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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On this Day in History ... 18th December

18 Dec is in December.

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 18th December

On 18th December 1075 Edith of Wessex Queen Consort England (age 49) died.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. [18th December 1075]. This year died the Lady Edgitha (age 49), who was the relict of King Edward, seven nights before Christmas, at Winchester; and the king (age 47) caused her to be brought to Westminster with great pomp; and he laid her with King Edward, her lord.

Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 18th December 1381. In this same year there came into England one Pileus1, cardinal priest of Saint Praxedes, to treat, on behalf of the emperor of Germany and king of Bohemia, with the council of England of and about a marriage between our king and the lady Ann (age 15), sister of the same emperor2; who afterwards became thereby our most gracious queen, howbeit she died without issue. At his coming, this cardinal, falsely feigning himself legate a latere and as having the power of the pope, then did exercise the papal offices. And among other things he made me notary, though to no purpose, in the house of the friars preachers of London, where he was then dwelling. Thus did he gather to himself countless money, and, the treaty of marriage being settled, he departed from England with his gains, to his own condemnation; idly trusting that the pope would approve these his acts. And, after his departure, the said lady Ann was bought for a great price by our lord the king (age 14), for she was much sought in marriage by the king of France3; and she was then sent over into England to be crowned queen.

Note 1. Pileo di Prata, bishop of Padua, and, in 1370, archbishop of Ravenna. He was one of the papal legates employed, at Bruges, in negotiating a peace between England and France, in 1375. At the papal schism, in 1378, he threw in his lot with Urban VI., by whom he was made cardinal, and was sent nuncio to Germany. In 1386, he seceded to Clement VII., who employed him in an unsuccessful attempt to break the power of Urban in Florence. But three years after, on the death of Urban, he deserted Clement for Boniface IX., who made him cardinal bishop of Tusculum. By these agile changes he got the nickname of ‘"Cardinalis trium Pileorum," the Cardinal of Three Hats. He was further appointed legate at Viterbo; but he exasperated the people to such a degree that they drove him out. He died in 1401.—Ciaconius, Vite Pont. Rom. ij. 637.

Note 2. Wenceslaus, or Wenzel, emperor of Germany, 1378.

Note 3. This is not stated by the other chroniclers. The idea was no doubt suggested by the intention of the king of France, Charles V., to waylay and capture her on the sea, out of hostility to England. He desisted on the remonstrance of Ann's uncle, the duke of Brabant (age 44). Ann landed in England on the 18th December, 1381, and was married on the 14th January, 1382. Knighton (ij. 150) says:— "dedit imperatori, ut dicebatur, pro maritagio decem mille libras, preter alias expensas in querendo eam et adducendo eam sumptibus suis propriis."

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On 18th December 1495 Alfonso II King Naples (age 47) died. His son Ferdinand (age 26) succeeded II King Naples. Joanna Trastámara Queen Consort Naples (age 16) by marriage Queen Consort Naples.

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1535. 18th December 1535. R. O. 991. Thomas Broke to Lady Lisle (age 41).

I have delivered your token to Mrs. Margery Horsman, who says she knows not the man she sent to your Ladyship, but was desired by a near friend to write in his favor. She says also the Queen (age 34) sets much store by a pretty dog; "and her Grace delighted so much in little Purkoy, that after he was dead of a fall there durst nobody tell her Grace of it." But she values a dog more than a bitch. Mr. Smythe says it would have been no use speaking of £160 or £180, for they would not agree to more than £120, but preferred that it should go to law. Jas. Roberts is come to London this day, but I cannot meet with him. As soon as I receive the cap I will have it sent to the prioress of Winchester. My bedfellow has been three times at Mr. Judd's, but has failed to find him. London, 18 Dec.

Hol., p. 1. Add.: At Calais.

