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Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I and II Volume 1 Annals of London and Annals of St Paul's

This volume brings together two important medieval chronicles of the reigns of Edward I and Edward II: the Annals of London (Annales Londonienses) and the Annals of St Paul’s (Annales Paulini). Written close to the events they describe, these chronicles offer a vivid contemporary record of English political, military, ecclesiastical and civic life from the late thirteenth to the early fourteenth century. Their particular strength lies in their London perspective, recording not only the affairs of kings, nobles and bishops, but also parliaments, royal proclamations, civic disputes, elections of mayors and sheriffs, executions, tournaments, religious ceremonies, fires, floods, disturbances and the everyday concerns of the capital. The chronicles cover some of the most dramatic events of the period, including the wars of Edward I, conflict with Scotland, the turbulent reign of Edward II, the rise and fall of Piers Gaveston and the Despensers, the rebellion of Thomas of Lancaster, Queen Isabella’s invasion of England, the deposition of Edward II, and the accession of Edward III. The Annales Paulini, associated with St Paul’s Cathedral, is particularly rich in detailed observations of London and its clergy and citizens. An essential primary source for students and readers interested in medieval England, London history, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, the Scottish wars, medieval politics, and ecclesiastical history, this volume provides an unusually immediate view of a kingdom undergoing profound political upheaval.

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On this Day in History ... 31st March

31st March is in March.

1547 Death of King Francis I of France Accession of Henry II

1586 Exeter Black Assizes

See Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Events on the 31st March

On 31st March 1084 Henry "Black Pious" Salian III Holy Roman Emperor was crowned as IV Holy Roman Emperor in St Peter's Basilica, Vatican.

Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden. 31st March 1194. On the thirty-first day of March, that is, the day before the Kalends of April (March 31), the King of England held the second day of his council. During this session, he demanded judgment to be rendered against his brother, Count John, who had violated the oath of loyalty he had sworn to him, seized his castles, laid waste to his lands both overseas and in England, and entered into an alliance with his enemy, the King of France, against him. Likewise, he also requested that judgment be passed on Hugh de Nonant, Bishop of Coventry, who, despite being privy to his secrets, had abandoned him, allied himself with King Philip of France and Count John, and conspired in every possible way to harm his kingdom.

Tricesima prima die mensis Martii, scilicet pridie kalendas Aprilis, rex Angliæ celebravit secundum diem concilii sui; in quo ipse petiit sibi fieri judicium de comite Johanne fratre suo, qui, contra fidelitatem quam ei juraverat, castella sua occupaverat, et terras suas transmarinas et cismarinas destruxerat, et foedus cum inimico suo rege Franciæ contra eum inierat. Similiter et de Hugone de Nunant Coventrensi episcopo sibi fieri judicium postulavit, qui secreti sui conscius eum reliquerat, et regi Franciæ et comiti Johanni inimicis suis adhæserat, omne malum in perniciem regni sui machinans.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the same year, in his own land of Annandale, at Lochmaben, that noble man Lord Robert de Brus the Fourth [aged 80] died, on Maundy Thursday [31st March 1295]. As previously mentioned, he had disputed with John Balliol before the king of England over the succession to the Scottish throne. And, as he had ordered while alive, he was buried in our house at Guisborough [Map], beside his father, on the second Sunday after Easter, the fifteenth day before the Kalends of May [17th April 1295], with the highest honour and great reverence, as was fitting. Throughout his life, he was glorious, gracious, wealthy, and generous, and he abounded in all things both in life and in death.

Eodem anno in terra sua Vallis Anandiæ apud Loghmaban obiit nobilis ille vir dominus Robertus de Bruys quartus, in Cœna Domini, qui, ut superius tactum est, circa successionem regni Scotiæ cum Johanne de Balliolo coram rege Anglorum disceptavit; et, ut vivens ipse jusserat, sepultus est in domo nostra Gisseburne juxta patrem suum, Dominica secunda post Pascha, XV kalendas Maii, cum summo honore, ut decuit, et reverentia magna. Hic toto tempore vitæ suæ gloriosus extitit, facetus, dives, et largus, et abundavit in omnibus in vita et in morte.

Annals Londonienses. "On the day before the Kalends of April [31st March 1310], the lord king, with the advice of his council, replied in the following form: that, saving the right of the Crown, he wished, as a devoted son of the Church, to obey the most holy pope and the Holy Apostolic See in all things, so far as he was able. He added that, before the contents of your letters had come to his knowledge, a certain discord had arisen among some of the nobles of his realm, which had not been allayed or quieted by the aforesaid day. For that reason he had been unable to deliberate fully so as to give an answer to each of the matters contained in your mandate. But since he now understood that the said discord had been settled, he intended to summon the common council of his realm and to deliberate carefully upon suitable answers to each matter. At about the appointed time for the celebration of the general council, he would, through his envoys, make known to your holy paternity such an answer as God should grant to be fitting."

"Dominus rex pridie kalendas Aprilis cam consilio respondit sub hac forma: quod salvo jure coronæ voluit sanctissimo papæ et sanctæ sedi apostolicæ, sicut devotus filius ecclesiæ, quatinus poterit, in omnibus obedire; adiciens quod ante notitiam litterarum vestrarum, discordia quædam inter quosdam proceres regni sui exorta extitit, quæ usque diem prædictam sedata non fuerat vel sopita; propter quod non potuit plene deliberare, ut ad singula in mandato vestro contents responsum exhiberet, sed cum dictam discordiam perpenderet jam sedatam, intendebat commune regni sui consilium convocare, et super dandis responsionibus convenientibus ad singuls diligenter tractare, ac per suos nuntios, circa tempus celebrationis consilii generalis præfinitam, responsum sanctæ paternitati vestræ, prout Deus dabit conveniens, intimabit."

On 31st March 1311 Bishop Richard Kellaw was elected Bishop of Durham.

Annals Londonienses. "To the most high and most excellent lady, Lady Isabella, by the grace of God Queen of England, Lady of Ireland and Countess of Ponthieu, from her own, if it please her, the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of London, all reverence and honour, as to their most dear lady. Most honoured lady, we thank you, as much as we are able and know how, for all the good and gracious assistance which we have often found in you, and which we always hope to find in you, if it please you. And we humbly beseech your Highness that it may please you to continue this goodwill towards us, as towards those who are and always shall be ready to do what pleases you, as indeed we are very greatly bound to do. Written at London, on the last day of March [1330]."

