Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
13 May is in May.
1483 John Russell appointed Lord Chancellor
1536 Trial of Anne and George Boleyn
1536 Trial of Brereton, Norris, Smeaton, and Weston
1619 Funeral of Anne of Denmark
On 13th May 1176 Matthias Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 57) died. His son Simon succeeded II Duke Lorraine.
On 13th May 1258 Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon was born to Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon (age 36) and Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. He married 1282 Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon and had issue.
On 13th May 1312 Theobald Metz II Duke Lorraine (age 49) died. His son Frederick (age 30) succeeded IV Duke Lorraine. Elizabeth Habsburg Duchess Lorraine by marriage Duchess Lorraine.
On 13th May 1333 Reginald II Duke Guelders was born to Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders (age 38) and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet (age 14). He a grandson of King Edward II of England. He married 1st July 1347 his second cousin Marie of Brabant Duchess of Guelders, daughter of John Brabant III Duke Brabant and Marie Évreux Duchess of Brabant.
On 13th May 1375 Stephen Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria (age 56) died. His son Stephen (age 38) succeeded III Duke Bavaria.
On 13th May 1423 John Lancaster 1st Duke Bedford (age 33) and Anne Valois Duchess of Bedford (age 18) were married at Troyes, France [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Bedford She the daughter of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy. He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were third cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 13th May 1453 Mary Stewart Countess Arran was born to King James II of Scotland (age 22) and Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland (age 19) at Stirling Castle [Map]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married (1) before 26th April 1467 Thomas Boyd 1st Earl Arran and had issue (2) before 12th July 1474 James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton and had issue.
On 13th May 1467 John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st (age 5) was created 1st Earl Lincoln by King Edward IV of England (age 25).
On 13th May 1483 Bishop John Russell was appointed Lord Chancellor. He replaced Archbishop Thomas Rotherham (age 59).
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1534. 13th May 1534. R. O. 661. Instructions for —, Ambassador to France.
He is to thank the French king for his good will towards Henry, as shown by the reports of Lord Rochford (age 31) and Sir William Fitzwilliam (age 44), and to tell him that the King is highly gratified by his answers to them concerning the meeting and otherwise. Henry will omit nothing that may serve for the conservation and continuance of amity.
Will receive benignly any person sent by Francis with further instructions, and will give him such answers as will be agreeable to the French king. Being instructed by Rochford and Fitzwilliam of the circumstances and particulars, he must declare the above in such a way that Francis may see that his answers have been not a little to the King's rejoice and singular consolation. He must also give the King's recommendations to the Queen of Navarre, the Great Master, the Admiral, the Bishop of Paris, Mons. Catylyon, Mons. Pomeray and Mons. Beauvoys, and request them to have the King and his cause always in their good remembrance. He must advertise the King from time to time of their proceedings and other occurrences. Is well contented with his conduct.
Note 7. It seems very doubtful whether any ambassador was actually sent with these instructions.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. And the morrowe after, being Satterdaie, and the thirtenth of Maie, Maister Fittes-Williams (age 46),a Treasorer of the Kinges house, and Mr. Controoler,b deposed and brooke upp the Queenes househoulde at Greenewich [Map], and so discharged all her servantes of their offices clearlye.
Note a. Sir WilliamFitzwilliam, knt. afterwards Earl of Southampton, held the office of Treasurer of the Household from 1626 to 1687.
Note b. Sir Edward Poynings.
Letters and Papers. 13th May 1536. R. O. 865. J. Husee to Lord Lisle (age 72).
Here is no good to be done, neither with the King nor with any of his Council, till matters now had in hand be fully achieved. Mr. Secretary had no leisure to despatch the letter for the Friar's delivery. It is useless suing to Mr. Treasurer till he have more leisure. It is believed this matter will be rid by the end of next week. Here are so many tales I cannot tell what to write. This day, some say, young Weston (age 25) shall scape, and some that none shall die but the Queen (age 35) and her brother (age 33); others, that Wyat (age 15) and Mr. Payge are as like to suffer as the others. The saying now is that those who shall suffer shall die when the Queen and her brother go to execution; but I think they shall all suffer. If any escape, it will be young Weston, for whom importunate suit is made. It is rumoured that Harry Webbe has been taken in the West country, and put in hold for the same cause. By Wednesday [May 17] all will be known. Sir Thomas Cheyne (age 51) is named Lord Warden, some say by Mr. Secretary's preferment. My Lord of Richmond (age 16) is Chamberlain of Chester and N. Wales, and Mr. Harry Knyvet, Constable of Beaumaris. If Mr. Secretary keep promise your Lordship shall have something. Today Mr. Russell was in very sad communication with Mr. Whethill. I fear I have taken a wrong pig by the ear, but I shall know by his preferring of your affairs ere long. Mr. Brian is chief gentleman of the privy chamber, and shall keep the table. There is plain saying that the King will assign the groom of the stole from time to time at his pleasure. I trust you will remember Mr. Secretary with wine and letters, and also Mr. Hennage. The King comes not to Dover at this time. There shall be both burgesses and knights of the shire for Calais. Give credence to Goodall, and keep secret what he tells you. London, 13 May. Hol., p. 1. Add.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Letters and Papers. Titus, B. I. 444. B. M. 871. Cromwell's Remembrances.
"First for answer to be made to my lord Lyzle and letters to be written for the expelling of the Emperor's subjects." For answer to the Emperor's ambassador.
Bills be signed for Pylston, Leson, Starkey, my Lord of Sussex, and Robinson, for Bothombar. Folgeambys warrant to be signed. Letters to be written into Ireland, for a motion to be made in the Parliament for the King's great charges. Bills to be signed for Mr. Cofferer and Sir Thomas Wharton. A remembrance that all Mr. Nores' (age 54) patents may be searched out. To remember the Bishop of Llandaff's deliverance; the jewel; Besse Darell; Henry Knyvette's letters to Mr. Weston, and to young Weston's wife; Henry Knyvette's bills for the offices and the annuity. For the things that shall be done in the Parliament. An Act for the attainder of those that be perjured in Yorkshire. To remember the jury in Devonshire; my lady Guldeforde; Dotton and Done for Delamer; Sir Edward Seymour (age 36); to call for the evidence of the house at Keyew for my lady Seymour (age 27); the master of the horse; John Parker for the lands of Fulham; Dr. Tregonnell; the Charterhouse in London.
