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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Paternal Family Tree: Paston
Between April 1440 and November 1440 [his father] John Paston [aged 18] and [his mother] Margaret Mautby were married.
In 1444 John Paston was born to [his father] John Paston [aged 22] and [his mother] Margaret Mautby at Geldeston, Norfolk [Map].
On 5th November 1459 John Fastolf [aged 79] died at Caister, Norfolk [Map]. He was buried at St Benet's Abbey, Norfolk [Map]. William Yelverton [aged 59] was executor. Fastolf's will was disputed by Yelverton and the other executors once it was discovered that [his father] John Paston [aged 38] was to inherit the estates. The dispute between Yelverton and Paston was taken up by the Lord Chancellor's office and went on for many years.
In 1462 John Paston [aged 18] served under John Mowbray 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 17].
On 22nd May 1466 [his father] John Paston [aged 44] died.
On 3rd July 1468 Charles "Bold" Valois Duke Burgundy [aged 34] and Margaret of York Duchess of Burgundy [aged 22] were married at Bruges [Map]. She the daughter of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York [aged 53]. He the son of Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy and Isabella Aviz Duchess Burgundy [aged 71]. They were half second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
John Paston [aged 24] and John Scott [aged 45] travelled with Margaret. The marriage re-enforced King Edward IV's connection with the Low Countries.
On 14th April 1471 Edward IV [aged 28] commanded at the Battle of Barnet supported by his brothers George [aged 21] and Richard [aged 18], John Babington [aged 48], Wiliam Hastings [aged 40] (commanded), Ralph Hastings, William Norreys [aged 30], William Parr [aged 37], John Savage [aged 49], William Bourchier Viscount Bourchier [aged 41], Thomas St Leger [aged 31], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 45], Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 40], John Scott [aged 48] and Thomas Strickland.
The Yorkists William Blount [aged 29], Humphrey Bourchier [aged 36], Henry Stafford [aged 46] and Thomas Parr were killed.
Humphrey Bourchier 1st Baron Cromwell [aged 40], was killed. Baron Cromwell extinct.
The Lancastrians...
Warwick the Kingmaker [aged 42] was killed. Earl Salisbury, Baron Montagu, Baron Montagu and Baron Monthermer forfeit on the assumption he was attainted either before or after his death; the date of his attainder is unknown. If not attainted the titles may have been abeyant between his two daughters Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence [aged 19] and Anne Neville Queen Consort England [aged 14].
John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 40] was killed. Marquess Montagu, Baron Montagu forfeit; unclear as to when he was attainted. He was buried at Bisham Abbey [Map].
William Tyrrell was killed.
William Fiennes 2nd Baron Saye and Sele [aged 43] was killed. His son Henry [aged 25] succeeded 3rd Baron Saye and Sele. Anne Harcourt Baroness Saye and Sele by marriage Baroness Saye and Sele.
Henry Holland 3rd Duke Exeter [aged 40] commanded the left flank, was badly wounded and left for dead, Henry Stafford and John Paston [aged 27] were wounded, John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 28] commanded, and John Paston [aged 29] and William Beaumont 2nd Viscount Beaumont [aged 33] fought.
Robert Harleston [aged 36] was killed.
Thomas Hen Salusbury [aged 62] was killed.
Thomas Tresham [aged 51] escaped but was subsequently captured and executed on the 6th of May 1471.
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Paston Letters Volume 5 782. 18th April 1471. 774. Sir John Paston [aged 29] to Margaret Paston.
To my Moodre
Moodre, I recomande me to yow, letyng yow wette that, blyssed be God, my brother John [aged 27] is a lyffe and farethe well, and in no perell off dethe. Never the lesse he is hurt with an arow on hys ryght arme, be nethe the elbow; and I have sent hym a serjon, whyche hathe dressid hym, and he tellythe me that he trustythe that he schall be all holl with in ryght schort tyme. It is so that John Mylsent is ded, God have mercy on hys sowle! and Wylliam Mylsent is on lyffe, and hys other servants all be askepyd by all lyklihod. Item, as ffor me, I ame in good case, blyssyd be God; and in no joparte off my lyffe, as me lyst my self; for I am at my lyberte iff nede bee.
Item, my Lorde Archebysshop [aged 39] is in the Towr; neverthelesse I trust to God that he schall do well i noghe; he hathe a saffe garde for hym and me bothe. Neverthelesse we have ben troblyd syns, but nowe I undrestande that he hathe a pardon; and so we hope well.
Ther was kyllyd uppon the ffelde, halffe a myle ffrom Bernett, on Esterne Daye, the Erle of Warwyk [deceased], the Marqweys Montacu [deceased], Sir William Terrell, Sir Lewes Johns, and dyverse other Esquiers off owr contre, Godmerston and Bothe.
And on the Kynge Edwardes partye, the Lord Cromwell [deceased], the Lord Saye [deceased], Sir Omffrey Bowghsher off owr contre, whyche is a sore moonyd man her, and other peple off bothe part yes to the nomøre off mor then a Ml [1,000].
As for other tythynges, is undrestande her that the Qwyen Margrett is verrely londyd and hyr sone in the west contre, and I trow that as to morow, or ellys the next daye, the Kynge Edwarde wyll depart ffrom hense to hyr warde, to dryve her owt ageyn.
