John Flete facts for kids
John Flete (born around 1398, died 1466) was an English monk and historian. He wrote down the important history of Westminster Abbey and its leaders, called abbots.
Contents
John Flete's Life at Westminster Abbey
John Flete joined the monastery at Westminster Abbey around the year 1420. For several years, he was a regular monk, living and working within the abbey walls.
Important Roles at the Abbey
Around 1435, John Flete took on a special job called the almoner. An almoner was in charge of giving out charity and help to the poor.
Later, from 1456 to 1466, he became the prior of the abbey. The prior was a high-ranking monk, second in command to the abbot. During this time, he worked with two abbots who were later replaced.
A Temporary Suspension
John Flete faced some challenges during his time as prior. In 1444, he was temporarily suspended from his position. This happened after an investigation into the abbey's management.
John Flete's Big History Book
John Flete's most important work was a long book called History of Westminster Abbey. This history was made up of four large volumes.
What the History Covered
His book started from what he believed was the abbey's founding by "King Lucius" in 184 AD. It then covered the abbey's story up to about 1386. John Flete had hoped to continue the history up to 1443, but he could not finish this part.
How He Wrote the History
To write his history, John Flete copied information from many old documents. These included old books, official papers, and letters from the Pope.
His special contribution was adding a short biography for each abbot of the monastery. These biographies usually included when the abbot was chosen, their main achievements, when they died, and where they were buried.
Why His Work is Important
Historians today see John Flete's work as very valuable. It shows how history writing in the late Middle Ages started to focus more on local places and the lives of important people, rather than just national events.
