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 1383 William Phelip was born to [his father] William Phelip (age 30) and [his mother] Juliana Erpingham (age 23).
Around 1404 [his father] William Phelip (age 51) died at Erpingham, Norfolk.
Before 1407 William Phelip (age 23) and Joan Bardolf (age 16) were married.
On 19th February 1408 Thomas Rokeby's (age 28) force of Yorkshire levies defeated the Percy army during the Battle of Bramham Moor bringing to an end the Percy rebellion.
Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland (age 66) was killed. His body was afterwards hanged, drawn and quartered, his head being sent to London bridge and his quarters to diverse places. Possibly captured hanged, drawn and quartered after the battle. Earl of Northumberland, Baron Percy of Alnwick and Baron Percy of Topcliffe forfeit.
[his father-in-law] Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf (age 38) was killed. Baron Bardolf of Wormegay in Norfolk had been forfeited in 1406 when Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf was declared a traitor. It was restored on the 19th of July 1408 to his two daughters [his sister-in-law] Anne Bardolf Baroness Cobham Sternborough (age 18) and [his wife] Joan Bardolf (age 17) and their husbands William Clifford (age 33) and William Phelip (age 25) respectively.
The Abbot of Hailes Abbey [Map] was executed following the battle since he was wearing armour. Bishop Griffin Yonge (age 38), Bishop of Bangor, was captured, but wearing his vestments, he avoided execution.
Around 1415 [his mother] Juliana Erpingham (age 55) died.
Around 1418 William Phelip (age 35) was appointed 132nd Knight of the Garter by King Henry V of England (age 31).
In 1422 William Phelip (age 39) was appointed Treasurer of the Royal Household.
After 1422 William Phelip (age 39) was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
In 1436 [his son-in-law] John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 26) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Phelip Viscountess Beaumont were married. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 6th June 1441 William Phelip (age 58) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Dennington [Map]. Monument to William Phelip and [his wife] Joan Bardolf (age 50). Early Plate Bascinet and Gorget Period. Feathered Crest. Detail of the Wyvern on which her feet rest. Detail of Eagle, possibly hawk, on which his feet rest. Crespine Headress covering her hair. He wearing a bascinet with IHC NASARE Lettering. Both wearing a Lancastrian Esses Collar. Leg Garter below the left knee.
Joan Bardolf: On 11th November 1390 she was born to Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf and Avice Cromwell Baroness Bardolf. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England. Before 1407 William Phelip and she were married. On 12th March 1447 Joan Bardolf died.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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On 12th March 1447 [his former wife] Joan Bardolf (age 56) died.
[his father] William Phelip and [his mother] Juliana Erpingham were married.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Phelip Viscountess Beaumont was born to William Phelip and Joan Bardolf. She married 1436 her sixth cousin John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont, son of Henry Beaumont 5th Baron Beaumont and Elizabeth Willoughby Baroness Beaumont.
GrandFather: Richard Phelip
Father: William Phelip
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Erpingham
GrandFather: Robert Erpingham
Mother: Juliana Erpingham