The demesnes of the Holte Castle with the weyr Houke and other pasture in Bromfeld is worth, a year, £19 17s. 9d. The horsemill and the town of the Holte, 33s. 4d. The stewardship of Bromfeld and Yale, £20 The receivership there, £13 6s. 8d. The master forestership, £3 The office of serjeant of peace, £4 The office of improver, 60s. 10d. The keepership of Marsheley Park, 60s. 10d.
Tregyan, £700 Dudeley, £700 Jenney, £666 13s. 4d.—£400 John Williams, £300 The prior of Winchester, £400—£200 Dr. Leyton, £100 —£200 Arthur Darcy, £100 Sir Edward Seymour, £300—200 mks. Sir John Gage, £200—£666 13s. Sir William Gascoyne, £4000 Sir William Berkley, £120.
Sir John Russell, £100 Thomas Wyatt, £100 Karew, Souche, and Rogers, £60 The grower, £40 The Abbot of the Vale Ryall, £200 The prior of Gisborowe, £100 Nicholas Statham, £100 Lady Lucy's executors, £20 Thomas Broke, £100 Pylston, £60 Sir Francis Bygod, £50 Delivered to my Lady Mary, £20 The King's attorney, £66 13s. 4d. Pp. 4. Mostly in Cromwell's hand.
Note 1. The names in this paragraph are written by Cromwell in a column with a certain sum opposite each name in another column to the left, which in most cases is the same as the sum written after the name. Where two amounts are given in this abstract the second is the sum in the left-hand column.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Letters and Papers. 13th May 1536. Otho, C. x. 221. B. M. Hearne's Sylloge, 113. Burnet, vi. 167. 864. Earl of Northumberland (age 34) to Cromwell.
I perceive by Raynold Carnaby that there is supposed a pre-contract between the Queen (age 35) and me; "whereupon I was not only heretofore examined upon my oath before the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, but also received the blessed sacrament upon the same before the Duke of Norfolk (age 63) and other the King's highness' council learned in the spiritual law, assuring you, Mr. Secretary, by the said oath and blessed body, which afore I received and hereafter intend to receive, that the same may be to my damnation if ever there were any contract or promise of marriage between her and me." Newington Green, 13 May 28 Henry VIII. Signed. Mutilated. Add.
Memorial of George Constantyne. 13th May 1536. Deane. Know ye any thinge of the examinacyon of her?
George. Her brother and she were examined at the towre. I hearde saye he had escaped had it not byn for a Letter. Almost all the lordes that were in the realme were there. And the duke of Northfolke, uncle to them both, he was, as it was told me, in the Kynges place and Judge. It were pittie he shuld be alyve if he shuld judge them against right.
Deane. A marvelouse case, and a great fall.
George. So it was. Now Syr, because that she was a favorer of Gods worde, at the leest wise so taken, I tell you few men wolde beleve that she was so abhominable. As I be saved afore God I cowld not beleve it, afore I hearde them speake at their deeth. For there were that sayed that moch money wold haue byn layed that daye, & that great oddes, that the Lorde Ratchforde shulde haue byn quytte.
Deane. I never hearde so moch before, as that the Duke of Northfolke was judge.
George. So I hearde saye, And that the water ronne in his eyes. I blame hym not though it greved hym.
On 10th July 1539 Adrian Fortescue (age 63) was executed at Tower Hill [Map] for treason. He doesn't appear to have had a trial. Neither is it clear what his crime was supposed to have been. Probably dis-agreeing with Henry VIII over religion. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem has advocated devotion to Blessed Adrian as a martyr since the 17th century and Pope Leo XIII beatified him on 13th May 1895.
On 13th May 1568 the army of Mary Queen of Scots (age 25) commanded by Archibald Campbell 5th Earl Argyll (age 34) was defeated by the army of the Regent her illegitimate half-brother James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent (age 37).
John Campbell was killed.
William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig and Robert Seton 1st Earl Winton (age 15) fought.
Claud Hamilton 1st Lord Paisley (age 21) and George Seton 7th Lord Seton (age 37) fought for the Queen.
John Graham 6th Earl Menteith fought for the Earl of Moray.
On 13th May 1600 Anne Spring (deceased) was buried at St Peter's Church, Tawstock [Map]. On 21st April 1614 Thomas Hinson (age 49) was buried with his wife Anne Spring.
Here lyeth ye bodies of Thomas Hinson Esquire and Anne his wife: this Thomas was borne at Fordham in Cambridgeshire, and was Master of Artes & sometime fellowe of Caius Colledge in Cambridge and tutor there to the right honourable William Earle of Bathe under whome he bore afterwardes divers offices and was untill his death Surveyor & Receaver Generall of all his lands and revenewes & Likewise in Comission of the peace in the Countie of Devon: and dyed the XVIIIth of Aprill 1614.
Anne was the eldest daughter of Sr Willm Springe Knight and Cosyne German to the Earle of Bathe now livinge she had issue by the said Thomas Hinson five sonnes and nyne daughters whereof are surviving VI viz Willm Thomas Margaret Ellinor Elizabeth and Rebekah the said Anne died in the true faith of Christ the seventh of May Ano Doni 1600 .
Anne Spring: Around 1553 she was born to William Spring and Anne Elizabeth Kitson. Before 7th May 1600 Thomas Hinson and she were married. On 7th May 1600 Anne Spring died.
Thomas Hinson: Around 1551 he was born. Around 1573 Thomas Hinson was tutor to William Bourchier 3rd Earl Bath at Caius College, Cambridge University. On 18th April 1614 he died.
On 13th May 1619 Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland was buried in the north eastern area Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map].
The principal mourner was Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 34).
Anne Carey (age 27) and Mary Woodhouse walked in the procession.
As Keeper of the Wardrobe Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex (age 44) supervised the spending of £20,000 on the funeral.
Richard Young 1st Baronet (age 39) carried the banner roll.
Her grave has the inscription: "ANNE OF DENMARK QUEEN OF KING JAMES 1st 1619". her coffin has the inscription: "Here lies buried the Most Serene Queen Anne, consort of James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, daughter of Frederick II, King of Denmark and Norway and of the Vandals and Goths, sister of Christian IV and mother of many Princes. She died at Hampton Court, in the year of salvation 1618, on the 4th March, aged 43 years, 4 months and 18 days."
