12 Apr is in April.
1385 Double Marriage of the Burgundian Court
1477 Trial and Execution of Ankarette Twynyho
1533 Anne Boleyn's First Appearance as Queen
1587 Singeing the King of Spain's Beard
1689 Coronation William III and Mary II
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 626. This year came Eamer from Cwichelm, king of the West-Saxons, with a design to assassinate King Edwin [aged 40]; but he killed Lilla his thane, and Forthere, and wounded the king. The same night a daughter was born to Edwin, whose name was Eanfleda. Then promised the king to Paulinus, that he would devote his daughter to God, if he would procure at the hand of God, that he might destroy his enemy, who had sent the assassin to him. He then advanced against the West-Saxons with an army, felled on the spot five kings, and slew many of their men. This year Eanfleda, the daughter of King Edwin, was baptized, on the holy eve of Pentecost. And the king within twelve months was baptized, at Easter, with all his people. Easter was then on the twelfth of April. This was done at York [Map], where he had ordered a church to be built of timber, which was hallowed in the name of St. Peter. There the king gave the bishopric to Paulinus; and there he afterwards ordered a larger church to be built of stone. This year Penda began to reign; and reigned thirty winters. He had seen fifty winters when he began to reign. Penda was the son of Wybba, Wybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cnebba-, Cynewald of Cnebba-, Cnebba of Icel, Icel of Eomer, Eomer of Angelthew, Angelthew of Offa, Offa of Wearmund, Wearmund of Whitley, Whitley of Woden.
On 12th April 996 Otto III King Italy III King Germany III Holy Roman Emperor [aged 15] was appointed III King Italy.
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 12th April 1125. ... and Sigefred was consecrated as bishop of Chichester at Lambeth by archbishop William [aged 55] on the second of the ides [the 12th] of April; there being present at this consecration the Roman cardinal, Thurstan [aged 55], archbishop of York, Everard, bishop of Norwich, Richard of Hereford, Bernard of St. David's, David of Bangor, Urban of Glamorgan [aged 49], and John, bishop-elect of Rochester.
Chronicle of William Nangis. When Emperor Conrad was at Frankfurt on the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Mary, Saint Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux, affixed the sign of the cross for the overseas expedition to the king and to almost all the princes of Germany, and the companions of the pilgrimage multiplied beyond number. Afterwards the naval army of God, gathered from England, Flanders, and Lotharingia, having set out from the port of Dartmouth in England with nearly two hundred ships on the day before the Ides of April [12th April 1147], arrived at Lisbon, a city of Spain, on the fourth day before the Kalends of July [28th June 1147], on the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul. After a siege of four months they captured it by the power of God and their own efforts. Although the Christians numbered only thirteen thousand, they killed two hundred thousand five hundred Saracens. And thus, entering the city with hymns and songs, they dedicated a church there and ordained a bishop and clerics. At the bodies of the Christians who had been slain, three mute persons recovered the power of speech.
Corrardo imperatore in purificatione beatas Mnriae apud Franquenofort (4) constituto, abbas ClarevaUis sanctus Bernardus tam regi quam fere cunctis principibus [Alemannise] crucis [transmarinae] affigit signum, et socii peregrinationis multiplicantur super numerum. Postea vero navalis Dei exercitus ex Anglia, Flandria atque Lotharingia collectus, pridie idus aprilis (5), de Tremundo portu Angliæ cum ducentis fere navibus profectus, quarto kalendas julii in vigilia apostolorum Petri et Pauli (6) Ulixisbonam [civitatem Hispaniæ] applicuit, et earn, post quatuor mensium obsidionem, Dei virtute et sua industria capiunt. Et cum Christiani essent tantum tredecim rnillia, tamen de Sarracenis ducenta millia et quingentos occiderunt. Et sic cum hymnis et canticis urbem ingressi, ecclesiam dedicaverunt, et ibi episcopum et clericos ordinaverunt. Ad corpora vero christianorum occisorum tres muti loquendi usum receperunt.
Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden. 12th April 1194. On the twelfth day of April, a Tuesday in Easter Week, Richard, King of England, departed from Northampton and traveled to Silveston. Meanwhile, Hubert [aged 34], Archbishop of Canterbury, and Hugh [aged 69], Bishop of Durham, traveled to Brackley [Map], where accommodations had been prepared for the Bishop of Durham — lodgings that he had held for the past thirty years, provided by the king's marshals under King Henry II. When the Scottish king's servants arrived, they attempted to expel the Bishop of Durham's servants, but were unable to do so. However, they purchased food for the King of Scotland and prepared it in one of the buildings within the estate. When the Bishop of Durham arrived and was informed of the situation, he refused to leave. Instead, he boldly entered his lodgings and ordered the tables to be set. While he was dining, Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived and offered him alternative lodgings, advising him to vacate the estate and allow the King of Scotland to stay there instead. When the King of Scotland returned from hunting later that evening and was informed of the situation, he was greatly displeased and refused to enter the estate. Instead, he ordered that his provisions be given to the poor, and he himself traveled to King Richard at Silverston [Map]. There, he complained about the insult he had suffered from the Bishop of Durham. Upon hearing this, King Richard became angry and rebuked the Bishop of Durham severely
Duodecima die mensis Aprilis, feria tertia in hebdomada Paschæ, Ricardus rex Angliæ recessit de Northamtonia, et perrexit usque ad Selvestun; et Hubertus Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, et Hugo Dunelmensis episcopus, perrexerunt usque ad Brakelai, ubi præparatum erat hospitium Dunelmensis episcopi, quod ipse a triginta annis retro tenuerat ex liberatione marescallorum regis Henrici. Et ubi procuratio sua præparata fuerat, supervenerunt servientes regis Scotiæ volentes ejicere servientes episcopi, sed non poterant. Emerunt tamen cibaria regis, et in quadam domo ejusdem curiæ præparaverunt. Quo cum Dunelmensis episcopus venisset, et dictum esset ei a suis ita contigisse, noluit pedem referre, sed audacter hospitium suum intravit, et mensas apponi jussit. Et dum pranderet supervenit Hubertus Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, et obtulit ei hospitium suum: et consuluit ei ut ipse, relicto hospitio illo regi Scotiæ, abiret. Cum autem rex Scotiæ a venatu redisset sero, et nunciatum esset ei ita contigisse, grave tulit, et noluit illo ire: sed præcepit procurationem suam dari pauperibus, et ipse venit ad regem apud Selvestun, et conquestus est ei de injuria quam fecerat ei Dunelmensis episcopus; unde rex iratus multum increpavit Dunelmensem episcopum.
Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden. [On or after 12th April 1194] However, the King of England, in the presence of his mother Eleanor [aged 72], Hubert [aged 34], Archbishop of Canterbury, Hugh [aged 69], Bishop of Durham, Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow, and many others, both clergy and laymen from both kingdoms, granted and confirmed by his charter to William, King of Scotland, and his heirs forever, that: Whenever the King of Scotland comes to the court of the King of England by royal summons, The Bishop of Durham and the Sheriff of Northumberland shall receive him at the River Tweed and escort him safely to the River Tees. There, the Archbishop of York and the Sheriff of Yorkshire shall receive him and escort him safely to the borders of Yorkshire. Thus, he shall be escorted from county to county by bishops and sheriffs, until he arrives at the court of the King of England. From the moment the King of Scotland enters English territory, he shall receive a daily allowance of 100 shillings from the royal treasury for his expenses.
Tamen rex Angliæ in præsentia Alienor matris suæ, et Huberti Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, et Hugonis Dunelmensis episcopi, et Gocelini Glascuensis episcopi, et aliorum multorum tam clericorum quam laicorum utriusque regni, concessit, et carta sua confirmavit Willelmo regi Scottorum, et hæredibus suis in perpetuum; quod quandocunque ipsi per summonitionem regis Angliæ ad curiam suam venient, episcopus Dunelmensis et vicecomes Northimbriæ recipient eum ad aquam de Tuede, et in salvo conductu ducent eos usque ad aquam de Taise; et ibi recipient eos archiepiscopus Eboracensis et vicecomes Eboraci, et in salvo conductu ducent eos usque ad fines comitatus Eboracensis; et sic per episcopos et vicecomites ducentur de comitatu ad comitatum, donec perveniant ad curiam regis Angliæ: et ex quo rex Scottorum intraverit terram regis Angliæ habebit quotidie de bursa regis Angliæ centum solidos de liberatione.
