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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St Mary's Church, Boyton is in Boyton, Wiltshire [Map], Churches in Wiltshire.
After 1262. St Mary's Church, Boyton [Map]. Monument to Alexander Giffard. Believed to represent Alexander Giffard; possibly his father Hugh Giffard. Early Medieval Period effigy. Alexander fought on the Seventh Crusade and may possibly have died at the Battle of Mansoura in 1250. The effigy notable for the Otter at his feet, biting his sword, and for the
Giffard Arms on the shield with a label five points indicating the son, possibly grandson, of the current owner of the arms. The Otter may actually be a badly carved lion! Right Leg over Left.
Hugh Giffard: Around 1195 he was born to Walter Giffard at Warminster, Wiltshire [Map]. Before 18th March 1217 Hugh Giffard and Sibyl Cormeilles were married. Around 1246 Hugh Giffard died at Warminster, Wiltshire [Map].





Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1854 V1 Pages 233-238. Beneath the Easternmost of the Arches dividing the Chapel from the Nave [Map] is an altar tomb, the one side being composed of slightly pointed Arches, the other of a series of triangles; upon the tomb reposes the effigy of a Knight clad in chain armour, the legs crossed, and the feet resting upon an animal, which, may be eithera wild cat or a lion.—Upon his left arm is the triangular shield of the 13th century; his right arm extending across his breast grasps the long straight sword, which doubtless in its reality had cloven many an infidel's crest. The figure is of a man in full vigour, of ordinary size, and good proportion. His shield carries the arms of Giffard, gules, three-lions. passant or; in chief, a label of five points azure; upon each point, two Fleur-de-lis of the second. This beyond all doubt is the effigy of Alexander Giffard, the Crusader mentioned in Matthew Paris, as we shall hereafter show.
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1854 V1 Pages 233-238. Boyton Church [Map], in the Vale of Wylye.