Diary of Anne Clifford. 13th May 1619. The 13th I was one of the mourners at the Queen's funeral. I attended the corpse from Somerset House to the Abbey at Westminster. My Lord (age 30) was also one of the Earls that mourned. I went all the way hand in hand. with my Lady Lincoln after the sermon, and, all the ceremonies ended, my Lord, myself, and the Earl of Warwick (age 31) and his Lady (age 29) came home by barges, being come home I went to my Sister Beauchamp to shew her my mourning attire. At the funeral I met with my old Lady Pembroke (age 57) and divers others of my acquaintance with whom I had much talk. My Coz. Clifford was also a mourner and bare the banner after the Lords. When all the company was gone and the Church door shut up the Dean of Westminster, the Prebends, Sir Edward Zouch (age 31), who was Knight Marshall, came up a private way and buried the corpse at the east end of Henry the 7th Chapel about 7 o'clock at night. There was 180 poor women mourners. I went to see Lord Hertford (which was the last time I ever saw him) in Channel Row and spake very earnestly in Wood's behalf, but I could not prevail and his answer was that he would not pay any of his grandchildren's debts after his death.
This night my Lord made a great supper to two or three of the Frenchmen that came over with the embassador. After supper there was a play and then a banquet at which my Lady Penniston (age 24) and a great many of Lords and Ladies there.
The 13th. It is past 13 years and a month since my Father's funeral was kept and solemnized in the Church at Skipton as Queen Ann's Body was this night buried in the Abbey Church at Westminster.
On 13th May 1627 Alexander Oldenburg I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg (age 54) died at Sønderborg. His son Johann (age 20) succeeded I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg. His son Ernest (age 17) succeeded Günther I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg.
On 13th May 1629 Charles James Stewart was born to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 28) and Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 19). He died the same day.
On 13th May 1646 Maria Habsburg Spain Archduchess Austria was born to Ferdinand III Holy Roman Emperor (age 37) and Maria Anna of Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 39). Maria Anna of Spain Holy Roman Empress died in childbirth. Coefficient of inbreeding 15.19%.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1652 Henry Compton was killed in a duel with George Brydges 6th Baron Chandos (age 31) at Putney, Surrey [Map].
On 13th May 1659 Henry Stewart 1st Duke Gloucester (age 18) was created 1st Duke Gloucester, 1st Earl Cambridge by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th May 1664. In the Painted Chamber [Map] I heard a fine conference between some of the two Houses upon the Bill for Conventicles. The Lords would be freed from having their houses searched by any but the Lord Lieutenant of the County; and upon being found guilty, to be tried only by their peers; and thirdly, would have it added, that whereas the Bill says, "That that, among other things, shall be a conventicle wherein any such meeting is found doing any thing contrary to the Liturgy of the Church of England", they would have it added, "or practice". The Commons to the Lords said, that they knew not what might hereafter be found out which might be called the practice of the Church of England; for there are many things may be said to be the practice of the Church, which were never established by any law, either common, statute, or canon; as singing of psalms, binding up prayers at the end of the Bible, and praying extempore before and after sermon: and though these are things indifferent, yet things for aught they at present know may be started, which may be said to be the practice of the Church which would not be fit to allow. For the Lords' priviledges, Mr. Walter told them how tender their predecessors had been of the priviledges of the Lords; but, however, where the peace of the Kingdom stands in competition with them, they apprehend those priviledges must give place. He told them that he thought, if they should owne all to be the priviledges of the Lords which might be demanded, they should be led like the man (who granted leave to his neighbour to pull off his horse's tail, meaning that he could not do it at once) that hair by hair had his horse's tail pulled off indeed: so the Commons, by granting one thing after another, might be so served by the Lords. Mr. Vaughan (age 60), whom I could not to my grief perfectly hear, did say, if that they should be obliged in this manner to, exempt the Lords from every thing, it would in time come to pass that whatever (be [it] never so great) should be voted by the Commons as a thing penall for a commoner, the contrary should be thought a priviledge to the Lords: that also in this business, the work of a conventicle being but the work of an hour, the cause of a search would be over before a Lord Lieutenant, who may be many miles off, can be sent for; and that all this dispute is but about £100; for it is said in the Act, that it shall be banishment or payment of £100. I thereupon heard the Duke of Lenox (age 25) say, that there might be Lords who could not always be ready to lose £100, or some such thing: They broke up without coming to any end in it. There was also in the Commons' House a great quarrel about Mr. Prin (age 64), and it was believed that he should have been sent to the Towre, for adding something to a Bill (after it was ordered to be engrossed) of his own head-a Bill for measures for wine and other things of that sort, and a Bill of his owne bringing in; but it appeared he could not mean any hurt in it. But, however, the King (age 33) was fain to write in his behalf, and all was passed over.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th May 1667. Then abroad with my wife to my Lord Treasurer's (age 60), and she to her tailor's. I find Sir Philip Warwicke (age 57), who I perceive do give over my Lord Treasurer for a man of this world, his pain being grown great again upon him, and all the rest he hath is by narcotiques, and now Sir Philip Warwicke do please himself, like a good man, to tell some of the good ejaculations of my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of this world, to buy it with so much pain, and other things fit for a dying man.
John Evelyn's Diary. 13th May 1668. Invited by that expert commander, Captain Cox, master of the lately built "Charles II" now the best vessel of the fleet, designed for the Duke of York (age 34), I went to Erith, where we had a great dinner.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th May 1669. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, it being a rainy foul day. But at noon comes my Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 21), and Sidney (age 18), and Sir Charles Harbord (age 29), and Roger Pepys (age 52), and dined with me; and had a good dinner, and very merry with; us all the afternoon, it being a farewell to Sidney; and so in the evening they away, and I to my business at the Office and so to supper, and talk with my brother, and so to bed.
On 13th May 1688 the Archbishop of Canterbury and seven bishops were imprisoned for seditious libel: Archbishop William Sancroft (age 71), Bishop Henry Compton (age 56), Bishop Francis Turner (age 50), Bishop Thomas White (age 60), Bishop Thomas Ken (age 50), Bishop John Lake (age 64), Bishop Jonathan Trelawny 3rd Baronet (age 38) and Bishop William Lloyd (age 51). Their crime was to not read the Declaration of Indulgence as required by King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 54).
On 13th May 1691 William Faithorne "The Elder" (age 75) died.
