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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Serious Admonitions to Youth is in Georgian Books.
Serious admonitions to youth, in a short account of the life, trial, condemnation and execution. Of Mrs. Mary Channing (age 18). Who, for poisoning her husband, was burnt at Dorset ... 1706.
About Noon, two Men were executed, the one for House breaking and the other for murdering his Wife; the latter of which, shewed not the least Care for his Soul, but died an ignorant, hardened Wretch, denying to the very last the Fact for which he suffered.
[21st March 1706] After the Under Sheriff had taken some Refreshment, she [Mary Brookes aka Channing (age 18)] was brought out of Prison, and drag'd by her Fathers and Husband's Houses, to the Place of Execution [Maumbury Rings [Map]]. Here Mr. Hutchins and other Clergy continued a long time with her in Prayer, and supposing that Death being now in View, might mollifie her hard Heart, repeated their Exhortations to Confession, but to no purpose., they found no tthe least Alteration. In the midst of her Prayers she was strangely concern'd at the Sight of Mr. Richard Channing her Husband's eldest Brother, and 'twas with some Difficulty Mr. Hutchins brought her again to a calm Attendance on her Devotians. She manifested nothing of Alteration when fixed to the Srake, but justified her Innocence to the very last, and left the World with a Courage seldom found in her Sex. She being first strangled, the Fire was kindled five in the Afternoon, and in the sight of many thousand Spoctmors she was consum'd to Ashes.