Wriothesley's Chronicle. 18th December 1541. This yeare the 18th of December, beinge Sonday, Alexander Seton, a Skott borne, and chaplaine to the Duke of Suffolke (age 57), and the parson of St. Antlins, for sedicious preachinge that they had sowed amonge the people in their sermons against firee will and good workes, by injunction of the Bishop of London, did after the beedes [prayers] of the preacher, which was Mr. Rudde, chauntry priest of Barkinge, read the submission of their erronious opinions, submittinge them whollye to the Catholicke lawes of the Church from the bottom of theyre hartes, and never more to preach or teache any erronious opinions duringe theyr lives.

Holinshed's Chronicle. 18th December 1543. The eighteenth of December the archbishop of Canturburies palace at Canturburie was burnt, and therin was burnt his brother-in-law1, and other men.

Note 1. It isn't clear who is meant by this. The Archbishop of Canterbury was Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 54).

Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. 18th December 1553. The xviijth day, the lady Jane (age 17) had the libertie of the Tower, so that she might walk in the quenes garden and on the hille; and the lorde Robert and lorde Gilford the liberty of the leds in the Bell Tower, whether they ....

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The 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.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18th December 1554. The xviij day of Desember was a grett tryhumph at the court gatte, by the Kyng (age 27) and dyvers lordes boyth English-men and Spaneards, the wyche the Kyng and his compene [were] in goodly harnes, and a-pon ther armes goodly jerkyns of bluw velvett, and hosse in-brodered with sylver and bluw sarsenett; and so thay rane on fott with spayrers [spears] and swerds at the tornay, and with dromes and flutes in whyt velvet [drawn] owt with blu sarsenett, and ther wher x aganst [the King] and ys compene, the wher xviij in odur colers.

On 18th December 1557 Archdeacon John Philpot (age 41) was burned at the stake for being a heretic i.e. being a Protestant.

On 18th December 1574 Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress was born to William Wittelsbach V Duke Bavaria (age 26) and Renata Lorraine Duchess Bavaria (age 30). Coefficient of inbreeding 2.86%.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 18th December 1616Upon the 18th I alighted at Islington where my Lord (age 27) who came in my Lady Witby Pole's coach which he borrowed, my Lady Effingham the widow, my Sister Beauchamp, and a great many more came to meet me so that we were in all 10 or 11 coaches and so I came to Dorset House where the Child met me in the Gallery. The house was well dressed up against I came.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 18th December 1619. The 18th my Lord (age 30) came and supped with me in my chamber, which he had not done before since his coming from London, for I determined to keep my chamber, and did not so much as go over the threshold of the door.

On 18th December 1626 Christina Queen of Sweden was born to King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden (age 32).

On 18th December 1640 Archbishop William Laud (age 67) arrested and placed in the custody of Black Rod. He was imprisoned at Tower of London [Map].

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1659. Preached that famous divine, Dr. Sanderson (age 72) (since Bishop of Lincoln), now eighty years old, on Jer. xxx. 13, concerning the evil of forsaking God.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th December 1661. At the office upon business extraordinary all the morning, then to my Lady Sandwich's (age 36) to dinner, whither my wife, who had been at the painter's (age 55), came to me, and there dined, and there I left her, and to the Temple [Map] my brother and I to see Mrs. Turner (age 38), who begins to be better, and so back to my Lady's, where much made of, and so home to my study till bed-time, and so to bed.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th December 1663. Up, and after being ready and done several businesses with people, I took water (taking a dram of the bottle at the waterside) with a gaily, the first that ever I had yet, and down to Woolwich, Kent [Map], calling at Ham Creeke, where I met Deane (age 30), and had a great deal of talke with him about business, and so to the Ropeyard [Map]e and Docke, discoursing several things, and so back again and did the like at Deptford, and I find that it is absolutely necessary for me to do thus once a weeke at least all the yeare round, which will do me great good, and so home with great ease and content, especially out of the content which I met with in a book I bought yesterday, being a discourse of the state of Rome under the present Pope, Alexander the 7th, it being a very excellent piece. After eating something at home, then to my office, where till night about business to dispatch. Among other people came Mr. Primate, the leather seller, in Fleete Streete, to see me, he says, coming this way; and he tells me that he is upon a proposal to the King (age 33), whereby, by a law already in being, he will supply the King, without wrong to any man, or charge to the people in general, so much as it is now, above £200,000 per annum, and God knows what, and that the King do like the proposal, and hath directed that the Duke of Monmouth (age 14), with their consent, be made privy, and go along with him and his fellow proposer in the business, God knows what it is; for I neither can guess nor believe there is any such thing in his head.

