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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In 1621 George Joyliffe was born.
In 1637 George Joyliffe (age 16) matriculated from Wadham College, Oxford University.
In 1643 George Joyliffe (age 22) was awarded Master of Arts: Oxford University from Pembroke College, Oxford University.
John Evelyn's Diary. 25th February 1649. Came to visit me Dr. Joyliffe (age 28), discoverer of the lymphatic vessels, and an excellent anatomist.
John Evelyn's Diary. 10th January 1657. Came Dr. Joyliffe (age 36), that famous physician and anatomist, first detector of the lymphatic veins; also the old Marquis of Argyle (age 49), and another Scotch Earl.
John Evelyn's Diary. 19th October 1657. I went to see divers gardens about London: returning, I saw at Dr. Joyliffe's (age 36) two Virginian rattlesnakes alive, exceeding a yard in length, small heads, slender tails, but in the middle nearly the size of my leg; when vexed, swiftly vibrating and shaking their tails, as loud as a child's rattle; this, by the collision of certain gristly skins curiously jointed, yet loose, and transparent as parchment, by which they give warning; a providential caution for other creatures to avoid them. The Doctor tried their biting on rats and mice, which they immediately killed: but their vigor must needs be much exhausted here, in another climate, and kept only in a barrel of bran.
In 1658 George Joyliffe (age 37) died.