"A tres haute et tres excellente dame, Dame Isabelle, par la grace de Dieu, Roine Dengleterre, Dame Dirlaunde et Contesse de Pountife, les soens, si lui plest, meire, audremans et le communalte de Loundres, totes reverences et honors, com a lour tres chere dame. Treshonore dame, nous vous mercioms, tant com nous pooms et savoms de totes les bones graciouses eydes qe sovent avoms en vous trovez et tut temps esperoms en vous trover, si pleiser vous soit, et requerroms humblement a votre hautesce, qe cele bone voilliance vers nous les voz vous plese continuer, com devers ceux qe prestz sumes et serroms toutz jours a vos plesances com moult grandement le sumes tenuz. Escrites a Loundres, le dareyn jour de Martz."

Annals Londonienses. "'To the most high and most excellent prince and their most dear liege lord, Sir Edward, by the grace of God, etc., his lieges, the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the City of London, send their allegiance, reverence and honour, as to their most dear liege lord. Most honoured lord, we thank you as fully as we know how and are able that it pleased your high and worthy lordship to grant us time concerning the matter with which Stephen de Abyndone and John de Causton, our fellow citizens, were charged on your behalf in your parliament at Winchester. Understanding from them, lord, that, because certain persons wish to make war upon you concerning your land of Gascony, aid is to be granted by your other lieges of your realm in order to repel their malice and maintain the estate of your Crown, we humbly request and beseech your most high lordship that you will be pleased to accept from us one thousand marks in aid of your war, when aid shall be granted to you by the others of your realm, according to the assent of your said parliament. May Almighty God grant you a long and prosperous reign. Written at London on the last day of March [1330]."

"A treshaut et tres excellent prince et lour trescher seigneour lige, sire Edward par la grace de Dieu etc; les soens liges meire, audremans et la comunalte de la cite de Loundres, ligeances, reverences et honours, com a lour trescher seigneur lige. Tres honore seigneur, vous mercioms en quanqe nous savoms et pooms, qe plust a votre haute et digne seigneurie, comander la suffrance a nous de ceo qe Estiephne de Abyndone et Johan de Causton, nos conciteyns, estoyent chargez depar vous en votre parlement de Wyncestre. Entendantz, seigneur, de eux qe pur ceo qe ascuns vous seigneour voillantz de votre terre de Gasgoyne surquere, soit graunte eyde par vos autres liges de votre roialme, pur lour malice reboter et lestat de votre coroun meyntenir; requerroms humblement et supplioms a votre tres haute seigneurie qe vous plese resceivre de nous mille marks en eyde de votre guerre, quanqe le eyde vous serra faite de autres de votre roialme, solonc lassent de votre dit parlement. Dieu tut puissant vous doynt bien longement regner. Escrites a Loundres le dreyner jour de Marz."

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On 31st March 1347 Frederick Habsburg III Duke Austria was born to Albert Habsburg II Duke Austria [aged 48] and Johanna Pfirt Duchess Austria.

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Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I and II Volume 2

The Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I and Edward II, Volume 2, comprising A Sorrowful Commendation on King Edward, the Life of Edward II by a Monk of Bridlington, Life of Edward II by a Monk of Malmesbury and Life of Edward by Thomas de la More, presents a rich collection of medieval English chronicles illuminating the political, military, ecclesiastical and social upheavals of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. The volume offers contemporary and near-contemporary accounts of the reigns of Edward I and Edward II, a period marked by war with Scotland, conflict between Crown and nobility, disputes over royal government, ecclesiastical tensions, rebellion, deposition and civil violence. Particular attention is given to the struggle surrounding Piers Gaveston, Thomas of Lancaster and the Despensers, as well as the turbulent final years of Edward II and the political circumstances that shaped the early reign of Edward III. These chronicles are especially valuable for their vivid narrative detail. They preserve speeches, political arguments, descriptions of battles and executions, accounts of parliaments and royal councils, reports of diplomatic missions, ecclesiastical controversies, prodigies and natural events, and contemporary judgements on the conduct of kings, magnates and churchmen. Written from differing institutional and regional perspectives, the texts reveal not only what happened but how medieval observers interpreted events, often through ideas of divine judgement, legitimate kingship, loyalty, treason and moral retribution. An important primary-source collection for readers interested in Edward I, Edward II, medieval politics, the Scottish wars, the baronial opposition, the fall of Edward II, church history and fourteenth-century England, Volume 2 provides an indispensable window into one of the most turbulent periods of the English Middle Ages.

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On 31st March 1360 Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 20] and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster [aged 18] at Leicester Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married 2nd February 1387 her half fourth cousin King John I of Portugal, son of Peter I King Portugal and Inês Castro, and had issue.

Bourgeois de Valenciennes. This holy intention and crusading vow was made in the year of grace 1363, on Good Friday [31st March] , after the service and the holy exhortation and sermon delivered by Pope Urban.

Et fut ceste sainte intention et croisiation faite l'an de grasce mil IIIc et LXIII, le jour du Saint Vendredy, après le service et la sainte colation, exortation et prédication que fist le Saint-Père pappe Urbain.

On 31st March 1373 Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 33] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 19] at Hertford Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married before 17th September 1388 her half second cousin Henry III King Castile, son of John I King Castile and Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.

On 31st March 1387 Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund [aged 19] was crowned I King Hungary.

On 31st March 1439 Joan Aviz Queen Consort Castile was born to Edward "The Philosopher" I King Portugal and Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Portugal. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.40%. She married 1455 her first cousin Henry IV King Castile, son of John II King Castile and Maria Trastámara Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.

On 31st March 1448 Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 42] was created 1st Duke Somerset. He is sometimes referred to as the 2nd Duke Somerset since his brother John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset was the 1st Duke Somerset of the first creation. Edmund didn't inherit the Dukedom from his brother; it was a new creation. His did inherit the Earldom.

The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Rutland Volume 1. 31st March 1471. George Duke of Clarence [aged 21] to Henry Vernon [aged 26].

[1471?] March 31. [Ciren]cester. — We have receyved your letter writen att Lych[field] the xxx day of this monneth, whereby ye reherse that ye conceyved by oon of [our] letters directed to you that we shuld be pleased or entende that ye shuld goo bak, which we never entended as fer as we can remember, but alway wrote unto you to come unto us without delay, as our trust is and hath been that ye wold, considering the trust and confidence that we have had and yit have in you. And if ye have any such letters as ye surmitte, that ye send unto us the same by the bearer hereof, and that or any other notwithstanding that ye faille not to come to us with all diligence as ye entende to please us. Signed. Signet.