Item, I beseche yow that I may be recomendyd to my cosyn Lomner, and to thanke hym for hys goode wyll to me wardes, iff I had hadde nede, as I undrestoode by the berer heroff; and I beseche you on my behalve to advyse hym to be well ware off hys delyng or langage as yit, ffor the worlde, I ensur yow, is ryght qwesye, as ye schall know with in thys monthe; the peple heer feerythe it soor.
God hathe schewyd Hym selffe marvelouslye lyke Hym that made all, and can undoo ageyn whan Hym lyst; and I kan thynke that by all lyklyod schall schewe Hym sylff as mervylous ageyn, and that in schort tyme; and, as I suppose, offter than onys in casis lyke.
Item, it is soo that my brother is on purveyed off monye. I have holpyn hym to my power and above. Wherffor as it pleasythe yow remembre hym, Wherffor kan not purveye ffor my selffe in the same case.
Wretyn at London the thorysdaye in Esterne weke. I hope hastely to see yow.
All thys bylle most be secrett. Be ye not adoghtyd off the worlde, ffor I trust all schall be wen. Iff it thusse contenewe, I ame not all undon, nor noon off us; and iff otherwyse, then, &c. &c.
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Paston Letters Volume 5 897. 14th February 1477. [his future wife] Margery Brews to John Paston [aged 33]1.
Unto my ryght welebelovyd Voluntyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delyvered, &c.
Right reverent and wurschypfull, and my ryght welebeloved Voluntyne [Valentine], I recomande me unto yowe, ffull hertely desyring to here of yowr welefare, whech I beseche Almyghty God long for to preserve un to Hys plesur, and yowr herts desyre. And yf it please yowe to here of my welefar, I am not in good heele of body, nor of herte, nor schall be tyll I her ffrom yowe;
For there wottys no creature what peyn that I endure,
And for to be deede, I dare it not dyscure [discover].
And my lady my moder hath labored the mater to my ffadur full delygently, but sche can no mor gete then ye knowe of, for the whech God knowyth I am full sory. But yf that ye loffe me, as I tryste verely that ye do, ye will not leffe me therefor; for if that ye hade not halfe the lyvelode that ye hafe, for to do the grettest labur that any woman on lyve myght, I wold not forsake yowe.
And yf ye commande me to kepe me true wherever I go,
I wyse I will do all my myght yowe to love and never no mo.
And yf my freends say, that I do amys,
Thei schal not me let so for to do,
Myne hene me bydds ever more to love yowe
Truly over all erthely thing,
And yf thei be never so wroth,
I tryst it schall be better in tyme commyng.
No more to yo we at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite hafe yowe in kepyng. And I besech yowe that this bill be not seyn of none erthely creatur safe only your selffe, &c.
And thys letter was indyte at Topcroft, with full hevy herte, &c.
By your own, Margery Brews.
Note 1. [From Fenn, ii. 210.]
Note. This letter is considered by many to be the first Valentine's message.
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Before 1478 John Paston [aged 33] and Margery Brewes were married.
In 1478 [his son] Christopher Paston was born to John Paston [aged 34] and [his wife] Margery Brewes. He died aged four in 1482.
Around 1479 [his son] William Paston was born to John Paston [aged 35] and [his wife] Margery Brewes. He married Bridget Heydon and had issue.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Before 1482 [his son] Christopher Paston [aged 3] died.
On 16th June 1487 a Lancastrian army defeated a Yorkist army at the Battle of Stoke Field; considered by many to be the last battle of the Wars of the Roses.
The Lancastrian army of Henry Tudor comprised:
John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford [aged 44].
Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 55].
George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 19].
Henry Willoughby [aged 36].
John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 45].
John Mordaunt [aged 31].
Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape [aged 19].
William Norreys [aged 46].
Edward Norreys [aged 23] wounded.
John Paston [aged 43].
George Stanley 9th Baron Strange Knockin 5th Baron Mohun Dunster [aged 27].
Edward Woodville Lord Scales [aged 31].
Thomas Lovell, knighted.
Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney [aged 40].
Edward Belknapp of Blackfriars in London
William Lyttelton [aged 37] who was knighted after the battle.
The Yorksists:
John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 25] was killed. Earl Lincoln extinct.
Thomas Fitzgerald [aged 29] and Martin Schwartz were killed.
Lambert Simnel [aged 10] fought and was captured. He was pardoned by King Henry VII and put to work in the in the royal kitchen as a spit-turner. When he grew older, he became a falconer. Almost no information about his later life is known.
Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell [aged 31] fought and escaped. He was attainted. Viscount Lovell, Baron Deincourt, Baron Grey of Rotherfield, Baron Lovel of Titchmarsh, Baron Holand forfeit.
Edmund Peckham was granted the manors of Alford, Eccles, Alderley, Chester, and Flint.
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In 1495 [his wife] Margery Brewes died.
On 28th August 1504 John Paston [aged 60] died.
Great x 1 Grandfather: Clement Paston 
GrandFather: William Paston
Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Somerton
Father: John Paston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund Barry
GrandMother: Agnes Barry
GrandFather: John Mautby
Mother: Margaret Mautby