On 12th April 1256 Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre [aged 39] died.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the same year [1302], Earl Marshal Roger [aged 57], who had spent much during the time when he supported the side against the king, was asked by his brother John [aged 52], who held many churches and was very wealthy, to repay the money which he had borrowed from him. The earl said: "Why do you demand your money back, brother? You well know that I have no son, nor any other heir except you; there is no need for you to trouble me, since all that I have is yours, and after my death you will be my successor." His brother replied: "What is your inheritance to me? I do not care. Give me back my money." And the earl answered: "And1 if I do as you urge, it will indeed be to your loss and to the loss of our heirs." So, angry, he went to the king and gave him the earldom and all his lands, on the condition that the king would re-grant them to him for the term of his life, and moreover give him a thousand marks' worth of land for life, and free him from all his debts. The king did as had been agreed, and fulfilled all.
Eodem anno comes marescallus Rogerus, qui multa exhauserat tempore quo fovebat partem contra regem, requisitus erat a fratre suo Johanne, qui multarum erat rector ecclesiarum et pecuniosus valde, ut pecuniam quam sibi mutuaverat restitueret ei. Qui ait, "Quare pecuniam repetis, frater? bene nosti quod filium non habeo, nec alium hæredem præter te, non oportet ut mihi molestus sis, cum omnia mea tua sunt, et post mortem mihi successor eris." Et respondit frater: "Quid ad me de hæreditate tua? Non curo. Redde mihi pecuniam meam." Et comes: "Et quo ita vis faciam quod hortaris, in damnum quidem tuum et hæredum nostrorum." Perrexitque iratus ad regem, et dedit ei comitatum et omnes terras suas, sub tali quidem pacto quod refeffaret eum de eisdem ad terminum vitæ suæ, et insuper daret ei mille marcatas terræ pro vita sua, et eum ejiceret ab omni ære alieno: fecitque rex quod convenerat, et adimplevit omnia.
Note 1. The deed of surrender of the honour and office of Earl Marshal is dated on the 12th of April, 1302. Rot. Claus. 30 Edward I m. 14, d. They were restored to him on the 12th of July following. Cart. 30 Edward I n. 24.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
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Archaeologia Volume 35 1853 XXXIII. On the 12th [Apr 1358], the Countess of Pembroke [aged 41] again came to dinner.
Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. Then the noble king departed and led his army through the county of Nevers and the county of Auxerre, ransoming the country and obtaining so much money from it that it could not be numbered. Then he drew towards Montargis and remained there for eight days. Afterwards he passed through the Gâtinais and came before Paris. There all the noble barons of France were assembled, and he would gladly have fought them if they had come out1. He remained there for the space of six days to await their will, and when he saw that they had no intention or courage to fight, he went towards Chartres2, and sent the Prince of Wales, his son, towards Rouen in Normandy.
Adoncques se parti le noble roy et mena son ost par le conté de Nyvers el la conté d'Aussoirre, si raenchonna le pays, et en eut tant de finance que on ne le pourroit nombrer, puis s'en tira par devers Montargis et y demoura ui jours, et puis passa par Gastinoys et s'en vint par devant Parys'. Là tous les nobles barons de France estoient assemblez et se fust voulentiers combastu à eulx, s'ilz fussent issu hors. Là il demoura par l'espace de vi jours pour attendre leur volenté, et quant il vit qu'ilz n'avoient point de conseil de combatre ne de courage, il s'en ala par devers Chartres, et envoya le prince de Galles, son filz, par devers Rouen, en Normendye.
Note 1. Edward III was at Chanteloup, between Montlhéry and Arpajon, on 31st March. He seems to have remained in that locality until 7th April, the day on which he approached Paris and came with his army to occupy Issy, Vanves, Vaugirard, Gentilly and Cachan; Grandes Chroniques.