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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th December 1664. Then home, and there Mr. Andrews and Hill come and we sung finely, and by and by Mr. Fuller (age 56), the Parson, and supped with me, he and a friend of his, but my musique friends would not stay supper. At and after supper Mr. Fuller and I told many storys of apparitions and delusions thereby, and I out with my storys of Tom Mallard. He gone, I a little to my office, and then to prayers and to bed.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th December 1665. So to the 'Change [Map], hoping to see them in the streete, and missing them, went back again thither and back to the 'Change [Map], but no sight of them, so went after my business again, and, though late, was sent to by Sir W. Warren (who heard where I was) to intreat me to come dine with him, hearing that I lacked a dinner, at the Pope's Head; and there with Mr. Hinton, the goldsmith, and others, very merry; but, Lord! to see how Dr. Hinton (age 61) come in with a gallant or two from Court, and do so call "Cozen" Mr. Hinton, the goldsmith, but I that know him to be a beggar and a knave, did make great sport in my mind at it1.

Note 1. John Hinton, M.D., a strong royalist, who attended Henrietta Maria in her confinement at Exeter when she gave birth to the Princess Henrietta (age 21). He was knighted by Charles II, and appointed physician in ordinary to the King (age 35) and Queen (age 27). His knighthood was a reward for having procured a private advance of money from his kinsman, the goldsmith, to enable the Duke of Albemarle (age 57) to pay the army (see "Memorial to King Charles II. from Sir John Hinton, A.D. 1679", printed in Ellis's "Original Letters", 3rd series, vol. iv., p 296).