N.Y. — Henry, I thank you that ye hail so dylygantley aieded my tenandes and sarwants wer ye be ofeser to atend on my .... comyng in to those partes, prayeng you that ye wyll send suer and trustie ... to espey wat pepell they ar and as far as they may honderston of their entent and por ... an be sartefeyed .... tan the xxvj day.

On 31st March 1472 Piero Trastámara was born to Alfonso II King Naples [aged 23] and Ippolita Maria Sforza [aged 25].

On 31st March 1519 King Henry II of France was born to King Francis I of France [aged 24] and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 19]. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.52%. He married 28th October 1533 his sixth cousin Catherine Medici Queen Consort France and had issue.

On 31st March 1547 King Francis I of France [aged 52] died. His son Henry [aged 28] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.

On 31st March 1576 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine was born to William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 29]. She married before 16th July 1594 Frederick IV Elector Palatine and had issue.

On 31st March 1577 Adrian Vanson and Susanna de Colonia were married.

In March 1586 a virulent outbreak of gaol fever occurred during the Assizes in Exeter, Devon [Map]. The cause according to modern medical opinion was typhus transmitted by the human body-louse. Among the dead victims were eight judges, eleven of the twelve jurors, several constables, and the surrounding population which was ravaged by the disease for several months.

Edward Flowerdew died of gaol fever.

On 28th March 1586 Thomas Carew of Haccombe [aged 70] died of gaol fever.

On 31st March 1586 John Chichester died of gaol fever.

On 1st April 1586 Robert Carey [aged 71] died of gaol fever.

On 2nd April 1586 Arthur Bassett [aged 45] died of gaol fever.

On 10th April 1586 Bernard Drake [aged 58] died of gaol fever.

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Deeds of King Henry V

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 31st March 1597 John Wettin was born to Johann Wettin II Duke Saxe Weimar [aged 26] and Dorothea Maria Anhalt at Weimar. He died aged seven in 1604.

On 31st March 1621 Philip III King Spain [aged 42] died. His son Philip [aged 15] succeeded IV King Spain.

On 31st March 1631 John Donne [aged 59] died.

On 31st March 1652 Bernardino Fernández de Velasco 6th Duke of Frías [aged 43] died.

On 31st March 1662 Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 23] and Margaret Banastre Duchess of Richmond were married. She by marriage Duchess Richmond.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1664. Up betimes, and to my office, where by and by comes Povy [aged 50], Sir W. Rider, Mr. Bland, Creed, and Vernaty, about my Lord Peterborough's [aged 42] accounts, which we now went through, but with great difficulty, and many high words between Mr. Povy and I; for I could not endure to see so many things extraordinary put in, against truthe and reason. He was very angry, but I endeavoured all I could to profess my satisfaction in my Lord's part of the accounts, but not in those foolish idle things, they say I said, that others had put in. Anon we rose and parted, both of us angry, but I contented, because I knew all of them must know I was in the right.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1665. So to Povy [aged 51], and with him spent the afternoon very busy, till I was weary of following this and neglecting my navy business. So at night called my wife at my Lady's, and so home. To my office and there made up my month's account, which, God be praised! rose to £1300. Which I bless God for. So after 12 o'clock home to supper and to bed. I find Creed mightily transported by my Lord of Falmouth's [aged 35] kind words to him, and saying that he hath a place in his intention for him, which he believes will be considerable. A witty man he is in every respect, but of no good nature, nor a man ordinarily to be dealt with. My Baroness Castlemayne [aged 24] is sicke again, people think, slipping her filly.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1665. So to my Lady Sandwich's [aged 40] to dinner, and up to her chamber after dinner, and there discoursed about Sir G. Carteret's [aged 55] son, in proposition between us two for my Lady Jemimah.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1665. Up betimes and walked to my Lord Ashly [aged 43], and there with Creed after long waiting spoke with him, and was civilly used by him; thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke [aged 55], and then to visit my Lord of Falmouth [aged 35], who did also receive me pretty civilly, but not as I expected; he, I perceive, believing that I had undertaken to justify Povy's [aged 51] accounts, taking them upon myself, but I rectified him therein.

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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.

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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1667. After dinner Balty [aged 27] (who dined also with us) and I with Sir J. Minnes [aged 68] in his coach to White Hall, but did nothing, but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to my Lord Treasurer's [aged 60], where the King [aged 36], Duke of York [aged 33], and the Caball, and much company without; and a fine day.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1667. Anon come out from the Caball my Lord Hollis [aged 67] and Mr. H. Coventry [aged 48], who, it is conceived, have received their instructions from the King [aged 36] this day; they being to begin their journey towards their treaty at Bredagh speedily, their passes being come. Here I saw the Baroness Northumberland [aged 44] and her daughter-in-law [aged 21], my Lord Treasurer's [aged 60] daughter, my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1668. Up pretty betimes and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at noon I home to dinner, where uncle Thomas dined with me, as he do every quarter, and I paid him his pension; and also comes Mr. Hollier [aged 59] a little fuddled, and so did talk nothing but Latin, and laugh, that it was very good sport to see a sober man in such a humour, though he was not drunk to scandal. At dinner comes a summons for this office and the Victualler to attend a Committee of Parliament this afternoon, with Sir Prince, which I accordingly did, with my papers relating to the sending of victuals to Sir John Harman's [aged 43] fleete; and there, Sir R. Brookes [aged 31] in the chair, we did give them a full account, but, Lord! to see how full they are and immoveable in their jealousy that some means are used to keep Harman from coming home, for they have an implacable desire to know the bottom of the not improving the first victory, and would lay it upon Brouncker [aged 48]. Having given them good satisfaction I away thence, up and down, wanting a little to see whether I could get Mrs. Burroughes out, but elle being in the shop ego did speak con her much, she could not then go far, and so I took coach and away to Unthanke's, and there took up my wife and Deb., and to the Park, where, being in a Hackney, and they undressed, was ashamed to go into the tour, but went round the park, and so with pleasure home, where Mr. Pelting come and sat and talked late with us, and he being gone, I called Deb. to take pen, ink, and paper and write down what things come into my head for my wife to do in order to her going into the country, and the girl, writing not so well as she would do, cried, and her mistress construed it to be sullenness, and so away angry with her too, but going to bed she undressed me, and there I did give her good advice and baiser la, elle weeping still.

