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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John Evelyn's Diary August 1697
Wotton, Surrey
John Evelyn's Diary October 1697
John Evelyn's Diary December 1697
Whitehall Palace
St Paul's Cathedral
Temple Church, London
Lambeth Palace
John Evelyn's Diary 1697 is in John Evelyn's Diary 1690s.
17th January 1697. The severe frost and weather relented, but again froze with snow. Conspiracies continue against King William. Sir John Fenwick (age 52) was beheaded.
7th February 1697. Severe frost continued with snow. Soldiers in the armies and garrison towns frozen to death on their posts.
7th February 1697. Copy of original manuscript lost.
17th August 1697. I came to Wotton, Surrey [Map] after three months' absence.
1st September 1697. Very bright weather, but with sharp east wind. My son (age 42) came from London in his melancholy indisposition.
12th September 1697. Mr. Duncombe, the rector, came and preached after an absence of two years, though only living seven or eight miles off [at Ashted]. Welcome tidings of the Peace.
3rd October 1697. So great were the storms all this week, that near a thousand people were lost going into the Texel.
16th November 1697. The King's (age 47) entry very pompous; but is nothing approaching that of King Charles II
2nd December 1697. Thanksgiving Day for the Peace, the King (age 47) and a great Court at Whitehall [Map]. The Bishop of Salisbury (age 54) preached, or rather made a florid panegyric, on 2 Chron. ix. 7, 8. The evening concluded with fireworks and illuminations of great expense.
5th December 1697. Was the first Sunday that St. Paul's [Map] had had service performed in it since it was burned in 1666.
6th December 1697. I went to Kensington with the Sheriff, Knights, and chief gentlemen of Surrey, to present their address to the King (age 47). The Duke of Norfolk (age 42) promised to introduce it, but came so late, that it was presented before be came. This insignificant ceremony was brought in Cromwell's time, and has ever since continued with offers of life and fortune to whoever happened to have the power. I dined at Sir Richard Onslow's (age 43), who treated almost all the gentlemen of Surrey. When we had half dined, the Duke of Norfolk came in to make his excuse.
12th December 1697. At the Temple Church, London [Map]; it was very long before the service began, staying for the Comptroller of the Inner Temple, where was to be kept a riotous and reveling Christmas, according to custom.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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23rd December 1697. I returned to Wotton, Surrey [Map].
25th December 1697. A great Christmas kept at Wotton, open house, much company. I presented my book of Medals, etc., to divers noblemen, before I exposed it to sale.