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 28th January 1308 [her father] King Edward II of England and [her mother] Isabella of France Queen Consort England were married at Boulogne sur Mer. She the daughter of [her grandfather] King Philip IV of France and [her grandmother] Joan Blois I Queen Navarre. He the son of King Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England.
On 11th January 1311 [her future husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders and Sophia Berthout Berthout were married. He the son of Reginald I Count Guelders and Margaret Dampierre Countess Guelders.
On 18th June 1318 Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet was born to [her father] King Edward II of England and [her mother] Isabella of France Queen Consort England at Woodstock Palace, Oxfordshire. She was named for her paternal grandmother Eleanor of Castile.
On 19th April 1319 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. An arranged marriage although not clear who arranged it or whose ward Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick was (his father Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick had died four years before) - possibly by King Edward II of England as a means of securing the Welsh March. The Beauchamp family established, the Mortimer family aspirational. The marriage took place after Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March had returned from his tenure as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and before he rebelled against King Edward II of England in opposition to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer. She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville. He the son of Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick and Alice Tosny Countess Warwick.
In or before May 1322 John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield was executed by [her father] King Edward II of England. Baron Giffard Brimpsfield forfeit.
On 19th May 1322 [her uncle] Charles IV King France I King Navarre and Blanche of Burgundy Queen Consort France marriage annulled as a consequence of her adultery. In 1313 [her mother] Isabella of France Queen Consort England gave gifts of coin-purses to her sisters-in-law Blanche of Burgundy Queen Consort France and Margaret of Burgundy Queen Consort France. The coin-purses were subsequently seen by Isabella to be in the possession of the Norman knights Gautier and Philippe d'Aunay. When Isabella visited her father [her grandfather] King Philip IV of France again in 1314 she informed him she suspected the two sisters to be having affairs with the two knights. The two knights were arrested, confessed to adultery under torture, and were executed. The two women were sentenced to life imprisonment at Château Gaillard. Margaret's husband Louis X King France I Navarre became King in Nov 1314 whilst she was in prison; she became Queen of France by marriage. Somewhat conveniently she died five months later. Blanche of Burgundy Queen Consort France remained in prison until her husband Charles IV King France I King Navarre became King in 1322 at which time he had their marriage annulled.
In 1324 Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet was placed into the care of her cousin Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer. She was subsequently placed into the care of Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford (he had formerly been married to her aunt Joan of Acre and Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny with her younger sister Joan of the Tower at Pleshey Castle.
In 1325 the marriage of Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet to Alfonso "Avenger" XI King Castile was discussed but not pursued.
On 9th October 1326 Reginald I Count Guelders died. [her future husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders succeeded II Count Guelders.
On 25th January 1327 [her father] King Edward II of England abdicated King of England. [her brother] King Edward III of England succeeded III King of England.
On 21st September 1327 [her father] King Edward II of England was murdered at Berkeley Castle. There is speculation as to the manner of his death, and as to whether he died at all. Some believe he may have lived the rest of his life in Europe - see Publications de la Société Archéologique de Montpellier 1877: Fieschi Letter.
On 24th January 1328 [her brother] King Edward III of England and [her sister-in-law] Philippa of Hainault were married at York Minster by Archbishop William Melton. She by marriage Queen Consort England. She was crowned the same day. She the daughter of William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland and Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainaut. He the son of King Edward II of England and Isabella of France Queen Consort England.
The marriage was the quid pro quo for her father William of Avesnes I Count Hainaut III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland having supported his mother Isabella of France Queen Consort England and Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March returning to England to usurp the throne of Edward's father King Edward II of England.
On 17th July 1328 [her brother-in-law] King David II of Scotland and [her sister] Joan of the Tower Queen Consort Scotland were married at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. She the daughter of [her father] King Edward II of England and [her mother] Isabella of France Queen Consort England. He the son of King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland and Elizabeth Burgh Queen Consort Scotland.
On 7th June 1329 King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland died at Cardross Manor, Argyll. He was buried at Dunfermline Abbey. [her brother-in-law] King David II of Scotland succeeded II King Scotland. [her sister] Joan of the Tower Queen Consort Scotland by marriage Queen Consort Scotland.
In 1330 the marriage of Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet and her brother John of Eltham 1st Earl Cornwall to marry a son and daughter of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France.