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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1669. Up, and by water to Sir W. Coventry's [aged 41], there to talk with him about business of the Navy, and received from him direction what to advise the Duke of York [aged 35] at this time, which was, to submit and give way to the King's naming a man or two, that the people about him have a mind should be brought into the Navy, and perhaps that may stop their fury in running further against the whole; and this, he believes, will do it. After much discourse with him, I walked out with him into St. James's Park, where, being afeard to be seen with him, he having not leave yet to kiss the King's hand, but notice taken, as I hear, of all that go to him, I did take the pretence of my attending the Tangier Committee, to take my leave, though to serve him I should, I think, stick at nothing. At the Committee, this morning, my Lord Middleton [aged 61] declares at last his being ready to go, as soon as ever money can be made ready to pay the garrison: and so I have orders to get money, but how soon I know not.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 31st March 1669. Thence to Dancre's [aged 44], and there, saw our pictures which are in doing; and I did choose a view of Rome instead of Hampton Court [Map]; and mightily pleased I shall be in them. Here were Sir Charles Cotterell [aged 53] and his son bespeaking something; both ingenious men.

On 31st March 1670 Louis Auguste Bourbon Duke Maine was born illegitimately to Louis "Sun King" XIV King France [aged 31] and Françoise Athénaïs Marquise Montespan [aged 29].

On 31st March 1671 Anne Hyde Duchess of York [aged 34] died.

On 31st March 1678 Richard Sanford was born to John Sanford of Nynehead Florey, Somerset [aged 40] and Elizabeth Knightley [aged 24]. He was baptised the same day. On 7th April 1678 he died. On 9th April 1638 he was buried at St Mary's Church, Fawsley [Map].

John Sanford of Nynehead Florey, Somerset: In 1638 he was born. On 21st June 1670 he and Elizabeth Knightley were married at St Katharine Cree Church. In 1711 he died.

Elizabeth Knightley: On 8th July 1653 she was born to Lucius Knightley and Elizabeth Dent. On 26th September 1711 she died.

On 31st March 1682 John Freschville 1st Baron Frescheville [aged 74] died. Baron Frescheville of Staveley extinct. The last of the male line of Freschville. He was buried in St John the Baptist's Church, Staveley [Map] where his third wife Anna Charlotte De Vic commissioned a monument. Sarcophagus with seated putti.

Anna Charlotte De Vic: she was born to Henry de Vic. In December 1666 John Freschville 1st Baron Frescheville and she were married. On 12th November 1717 she died.

St Mary the Virgin Church, Edelsborough [Map]. Grave in the Chancel of John Theed of Horton Hall, husband of Margaret Pym, died 31st March 1686.

Calendar of the State Papers of William and Mary 1693 March. 31st March 1693. Whitehall. Warrant for the allowance of the expenses (amounting to 518l. 14s. 10d.) of Sir William Dutton Colt [aged 47], knt., for investing the Elector of Saxony [aged 24] with the order of the Garter at Dresden the 26th of Jan., 1698. [Ibid., p. 588.]

John Evelyn's Diary. 31st March 1693. I met the King [aged 42] going to Gravesend [Map] to embark in his yacht for Holland.

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Annals of Kings Richard II and Henry IV 1393-1406

The Annals of Kings Richard II and Henry IV offers a vivid contemporary account of one of the most turbulent periods in late medieval England. Covering the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV, the chronicle records royal ceremonies, political conflict, rebellion, war, taxation, religious controversy, executions, popular unrest and remarkable portents. Its pages include a detailed description of Richard II’s coronation, the fall and deposition of the king, Henry IV’s seizure of the throne, the Percy rebellion, the execution of Archbishop Richard Scrope, the campaigns of Owain Glyndŵr, and England’s relations with Scotland, France, Portugal and Scandinavia. Alongside affairs of state, the annalist preserves reports of miracles, eclipses, prophecies, supernatural events and the experiences of ordinary townspeople, clergy, soldiers and travellers. Written from a monastic perspective, the work combines political observation with moral judgement, presenting victories and disasters as evidence of divine favour or punishment. At once a historical record and a reflection of medieval belief, the Annals provides an invaluable window into the challenges, ceremonies and conflicts of England at the turn of the fifteenth century.

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On 31st March 1718 Infante Mariana Victoria of Spain was born to Philippe V King Spain [aged 34] and Elisabeth Farnese Queen Consort Spain [aged 25]. She married Joseph I King Portugal.

On 31st March 1723 Frederick V King of Denmark and Norway was born to Christian VI King of Denmark and Norway [aged 23] at Christiansborg Castle. He married 1. 11th December 1743 his third cousin once removed Louise Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway, daughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland and Caroline Hohenzollern Queen Consort England, and had issue 2. 8th July 1752 Juliana Maria Welf Queen Consort Denmark and Norway and had issue.

On 31st March 1740 Charles Spencer was born to Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 33] and Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 27]. He married 2nd October 1762 Mary Beauclerk, daughter of Vere Beauclerk 1st Baron de Vere and Mary Chambers Baroness Spencer, and had issue.

On 31st March 1751 Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 44] died at Leicester House.

On 31st March 1760 Augusta Campbell was born to John Campbell 5th Duke Argyll [aged 36] and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll [aged 26]. She married in or before 1790 her fourth cousin once removed Brigadier-General Henry Mordaunt Clavering and had issue.

After 31st March 1761. Monument to John Palmer [deceased] at Church of St Mary Magdalene, Ecton [Map] sculpted by H Cox. Bust by John Michael Rysbrack [aged 66].

John Palmer: Around 1695 he was born to Thomas Palmer. On 31st March 1761 he died.

The London Gazette 13765. 31st March 1795. Dublin Castle, March 31 1795.

The Earl Camden [aged 36], who embarked on Board His Majesty's, Yacht the Dorset at Holyhead about Five o'Clock Yesterday Evening, arrived in this Harbour at Three o'Clock this Evening, His Lordship, on his Arrival in Dublin, was received by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs and Commons, of the City of Dublin. The Infantry in the Garrison lined the Streets through which his Lordship, attended by a Squadron of Dragoon Guards, proceeded to the Castle, and upon his Arrival there, at Six o'Clock. he was introduced in. Form to the Lords Justices, who received him under the Canopy of State in the Presence Chamber, from whence a Procession was made in the usual State to the Council Chamber. The Council sitting, his Lordship's Commission was read, and the Oaths being administered to him, his Excellency was invested with the Collar of the Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick, and received the Sword from the Lords Justices. The Great Guns in His Majesty's Phœnix Park were then fired, and answered by Vollies from the Regiments on Duty. His Excellency afterwards repaired to the Presence Chamber, and received the Compliments of the Nobiility and other Persons of Distinction upon his safe Arrival, and taKing upon him the Government of this Kingdom.

