Annales of England – John Stow
The following are extracts
from a book published in 1605, the year of John Stow’s death. The book is introduced as “A BRIEFE
DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND CORNWALL”, set out in chronological
order and running to 1437 pages, abruptly ending in July 1605.
The book has recently been
accessioned to the Library of The Essex Society for Archaeology and History in
the Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex.
Page 1115
“1565
Tempest at Chelmsford
The 16 of July, about nine of
the clocke at night began a tempest of lightning and thunder, with showers of
haile, which continued till three of the clock the next morning so terrible
that at Chelmsford in Essex 500 acres of corne were destroyed, the glass
windows on the east side of the tower, and the west & south sides of the
church were beaten downe, with also the tiles of their houses, beside diverse
barnes, chimneies, and the battlements of the church which were
overthrown. The like harme was done in
many other places, as at Leedes, Cranelnooke, Dover & c.”
Page 1135
“1572
Sir William Peter deceased.
The thirteenth of January
deceased William Peter knight, who for his judgement and pregnant wit, had bene
Secretary and of privy counsell to foure kings and queenes of this realme, and
seven times lord ambassador abroad in foraine lands: he augmented Exeter
colledge in Oxford with lands to the paine of an hundred pound by yeare: and
also builded ten almes houses in the parish of Ingerstone for twenty poore
people, ten within the house, and ten without the house, having every one two
pence the day, a winter gowne, and two loade of wood, and among them feeding
for six kine winter and sommer, and a chaplaine to say them service daily.”
No comments:
Post a Comment