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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Scilly Isles is in Cornwall.
In 1597 William Godolphin (age 30) was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Scilly Isles.
In 1608 William Godolphin (age 41) was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.
Before 1636 William Godolphin was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.
Around April 1646 King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 15) travelled to Scilly Isles [Map].
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th October 1661. At my coming home I am sorry to find my wife displeased with her maid Doll, whose fault is that she cannot keep her peace, but will always be talking in an angry manner, though it be without any reason and to no purpose, which I am sorry for and do see the inconvenience that do attend the increase of a man's fortune by being forced to keep more servants, which brings trouble. Sir Henry Vane (age 48), Lambert (age 42), and others, are lately sent suddenly away from the Tower, prisoners to Scilly [Map]; but I do not think there is any plot as is said, but only a pretence; as there was once pretended often against the Cavaliers.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th May 1662. Walked to Westminster; where I understand the news that Mr. Montagu (age 27) is this last night come to the King (age 31) with news, that he left the Queen (age 23) and fleet in the Bay of Biscay, coming this wayward; and that he believes she is now at the Isle of Scilly [Map].
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 15th February 1665. Up and to my office, where busy all the morning. At noon with Creed to dinner to Trinity-house, where a very good dinner among the old sokers, where an extraordinary discourse of the manner of the loss of the "Royall Oake" coming home from Bantam, upon the rocks of Scilly [Map], many passages therein very extraordinary, and if I can I will get it in writing.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th April 1667. At noon I to the 'Change [Map], and there hear by Mr. Hublon of the loss of a little East Indiaman, valued at about £20,000, coming home alone, and safe to within ten leagues of Scilly [Map], and there snapt by a French Caper. Our merchants do much pray for peace; and he tells me that letters are come that the Dutch have stopped the fitting of their great ships, and the coming out of a fleete of theirs of 50 sayle, that was ready to come out; but I doubt the truth of it yet.
The 1707 Scilly Naval Disaster was the loss of four warships of a Royal Navy fleet off the Scilly Isles [Map] in severe weather on 22nd October 1707. Around 1,700 sailors lost their lives; one of the worst maritime disasters in British naval history.
On 18th April 1733 Francis Godolphin 2nd Earl Godolphin (age 54) was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.
In 1739 Francis Godolphin 2nd Baron Goldolphin (age 32) was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Scilly Isles.
In 1766 Francis Godolphin 2nd Baron Goldolphin (age 59) was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.
Sidney Godolphin was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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Thomas Godolphin was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.