1. Édouard III était le 31 mars à Chanteloup, comm. de Saint-Germain-lès-Arpajon, entre Montlhéry et Arpajon. Il semble être resté dans cette localité jusqu'au 7 avril, jour où il s'approcha de Paris, et vint ocenper avec son armée Issy, Vanves, Vaugirard, Gentilly, Cachan. (Grandes chroniques, &. VI, p. 169 et 170; Guillaume de Nangis, t. Il, p. 301 à 303. Cf. Froissant, éd. Luce, t, V, p. Lux, n. 3, et p. Lxx, n. 1, et Denifle, op. cit., p. 349 à 358.)
Note 2. It was on Quasimodo Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, 12th April 1360, that Edward III moved away from Paris to head towards Chartres; Grandes Chroniques.
2, Ce fut le dimanche de Quasimodo, 12 avril, qu'Édouard III s'éloigna de Paris pour se diriger sur Chartres. (Grandes chroniques, & VI, p. 174.)
On 12th April 1377 John Minsterworth was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn [Map]. One portion was sent to Carmarthen, another to Bristol, where his estates were centred, and the remainder to Dover and Newcastle. His head was placed on London Bridge [Map] where it remained until the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 when it was replaced by the head of Archbishop Simon Sudbury [aged 61].
On 12th April 1385 a double wedding of the Burgundian Court was celebrated with two sets of siblings:
John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy [aged 13] and Otto Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria 1117-1183 [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria [aged 48] and Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria [aged 43]. He the son of Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy [aged 43] and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy [aged 37]. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
Otto Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria 1117-1183 [aged 20] and Robert "Strong" 830-866 [aged 10] were married. She the daughter of Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy. He the son of Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria and Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 12th April 1411 Theodoric I Count of Montbéliard and Bar 1045-1105 [aged 66] died.
On 12th April 1434 Joan Holland Duchess York [aged 54] died.
On 12th April 1443 Archbishop Henry Chichele [aged 80] died. He was buried at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
Memoires Jacques du Clercq. On the 12th day of the following April, in the year 1467, in the town of Arras, a man from Bucquoy near Arras, who was in the service of Jacotin Berto, an archer of the bodyguard of the Duke of Burgundy, was wounded by three men, from which wound he died five or six days later.
Le xije jour d'apvril ensuivant, l'an mil iiije lxvij, en la ville d'Arras, ung compagnon de Bucquoy, environ Arras, lequel servoit Jacotin Berto, ung archier de corps du duc de Bourgogne, fust navré de trois compagnons, de laquelle navrure il mourut cinq ou six jours après.
On 12th April 1477 Ankarette Hawkeston aka Twynyho was arrested at Keyford, Somerset and taken to Bath, Somerset [Map]. George York 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 27] believed she had murdered his wife Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence who had died four months before.
On 24th February 1526 Robert "Strong" 830-866 was born to John III King Portugal [aged 23] and Catherine of Austria Queen Consort Portugal [aged 19]. Their first child, he died on 12th April 1526. Coefficient of inbreeding 11.30%.
On 12th April 1530 Joanna "La Beltraneja" Trastámara Queen Consort Portugal [aged 68] died.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1533. 12th April 1533. 12 April. Granvelle Papers, II. 22. 331. Charles V. to his Ambassador in France.
Has received his letters of 15 March and 4 April, and those of the Queen, &c.... Has written already of his disembarcation at Marseilles, and the treatment shown him there. As to the king of England's marriage with Anne Boleyn [aged 32], the Imperial ambassador had written of it as a rumor before Easter, but he did not know it for certain. Has heard nothing from him since. Knows not if his letters have been detained. Praises the honest expressions of Francis about this marriage, the good counsel he had given the King, and the sympathy he had expressed for Katharine. Thought the proposed interview of the Pope and Francis had been dropped, &c. Barcelona, 12 April 1533. Fr.
On 12th April 1533, Saturday, Easter Eve, Queen Anne Boleyn of England [aged 32] made her first appearance as Queen attending mass at the Queen's Closet at Greenwich Palace [Map]. She was accompanied by sixty ladies including Margaret "Madge" Shelton.
The Venetian Ambassdor reported... "This morning of Easter Eve, the Marchioness Anne went with the King [aged 41] to high mass, as Queen, and with all the pomp of a Queen, clad in cloth of gold, and loaded (carga) with the richest jewels; and she dined in public; although they have not yet proclaimed the decision of the Parliament.".
