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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Around 1524 Henry Pendleton was born. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford University graduating B.A. on 16th November 1542 and Doctor of Divinity on 18th July 1544.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 10th June 1554. The x day of Juin dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] master (doctor Pendleton (age 30)); and be-twyn x and a xj of the cloke ther was a gunne shott over the prycher, and yt the wall, and yt was a pellett of tyne.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 11th November 1554. The xj day of November dyd pryche master Pendylltun (age 30) at Powlles crosse [Map] and mad a good sermon.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30th October 1556. The xxx day, a' for-none, was bered at sant Thomas of Acurs, by ys father, master Loke the sune of ser Wylliam Loke, the wyche he ded at ys plasse in Walbroke, and bered at sant Thomas of Acurs; and alle the qwyre hangyd with blake, and armes, and iiij grett tapurs, and ij whyt branchys and xij torchys; and master doctur Pendyltun (age 32) dyd pryche.... torchys and iiij grett tapurs and [there were at his] ... bereng the felowshype of the Drapers, master Cha[ster herald and] odur, and greet mon mad for hym at ys berehying.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 19th April 1557. The xix day of Aprell dyd pryche at sant Mare spyttell docthur Pendyltun (age 33), and mad a goodly sermon; ther was my lord mare (age 57) and xxiij althermen besyd my lord mayre, and iij juges, and alle the masters of the hospetall with grenstayffes in ther handes, and alle the chylderyn of the hospetall in bluw garmenttes boyth men chylderyn and women chylderyn, that be kept with serten landes and the cherete of the nobull cette of London, and aboyff xx M. pepull of old and yonge, to her the sermon of old custom, and my lade mares and the (unfinished).
In September 1557 Henry Pendleton (age 33) died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 21st September 1557. The xxj day of September was bered doctur Pendyltun (deceased), in sant Stheyn in Walbroke, wher he was parsun, and browth with all Powlles qwyre to berehyng ther.