John Evelyn's Diary. 13th May 1696. I went to London to meet my son (age 41), newly come from Ireland, indisposed. Money still continuing exceedingly scarce, so that none was paid or received, but all was on trust, the mint not supplying for common necessities. The Association with an oath required of all lawyers and officers, on pain of Praemunire, whereby men were obliged to renounce King James as no rightful king, and to revenge King William's death, if happening by assassination. This to be taken by all the Counsel by a day limited, so that the Courts of Chancery and King's Bench hardly heard any cause in Easter Term, so many crowded to take the oath. This was censured as a very entangling contrivance of the Parliament in expectation, that many in high office would lay down, and others surrender. Many gentlemen taken up on suspicion of the late plot, were now discharged out of prison.
On 13th May 1698 Dorothy Browne died. She was buried at All Saints' Church, Branston [Map].
Dorothy Browne: she was born to Samuel Browne.
On 13th May 1710 Henry Saxe Gotha Duke Saxe Römhild (age 59) died at Römhild.
On 13th May 1717 Maria Theresa Habsburg Spain Holy Roman Empress was born to Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor (age 31) and Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Holy Roman Empress (age 25). She married 14th February 1736 her third cousin Francis I Holy Roman Emperor, son of Leopold Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte Bourbon Duchess Lorraine, and had issue.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 13th May 1724. Table XXVI. A prospect of Silbury hill [Map] from the spring head of the Kennet River.
On 13th May 1737 William Wodehouse (age 31) died of smallpox without issue. He was buried in St James'.
On 13th May 1742 Maria Christina Duchess of Teschen was born to Francis I Holy Roman Emperor (age 33) and Maria Theresa Habsburg Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 25). She married 1766 her second cousin Albert Casimir Duke of Teschen, son of Augustus III King Poland and Maria Josepha of Austria.
On 13th May 1746 James Drummond 3rd Duke Perth (age 33) died unmarried en route to France. He was buried at sea. His brother John (age 32) succeeded 4th Duke Perth.
On 13th May 1750 Frederick Hanover was born to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales (age 43) and Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg (age 30). He a grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
Letters of Horace Walpole. 13th May 1752. Arlington Street. To Horace Mann 1st Baronet (age 45).
By this time you know my way, how much my letters grow out of season, as it grows summer. I believe it is six weeks since I wrote to you last; but there is not only the usual deadness of summer to account for my silence; England itself is no longer England. News, madness, parties, whims, and twenty other causes, that used to produce perpetual events are at an end; Florence itself is not more inactive. Politics, "Like arts and sciences are travelled west."
They are cot into Ireland, where there is as much bustle to carry a question in the House of Commons, as ever it was here in any year forty-one. Not that there is any opposition to the King's measures; out of three hundred members, there has never yet been a division of above twenty-eight against the government: they are much the most zealous subjects the king has. The Duke of Dorset (age 64) has had the art to make them distinguish between loyalty and aversion to the Lord Lieutenant.
I last night received yours of May 5th; but I cannot deliver your expressions to Mr. Conway (age 31), for he and Lady Ailesbury (age 31) are gone to his regiment in Ireland for four months, which is a little rigorous, not only after an exile in Minorca, but more especially unpleasant now as they have just bought one of the most charming places in England, Park-place, which belonged to Lady Archibald Hamilton (age 48), and then to the Prince. You have seen enough of Mr. Conway to judge how patiently he submits to his duty. Their little girl (age 3) is left with me.
The Gunnings [Maria Gunning Countess Coventry (age 19) and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 18)]are gone to their several castles, and one hears no more of them, except that such crowds flock to see the Duchess Hamilton pass, that seven hundred people sat up all night in and about an inn in Yorkshire to see her get into her postchaise next morning.
I saw lately at Mr. Barret's a print of Valombrosa, which I should be glad to have, if you please; though I don't think it gives much idea of the beauty of the place: but you know what a passion there is for it in England, as Milton has mentioned it.
Miss Blandy (deceased) died with a coolness of courage that is astonishing, and denying the fact310, which has made a kind of party in her favour as if a woman who would not stick at parricide, would scruple a lie!
We have made a law for immediate execution on conviction of murder: it will appear extraordinary to me if it has any effect;311 for I can't help believing that the terrible part of death must be the preparation for it.
Note 310. Miss Blandy was executed at Oxford, on the 6th of April, "I am perfectly innocent," she exclaimed, "of any intention to destroy or even hurt my dear father; so help me God in these my last moments!"-E.
Note 311. Smollett, on the contrary, was of opinion that the expedient had been productive of very good effects.-E.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Wardlow Barrow 1 Account. Full title: XC. An Account of a remarkable Monument found near Ashford in Derbyshire: In a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Evatt, of Afhford, to Mr . Whitehurft, of Derby. Communicated by Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F. R. S.
Dear Sir, Ashford, October 5, 1761.
Read 13th May 1761.
The following is the best account I am able to give you of the curiosity I told you of, discovered some time ago in our neighbourhood; to which I have added, an imperfect drawing, that, I hope, Will, notwithstanding, give you a tolerable idea of it.
In the year 1759, as fome people were making a turnpike-road through the village of Wardlow, near this place, they thought proper to take out of an adjoining field, a heap of ftone, that had lain there time immemorial, and without any tradition, that I could find, why it was thrown together in that place, although it was manifeft it was a work of art. Here, to their great furprize, upoh removing the ftone, they found a monument [Map], to the memory of feventeen perfons, or more, who had been there interred, in the manner exprdled in the drawing annexed. [Vide Tab. XV.]
The bodies appeared to have been laid upon the furface of the ground, upon long flat ftones, and their heads and breafts protected from the incumbent weight of ftone, by fmall walls made round them, with a flat ftone over the top, as I have endeavoured to exprefs in the figures, excepting the two capital ones, marked a, a, which were walled up, and covered from head to foot, in the form of a long chest, with a stone cover over each.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
On 13th May 1778 Emily Elizabeth Fitzgerald was born to William Robert Fitzgerald 2nd Duke Leinster (age 29) and Emilia St George Duchess Leinster. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1788 Francis Russell 7th Duke Bedford was born to John Russell 6th Duke Bedford (age 21) and Georgiana Elizabeth Byng (age 20). He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. He married before 1st July 1809 his half fourth cousin Anna Maria Stanhope Duchess Bedford, daughter of Charles Stanhope 3rd Earl of Harrington and Jane Fleming Countess Harrington, and had issue.
On 13th May 1844 George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough was born to John Winston Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough (age 21) and Frances Anne Emily Vane Duchess of Marlborough (age 22). He married 1869 his third cousin once removed Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough, daughter of James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn and Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn, and had issue.