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 18th December 1667. Up, and to my goldsmith's in the morning, to look after the providing of £60 for Mr. Moore, towards the answering of my Lord Sandwich's (age 42) bill of exchange, he being come to be contented with my lending him £60 in part of it, which pleases me, I expecting to have been forced to answer the whole bill; and this, which I do do, I hope to secure out of the plate, which was delivered into my custody of my Lord's the other day by Mr. Cooke, and which I did get Mr. Stokes, the goldsmith, last night to weigh at my house, and there is enough to secure £100.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1684. I went with Lord Cornwallis (age 28) to see the young gallants do their exercise, Mr. Faubert having newly rail'd in a manage, and fitted it for the academy. There were the Dukes of Norfolk (age 29) and Northumberland (age 18), Lord Newburgh, and a nephew of (Duras) Earle of Feversham (age 43). The exercises were, 1. running at the ring; 2. flinging a javelin at a Moor's head; 3. discharging a pistol at a mark; lastly, taking up a gauntlet with the point of a sword; all these perform'd in full speede. The D. of Northumberland hardly miss'd of succeeding in every one, a dozen times, as I think. The D. of Norfolk did exceeding bravely. Lords Newburgh and Duras seem'd nothing so dextrous. Here I saw the difference of what ye French call "belle homme a cheval", and "bon homme a cheval;" the Duke of Norfolk being the first, that is, rather a fine person on a horse, the Duke of Northumberland being both in perfection, namely, a graceful person and excellent rider. But the Duke of Norfolk told me he had not ben at this exercise these 12 yeares before. There were in the field ye Prince of Denmark (age 31), and the Lord Landsdown (age 23), sonn of ye Earle of Bath (age 56), who had ben made a Count of ye Empire last Summer for his service before Vienna.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1685. I din'd at the greate entertainment his Ma* (age 52) gave ye Venetian Ambassadors, Sign. Zenno and Justiniani, accompanied with 10 more noble Venetians of their most illustrious families, Cornaro, Maccenigo, &c. who came to congratulate their Maties coming to ye Crowne. The dinner was most magnificent and plentifull, at four tables, with music, kettle drums, and trumpets, wcb sounded upon a whistle at every health. The banquet [desert] was 12 vast chargers pil'd up so high that those who sat one against another could hardly see each other. Of these sweetemeates, weh doubtless were some days piling up in that exquisite manner, the Ambassadors touch'd not, but leaving them to ye spectators who came out of curiosity to see the dinner, were exceedingly pleas'd to see in what a moment of time all that curious work was demolished, the comfitures voided, and the tables clear'd. Thus his Ma* entertain'd them three days, which (for the table only) cost him £600, as the Cleark of the Greene cloth (Sr Wm Bbreman (age 73)) assur'd me. Dinner ended, I saw their procession or cavalcade to Whitehall, innumerable coaches attending. The two Ambass. had 4 coaches of their owne and 50 footemen (as I remember), besides other equipage as splendid as ye occasion would permitt, the Court being still in mourning. Thence I went to the audience wch they had in the Queene's presence chamber, the Banquetting house [Map] being full of goods and furniture till the galleries on the garden side, Council chamber, and new Chapell now in building, were finish'd. They went to their audience in those plain black gownes and caps which they constantly weare in the Citty of Venice. I was invited to have accompanied the 2 Ambassadors in their coach to supper that night, returning now to their own lodgings, as no longer at the King's expence; but being weary I excus'd myself.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1688. I saw the King (age 55) take barge to Gravesend, Kent [Map] at twelve o'clock-a sad sight! The Prince (age 38) comes to St. James's [Map], and fills Whitehall with Dutch guards. A Council of Peers meet about an expedient to call a Parliament; adjourn to the House of Lords. The Chancellor, Earl of Peterborough (age 67), and divers others taken. The Earl of Sunderland (age 47) flies; Sir Edward Hale (age 43), Walker, and others, taken and secured.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1688. All the world go to see the Prince (age 38) at St. James's [Map], where there is a great Court. There I saw him, and several of my acquaintance who came over with him. He is very stately, serious and reserved. The English soldiers sent out of town to disband them; not well pleased.

On 18th December 1755 John Hamilton (age 41) drowned in Portsmouth Harbour. He had returned from his first command following his marriage to Harriet Craggs (age 42). Despite the weather being stormy he set out in a small boat for shore. The boat was overturned throwing all nine men into the rough water. Some of the men caught hold of the bottom of the upturned boat and waited for help to come from shore. Hamilton, confident in his swimming skills, swam around in the water – reportedly for twenty minutes – "exhorting the men to resignation in case they could not save themselves and, at the same time, encouraging them to exert their strength to preserve life". Along with two of his men, the Captain drowned before help arrived. One newspaper reported that, "The Loss of this Hon. Gentleman is great, he being much esteem'd for his Naval Abilities and exemplary Piety, (having Divine Service perform'd twice a Day at Sea to the Ship's Company) to whom he was a Father; his whole Behaviour was uniform and shew'd both the Christian and Gentleman." Hamilton's portmanteau was retrieved from the water by his footman (one of the six rescued men) and carried to shore. A "Gentleman" at Portsmouth set out immediately for London, with said portmanteau, to inform Harriot "in the discreetest manner possible" of her husband's death.

On 18th December 1835 Frances Charlotte Lambton (age 23) died of consumption.