In 1330 [her brother] John of Eltham 1st Earl Cornwall was created 1st Earl Cornwall.
On 19th March 1330 the King's uncle Edmund of Woodstock 1st Earl Kent was beheaded at Winchester Castle. Earl Kent forfeit. Edmund had been convicted of plotting against the court believing his brother King Edward II was still alive. It later emerged the plot had been created by Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March to entrap Edmund. King Edward III of England was unable to show leniency risking complicity in the plot. He was buried at Westminster Abbey.
See 
Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke, 
Walter of Guisborough, Knighton 2555, Murimuth and Parliament Rolls.
On 29th November 1330 Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn accused of assuming royal power and of various other high misdemeanours. His body hung at the gallows for two days and nights. He was buried at Christ Church, Greyfriars. [her mother] Isabella of France Queen Consort England subsequently requested his burial at Wigmore Abbey and, after firstly refusing, [her brother] King Edward III of England allowed his remains to be removed to Wigmore Abbey. Earl March, Baron Mortimer of Wigmore forfeit.
Before May 1332 Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet left Sandwich, Kent for her marriage with a trouseau of a wedding gown of Spanish cloth, caps, gloves, shoes, a bed, rare spices and loaves of sugar. She was well received in Guelders.
In May 1332 Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet were married at Nijmegen. She by marriage Countess Guelders. His second marriage; he had four daughters from his first marriage. He subsequently sent her from court to Deventer Abbey in 1336 under the pretext that she had leprosy. He subsequently tried to annul the marriage but she contested the annulment by proving she wasn't a leper. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of King Edward II of England and Isabella of France Queen Consort England. He the son of Reginald I Count Guelders and Margaret Dampierre Countess Guelders.
In 1333 [her sister-in-law] Margaret Guelders Countess Cleves died.
On 13th May 1333 [her son] Reginald II Duke Guelders was born to [her husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet. He married 1st July 1347 Marie of Brabant Duchess of Guelders, daughter of John Brabant III Duke Brabant and Marie Évreux Duchess of Brabant.
On 19th July 1333 [her brother] King Edward III of England defeated the Scots army at the Battle of Halidon Hill near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. John of Eltham 1st Earl Cornwall commanded.
English archers, just as at the Battle of Dupplin Moor one year previously, had a significant impact on the massed ranks of Scottish schiltrons. Edward's army included: Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk, who commanded the right wing, Hugh Courtenay 1st or 9th Earl Devon, Robert Pierrepont, Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon, Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan and John Sully. One of the few English casualties was John Neville who was killed.
The Scottish army included King David II of Scotland. Alexander Bruce, Alan Stewart, James Stewart, John Stewart, William Douglas 1st Earl Atholl, Archibald Douglas who were all killed.
Hugh 4th Earl Ross was killed. William 5th Earl Ross succeeded 5th Earl Ross.
Malcolm Lennox 2nd Earl Lennox was killed. Domhnall Lennox Earl Lennox succeeded Earl Lennox.
Kenneth de Moravia Sutherland 4th Earl Sutherland was killed. William de Moravia Sutherland 5th Earl Sutherland succeeded 5th Earl Sutherland. Johanna Menteith Countess Sutherland by marriage Countess Sutherland.
On 12th March 1336 [her son] Edward Duke Guelders was born to [her husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet.
On 30th September 1336 [her brother] John of Eltham 1st Earl Cornwall died at Perth. Earl Cornwall extinct. He was buried at the east side of the doorway to the Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey. His monument comprises a head of the statue encircled by a coronet of large and small leaves, remarkable for being the earliest specimen of the kind. The details of plate-armour, surcoat, gorget, coroneted helmet, with other accessories, give great antiquarian interest to this work. It was formerly surmounted by a canopy, of which, however, no traces are now visible.
In January 1337 [her brother] King Edward III of England created a number of new Earldom's probably in preparation for his forthcoming war against France...
William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury was created 1st Earl Salisbury. Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury by marriage Countess Salisbury.
William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton was created 1st Earl of Northampton. Elizabeth Badlesmere Countess Northampton by marriage Countess of Northampton.
Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester was created 1st Earl Gloucester probably as compensation for his daughter Margaret Audley Countess Stafford having been abducted by Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford.
Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk was created 1st Earl Suffolk. Margaret Norwich Countess Suffolk by marriage Countess Suffolk.