Ten Years' Digging. On the evenings of the 12th and 13th of May, we opened a second barrow [Ecton Barrow 3 [Map]] upon Hang Bank, about 300 yards east of that [Ecton Barrow 1 [Map]] previously examined. The diameter is about sixteen yards^ and the mound appears perfect; but notwithstanding its promising exterior, nothing of importance was discovered, a small deposit of burnt bones only being laid in a depression in the natural soil. About a foot from them were two pieces of flint — one a rounded, the other a pointed instrument which seems designed for an arrow-head. The barrow being raised on a ridge of rock was not so deep as it appeared, having an elevation of about two feet in the centre. It was found to be composed throughout of earth, although the neighbourhood abounds with stone, and was so completely excavated that we are satisfied no other interment has ever been made.
Before 13th May 1851. Letter from Charles Allston Collins (age 23) to William Holman Hunt (age 24) regarding the picture "Convent Thoughts".
Letters of James McNeill Whistler 1863. 13th May 1863. 7 Lindsey Row Battersea Bridge Old Chelsea. Wednesday
Dear Rossetti (age 35) -
Do come and breakfast with me on Sunday next at half past eleven - to meet Gambart (age 48) and perhaps Steevens (age 40) -
Ever yours
J Whistler (age 28)
13th May 1863. William Blake Richmond (age 20). Portrait of the artists' first wife Charlotte Foster (age 22).
Charlotte Foster: In 1841 she was born. In 1864 William Blake Richmond and she were married. On 31st December 1865 she died.
On 13th May 1887 Caroline Leveson-Gower Duchess Leinster (age 60) died.
On 13th May 1895 Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland was beatified.
Avebury North Circle Cove [Map]. 13th May 1911. Photograph by Harold St George Gray (age 39) of (presumably) his wife Florence (age 35) and their son Lionel (age 10).
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 13th May 1915. Unknown Photographer. Photograph of Clement Freeman-Mitford (age 38).
His death occurred in heroic circumstances, during an attack made by the 10th Hussars that also resulted in the deaths of the CO Lt-Col Shearman and Captain Gerald Stewart. Clem, as he was called by his fellow officers, lived at Batsford Park, Moreton-in-Marsh.
On 13th May 1915 Clement Freeman-Mitford (age 38) was killed in action at the Battle of Loos. He was buried at Grave Reference: I. E. 8., Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Vlamertinghe, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium. The wrought iron gates at the cemetery were presented in his memory by the family of the late Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (age 78), Lord Redesdale and Clementina (age 60), Lady Redesdale.
On 13th May 1915 George Algernon Leveson-Gower (age 44) died from wounds received in action.
Holy Trinity Church, Ashford-in-the-Water [Map]. Memorial to Alan Deane Tinsleyy who died 13th May 1915.
On 13th May 1948 Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy (age 28) and William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 8th and 6th Earl Fitzwilliam (age 37) died in a plane crash at the Plateau du Coiron, Saint-Bauzile during the course of their journey from Paris [Map] to the French Riviera for a vacation aboard a de Havilland DH.104 Dove.. His first cousin once removed Eric (age 64) succeeded 9th Earl Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam, 11th Baron Fitzwilliam of Liffer in Donegal. His wealth, estimated at 45 million pounds, including half of the Wentworth Woodhouse estate, the Coolattin estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, and a large part of the Fitzwilliam art collection went to his daughter Ann Juliet Dorothea Maud Wentworth-Fitzwilliam Marchioness Bristol (age 13).
After 13th May 1948 Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy (deceased) was buried at Cavendish Plot, St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map]. Joseph Patrick Kennedy (age 59), her father, was the only Kennedy family member to attend.
On Saturday 29th June 1963, around four in the afternoon, her grave was visited by her elder brother President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (age 46), some five months before his assassination. He was travelling from to London for a meeting with the British Prime Minister when he made a detour landing at and then travelling by helicopter to St Peter's Church, Edensor [Map]. He laid a wreath which he had brought from Ireland. Present at the wreath laying was his sisters Eunice Mary Kennedy (age 41) and Jean Ann Kennedy (age 35), and the Duke and Duchess (age 67) of Devonshire.
On 13th May 1179 Theobald Blois III Count Champagne was born to Henry Blois I Count Champagne (age 51) and Marie Capet Countess Champagne (age 34). He a great x 2 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. He married 1st July 1199 his third cousin once removed Blanche Ramirez, daughter of Sancho "Wise" King Navarre and Sancha Ivrea, and had issue.
On 13th May 1258 Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon was born to Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon (age 36) and Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. He married 1282 Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon and had issue.
On 13th May 1333 Reginald II Duke Guelders was born to Reginald "Black" I Duke Guelders (age 38) and Eleanor of Woodstock Plantagenet (age 14). He a grandson of King Edward II of England. He married 1st July 1347 his second cousin Marie of Brabant Duchess of Guelders, daughter of John Brabant III Duke Brabant and Marie Évreux Duchess of Brabant.
On 13th May 1405 Margaret Savoy was born to Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy (age 21) and Mary Valois Countess Savoy (age 18). Coefficient of inbreeding 3.64%.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1453 Mary Stewart Countess Arran was born to King James II of Scotland (age 22) and Mary of Guelders Queen Consort Scotland (age 19) at Stirling Castle [Map]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married (1) before 26th April 1467 Thomas Boyd 1st Earl Arran and had issue (2) before 12th July 1474 James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton and had issue.
On 13th May 1629 Charles James Stewart was born to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 28) and Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 19). He died the same day.
On 13th May 1646 Maria Habsburg Spain Archduchess Austria was born to Ferdinand III Holy Roman Emperor (age 37) and Maria Anna of Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 39). Maria Anna of Spain Holy Roman Empress died in childbirth. Coefficient of inbreeding 15.19%.
On 13th May 1654 Thomas Lennard 1st Earl of Sussex was born to Francis Lennard 14th Baron Dacre Gilsland (age 35) and Elizabeth Bayning Baroness Dacre Gilsland. He married 16th May 1674 his first cousin once removed Anne Fitzroy Countess Sussex, daughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland, and had issue.
On 13th May 1708 John Spencer was born to Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland (age 33) and Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland (age 25). He married 14th February 1733 his fifth cousin once removed Georgiana Caroline Carteret, daughter of John Carteret 2nd Earl Granville and Frances Worsley Countess Granville, and had issue.