The Times. 13th February 1867. DEATH OF LORD FEVERSHAM. We regret to announce the death, after a short illness, of Lord Feversham (deceased), which occurred on Monday night at his residence in Great Cumberland Street. The late William Duncombe Baron Feversham, of Dancombe Park, County York, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, was son of Charles first Lord by his marriage with Lady Charlotte Legge, only daughter of William, second Earl of Dartmouth. He was born on the 14th of January, 1798, so that he was in his 69th year. The deceased nobleman was educted at Eton [Map], and afterwards proceeded to Christ Church, Oxford. He married l8th of December, 1823, Lady Louisa Stewart (age 63), third daughter of George, eighth Earl of Galloway, by whom,who survives his Lordship, he leaves issue the Hon. Wiliam E. Duncombe (age 38), M.P., and Captain the Hon. Cecil Duncombe, of the 1st Life Guards, and three daughters, the Hon Jane, married l1th of April, 1849, to the Hon. Laurence Parsons; the Hon. Gertrude (age 39), married 27th of November 1&19, to Mr. Francis Horatio Fitzroy (age 43); and the Hon. Helen, married 18th of July, 1855, to Mr. William Becket Denison. Previously to his accession to the peerage on the death of his father in July, 1841, he represented Yorkshire in the House of Commons from 1826 to 1830. At the general election in 1831 he was unsuceessful candidate for the coenty, but was returned for the North Riding in the following year, which he continued to represent till 18S1. He voted against the Reforzn Bill of 1832, and was uniformly in favour of agricultural protection. He took great interest in agricultural pursuit, And was a distinguished member of the Royal Agricultural Society, of which he was one of the trustees The deceased noblemna is succeded by his eldest son, the Hon. Wiliam Ernest Duncombe, above mentioned, who was born January 28 1829, and married, August 7, 1851, Mabel Violet (age 33), second daughter of the late Right Hon. Sir James Graham, of Netherby. He was M.P. for East Retford from February, 1852, to 1857 and elected for the North Riding of Yorkshire inI 1859, anA was also returned at the last general election After a sharp contest, being second on the poll. He is Captain of the Yorkshire Yeomianry (Hussars) Cavalry, and Lientenent Colonel of the 2d North Riding like his deceased father, he is a supporter of Lord Derby, but in favour of such a measure of Parliamentary Reforms would give no undue preponderance to any one class, but would ensure to a fair distribution of political privileges.

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On 18th December 1879 Henry Hugh Armstead (age 51) was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy.

On 18th December 1882 Dean Francis Close (age 85) died. Monument in Carlisle Cathedral [Map] sculpted by Henry Hugh Armstead (age 54).

Dean Francis Close: On 11th July 1797 he was born in Frome, Somerset [Map]. On 24th November 1856 he was appointed Dean of Carlisle.

Births on the 18th December

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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 18th December 1574 Maria Anna Wittelsbach Holy Roman Empress was born to William Wittelsbach V Duke Bavaria (age 26) and Renata Lorraine Duchess Bavaria (age 30). Coefficient of inbreeding 2.86%.

On 18th December 1602 Simonds D'Ewes 1st Baronet was born to Paul d'Ewes (age 35) and Cecilia Simonds (age 23) at Milden, Suffolk.

On 18th December 1611 Georg Friedrich Oldenburg was born to Alexander Oldenburg I Duke Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg (age 38) and Dorothea Schwarzburg Duchess Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg (age 32).

On 18th December 1622 George Booth 1st Baron Delamer was born to William Booth (age 27) and Vere Egerton (age 26).

On 18th December 1626 Christina Queen of Sweden was born to King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden (age 32).

On 18th December 1676 was born to Thomas Felton 4th Baronet (age 27) and Elizabeth Howard Lady Felton.

On 18th December 1690 Edmund Isham 6th Baronet was born to Justinian Isham 4th Baronet (age 32) and Elizabeth Turnor Lady Isham (age 24).

On 18th December 1707 Walter Calverley aka Blackett 2nd Baronet was born to Walter Calverly 1st Baronet (age 37) and Julia Blacket Lady Calverley (age 21).

