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: Hussey
In or before 1443 [his father] John Hussey [aged 25] and [his mother] Elizabeth Nesfield were married.
Around 1443 [his father] John Hussey [aged 26] died.
In 1443 William Hussey was born to [his father] John Hussey [aged 26] and [his mother] Elizabeth Nesfield.
In 1465 [his son] John Hussey 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford was born to William Hussey [aged 22] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 12] at Sleaford, Lincolnshire. He married (1) 1492 Margaret Blount and had issue (2) 1509 Anne Grey Baroness Hussey Sleaford, daughter of George Grey 2nd Earl Kent and Katherine Herbert Countess Kent, and had issue.
Around 1467 [his son] Robert Hussey was born to William Hussey [aged 24] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 14]. He married (1) Jane Stydolf and had issue (2) Anne Saye and had issue.
On 16th June 1471 William Hussey [aged 28] was appointed Attorney General.
In or before 1472 [his son] William Hussey was born to William Hussey [aged 28] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 18]. He married before August 1503 Anne Salvaine and had issue.
Around 1474 William Hussey [aged 31] and Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 21] were married.
On 18th February 1478 George York 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 28] was drowned in a butt of wine (Malmsey) wine in the Bowyer Tower in the Tower of London [Map]. "in a butt of Malmsey wine" may refer to 1. a butt full of Malmsey wine or 2. a butt that once contained Malmsey wine that was subsequently re-used for another purpose such as washing or bathing.
William Hussey [aged 35] conducted the impeachment of the Duke of Clarence for treason.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester [aged 25] succeeded 2nd Earl Richmond.
The only other person known to have been executed, or ritually killed, by drowning in a butt of wine is Muirchertach mac Muiredaig High King of Ireland (as reported by the Annals of Ulster) in his case at Newgrange Passage Tomb [Map].
Around May 1478 William Hussey [aged 35] was appointed Serjeant at Law.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 7th May 1481 William Hussey [aged 38] was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
In 1484 [his daughter] Mary Hussey Baroness Willoughby of Eresby was born to William Hussey [aged 41] and [his wife] Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 31]. She married before 5th June 1516 William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby, son of Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby and Margaret Jenney Baroness Willoughby of Eresby.
Around 1492 [his son] John Hussey 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford [aged 27] and [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Blount [aged 17] were married at Keynsham, Gloucestershire [Map].
On 8th September 1495 William Hussey [aged 52] died.
In 1504 [his former wife] Elizabeth Berkeley [aged 51] died.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Hussey Countess Kent was born to William Hussey and Elizabeth Berkeley. She married before 19th November 1516 Richard Grey 3rd Earl Kent, son of George Grey 2nd Earl Kent and Anne Woodville Viscountess Bourchier.