On 13th May 1717 Maria Theresa Habsburg Spain Holy Roman Empress was born to Charles Habsburg Spain VI Holy Roman Emperor (age 31) and Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Holy Roman Empress (age 25). She married 14th February 1736 her third cousin Francis I Holy Roman Emperor, son of Leopold Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte Bourbon Duchess Lorraine, and had issue.
On 13th May 1732 General William Hervey was born to John Hervey 2nd Baron Hervey (age 35) and Mary Lepell Baroness Hervey (age 32).
On 13th May 1742 Maria Christina Duchess of Teschen was born to Francis I Holy Roman Emperor (age 33) and Maria Theresa Habsburg Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 25). She married 1766 her second cousin Albert Casimir Duke of Teschen, son of Augustus III King Poland and Maria Josepha of Austria.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1750 Frederick Hanover was born to Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales (age 43) and Augusta Saxe Coburg Altenburg (age 30). He a grandson of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
On 13th May 1754 Charlotte Finch Countess Suffolk and Berkshire was born to Heneage Finch 3rd Earl Aylesford (age 38) and Charlotte Seymour Countess Aylesford (age 23). She married 14th August 1777 her first cousin Henry Howard 12th Earl Suffolk 5th Earl Berkshire and had issue.
On 13th May 1760 William Jervis Twysden 7th Baronet was born to William Twysden 6th Baronet (age 30).
On 13th May 1763 John Simpson was born to Henry Bridgeman 1st Baron Bradford (age 37) and Elizabeth Simpson Baroness Bradford (age 28).
On 13th May 1764 Dorothy Elizabeth Vaughan was born to Wilmot Vaughan 1st Earl Lisburne (age 36) and Dorothy Shafto Countess Lisburne (age 31). She married 15th May 1792 Lawrence Palk 2nd Baronet, son of Robert Palk 1st Baronet and Anne van Sittart Lady Palk, and had issue.
On 13th May 1772 Frederick Baker 2nd Baronet was born to George Baker 1st Baronet (age 50) and Jane Morris at Jermyn Street. He was baptised on 17th June 1772 at St James' Church, Piccadilly. He married July 1814 Harriet Simeon Lady Baker, daughter of John Simeon 1st Baronet and Rebecca Cornwall, and had issue.
On 13th May 1778 Emily Elizabeth Fitzgerald was born to William Robert Fitzgerald 2nd Duke Leinster (age 29) and Emilia St George Duchess Leinster. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 13th May 1783 Matthew Blakiston 3rd Baronet was born to Matthew Blakiston 2nd Baronet (age 22). He married before 15th January 1811 Lucy Mann Lady Blakiston, daughter of Horatio Mann 2nd Baronet and Lucy Noel.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1788 Francis Russell 7th Duke Bedford was born to John Russell 6th Duke Bedford (age 21) and Georgiana Elizabeth Byng (age 20). He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. He married before 1st July 1809 his half fourth cousin Anna Maria Stanhope Duchess Bedford, daughter of Charles Stanhope 3rd Earl of Harrington and Jane Fleming Countess Harrington, and had issue.
On 13th May 1808 William Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey (age 44) and Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey (age 32). He died aged six in 1815.
On 13th May 1827 Maria-Anne Wyndham was born to George Thomas Wyndham of Cromer Hall Norfolk (age 21) and Maria Augusta Windham Countess Listowel (age 22). She married in or before 1860 Godfrey Macdonald 4th Baron Macdonald and had issue.
On 13th May 1829 Leopold George Agar-Ellis 5th Viscount Clifden was born to George James Welbore Agar 1st Baron Dover (age 32) and Georgiana Howard Lady Dover (age 25). He married 8th February 1864 Harriet Stonor Viscountess Clifden, daughter of Thomas Stonor 3rd Baron Camoys and Frances Towneley Baroness Camoys.
On 13th May 1836 Montagu Arthur Bertie 7th Earl of Abingdon was born to Montagu Bertie 6th Earl of Abingdon (age 27) and Elizabeth Lavinia Harcourt Countess Abingdon. He married (1) 10th July 1858 Caroline Theresa Towneley and had issue (2) 16th October 1883 Gwendoline Mary Dormer and had issue.
On 13th May 1838 John Hotham 5th Baron Hotham was born to George Frederick Hotham (age 39) and Susan Maria O'Brien.
On 13th May 1844 George Charles Spencer-Churchill 8th Duke of Marlborough was born to John Winston Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough (age 21) and Frances Anne Emily Vane Duchess of Marlborough (age 22). He married 1869 his third cousin once removed Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Duchess of Marlborough, daughter of James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn and Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn, and had issue.
On 13th May 1847 Henry Richard Noel-Hill 7th Baron Berwick was born to Thomas Henry Noel-Hill (age 43).
On 13th May 1852 John Brocklehurst 1st Baron Ranksborough was born to Henry Brocklehurst (age 33).
On 13th May 1866 Gerald Bagot 5th Baron Bagot was born to Vice-Admiral Henry Bagot (age 55) and Eleanor Chandos-Pole (age 23).
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1870 Montague Eliot 8th Earl of St Germans was born to Charles George Cornwallis Eliot (age 30) and Constance Rhiannon Guest (age 25).
On 13th May 1873 Robert James was born to Walter Henry James 2nd Baron Northbourne (age 27) and Edith Emeline Mary Lane Baroness Northbourne. He married (1) 18th June 1900 Evelyn Kathleen Wellesley, daughter of Arthur Charles Wellesley 4th Duke Wellington and Kathleen Emily Bulkeley Williams Duchess Wellington (2) 23rd July 1923 his fifth cousin once removed Serena Lumley, daughter of Aldred Beresford Lumley 10th Earl Scarborough and Lucy Cecilia Dunn-Garnder Countess Scarborough, and had issue.
On 13th May 1875 Richard FitzGerald Glyn 8th and 4th Baronet was born to Richard George Glyn 3rd Baronet (age 43) and Frances Geraldine Fitzgerald Lady Glyn (age 31).
On 13th May 1878 Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart 7th Marquess of Londonderry was born to Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart 6th Marquess Londonderry (age 25) and Theresa Susey Helen Chetwynd-Talbot Marchioness Londonderry (age 21). He married 28th November 1899 Edith Chaplin Marchioness Londonderry, daughter of Henry Chaplin 1st Viscount Chaplin and Florence Sutherland Leveson-Gower, and had issue.
On 13th May 1896 Lawrence Edward Broomfield Palk 4th Baron Haldon was born to Lawrence William Palk 3rd Baron Haldon (age 26).