On 31st March 1807 William Cavendish-Bentinck 3rd Duke Portland [aged 68] was appointed Prime Minister.

On 31st March 1837 John Constable [aged 60] died.

On 31st March 1853 George Howard 7th Earl Carlisle [aged 50] was installed as rector of the university of Aberdeen.

On 31st March 1863 Henry Cavendish 3rd Baron Waterpark [aged 69] died. Memorial at St Cuthbert's Church, Doveridge [Map]. His son Henry [aged 23] succeeded 4th Baron Waterpark, 5th Baronet Cavendish of Doveridge Hall.

Henry Anson Cavendish 4th Baron Waterpark: On 14th April 1839 he was born to Henry Cavendish 3rd Baron Waterpark and Elizabeth Jane Anson Baroness Waterpark. In 1873 he and Emily Stenning Baroness Waterpark were married. She by marriage Baroness Waterpark. They had five children.

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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 31st March 1874 William Michael Rossetti [aged 44] and Emma Lucy Madox Brown [aged 30] were married. She the daughter of Ford Madox Brown [aged 52] and Elizabeth Bromley.

On 31st March 1880 Frederick Lambton [aged 24] was elected MP South Durham which seat he held until 24th November 1885 when the constituency was abolished.

On 31st March 1880 Oswald Birley was born to Hugh Birley [aged 24] and Elizabeth McCorquodale [aged 24] in New Zealand. He married 1921 Rhoda Vava Pike and had issue.

On 31st March 1899 William Copeland Borlase [aged 50] died.

31st March 1901. Census. Draycott Lodge

William Holman Hunt [aged 73]. Head. 73. Artist and Sculptor crossed out. Painter.

Marion Edith Waugh [aged 54]. Wife. 54.

Cyril Hunt [aged 34]. Son. 34. Tea Planter.

Florence Venney. Servant. 16. Under-housemaid.

Margaret Murdock. Servant. 37. Cook.

Cyril Hunt: On 27th October 1866 he was born to William Holman Hunt and Fanny Waugh. It is likely that this birth caused the death of his mother since she and William Holman-Hunt has only been married one year.

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On 31st March 1905 Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn [aged 92] died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].

Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn: Memorials of Francis Chantrey RA in Hallamshire and Elsewhere Part V London Life and Works. In 1818, he exhibited a bust of John Rennie, the engineer, one of his most admirable heads, and that exquisite little statue at Woburn of Lady Louisa Russell, the present Marchioness of Abercorn. The child stands on tiptoe, with a face of the most exquisite and arch expression, proud with delight of the dove which she fondles in her bosom. All who have been at Woburn will recollect this little figure; but the trays of the Italian boys have given it a wider, and only its deserved celebrity. On 8th July 1812 she was born to John Russell 6th Duke Bedford and Georgiana Gordon Duchess Bedford. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. In 1832 James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn and she were married. She by marriage Duchess Abercorn. She the daughter of John Russell 6th Duke Bedford and Georgiana Gordon Duchess Bedford. He the son of James Hamilton and Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen.

On 31st March 1914 Hubert Von Herkomer [aged 65] died.

After 31st March 1922. Cottage [Map] erected by his family, his tenants, etc as a Memorial to John Granville Cornwallis Eliot 6th Earl St Germans [deceased].

On 31st March 1925 Adam Scott [aged 49] died from a fall from a horse at the United Border Hunt meeting at Kelso.

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The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 2 Chapters 61-109 1342-1361

The Chronicle of Jean le Bel, Volume 2 continues one of the most important fourteenth-century accounts of the early Hundred Years’ War. Written by the Liège chronicler Jean le Bel, this vivid narrative follows the fortunes of Edward III, Jean II of France, the Black Prince, the great nobles of France and England, and the soldiers, captains and companies who shaped the conflict. This volume covers some of the most dramatic events of the period, including the battles of Crécy and Poitiers, the siege and capture of Calais, the captivity of King John, the rise of the Jacquerie, the turmoil in Paris under Étienne Marcel and Charles of Navarre, the devastation caused by the free companies, Edward III’s great campaign of 1359–1360, and the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Brétigny. Jean le Bel’s chronicle is especially valuable for its lively detail, its interest in chivalry, warfare, politics and reputation, and its influence on later chroniclers, most famously Froissart. This English translation presents the text in clear, readable British English while preserving the force and character of the original narrative. The translation includes extensive notes to help the reader better understand Jean le Bel's text. Volume 2 also includes translated appendices drawn from royal and administrative records, many from the English Record Office, which illuminate Edward III’s campaigns in Brittany, the siege and occupation of Calais, naval preparations, military finance, appointments, safe conducts and related affairs.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1928 Henry Windsor 1st Duke Gloucester [aged 28] was created 1st Duke Gloucester.

On 31st March 1941 William Bruce Ellis Ranken [aged 59] died.

21st March 1949. Memorial at St Bartholomew's Church, Whittingham [Map] to Captain John Eustace Smith who died steeplechasing riding Dancing Sun in a chase at Catterick on March 19, 1949. A farmer, he came from a Northumberland farming family. He was invalided from the Northumberland Hussars early in the war. He left a wife and a daughter. Possibly the John Eustace-Smith who rode in the 1947 and 1948 Grand Nationals on Ulster Monarch and Brighter Sandy respectively.

A notice from the Berwick Advertiser, Thursday 31st March 1949:

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service for Captain John Eustace Smith, the well-known amateur jockey, who died after an injury at Catterick races, was held at St. Bartholomews Church, Whittingham. The Rev. P. G. Forman, Archdeacon of Lindisfame, assisted by the Rev. G. Henderson, Vicar of Whittingham, conducted the service. Included among the mourners were. The Duke of Northumberland [aged 34]; Capt. R. Carr Ellison; Major A. S. C. Brown; Mrs J. G. G. Rea; Lord Joicey, Colonel R. Taylor, Major and Mrs A. C. Straker. Colonel J. W. Sale and Mr E. F. Collingwood.

Births on the 31st March

On 31st March 1347 Frederick Habsburg III Duke Austria was born to Albert Habsburg II Duke Austria [aged 48] and Johanna Pfirt Duchess Austria.

On 31st March 1360 Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 20] and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster [aged 18] at Leicester Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married 2nd February 1387 her half fourth cousin King John I of Portugal, son of Peter I King Portugal and Inês Castro, and had issue.

On 31st March 1373 Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 33] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 19] at Hertford Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married before 17th September 1388 her half second cousin Henry III King Castile, son of John I King Castile and Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.

