Gregory's Chronicle facts for kids

Gregory's Chronicle, also known as the Chronicle of London, is an old English book from the 1400s. It's called "Gregory's Chronicle" because people thought William Gregory wrote it. He was a successful London businessman.

William Gregory started as a skinner, someone who worked with furs. He became an important leader in London. He was an Alderman, then a Sheriff from 1436 to 1437. Later, he became the Mayor from 1450 to 1451.

However, historians don't think William Gregory wrote the whole book. The chronicle covers events from 1189 to 1470. William Gregory died in 1467, so he couldn't have written the last few years. The real author is still a mystery!

Who Was William Gregory?

William Gregory, the person this chronicle is named after, was born in Mildenhall, Suffolk. He was married three times and had two daughters.

In London, he learned the trade of a skinner. He sold fancy furs to the royal family, including King Henry VI. He lived in the parish of St Mary Aldermary. For 26 years, starting in 1435, he was an alderman for Cordwainer ward. During this time, he also served as Sheriff and Mayor. When he died, he left gifts to the Skinner's Company in his will.

What's Inside the Chronicle?

The Chronicle is a collection of papers put together in a book. It has 223 pages. It's like a personal notebook because it also contains other random things. You might find poems or health tips mixed in!

But most of the book is about London's history. It tells stories from when King Richard I became king all the way to when King Edward IV was removed from power.

London's History in Detail

The Chronicle mostly focuses on events in London. It gives lots of details about big political moments. For example, it describes Jack Cade's rebellion in 1450. It even talks about the "harvest of heads" on London Bridge Gate. Some historians think the author saw this revolt happen because of how much detail they included.

The writer also mentions the "trayturly" (treacherous) murder of James I of Scotland in 1437. This is discussed alongside London business news. Sometimes, the author even shows a bit of humor, especially when talking about politics.

The writer occasionally makes fun of King Henry VI. But generally, the author doesn't seem to care much about the king. This is different from other writers of the time.

Later Events and Different Versions

As the chronicle continues into the next decade, it looks at bigger events. For example, it talks about King Edward IV changing the value of money in 1464.

For smaller, local events, there are some differences. This means different copies of the chronicle might have slightly different details. For example, the lists of city officials might not be exactly the same.

Who Really Wrote It?

Gregory's Chronicle is an example of books written by individuals back then. Historians have debated who truly wrote it for a long time.

Early Ideas About Authorship

In 1876, a historian named James Gairdner first said William Gregory wrote the chronicle. He found a note in the book that mentioned "Gregory Skinner" as the author. Also, an entry for 1452/53 in the chronicle itself mentions Gregory as mayor. This made it seem like Gregory was drawing attention to himself.

However, it was soon clear that William Gregory couldn't have written the whole thing. The chronicle continues until 1470, but Gregory died in 1467. So, at least the last three years must have been written by someone else.

Modern Debates and Theories

Some historians think Gregory wrote the part covering the 1440s. The rest might have been written by an unknown author in the 1470s. Even though many medieval chronicles exist, this one has caused the most debate about its author.

This is partly because the whole book seems to be written in the same neat hand. But the last three years have a different writing style. A historian named Kriehn even suggested that William Gregory never wrote any of it! However, another historian, C.S.L. Kingsford, disagreed. Most people now accept that Gregory wrote at least the first part. Kingsford thought another author took over around 1454.

More recently, some people have suggested the true author was Henry Lovelich, a poet. William Gregory would have known him. Another idea is that the author was a churchman. This is because the later parts of the book use a lot of Latin aphorisms (wise sayings).

No matter who wrote it, historians agree on one thing. The author must have had strong connections to London. They also must have been very proud of their city. Even today, it's hard to say for sure who wrote every part of Gregory's Chronicle.