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.
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Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. [12th April 1533] After the Kyng perceiuyng his newe wife Quene Anne, to bee greate with childe, caused all officers necessary, to bee appoynted to her, and so on Easter cue, she went to her Closet openly as Quene, with all solempnitie, and then the Kyng appoynted the daie of her Coronacion, to bee kept on Whitsd Sondaie next folowyng, and writynges wer sent to all Shriues, to certifie the names of menne of fourtie pounde, to receiue the Ordre of knighthod, or els to make a fine: the assessement of whiche fines, were appoynted to Thomas Cromwell, Master of the Kynges luell house, and counsailer to the kyng, and newly in his high fauour, whiche so pollitikely handeled the matter, that he raised of that sessyng of fines, a greate somme of money to the Kynges vse: Also the Kyng wrote letters to the citee of London, to prepare pagiauntes against thesame coronacion.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. After the King perceiving his new wife Queen Anne [aged 32], to be great with child, caused all officers necessary, to be appointed to her, and so on Easter eve, she went to her Closet openly as Queen, with all solemnity, and then the King appointed the day of her Coronation, to be kept on Whit Sunday next following, and writings were sent to all Shires, to certify the names of men of forty pound, to receive the Order of Knighthood, or else to make a fine: the assessment of which fines, were appointed to Thomas Cromwell, Master of the Kings Jewel House, and counsellor to the king, and newly in his high favour, which so politicly handled the matter, that he raised of that seizing of fines, a great sum of money to the Kings use. Also the King wrote letters to the city of London, to prepare pageants against the same coronation.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 12th April 1533. Memorandum: the 12th day of Aprill, Anno Domini 1533, beinge Easter eaven, Anne Bulleine [aged 32], Marques of Pembroke,d was proclaymed Queene at Greenewych, and ofired that daie in the Kinges Chappell as Queene of England.e
Note d. Anne Boleyn was raised to the dignity of Marchioness of Pembroke on Sunday, September 1st, 1532, at Windsor Castle, an honour which had never before been conferred on any unmarried female.
Note e. She had been some months preriously married to Henry VIII in great privacy by Dr. Rowland Lee [aged 46], afterwards Bishop of Lichfield and Coyentry, but whether the marriage took place, as Sanders says, November 14th, 1532, on their arrival at Dover from France, or was deferred, as Cranmer [aged 43] [?] supposed, to January 25th, 1533, still remains uncertain.
Calendar of State Papers of Spain. 15th April 1533. 1061. Eustace Chapuys [aged 43] to the Emperor [aged 33].
On Saturday, the eve of Easter, Lady Anne went to mass in truly Royal state, loaded with diamonds and other precious stones, and dressed in a gorgeous suit of tissue, the train of which was carried by the daughter [aged 34] of the duke of Norfolk [aged 80], betrothed to the Duke of Richmond. She was followed by numerous damsels, and conducted to and from the church [Map] with the same or perhaps greater ceremonies and solemnities than those used with former Queens on such occasions. She has now changed her title of marchioness for that of Queen, and preachers specially name her so in their church prayers. At which all people here are perfectly astonished, for the whole thing seems a dream, and even those who support her party do not know whether to laugh or cry at it. The King is watching what sort of mien the people put on at this, and solicits his nobles to visit and pay their court to his new Queen, whom he purposes to have crowned after Easter in the most solemn manner, and it is said that there will be banqueting and tournaments on the occasion. Indeed some think that Clarence, the king-at-arms who left for France four days ago, is gone for the purpose of inviting knights for the tournament in imitation of the Most Christian King when he celebrated his own nuptials. I cannot say whether the coronation will take place before or after these festivities, but I am told that this King has secretly arranged with the archbishop of Canterbury [aged 63], that in virtue of his office, and without application from anyone he is to summon him before his court as having two wives, upon which, without sending for the Queen, he (the Archbishop) will declare that the King can lawfully marry again, as he has done, without waiting for a dispensation, for a sentence from the Pope, or any other declaration whatever.
Archives of Venice. April 12. [1533] Sanuto Diaries, v. lviii. p. 81.