On 31st March 1439 Joan Aviz Queen Consort Castile was born to Edward "The Philosopher" I King Portugal and Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Portugal. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.40%. She married 1455 her first cousin Henry IV King Castile, son of John II King Castile and Maria Trastámara Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.

On 31st March 1472 Piero Trastámara was born to Alfonso II King Naples [aged 23] and Ippolita Maria Sforza [aged 25].

On 31st March 1519 King Henry II of France was born to King Francis I of France [aged 24] and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France [aged 19]. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.52%. He married 28th October 1533 his sixth cousin Catherine Medici Queen Consort France and had issue.

On 31st March 1576 Electress Louise Juliana of the Palatine Rhine was born to William "The Silent" Orange Nassau I Prince Orange [aged 42] and Charlotte Bourbon Princess Orange [aged 29]. She married before 16th July 1594 Frederick IV Elector Palatine and had issue.

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The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 2 Chapters 61-109 1342-1361

The Chronicle of Jean le Bel, Volume 2 continues one of the most important fourteenth-century accounts of the early Hundred Years’ War. Written by the Liège chronicler Jean le Bel, this vivid narrative follows the fortunes of Edward III, Jean II of France, the Black Prince, the great nobles of France and England, and the soldiers, captains and companies who shaped the conflict. This volume covers some of the most dramatic events of the period, including the battles of Crécy and Poitiers, the siege and capture of Calais, the captivity of King John, the rise of the Jacquerie, the turmoil in Paris under Étienne Marcel and Charles of Navarre, the devastation caused by the free companies, Edward III’s great campaign of 1359–1360, and the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Brétigny. Jean le Bel’s chronicle is especially valuable for its lively detail, its interest in chivalry, warfare, politics and reputation, and its influence on later chroniclers, most famously Froissart. This English translation presents the text in clear, readable British English while preserving the force and character of the original narrative. The translation includes extensive notes to help the reader better understand Jean le Bel's text. Volume 2 also includes translated appendices drawn from royal and administrative records, many from the English Record Office, which illuminate Edward III’s campaigns in Brittany, the siege and occupation of Calais, naval preparations, military finance, appointments, safe conducts and related affairs.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1597 John Wettin was born to Johann Wettin II Duke Saxe Weimar [aged 26] and Dorothea Maria Anhalt at Weimar. He died aged seven in 1604.

On 31st March 1670 Louis Auguste Bourbon Duke Maine was born illegitimately to Louis "Sun King" XIV King France [aged 31] and Françoise Athénaïs Marquise Montespan [aged 29].

On 31st March 1697 Charles Stewart 5th Earl Traquair was born to Charles Stewart 4th Earl Traquair [aged 38] and Mary Maxwell Countess Traquair [aged 26]. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.83%. He married on or before 19th May 1746 Teresa Conyers Countess Trauqair, daughter of Baldwin Conyers 4th Baronet.

On 31st March 1718 Infante Mariana Victoria of Spain was born to Philippe V King Spain [aged 34] and Elisabeth Farnese Queen Consort Spain [aged 25]. She married Joseph I King Portugal.

On 31st March 1723 Frederick V King of Denmark and Norway was born to Christian VI King of Denmark and Norway [aged 23] at Christiansborg Castle. He married 1. 11th December 1743 his third cousin once removed Louise Hanover Queen Consort Denmark and Norway, daughter of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland and Caroline Hohenzollern Queen Consort England, and had issue 2. 8th July 1752 Juliana Maria Welf Queen Consort Denmark and Norway and had issue.

On 31st March 1740 Charles Spencer was born to Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough [aged 33] and Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough [aged 27]. He married 2nd October 1762 Mary Beauclerk, daughter of Vere Beauclerk 1st Baron de Vere and Mary Chambers Baroness Spencer, and had issue.

On 31st March 1752 Joseph Scott 1st Baronet was born.

On 31st March 1760 Augusta Campbell was born to John Campbell 5th Duke Argyll [aged 36] and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll [aged 26]. She married in or before 1790 her fourth cousin once removed Brigadier-General Henry Mordaunt Clavering and had issue.

On 31st March 1767 Henry Paulet was born to George Paulett 12th Marquess Winchester [aged 44] and Martha Ingoldsby Marchioness Winchester. He married 26th October 1813 Anna-Maria Ravenscroft and had issue.

On 31st March 1768 Ashton Mosley was born to John Parker Mosley 1st Baronet [aged 36]. He married 10th August 1790 Mary Morley and had issue.

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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 31st March 1777 John Henry Pelly 1st Baronet was born.

On 31st March 1778 Henry Maturin Farrington 3rd Baronet was born to Anthony Farrington 1st Baronet [aged 36] and Elizabeth Colden. He married 1. 6th September 1802 Clarissa Claringbould 2. 5th October 1805 Laura Maria Bromley 3. 18th July 1810 Jane Curry and had issue 4. 6th February 1834 Susanna Kekewich Lady Farrington.

On 31st March 1790 Amelia Caroline Morison King was born illegitimately to George King 3rd Earl Kingston [aged 18] and Amelia Caroline Morison at Fredicton.

On 31st March 1797 Walter Calverley Trevelyan 6th Baronet was born to John Trevelyan 5th Baronet [aged 36] and Maria Wilson [aged 25]. He married 21st May 1835 Paulina Jermyn Lady Trevelyan.

On 31st March 1800 William Cholmondeley 3rd Marquess Cholmondeley was born to George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley [aged 50] and Georgina Charlotte Bertie Marchioness Cholmondeley [aged 38]. He married 28th February 1825 Marcia Emma Georgiana Arbuthnot Marchioness Cholmondeley and had issue.

On 31st March 1812 Reverend William Pitt Trevelyan was born to Archdeacon George Trevelyan [aged 47] and Harriet Neave [aged 40]. He married 1st June 1852 Maria Pleydell-Bouverie.

On 31st March 1813 Francis Richard Grey was born to Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey [aged 49] and Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby Countess Grey [aged 37]. He married 12th August 1840 his third cousin Elizabeth Dorothy Anne Howard, daughter of George Howard 6th Earl Carlisle and Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle.

On 31st March 1817 George William Lyttelton 4th Baron Lyttelton was born to William Henry Lyttelton 3rd Baron Lyttelton [aged 34] and Sarah Spencer [aged 29]. He married 1. 25th July 1839 his sixth cousin Mary Glynne Lady Lyttelton, daughter of Stephen Richard Glynne 8th Baronet and Mary Griffin, and had issue 2. 1869 Sybella Harriet Clive and had issue.

