Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Tewkesbury Abbey is in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire [Map], Abbeys in England.
Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Miscellaneous Photos.
Annals of Tewkesbury Abbey 1066-1263
Available on Amazon in paperback and Ebook.
The Annals of Tewskesbury is a remarkable source for Medieval History, particularly for the reign of King Henry 3rd, on a local, regional, national and international scale, describing affairs of the monastery, the Baron's Wars, Crusades, eclipses, births, marriages and deaths, and much more. This book provides an English translation inline with the Latin text.
On 7th December 1295 Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford [aged 52] died at Monmouth Castle [Map]. He buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. His son Gilbert [aged 4] succeeded 8th Earl Gloucester, 7th Earl Hertford, 8th Lord Clare, 4th Lord Glamorgan.
After 1326. Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. The remnants of the monument to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer [aged 40].
On 28th February 1336 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer [aged 71] died at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. He was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. His son Alan [aged 18] succeeded 2nd Baron Zouche Mortimer. Eleanor Damory Baroness Zouche Mortimer [aged 17] by marriage Baroness Zouche Mortimer.
On 31st May 1359 Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer [aged 35] died. Monument in Tewkesbury Abbey [Map].
On 11th November 1375 Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh [aged 40] died at Llanblethian. He was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. His son Thomas [aged 2] succeeded 2nd Baron Despencer.
After 11th November 1375. Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Chantry of Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh [deceased]. Beautifully carved tomb in the Early English Perpendicular Style with a statue of him kneeling above the tomb facing the alter.
On 17th August 1390 Guy de Bryan [aged 71] died. Monument at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Alabaster with, unusually, a portrait rather than a generic face. Early Plate Bascinet Period. He was buried at St James' Church, Slapton.
On 8th May 1411 William Beauchamp 1st Baron Abergavenny [aged 68] died at Meaux [Map]. He was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. His son Richard [aged 15] succeeded 2nd Baron Abergavenny.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Dugdale's Warwickshire. Touching the said Lady Isabel [deceased] his Countesse I find, that she did not long survive him; for her Testament1 bears dare the date the first of December following, and the probat thereof 4. Febr. the same year. Of which Testament, forasmuch as it is very mememorable, I shall here deliver the substance; viz,. that her body should be interred in the Abby of Teskesbury [Map], and her great Templys2 with the baleys3 sold to the utmost, and delivered to the Monks of that house, so that they grutcht not with her burial there, and what else she had appointed to be done about the same. As also that her statue should be made all nakyd with her hair cast backwards according to the design and modell that one Thomas Porchalion had for that purpose and Mary Madg. laying her hands a-crosse, with S. John the Evang. on the right side and on the left side S. Anthony; and at her feet a Scocheon empaling her Arms with those of the Earle her late Husband, supported by two Gryphons, but on the sides thereof the statues of poor men and women in their poor array, with their beads in their hands. She also willed, that of her great Sharp a Challice should be made & offered to our Lady in the Lady-Chapell there at Tewkesbury and gave to our Lady of Caversham a Crown of Gold made of her Chain (weighing 25.l.) and other broken Gold in her Cabinet; and two Tablets, the one of S. Catherine, the other of S. George, the precious stones of which Tablets to be set in the said Crown. Her Tablet with the Image of our Lady, having a Glasse for it, she appointed to be offered unto our Lady of Walsingham with wide slieves, and a Tabernacle of silver like in the timbre to that over on; Lady of Caversham; and that her great Image of Wax, then at London, should be offered to our Lady of Worcester. To the Abby of Tewkesbury she gave her wedding Gown, and all her Cloaths of Gold, and Cloaths of Silk without Furs, saving one of Russet Velvet which she bequeathed to S. Winifride [Map]; further directing that all her precious Stones and Pearls should be sold, as also her silver Vessel and goods to perform her Will, whereof Sr. Will Mountfort, John Nansan, and John Norreii were consticuted Executors.
Note 1. Lussnam Q 27.
Note 2. Jewels hanging on womens foreheads by bodkins thrust into their hair.
Note 3. Pale, or Peach coloured Rubies.
After 14th April 1471 John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon [aged 36] was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map].
On 4th May 1471 King Edward IV of England [aged 29] was victorious at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. His brother Richard [aged 18], Richard Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Powick [aged 36], John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 46], George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny [aged 31], John Savage [aged 49], John Savage [aged 27], Thomas St Leger [aged 31], John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 45], Thomas Burgh 1st Baron Burgh of Gainsborough [aged 40] fought. William Brandon [aged 46], George Browne [aged 31], Ralph Hastings, Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby [aged 38], James Tyrrell [aged 16], Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 38] were knighted. William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 40] commanded.
Margaret of Anjou [aged 41] was captured. Her son Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales [aged 17] was killed. He was the last of the Lancastrian line excluding the illegitmate Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester [aged 11] whose line continues to the present.
John Courtenay 7th or 15th Earl Devon [aged 36] was killed and attainted. Earl Devon forfeit. Some sources refer to these titles as being abeyant?