On 13th May 1901 Kenelm Charles was born to Kenelm Charles Pepys 4th Earl of Cottenham (age 26) and Rose Neville Countess Cottentham (age 34).
On 13th May 1906 Barbara Mary Frankland was born to Frederick Frankland 10th Baronet (age 37) and Mary Cecil Curzon 17th Baroness Zouche (age 30) She married (1) 5th July 1937 Edward Agar 5th Earl Normanton, son of Sidney James Agar 4th Earl Normanton and Amy Frederica Alice Byng Countess Normanton.
On 13th May 1913 David Hawley 7th Baronet was born to Captain Cyril Hawley (age 34) and Ursula Mary St John (age 21). He married 28th September 1938 Hermione Gregson Lady Hawley and had issue.
On 13th May 1915 John Lubbock 3rd Baron Avebury was born to Captain Harold Fox-Pitt Lubbock (age 26) and Dorothy Charlotte Forster Baroness Wardington (age 24).
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1916 George Townshend 7th Marquess Townshend was born to John Townshend 6th Marquess Townshend (age 49) and Gwladys Sutherst Marchioness Townshend (age 32). He a great x 3 grandson of King William IV of the United Kingdom. He married (1) 2nd September 1939 Elizabeth Luby Marchioness Townshend and had issue (2) 22nd December 1960 Ann Frances Darlow Marchioness Townshend (3) 2004 Philippa Sophia Kidston-Montgomerie.
On 13th May 1920 Geoffrey Henry Dormer 17th Baron Dormer was born to Captain Edward Henry Dormer (age 49).
On 13th May 1939 John Dyke Acland 16th Baronet was born to Richard Acland 15th Baronet (age 32).
On 13th May 1945 William Frederick Style 13th Baronet was born to William Montague Style 12th Baronet (age 28).
On 13th May 1948 Anthony Edward Winnington 7th Baronet was born to Colonel Thomas Foley Churchill Winnington (age 37) and Betty Marjorie Anson (age 31).
On 13th May 1955 Evelyn Arthur Hugh Boscawen 10th Viscount Falmouth was born to George Hugh Boscawen 9th Viscount Falmouth (age 35).
On 13th May 1423 John Lancaster 1st Duke Bedford (age 33) and Anne Valois Duchess of Bedford (age 18) were married at Troyes, France [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Bedford She the daughter of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy. He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were third cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 13th May 1618 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby (age 32) and Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke (age 25) were married. She the daughter of Robert Southwell and Elizabeth Howard Countess Carrick (age 54). They were sixth cousins.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1650 Archibald Campbell 9th Earl Argyll (age 21) and Mary Stewart Countess Argyll (age 22) were married at Canongate Kirk, Canongate. She the daughter of James Stewart 4th Earl of Moray (age 39) and Margaret Home Countess Moray. He the son of Archibald Campbell 1st Marquess Argyll (age 43) and Margaret Douglas Marchioness Argyll (age 40). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 13th May 1735 Henry Howard 10th Earl Suffolk (age 28) and Sarah Inwen Countess Suffolk were married. She by marriage Countess Suffolk. He the son of Charles Howard 9th Earl Suffolk and Henrietta Hobart Countess Suffolk (age 46).
On 13th May 1762 William Beauchamp-Proctor 1st Baronet (age 40) and Laeticia Johnson Lady Beauchamp-Proctor were married. She by marriage Lady Beauchamp-Proctor of Langley Park in Norfolk.
On 13th May 1788 Egerton Leigh 2nd Baronet (age 26) and Theodosia Anna Maria Boughton were married.
On 13th May 1797 John Wyldbore Smith 2nd Baronet (age 26) and Elizabeth Anne Marriot Lady Smith (age 30) were married.
On 13th May 1807 Thomas Fowell Buxton 1st Baronet (age 21) and Hannah Gurney Lady Buxton (age 24) were married. They had eight children of whom four died of whooping cough over a five-week period around April 1820.
On 13th May 1819 Richard Griffin 3rd Baron Braybrook (age 35) and Jane Cornwallis Baroness Braybrook (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Charles Cornwallis 2nd Marquess Cornwallis (age 44) and Louisa Gordon Marchioness Cornwallis (age 42).
On 13th May 1830 James Harris 3rd Earl Malmesbury (age 23) and Corisande Emma Bennet Countess Malmesbury (age 22) were married. She by marriage Countess Malmesbury. She the daughter of Charles Augustus Bennet 5th Earl Tankerville (age 54) and Corisande Armandine Sophie Léonie Hélène Gramont Countess Tankerville (age 47). He the son of James Edward Harris 2nd Earl Malmesbury (age 51) and Harriet Susan Dashwood.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1854 William Bateman-Hanbury 2nd Baron Bateman (age 27) and Agnes Burrell Kerrison Baroness Hanbury were married. They had four sons and six daughters. She by marriage Baroness Bateman of Shobdon.
On 13th May 1176 Matthias Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 57) died. His son Simon succeeded II Duke Lorraine.
On 13th May 1285 Robert Ros (age 49) died. His son William Ros 1st Baron Ros Helmsley (age 30) inherited Belvoir Castle [Map].
On 13th May 1312 Theobald Metz II Duke Lorraine (age 49) died. His son Frederick (age 30) succeeded IV Duke Lorraine. Elizabeth Habsburg Duchess Lorraine by marriage Duchess Lorraine.
On 13th May 1375 Stephen Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria (age 56) died. His son Stephen (age 38) succeeded III Duke Bavaria.
On 13th May 1568 the army of Mary Queen of Scots (age 25) commanded by Archibald Campbell 5th Earl Argyll (age 34) was defeated by the army of the Regent her illegitimate half-brother James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray Regent (age 37).
John Campbell was killed.
William "Younger" Douglas 7th Lord Drumlanrig and Robert Seton 1st Earl Winton (age 15) fought.
Claud Hamilton 1st Lord Paisley (age 21) and George Seton 7th Lord Seton (age 37) fought for the Queen.
John Graham 6th Earl Menteith fought for the Earl of Moray.
On 13th May 1627 Alexander Oldenburg I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg (age 54) died at Sønderborg. His son Johann (age 20) succeeded I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg. His son Ernest (age 17) succeeded Günther I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg.
On 13th May 1630 Theobald Dillon 3rd Viscount Dillon died. His uncle Thomas (age 15) succeeded 4th Viscount Dillon of Costello Gallen in Mayo.