On 31st March 1831 Charlotte Hobhouse Baroness Dorchester1831-1914 was born to John Hobhouse 1st Baron Broughton [aged 44] and Julia Tomasina Hay Lady Hobhouse. She married 27th July 1854 Dudley Wilmot Carleton 4th Baron Dorchester.

On 31st March 1839 Thomas Wrightson 1st Baronet was born to Thomas Wrightson [aged 39].

On 31st March 1839 Neville Lubbock was born to John Lubbock 3rd Baronet [aged 36] and Harriet Hotham [aged 28]. He married 18th June 1861 Harriet Charlotte Wood and had issue.

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The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 2 Chapters 61-109 1342-1361

The Chronicle of Jean le Bel, Volume 2 continues one of the most important fourteenth-century accounts of the early Hundred Years’ War. Written by the Liège chronicler Jean le Bel, this vivid narrative follows the fortunes of Edward III, Jean II of France, the Black Prince, the great nobles of France and England, and the soldiers, captains and companies who shaped the conflict. This volume covers some of the most dramatic events of the period, including the battles of Crécy and Poitiers, the siege and capture of Calais, the captivity of King John, the rise of the Jacquerie, the turmoil in Paris under Étienne Marcel and Charles of Navarre, the devastation caused by the free companies, Edward III’s great campaign of 1359–1360, and the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Brétigny. Jean le Bel’s chronicle is especially valuable for its lively detail, its interest in chivalry, warfare, politics and reputation, and its influence on later chroniclers, most famously Froissart. This English translation presents the text in clear, readable British English while preserving the force and character of the original narrative. The translation includes extensive notes to help the reader better understand Jean le Bel's text. Volume 2 also includes translated appendices drawn from royal and administrative records, many from the English Record Office, which illuminate Edward III’s campaigns in Brittany, the siege and occupation of Calais, naval preparations, military finance, appointments, safe conducts and related affairs.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1848 William Waldorf Astor 1st Viscount Astor was born.

On 31st March 1848 William Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam was born to William Thomas Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 6th and 4th Earl Fitzwilliam [aged 32] and Frances Harriet Douglas Countess Fitzwilliam [aged 28]. He married 31st October 1882 Constance Anne Brocklehurst and had issue.

On 31st March 1863 Joseph Hood 1st Baronet was born at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

On 31st March 1880 Oswald Birley was born to Hugh Birley [aged 24] and Elizabeth McCorquodale [aged 24] in New Zealand. He married 1921 Rhoda Vava Pike and had issue.

On 31st March 1900 Francis Southwell was born to Arthur Southwell 5th Viscount Southwell [aged 27].

On 31st March 1906 Randle John Baker Wilbraham 7th Baronet was born to Philip Wilbraham Baker Wilbraham 6th Baronet [aged 30] and Joyce Christabel Kennaway Lady Wilbraham [aged 29]. He married 26th February 1930 Betty Ann Torrens Lady Wilbraham and had issue.

On 31st March 1926 Michael Brudenell-Bruce 8th Marquess of Ailesbury was born to Cedric Brudenell-Bruce 7th Marquess of Ailesbury [aged 22]. He married 1. 17th March 1952 Edwina Sylvia de Winton-Wills and had issue 2. 10th July 1963 Juliet Adrienne Lethbridge Kingsford 3. 18th September 1974 Caroline Elizabeth Wethered Marchioness of Ailesbury.

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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 31st March 1929 William Anthony Furness 2nd Viscount Furness was born to Marmaduke Furness 1st Viscount Furness [aged 45] and Thelma Morgan Viscountess Furness [aged 24].

Marriages on the 31st March

On 31st March 1577 Adrian Vanson and Susanna de Colonia were married.

On 31st March 1662 Charles Stewart 6th Duke Lennox 3rd Duke Richmond [aged 23] and Margaret Banastre Duchess of Richmond were married. She by marriage Duchess Richmond.

On 31st March 1685 John Bland 4th Baronet [aged 21] and Ann Mosley [aged 20] were married at St James' Church, Didsbury [Map].

On 31st March 1770 Edwin Lascelles 1st Baron Harewood [aged 57] and Jane Coleman Baroness Harewood [aged 39] were married.

On 31st March 1785 James Drummond 11th Earl Perth [aged 41] and Clementia Elphinstone Countess Perth [aged 35] were married. She by marriage Countess Perth.

On 31st March 1795 Henry Vaughan aka Halford 1st Baronet [aged 28] and Elizabeth Barbara St John Lady Halford [aged 33] were married.

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Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham

The Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham is a remarkable medieval history of one of England’s great Benedictine monasteries. Beginning with the abbey’s legendary and royal foundations, it traces the fortunes of Evesham through centuries of religious devotion, political conflict, legal struggle, rebuilding, reform, and royal patronage. At the heart of the chronicle is the abbey’s determination to defend its ancient liberties. Its monks record disputes with bishops, appeals to popes and papal legates, contested elections of abbots, lawsuits over lands and privileges, and the long struggle to preserve Evesham’s exemption from episcopal control. Alongside these institutional battles are vivid accounts of saints and miracles, including St Ecgwine, St Odulf and the royal martyr St Wistan, whose relics and cult formed an important part of the abbey’s identity. The chronicle also preserves a wealth of detail about everyday monastic life. It describes the building and repair of churches, cloisters, chapels, halls, mills, granges and fishponds; the acquisition of estates and revenues; the making of vestments, shrines, bells and liturgical books; and the provision of food, clothing, recreation and medical care for the monks. Successive abbots emerge not merely as religious superiors but as administrators, builders, patrons, diplomats and defenders of the community. Extending into the later Middle Ages, the narrative reflects the changing political world around Evesham, from the Norman Conquest and the Angevin kings to the Wars of the Roses and the reign of Henry VIII. The result is both a history of a single monastery and a richly detailed record of medieval English religious, legal, economic and political life. This edition offers modern readers direct access to one of the most important monastic chronicles of medieval England, revealing how the monks of Evesham understood their saints, their privileges, their rulers and their place in history.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1829 William Brodrick [aged 30] and Harriet Brodrick were married. They were first cousins.

On 31st March 1874 William Michael Rossetti [aged 44] and Emma Lucy Madox Brown [aged 30] were married. She the daughter of Ford Madox Brown [aged 52] and Elizabeth Bromley.