On 18th December 1714 Philippine Élisabeth Bourbon was born to Philippe Bourbon II Duke Orléans (age 40) and Françoise Marie Bourbon Duchess Orléans (age 37). She a great x 3 granddaughter of King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland. Coefficient of inbreeding 7.39%.

On 18th December 1719 twins William Stanhope 2nd Earl of Harrington and Thomas Stanhope were born to William Stanhope 1st Earl of Harrington (age 36) and Anne Griffith (age 21). Their mother died in childbirth.

On 18th December 1734 John Thorold 9th Baronet was born to John Thorold 8th Baronet (age 31) and Elizabeth Ayton Lady Thorold.

On 18th December 1766 William Beauclerk 8th Duke St Albans was born to Aubrey Beauclerk 5th Duke St Albans (age 26) and Catherine Ponsonby Duchess St Albans (age 24). He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

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The 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.

On 18th December 1767 John Wallop 3rd Earl Portsmouth was born to John Wallop 2nd Earl Portsmouth (age 25) and Urania Fellowes (age 25). He was identified as an unsound mind from an early age.

On 18th December 1836 Adolphus John Spencer-Churchill Chichester was born to Edward Chichester 4th Marquess Donegal (age 37) and Amelia Ogrady Marchioness County Donegal.

On 18th December 1844 Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baron Shuttleworth was born to James Phillips Kay-Shuttleworth 1st Baronet (age 40) and Janet Shuttleworth (age 27).

On 18th December 1847 Admiral William Alison Dyke Acland 2nd Baronet was born to Henry Wentworth Acland 1st Baronet (age 32) and Sarah Cotton (age 32).

On 18th December 1848 Edith Sophia Rowley Lady Cholmeley was born to Charles Robert Rowley 4th Baronet (age 48) and Maria Louisa Vanneck (age 37).

On 18th December 1872 James Edward Harris 5th Earl Malmesbury was born to Edward Harris 4th Earl Malmesbury (age 30) and Sylvia Georgina Stewart Countess of Malmesbury.

On 18th December 1886 Gerald Grove 3rd Baronet was born to Walter John Grove 2nd Baronet (age 34) and Agnes Geraldine Lane Fox-Pitt Lady Grove (age 23).

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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 18th December 1911 Derek Keppel was born to Walter Keppel 9th Earl Albermarle (age 29) and Judith Sydney Myee Wynn-Carington (age 22).

On 18th December 1936 John William Fleetwood Fuller 3rd Baronet was born to Gerard Henry Fleetwood Fuller 2nd Baronet (age 30) and Fiona Pratt Countess Normanton.

On 18th December 1938 John Horsbrugh-Porter 4th Baronet was born to Colonel Andrew Horsbrugh-Porter 3rd Baronet (age 31).

On 18th December 1952 Charles Chetwynd-Talbot 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury 7th Earl Talbot was born to John Chetwynd-Talbot 21st Earl of Shrewsbury 6th Earl Talbot (age 38) and Nina Mortlock Countess Shrewsbury, Waterford and Talbot.

Marriages on the 18th December

On 18th December 1244 Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy (age 47) and Cecilia Baux Countess Savoy (age 14) were married. She by marriage Countess Savoy. The difference in their ages was 33 years. He the son of Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy and Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy (age 64).

On 18th December 1638 Henry Bourchier 5th Earl Bath (age 51) and Rachael Fane Countess Bath and Middlesex (age 25) were married at Church of St Bartholomew the Great. She by marriage Countess Bath, Countess Eu. The difference in their ages was 26 years. She the daughter of Francis Fane 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Mary Mildmay Countess of Westmoreland (age 56). They were second cousin twice removed.

On 18th December 1823 William Duncombe 2nd Baron Feversham (age 25) and Louisa Stewart Baroness Feversham Duncombe Park (age 19) were married. She the daughter of George Stewart 8th Earl Galloway (age 55) and Jane Paget Countess Galloway (age 49).

On 18th December 1856 James Molyneux Caulfeild 3rd Earl Charlemont (age 36) and Elizabeth Jane Somerville Countess Charlemont (age 22) were married.

