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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
George Knapton is in Painters.
In 1698 George Knapton was born in Christchurch.
Around 1735 George Knapton (age 37). Portrait of William Capell 3rd Earl Essex (age 37).
Before 1739 George Knapton (age 40). Portrait of Elizabeth Anne Howard (age 37).
Elizabeth Anne Howard: In 1701 she was born to Charles Howard 3rd Earl Carlisle and Anne Capell Countess Carlisle. In 1739 Elizabeth Anne Howard died.
Around 1740 George Knapton (age 42). Portrait of John Montagu 2nd Duke Montagu (age 50).
Around 1740 George Knapton (age 42). Portrait of Dorothy Boyle Countess Euston (age 15).
Dorothy Boyle Countess Euston: On 14th May 1724 she was born to Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington. On 10th October 1741 George Fitzroy Earl Euston and she were married. She died seven months later. He was accused of treating her with the "utmost brutality". She the daughter of Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington. He the son of Charles Fitzroy 2nd Duke Grafton and Henrietta Somerset Duchess Grafton. They were fifth cousins. He a great grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. On 2nd May 1742 Dorothy Boyle Countess Euston died.
Around 1740 George Knapton (age 42). Portrait of William Wentworth 2nd Earl Strafford.
Around 1741 Francis Cotes (age 14) was apprenticed to George Knapton (age 43) before establishing is own business in Cork Street.
Around 1745 George Knapton (age 47). Portrait of Philip Stanhope 4th Earl Chesterfield (age 50).
Around 1748 George Knapton (age 50). Portrait of Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington (age 16).
Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington: On 27th October 1731 she was born to Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington. Before 1748 William Cavendish 4th Duke Devonshire and she were married. She the daughter of Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington and Dorothy Savile Countess Burlington. He the son of William Cavendish 3rd Duke Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins Duchess Devonshire. They were fourth cousin once removed. On 4th December 1753 Richard Boyle 3rd Earl Burlington died. Earl Burlington, Viscount Boyle of Kinalmeaky extinct. His daughter Charlotte succeeded 6th Baroness Clifford. On 8th December 1754 Charlotte Elizabeth Boyle Marchioness Hartington died. Her son William succeeded 7th Baron Clifford.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Around 1752 George Knapton (age 54). Portrait of Robert Darcy 4th Earl Holderness (age 33).
Robert Darcy 4th Earl Holderness: On 17th May 1718 he was born to Robert Darcy 3rd Earl Holderness and Frederica Schomberg Countess Holderness and Fitzwalter. He a great x 3 grandson of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland. On 20th January 1721 Robert Darcy 3rd Earl Holderness died. His son Robert succeeded 4th Earl Holderness, 11th Baron Darcy of Knayth, 8th Baron Conyers, 5th Baron Darcy of Meinhill. On 16th May 1778 Robert Darcy 4th Earl Holderness died. Earl Holderness, Baron Darcy of Meinhill extinct. His daughter Amelia succeeded 12th Baroness Darcy of Knayth, 9th Baroness Conyers.
Before 25th October 1760 George Knapton (age 62). Portrait.of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (age 76) wearing his Garter Robes.
In December 1778 George Knapton (age 80) died in Kensington.