Three Fifteenth-Century Chronicles, with Notes by John Stowe

What it is

This book, edited by James Gairdner and published in 1880 for the Camden Society, brings together three chronicles written in the fifteenth century, along with historical memoranda by the antiquary John Stowe and his notes made during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Why it matters

The chronicles themselves were written close to the events of Henry VI's turbulent reign, making them valuable eyewitness or near-contemporary sources for his rule, including the political conflicts of his time. Stowe's later notes show how Tudor-era writers continued to study and record this earlier history.

Look closer

• Why might three different chronicles about the same period disagree with each other?
• What does it tell us that a later writer like Stowe added his own notes to these chronicles?
• How might a chronicler's own loyalties affect what they chose to write down?