On 18th December 1879 William Legge 6th Earl Dartmouth (age 28) and Mary Coke Countess Dartmouth (age 30) were married. She by marriage Countess Dartmouth. She the daughter of Thomas Coke 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 56) and Juliana Whitbread Countess Leicester. He the son of William Legge 5th Earl Dartmouth (age 56) and Augusta Finch Countess Dartmouth (age 57). They were half fifth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.

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The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin 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.

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On 18th December 1951 Percy Hamilton Seymour 18th Duke of Somerset (age 41) and Gwendoline Collette Jane Thomas Duchess Somerset were married. He the son of Evelyn Francis Edward Seymour 17th Duke of Somerset (age 69) and Edith Mary Parker Duchess Somerset (age 70).

Deaths on the 18th December

On 18th December 1075 Edith of Wessex Queen Consort England (age 49) died.

On 18th December 1316 Bishop Gilbert Segrave (age 50) died.

On 18th December 1398 Maud Lacy Countess Northumberland (age 55) died.

On 18th December 1446 Marie Montfort Duchess Alençon (age 55) died.

On 18th December 1475 Margery Berners Baroness Berners (age 67) died.

On 18th December 1495 Alfonso II King Naples (age 47) died. His son Ferdinand (age 26) succeeded II King Naples. Joanna Trastámara Queen Consort Naples (age 16) by marriage Queen Consort Naples.

On 18th December 1515 Alexander Stewart 1st Duke Ross (age 1) died at Stirling Castle [Map].

On 18th December 1557 Archdeacon John Philpot (age 41) was burned at the stake for being a heretic i.e. being a Protestant.

On 18th December 1614 Moyle Finch 1st Baronet (age 64) died. His son Theophilius (age 41) succeeded 2nd Baronet Finch of Eastwell in Kent.

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The 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.

On 18th December 1646 Henry Somerset 1st Marquess Worcester (age 69) died at Covent Garden [Map]. His son Edward (age 44) succeeded 2nd Marquess Worcester, 6th Earl Worcester, 8th Baron Herbert of Raglan.

On 18th December 1651 William Brabazon 1st Earl Meath (age 71) died. His son Edward (age 41) succeeded 2nd Earl Meath, 3rd Baron Ardee. Mary Chambré Countess Meath (age 40) by marriage Countess Meath.

On 18th December 1682 Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham (age 60) died at Great Queen Street Covent Garden. He was buried at Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire. His son Daniel (age 35) succeeded 2nd Earl Nottingham, 2nd Baron Finch Daventry. Essex Rich Countess Nottingham (age 30) by marriage Countess Nottingham.

On 18th December 1712 Robert Cotton 1st Baronet (age 77) died. His son Thomas (age 40) succeeded 2nd Baronet Cotton of Combermere in Cheshire. Philadelphia Lynch Lady Cotton (age 37) by marriage Lady Cotton of Combermere in Cheshire.

On 18th December 1721 Paul Whichcote 2nd Baronet (age 78) died. His son Francis (age 29) succeeded 3rd Baronet Whichcote of the Inner Temple in the City of London. Mary Banks Lady Whichcote by marriage Lady Whichcote of the Inner Temple in the City of London.

On 18th December 1724 Nicholas L'Estrange 4th Baronet (age 63) died. His son Thomas (age 35) succeeded 5th Baronet Strange of Hunstanton in Norfolk. Anne Calthorpe Lady Strange by marriage Lady Strange of Hunstanton in Norfolk.

On 18th December 1734 Robert Kemp 3rd Baronet (age 67) died at Ufford, Suffolk. His son Robert (age 35) succeeded 4th Baronet Kemp of Gissing in Norfolk.

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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 18th December 1745 Joanna Taylor Lady Wray died.

On 18th December 1760 Juliana Noel Baroness Carbery (age 26) died.