On 13th May 1652 Henry Compton was killed in a duel with George Brydges 6th Baron Chandos (age 31) at Putney, Surrey [Map].
On 13th May 1655 Richard Herbert 2nd Baron Herbert Chirbury (age 51) died. His son Edward (age 22) succeeded 3rd Baron Herbert Chirbury. Mary Egerton Baroness Herbert Chirbury by marriage Baroness Herbert Chirbury.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1671 John Langham 1st Baronet (age 87) died. His son James (age 51) succeeded 2nd Baronet Langham of Cottesbrooke in Northamptonshire.
On 13th May 1691 William Faithorne "The Elder" (age 75) died.
On 13th May 1709 Carey Fraser Countess Peterborough and Monmouth (age 49) died.
On 13th May 1710 Henry Saxe Gotha Duke Saxe Römhild (age 59) died at Römhild.
On 13th May 1730 Justinian Isham 4th Baronet (age 71) died. His son Justinian (age 42) succeeded 5th Baronet Isham of Lamport in Northamptonshire.
On 13th May 1746 James Drummond 3rd Duke Perth (age 33) died unmarried en route to France. He was buried at sea. His brother John (age 32) succeeded 4th Duke Perth.
On 13th May 1778 Jean Nicholson died.
On 13th May 1789 Thomas William Trollope 5th Baronet (age 27) died unmarried. His brother John (age 23) succeeded 6th Baronet Trollope of Casewick in Lincolnshire.
On 13th May 1814 George Rochfort 2nd Earl Belvedere (age 75) died without surviving issue. Earl Belvedere, Viscount Belfield and Baron Belfield extinct.
On 13th May 1815 John Ingilby 1st Baronet (age 57) died. His son William (age 31) succeeded 2nd Baronet Ingilby of Ripley in Yorkshire.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1825 Charles Whitworth 1st Earl Whitworth (age 72) died. Earl Whitworth and Baron Adbaston in Staffordshire extinct.
On 13th May 1833 John Wilmot Prideaux 8th Baronet (age 42) died. His brother Edmund (age 40) succeeded 9th Baronet Prideaux of Netherton in Devon.
On 13th May 1852 Grey Skipwith 8th Baronet (age 80) died. His son Thomas (age 49) succeeded 9th Baronet Skipwith of Prestwould in Leicestershire.
On 13th May 1855 Jane Casamaijor Countess Enniskillen died.
On 13th May 1866 Paulina Jermyn Lady Trevelyan (age 50) died.
On 13th May 1877 Cecil Chetwynd-Talbot Marchioness Lothian (age 69) died at Rome, Italy [Map]. She was buried at the Church of St David's Dalkeith.
On 13th May 1879 Maria Otway-Cave (age 70) died. Her sister Henrietta (age 70) abeyance terminated 4th Baroness Braye; she died six months later. Reverend Edgell Wyatt-Edgell Baron Braye (age 78) by marriage Baron Braye.
On 13th May 1879 Emily Julia Thellusson Baroness Walsingham (age 61) died.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1887 Caroline Leveson-Gower Duchess Leinster (age 60) died.
On 13th May 1899 Edward Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie 1st Earl Wharncliffe (age 71) died without issue. His nephew Francis (age 42) succeeded 2nd Earl Wharncliffe, 4th Baron Wharncliffe of Wortley in Yorkshire. Ellen Gallwey Countess of Wharncliffe (age 36) by marriage Countess Wharncliffe.
On 13th May 1902 George Floyd Duckett 3rd Baronet (age 91) died. Baronet Jackson aka Duckett of Hartham House in Wiltshire extinct.
On 13th May 1904 George Augustus Hamilton Chichester 5th Marquess Donegal (age 81) died. He left an estate of £27. His son Edward succeeded 6th Marquess Donegal, 6th Baron Fisherwick of Fisherwick in Staffordshire.
On 13th May 1906 Robert Bromley 6th Baronet (age 32) died. His brother Maurice (age 29) succeeded 7th Baronet Bromley of Nottingham and East Stoke in Nottinghamshire.
On 13th May 1915 Mary Evelyn Cotton Lady Broughton (age 50) died.
On 13th May 1915 Clement Freeman-Mitford (age 38) was killed in action at the Battle of Loos. He was buried at Grave Reference: I. E. 8., Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Vlamertinghe, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium. The wrought iron gates at the cemetery were presented in his memory by the family of the late Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (age 78), Lord Redesdale and Clementina (age 60), Lady Redesdale.
On 13th May 1917 Lambton Loraine 11th Baronet (age 78) died. His son Percy (age 36) succeeded 12th Baronet Loraine of Kirkharle in Northumberland.
On 13th May 1923 Anna Maria Sawers Lady Hobhouse died.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 13th May 1948 Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy (age 28) and William Henry Lawrence Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 8th and 6th Earl Fitzwilliam (age 37) died in a plane crash at the Plateau du Coiron, Saint-Bauzile during the course of their journey from Paris [Map] to the French Riviera for a vacation aboard a de Havilland DH.104 Dove.. His first cousin once removed Eric (age 64) succeeded 9th Earl Fitzwilliam, 7th Earl Fitzwilliam, 11th Baron Fitzwilliam of Liffer in Donegal. His wealth, estimated at 45 million pounds, including half of the Wentworth Woodhouse estate, the Coolattin estate in County Wicklow, Ireland, and a large part of the Fitzwilliam art collection went to his daughter Ann Juliet Dorothea Maud Wentworth-Fitzwilliam Marchioness Bristol (age 13).
On 13th May 1953 Rowland Baring 2nd Earl Cromer (age 75) died. His son Rowland (age 34) succeeded 3rd Earl Cromer, 3rd Viscount Errington Hexham Northumberland.
On 13th May 1966 Anthony Mohun Leckonby Cope 15th Baronet (age 38) died. His uncle Mordaunt (age 88) succeeded 16th Baronet Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire.
On 13th May 1988 Owen Watkin Williams-Wynn 10th Baronet (age 83) died. His son David (age 48) succeeded 11th Baronet Williams of Gray's Inn.
On 13th May 2017 David Cooke 12th Baronet (age 82) died. His seventh cousin Anthony (age 60) succeeded 13th Baronet Cooke of Wheatley Hall in Yorkshire.
On 13th May 2021 David Delves Broughton 13th Baronet (age 79) died. His brother Geoffrey (age 58) succeeded 14th Baronet Broughton of Broughton in Staffordshire.