On the Monday in Passion week1 Parliament (il Parlamento) [and Convocation?] assembled. They decided that the marriage of Queen Catharine to the King is null, and that he may marry (poter prender moter); and they have abolished (lecato) the appeal to the Pope. Henceforth, no one may contract marriage by dispensation, but solely as conceded by holy writ, and the sacred canons; so that the dispensation of Pope Julius is void. They have also abrogated the dispensation for holding a plurality of benefices with cure of souls, and for nonage, and other things. They have prohibited obedience to papal monitions and interdicts. The Bishop of Rochester [John Fisher] having publicly opposed these measures, on Palm Sunday [6th April], he was arrested, and given in custody to the Bishop of Winchester [Stephen Gardiner [aged 50]]; and three days ago he was sent to reside at a place of his (ad uno locho suo) and is not to go more than a mile beyond it.
Parliament has been prorogued (si levò) until Whitsuntide, which will be on the 6th of June.
Three days ago, the King; sent the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and the Marquis of Exeter (il Marcheze di Anal sic) to notify to the Queen the decision made in Parliament about the divorce, and the new marriage; exhorting her to yield, and secede (rinmorersi) from the judgment of the "Rota." She replied that she knew not, and was unable to imagine, how such a matter could have been terminated, the decision not having been made by a legitimate judge; and with regard to a new marriage, she believed nothing whatever, knowing the King her husband to be most sage and holy supientissimo et suntissimo. As to yielding to the sentence, she said that although it was her wish to satisfy his Majesty in everything, yet is it beyond her power to do so on this occasion not choosing to peril the salvation of her soul, and disobey the law of God who united her to his Majesty; and that recourse must be had to the true judge and vicar of the Lord. Subsequently the Imperial Ambassador went to the King, and spoke to him molto altamente.
This morning of Easter Eve, the Marchioness Anne [aged 32] went with the King to high mass, as Queen, and with all the pomp of a Queen, clad in cloth of gold, and loaded (carga) with the richest jewels; and she dined in public; although they have not yet proclaimed the decision of the Parliament [Convocation?].
I hear on good authority that the conclusion of the peace with Scotland is expected.
I am assured that some months ago, his Majesty espoused her, and that she bore him a son who is several months old. (Mivien afirmato za più mezi questa Mta averla sposata, e aver uno fiol di qualche meze con lei).
Four days ago, Mons. de Beove [Beauvoir] arrived here with the son [aged 30] of the Earl of Wiltshire [aged 56], and he told me he hoped the affairs between his Majesty and Scotland will be adjusted; and Dom. Silvestro Dario, the papal nuncio late in Scotland, tells me King James will be satisfied with fair terms, without which he will do nothing, and the Scots would rather die than submit; they plunder the English daily, and their King is dependent on the Emperor.
On the 5th a gentleman came hither to the King from the Duke of Saxony his cousin (germano suo), with letters from Frederick Count Palatine—who last year commanded the troops sent in favour of the Emperor by the Free Towns and other potentates of Germany—to request his Majesty to join their League; and they are holding a Diet, in which, should his Majesty choose, he will have great authority. This envoy went first to France, and he has not yet been despatched.
London, 12th April. Registered by Sanuto 8th May.
[Italian.]
Note 1. In the year 1533 the 13th of April was Easter day, so the case was decided by the "Convocation" or Parliament on the 7th April 1533."
On 12th April 1541 Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 was born to King James V of Scotland [aged 29] and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [aged 25]. Possibly named Arthur? He died eight days later. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 12th April 1550 Claude Lorraine 1st Duke Guise [aged 53] died. His son Francis [aged 31] succeeded 1st Duke Guise.
On 12th April 1555 Joanna "The Mad" Trastámara Queen Castile [aged 76] died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 12th April 1563. The xij day of Aprell, was Ester monday, dyd pryche at sant Mare spyttyll master Horne [aged 53] the byshope of Wynchastur, and ther was my lord mare [aged 54] and the althermen in skarlett, and certen juges and serjantes of the law, and mony worshephulle men and women, and the masturs of the hospetall with ther gren stayffes in ther handes, [and the] chylderyne of the hospetall boyth boysse and wenchys in bluw [coats and] red capes [caps] to the nombur of a (blank), and ther was geydered at the sermon for the Frenche men [refugees] in-to England women and chylderyn the sum of xlv li.