On 18th December 1784 John Chichester 5th Baronet (age 63) died. His son John (age 32) succeeded 6th Baronet Chichester of Raleigh in Devon.

On 18th December 1792 David Kennedy 10th Earl Cassilis (age 58) died unmarried. His second cousin once removed Archibald (age 72) succeeded 11th EarL Cassilis at which time he was lviign in New York. Baronet Kennedy of Culzean in Ayrshire extinct.

On 18th December 1805 Henry St John 13th Baron St John (age 47) died. His brother Andrew (age 46) succeeded 14th Baron St John of Bletso, 11th Baronet St John of Woodford in Northamptonshire.

On 18th December 1823 Henry Barry 8th Earl Barrymore (age 53) died. Earl Barrymore extinct.

On 18th December 1843 Thomas Graham 1st Baron Lynedoch (age 97) died. Baron Lynedoch of Balgowan in Perthshire extinct.

On 18th December 1846 George Hilaro Barlow 1st Baronet (age 83) died. His son Robert (age 49) succeeded 2nd Baronet Barlow of Fort William in Bengal.

On 18th December 1868 Thomas Gresley 10th Baronet (age 36) died. His son Robert (age 2) succeeded 11th Baronet Gresley of Drakelow in Derbyshire.

On 18th December 1869 Agnes Georgiana Elizabeth Hay Countess Fife (age 40) died.

On 18th December 1882 Dean Francis Close (age 85) died. Monument in Carlisle Cathedral [Map] sculpted by Henry Hugh Armstead (age 54).

Dean Francis Close: On 11th July 1797 he was born in Frome, Somerset [Map]. On 24th November 1856 he was appointed Dean of Carlisle.

On 18th December 1894 Edmund Shirley 3rd Baronet (age 68) died. His son Edmund (age 29) succeeded 4th Baronet Lechmere of Rhyd in Worcestershire.

On 18th December 1899 Charles Bennet 6th Earl Tankerville (age 89) died. His son George (age 47) succeeded 7th Earl Tankerville, 8th Baron Ossulston of Ossulston in Middlesex. Leonora Sophia van Marter Countess of Tancerville by marriage Countess Tankerville.

On 18th December 1915 Robert Jocelyn 7th Earl Roden (age 70) died. His son Robert (age 32) succeeded 8th Earl Roden Elinor Jessie Parr Countess Roden by marriage Countess Roden.

On 18th December 1922 Carl Ferdinand Meyer 1st Baronet (age 70) died. His son Frank (age 36) succeeded 2nd Baronet Meyer of Shortgrove.

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The 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.

On 18th December 1925 William Hamo Thornycroft (age 75) died. He was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery Oxford [Map].

On 18th December 1949 Albert Toft (age 87) died.

On 18th December 1955 Drummond Cospatric Hamilton-Spencer-Smith 5th Baronet (age 79) died. His son Thomas (age 38) succeeded 6th Baronet Hamilton-Spencer-Smith of Tring Park in Hertfordshire.

On 18th December 1973 George Bridges Rodney 8th Baron Rodney (age 82) died. His son John (age 53) succeeded 9th Baron Rodney of Rodney Stoke in Somerset.

On 18th December 1991 Mark Chandos Auberon Henniker 8th Baronet (age 85) died. His son Adrian (age 45) succeeded 9th Baronet Henniker of Newton Hall in Essex.

On 18th December 1995 George Edward Mordaunt Milner 9th Baronet (age 84) died. His son Timothy (age 59) succeeded 10th Baronet Milner of Nun Appleton Hall in Yorkshire.

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The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin 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 as eBook or Paperback.

On 18th December 2012 William Marcus Worsley 5th Baronet (age 87) died at Hovingham Hall. His son William (age 56) succeeded 6th Baronet Worsley of Hovingham Hall.

On 18th December 2017 Jack Vernon 7th Baron Lyveden (age 79) died. His son Colin (age 50) succeeded 8th Baron Lyveden.