I suspect that a series of observed sequences are a Markov chain...
$$X=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c c c c} A& C& D&D & B & A &C\\ B& A& A&C & A&D &A\\ \vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots&\vdots\\ B& C& A&D & A & B & E\\ \end{array}\right)$$
However how could I check that they indeed respect the memoryless property of $$P(X_i=x_i|X_j=x_j)?$$
Or at the very least prove that they are Markov in nature? Note these are empirically observed sequences. Any thoughts?
EDIT
Just to add, the aim is to compare a predicted set of sequence from the observed ones. So we'd appreciate comments on as to how best to compare these.
First Order Transition matrix $$M_{ij}=\displaystyle \frac{x_ij}{\sum^mx_{ik}}$$ where m=A..E states
$$ M=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c c c c} 0.1834& 0.3077 & 0.0769& 0.1479 & 0.2840\\ 0.4697& 0.1136 & 0.0076 & 0.2500 & 0.1591\\ 0.1827& 0.2404& 0.2212 & 0.1923 & 0.1635\\ 0.2378 & 0.1818& 0.0629& 0.3357 & 0.1818\\ 0.2458 & 0.1788& 0.1173 & 0.1788 & 0.2793\end{array}\right)$$
Eigenvalues of M $$E =\left(\begin{array}{c c c c c c c} 1.0000 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & -0.2283 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0.1344 & 0 & 0\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0.1136 - 0.0430i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0.1136 + 0.0430i\\ \end{array}\right)$$
Eigenvectors of M $$V =\left(\begin{array}{c c c c c c c} 0.4472& -0.5852 & -0.4219 & -0.2343 - 0.0421i & -0.2343 + 0.0421i\\ 0.4472 & 0.7838 & -0.4211 & -0.4479 - 0.2723i & -0.4479 + 0.2723i\\ 0.4472 & -0.2006 & 0.3725 & 0.6323 & 0.6323 \\ 0.4472 & -0.0010 & 0.7089 & 0.2123 - 0.0908i & 0.2123 + 0.0908i\\ 0.4472 & 0.0540 & 0.0589 & 0.2546 + 0.3881i & 0.2546 - 0.3881i\\ \end{array}\right)$$