In 1339 [her husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders was created 1st Duke Guelders.
On 24th June 1340 [her brother] King Edward III of England attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton, Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford, Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster, Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer and Richard Pembridge.
Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer died from wounds. Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
On 12th October 1343 [her husband] Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders died from a fall from a horse at Arnhem. Reginald II Duke Guelders succeeded II Duke Guelders, III Count Guelders. His wife acted as Regent to her nine year old son until 1344. His brother Edward Duke Guelders, however, also claimed the title and a war of succession commenced.
On 26th August 1346 the army of [her brother] King Edward III of England defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son [her nephew] Edward "Black Prince", Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick, William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield, Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Bernard Brocas, Thomas Felton, James Audley, Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh, Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh, Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham, John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth, Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton, William Scrope, Stephen Scrope, William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle, Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle, Nicholas Longford, Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh, Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings, Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford, Thomas West, John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby, John Wingfield, Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy, Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux, John Devereux, Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos, Richard Pembridge and John Sully.
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France was wounded. William de Coucy and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy and were killed.
Charles II Count Alençon was killed. Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders was killed. Louis of Male III Count Nevers II Count Flanders succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia was killed. Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg succeeded IV King Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg. Blanche Valois Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg by marriage Holy Roman Empress Luxemburg.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine was killed. John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt was killed.
On 22nd February 1347 John Graham Earl Menteith was condemned to be executed as a traitor. The sentence was carried out on the 28th February 1347 when John Graham Earl Menteith was hanged, drawn and quartered by direct orders of [her brother] King Edward I to whom he had previously sworn fealty.
On 1st July 1347 Reginald II Duke Guelders and Marie of Brabant Duchess of Guelders were married. She the daughter of John Brabant III Duke Brabant and Marie Évreux Duchess of Brabant. He the son of Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet.
In 1351 Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster was created 1st Duke Lancaster by [her brother] King Edward III of England. Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster by marriage Duchess Lancaster.
[her nephew] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence was created 1st Earl of Ulster.
John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster was created 1st Earl Richmond.
Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford was created 1st Earl Stafford.
On 22nd April 1355 Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet died. She was buried at Deventer Abbey.
Froissart Book 1: 1307-1340. 2. This English king, of whom I was just speaking, who suffered that great loss in Scotland, had two half-brothers. One was called the [her uncle] Earl Marshal and was of a wild and unruly nature; the other was named Sir Edmund and was Earl of Kent, a very worthy, gentle, and courteous man, much loved by good people. This king had, by his wife, daughter of the noble King Philip, two sons and two daughters. Of these sons, the elder was named Edward and became King of England by the agreement of all the barons during his father's lifetime, as you will hear later in this book. The second son was named John of Eltham and died young. The elder of the two daughters was named Isabella and was married to the young King David of Scotland, son of King Robert the Bruce. She was given to him in marriage while still very young, by agreement between the kingdoms of England and Scotland, as part of a peace treaty. The other daughter [Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet] was married to the Duke of Gelderland. These two (Edward and Isabella) had two sons and two daughters: Reynold and Edward; and the daughters, one became Countess of Blois through her husband Sir John of Blois, and the other became Duchess of Jülich.
2. Chilz rois englès, dont je parloie maintenant, qui reçut ce grant damage en Escoce, avoit deus frères de remariage. Si fu li uns nommés li contes Mareschaus et fu de diverse et de sauvage manière; li autres fu appellés messires Aymes et estoit contes de Kent, moult preudons, douls et debonnaires et moult amés des bonnes gens. Chils rois eut de madame sa femme, fille au biau roy Phelippe, deus filz et deus filles. Des quelz filz li ainsnés eut nom Edouwars, et fu rois d'Engleterre par l'acort de tous les barons très le vivant son père, si com vous orés avant en ce livre. Li secons des filz eut nom Jehans de Eltem et morut jones. Li ainsnée des deus filles eut nom Ysabel et fu mariée au jone roy David d'Escoce, filz au roi Robert de Brus. Et li fu donnée en mariage de jonèce par l'acord de[s] deus royaumes d'Engleterre et d'Escoce et par pais faisant. Li autre fille fu mariée au duch de Guerle. Chilz eurent deus filz et deus filles, Renault et Edowart; et les filles, li une fu contesse de Blois de par monsigneur Jehan de Blois son mari, et li aultre duçoise de Jullers.
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