John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 71] was killed. Baron Wenlock extinct.
John Delves [aged 49], John Beaufort [aged 30], William Vaux of Harrowden [aged 35] and Robert Whittingham [aged 42] were killed.
Edmund Beaufort [aged 32], Humphrey Tuchet [aged 37] and Hugh Courtenay [aged 44] were captured.
Henry Roos fought and escaped to Tewkesbury Abbey [Map] where he sought sanctuary. He was subsequently pardoned.
William Carey [aged 34] was killed.
A Chronicle of Tewkesbury Abbey. Also, in the same year, on the third day before the Nones of May (4th May 1471), namely on the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, Edward, son of King Henry VI and Prince, came to Tewkesbury with a great army. On the following day, he entered the large field called Gaston, where King Edward IV arrived with his army and killed the said Prince Edward in the aforementioned field. There too were John Somerset, brother of the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Devonshire, and Lord Wenlock, who were all killed along with many others. The army of the said King Edward IV, in a frenzy, entered the monastery [Map] and town of Tewkesbury, plundered many, and stole goods from the monastery. Some violently entered the church and killed and slaughtered the wretched soldiers of the said Prince, both in the cemetery and even inside the church. Because of this act, the church was desecrated, and so no Mass nor any other divine office was celebrated there for nearly a month. The church and cemetery were reconciled by a suffragan of the Bishop of Worcester on the third day before the Kalends of June (i.e. May 30), about five days before Pentecost, at the expense of the monastery. Those who were beheaded at the High Cross of the town of Tewkesbury included: The Duke of Somerset, The Lord and Prior of St. John's in London, Sir Thomas Tresham, John Delves, son of John Delves the elder (who had been killed in the field), James Audley, brother of Lord Audley, After King Edward had won the victory in the field called Gaston, and entered the monastery and town, he remained there for four days, during which many wrongs were committed.
Item eodem anno iij non. may sequente, uidelicet in festo inuencionis sancte crucis, uenit Tewkesburie Edwardus Henrici sexti regis filius et princeps cum grande exercitu, et in crastino intrauit grandem campum ubi uocatur Gastum, Vbi Rex Edwardus iiij cum suo exercitu aduenienspredictumprincipem Edwardumoccidit in campo predicto, vbi eciara Johannes Somerset frater ducis de Somerset, Comes de devonshire et dominus de Wenloke cum multis aliis interfecti fuerunt. Exercitus vbi predicti regis Edwardi iiij furiosi in monasterium et in villam de Tewks. intrantes spoliauerunt quamplurimos et abstulerunt bona monasterii, et quidam ecclesiam intrantes violente manu et miseros de exercitu predicti principis necarunt et occiderunt quam in cimiterio quam eciam in ecclesia, ex quo facto polluta est ecclesia : sic stante quia nee misse nee aliud diuinum officium ibi fire [fere?] per vnum mensem agerentur. Et reconciliata est ecclesia item cum cimiterio per dompnum suffragane episcopi Wigornia iij Kalleds Jun. vij fere v. ante pentecost ex sumptu monasterii. Isti vero capite truncati sunt ad altam crucem ville Tewks. Postquam vero victoriam optinuit predictus rex Edwardus in campo illo uocatur Gastum, et monasterium ac uillam cum suis intrant, mansit iiij dies fer.1 : vbi multa dampna perpetrata sunt. Vbi eciam capti sunt dux de Somerset, dominus et prior sancti Johannis apud London., Thomas Trissam, miles, Johannes delues filius lobannis delvis senioris, qui in campo occisus fuit, James Audeley frater domini de Audeley,
Note 1. Perhaps for 'ferias'.
After 4th May 1471 Edward of Westminster Prince of Wales [deceased] was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Brass floor marker of the grave of Edward of Westinster Prince Wales 1453-1471.
On 6th October 1476 Richard York was born to George York 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 26] and Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence [aged 25] at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 5.41%. He died aged less than one years old.
On 22nd December 1476 Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence [aged 25] died from childbirth at Warwick Castle [Map]. The cause of death uncertain but likely a consequence of the birth of her fourth child Richard in early October. She was buried in Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. The Founders Book of Tewkesbury Abbey Folio 39v records her death. George York 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 27] believed she had been murdered by Ankarette Hawkeston aka Twynyho. See Trial and Execution of Ankarette Twynyho.
On 27th April 1534 Abbot John Wakeman was appointed Abbot of Tewkesury Abbey.
After 1549. Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Cadaver Cenotaph to Abbot John Wakeman. The Cadaver unusual for the detail of worms and mice.
Abbot John Wakeman: On 27th April 1534 he was appointed Abbot of Tewkesury Abbey. In 1549 he died.
After 1887. Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. Monument to Dinah Maria Murlock. Sculpted by Henry Hugh Armstead [aged 58].
On 16th June 1912 Hemming Robeson died. Monument in Tewkesbury Abbey [Map], sculpted by Percy Bryant Baker [aged 30], was dedicated.
Hemming Robeson: In 1892 he was appointed Archdeacon Bristol which post he held until 1904.