Deaths on the 31st March

On 31st March 1295 Robert Bruce 5th Lord Annandale [aged 80] died. He was buried at Guisborough Priory [Map]. His son Robert [aged 51] succeeded 6th Lord Annandale.

On 31st March 1547 King Francis I of France [aged 52] died. His son Henry [aged 28] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.

On 31st March 1552 Elizabeth Hart Baroness Cobham [aged 77] died.

On 31st March 1567 Landgrave Philip I of Hesse [aged 62] died.

On 31st March 1621 Philip III King Spain [aged 42] died. His son Philip [aged 15] succeeded IV King Spain.

On 31st March 1631 John Donne [aged 59] died.

On 31st March 1649 Anne Cave Lady Tufton died.

On 31st March 1652 Bernardino Fernández de Velasco 6th Duke of Frías [aged 43] died.

On 31st March 1664 Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby [aged 64] died.

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Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet

Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1671 Anne Hyde Duchess of York [aged 34] died.

On 31st March 1675 George Stonhouse 1st and 3rd Baronet [aged 71] died. His son George [aged 37] succeeded 4th Baronet Stonhouse of Radley. His son John [aged 36] succeeded 2nd Baronet Stonhouse of Radley.

On 31st March 1682 John Freschville 1st Baron Frescheville [aged 74] died. Baron Frescheville of Staveley extinct. The last of the male line of Freschville. He was buried in St John the Baptist's Church, Staveley [Map] where his third wife Anna Charlotte De Vic commissioned a monument. Sarcophagus with seated putti.

Anna Charlotte De Vic: she was born to Henry de Vic. In December 1666 John Freschville 1st Baron Frescheville and she were married. On 12th November 1717 she died.

On 31st March 1712 Frances Wilhelmina Bentinck Baroness Byron [aged 28] died.

On 31st March 1751 Frederick Louis Hanover Prince of Wales [aged 44] died at Leicester House.

On 31st March 1777 (Easter Monday) Bishop Richard Terrick [aged 67] died.

On 31st March 1807 Elizabeth Meade Countess Mayo died.

On 31st March 1817 Frances Scott Baroness Douglas [aged 66] died.

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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 31st March 1836 Bishop Henry Dudley Ryder [aged 58] died.

On 31st March 1837 John Constable [aged 60] died.

On 31st March 1840 John Cole 2nd Earl Enniskillen [aged 72] died. His son William [aged 33] succeeded 3rd Earl Enniskillen, 2nd Baron Grinstead of Grinstead in Wiltshire.

On 31st March 1847 William Eardley-Twisleton-Fiennes 9th or 15th Baron Saye and Sele [aged 48] died. His first cousin Frederick [aged 47] succeeded 10th or 16th Baron Saye and Sele.

On 31st March 1850 Thomas Parker 5th Earl Macclesfield [aged 87] died. His son Thomas [aged 39] succeeded 6th Earl Macclesfield.

On 31st March 1857 Hester "Queenie" Thrale Viscountess Keith [aged 92] died.

On 31st March 1858 George Sholto Douglas 17th Earl Morton [aged 68] died. His son Sholto [aged 40] succeeded 18th Earl Morton. Alice Anne Lambton Countess Morton [aged 26] by marriage Countess Morton.

On 31st March 1863 Henry Cavendish 3rd Baron Waterpark [aged 69] died. Memorial at St Cuthbert's Church, Doveridge [Map]. His son Henry [aged 23] succeeded 4th Baron Waterpark, 5th Baronet Cavendish of Doveridge Hall.

Henry Anson Cavendish 4th Baron Waterpark: On 14th April 1839 he was born to Henry Cavendish 3rd Baron Waterpark and Elizabeth Jane Anson Baroness Waterpark. In 1873 he and Emily Stenning Baroness Waterpark were married. She by marriage Baroness Waterpark. They had five children.

On 31st March 1886 Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant 1st Baron Penrhyn [aged 85] died. His son George [aged 49] succeeded 2nd Baron Penrhyn of Llandegai in Carnarvonshire.

On 31st March 1891 Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Granville [aged 75] died. His son Granville [aged 19] succeeded 3rd Earl Granville, 3rd Viscount Granville.

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Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 31st March 1899 William Copeland Borlase [aged 50] died.

On 31st March 1905 Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn [aged 92] died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].

Louisa Jane Russell Duchess Abercorn: Memorials of Francis Chantrey RA in Hallamshire and Elsewhere Part V London Life and Works. In 1818, he exhibited a bust of John Rennie, the engineer, one of his most admirable heads, and that exquisite little statue at Woburn of Lady Louisa Russell, the present Marchioness of Abercorn. The child stands on tiptoe, with a face of the most exquisite and arch expression, proud with delight of the dove which she fondles in her bosom. All who have been at Woburn will recollect this little figure; but the trays of the Italian boys have given it a wider, and only its deserved celebrity. On 8th July 1812 she was born to John Russell 6th Duke Bedford and Georgiana Gordon Duchess Bedford. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. In 1832 James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn and she were married. She by marriage Duchess Abercorn. She the daughter of John Russell 6th Duke Bedford and Georgiana Gordon Duchess Bedford. He the son of James Hamilton and Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen.

On 31st March 1914 Hubert Von Herkomer [aged 65] died.

On 31st March 1922 John Granville Cornwallis Eliot 6th Earl St Germans [aged 31] died in Johannesburg, South Africa, of an injury sustained during a point to point at Wrangton Totnes, Devon. He was buried at St Germans Priory [Map]. His first cousin Granville [aged 54] succeeded 7th Earl St Germans, 8th Baron Eliot of St Germans in Cornwall.

On 31st March 1941 William Bruce Ellis Ranken [aged 59] died.

On 31st March 1946 John Standish Surtees Prendergast 6th Viscount Gort [aged 59] died.

On 31st March 1948 William Smith 3rd Viscount Hambleden [aged 44] died. His son William [aged 17] succeeded 4th Viscount Hambleden of Hambleden in Buckinghamshire.

On 31st March 1954 Georgina Orde-Powlett Lady Orde-Powlett died.

On 31st March 1993 Ailwyn Fellowes 3rd Baron de Ramsey [aged 83] died. His son John [aged 51] succeeded 4th Baron Ramsey of Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire.

On 31st March 2009 Sacheverell Reresby Sitwell 7th Baronet [aged 81] died. His nephew George [aged 41] succeeded 8th Baronet Sitwell of Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire. As a consequence of a falling out with his brother Francis Trajan Sacheverell Sitwell he left Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire [Map] to his daughter Alexandra Sitwell [aged 51].