1st Lord Hobart came to Dorset House where I acknowledged a fine to him of a great part of my thirds in my Lord's [aged 27] land but my Lord gave me his faithful word and promise that in Michaelmas 'Term next he would make me a jointure of the full thirds of his living. About 1 o'clock I set forward on my journey. My Lord brought me down to the coach side where we had a loving and kind parting1.

Note 1. About this time Acton (Note: Acton Curvett, chief footman) my Lord's Footman, lost his race to my Lord Salisbury and my Lord lost 200 twenty shilling pieces by betting on his side.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 18th December 1616. Upon the 18th I alighted at Islington where my Lord [aged 27] who came in my Lady Witby Pole's coach which he borrowed, my Lady Effingham the widow, my Sister Beauchamp, and a great many more came to meet me so that we were in all 10 or 11 coaches and so I came to Dorset House where the Child met me in the Gallery. The house was well dressed up against I came.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 14th March 1617. The 14th I made an end of my Irish stitch cushion. This afternoon Basket came from London and told me that my Lord [aged 27] and my Uncle were agreed and the writings sealed.

The King set forward this day on his journey to Scotland, the Queen and Prince going with him to Thibalds1.

Note 1. The 14th being Friday my Uncle Cumberland and my Coz. Clifford came to Dorset House where my Lord and they signed and sealed the writings and made a final conclusion of my business and did what they could to cut me off from my right, but I referred my cause to GOD.

Upon this Friday or Saturday died my Lord Chancellor Egerton [aged 77], Lady Derby's [aged 67] husband.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 7th May 1617. The 7th my Lord Keeper rode from Dorset House to Westminster in great pomp and state, most of the Lords going with him, amongst which my Lord [aged 28] was one.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 16th July 1617. The 16th Lady Wootton came here on horseback, she and my Lord [aged 28] having lain that night at Sir Percival Hart's, and so hunted a deer as far as Otford; she stay'd not above an hour in regard she saw I was so resolutely bent not to part with Westmoreland.

Note 1. At Lullingstone Castle.

Note 2. About this time Lord Keeper and all his Company left Dorset House. [Q: House.]

Diary of Anne Clifford. 25th December 1617. The 25th Christmas Day Mr [blank in MS.] preached in the Chapel and my Lord [aged 28] and I dined below, there being great housekeeping all this Xmas at Dorset House.

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Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet

Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.

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Diary of Anne Clifford. 26th October 1619. The 26th I kept James Wray a day or two who told me of many old matters and the certain day of the death of my Brother Robert1.

Note 1. Son of George Earl of Cumberland, died in his childhood.

The 28th the Palsgrave was crowned King of Bohemia at Prague and the 25th the Lady Elizabeth was crowned Queen.

About the end of this month my Sister Beauchamp came from Glenham altogether and came to live with my Sister Sackville at the end of Dorset House which end my Brother Sackville and my Lord [aged 30] did lately repair and make fine.

On 16th September 1622 Richard Sackville 5th Earl Dorset was born to Edward Sackville 4th Earl Dorset [aged 31] and Mary Curzon Countess Dorset [aged 32] at Dorset House. He married before 1637 Frances Cranfield Countess Dorset, daughter of Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex and Anne Brett Countess Middlesex, and had issue.

On 28th March 1624 Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset [aged 35] died at Dorset House. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His brother Edward [aged 33] succeeded 4th Earl Dorset, 4th Baron Buckhurst. Mary Curzon Countess Dorset [aged 34] by marriage Countess Dorset.