On 12th April 1577 Christian IV King of Denmark was born to Frederick II King of Denmark [aged 42] and Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [aged 19].
On 12th April 1587 an English fleet commanded by Francis Drake [aged 47] left Plymouth, Devon [Map].
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 12th April 1601 Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 was born to Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 [aged 56] and Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt [aged 28]. He died aged less than one years old.
Diary of Anne Clifford. 12th April 1617. The 12th Mrs Watson came here, with whom I had much talk of my Lord's [aged 28] being made a Knight of the Garter. This night I went into Judith's chamber where I mean to continue till my Lord is better.
On 12th April 1624 Humbert "White Handed" Savoy I Count Savoy 980-1042 was born to Humbert "White Handed" Savoy I Count Savoy 980-1042 [aged 51]. He married 11th July 1643 his second cousin once removed Robert "Strong" 830-866, daughter of Robert "Strong" 830-866 and Gerard Metz I Duke Lorraine 1030-1070, and had issue.
On 12th April 1641 George Hanover Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg 1582-1641 [aged 59] died. His son Christian [aged 19] succeeded Duke Brunswick Lüneburg.
On 12th April 1643 James Hamilton 1st Duke Hamilton [aged 36] was created 1st Duke Hamilton.
On 12th April 1645 Colonel William Legge was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 44].
On 12th April 1651 Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 [aged 38] and Marie Sibylle Nassau Saarbrücken Duchess Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck were married at Beck. She by marriage Duchess Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. He the son of Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 and Dorothea Schwarzburg Duchess Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg.
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th April 1656. Mr. Berkeley [aged 7] and Mr. Robert Boyle [aged 29] (that excellent person and great virtuoso), Dr. Taylor [aged 43], and Dr. Wilkins [aged 42], dined with me at Sayes Court [Map], when I presented Dr. Wilkins with my rare burning-glass. In the afternoon, we all went to Colonel Blount's [aged 52], to see his newly-invented plows.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th April 1663. Home to dinner, and after dinner, intending to go to Chelsey to my Lord Sandwich [aged 37], my wife would needs go with me, though she walked on foot to Whitehall. Which she did and staid at my Lord's lodgings while Creed and I took a turn at Whitehall, but no coach to be had, and so I returned to them and sat talking till evening, and then got a coach and to Gray's Inn walks, where some handsome faces, and so home and there to supper, and a little after 8 o'clock to bed, a thing I have not done God knows when. Coming home to-night, a drunken boy was carrying by our constable to our new pair of stocks to handsel them, being a new pair and very handsome.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th April 1665. Up, and to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, where, contrary to all expectation, my Lord Ashly [aged 43], being vexed with Povy's [aged 51] accounts, did propose it as necessary that Povy should be still continued Treasurer of Tangier till he had made up his accounts; and with such arguments as, I confess, I was not prepared to answer, but by putting off of the discourse, and so, I think, brought it right again; but it troubled me so all the day after, and night too, that I was not quiet, though I think it doubtfull whether I shall be much the worse for it or no, if it should come to be so.
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.
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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th April 1665. Dined at home and thence to White Hall again (where I lose most of my time now-a-days to my great trouble, charge, and loss of time and benefit), and there, after the Council rose, Sir G. Carteret [aged 55], my Lord Brunkard [aged 45], Sir Thomas Harvy [aged 39], and myself, down to my Lord Treasurer's [aged 58] chamber to him and the Chancellor [aged 56], and the Duke of Albemarle [aged 56]; and there I did give them a large account of the charge of the Navy, and want of money. But strange to see how they held up their hands crying, "What shall we do?" Says my Lord Treasurer, "Why, what means all this, Mr. Pepys? This is true, you say; but what would you have me to do? I have given all I can for my life. Why will not people lend their money? Why will they not trust the King [aged 34] as well as Oliver? Why do our prizes come to nothing, that yielded so much heretofore?" And this was all we could get, and went away without other answer, which is one of the saddest things that, at such a time as this, with the greatest action on foot that ever was in England, nothing should be minded, but let things go on of themselves do as well as they can.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th April 1667. We broke up; and I soon after to Sir G. Carteret's [aged 57] chamber, where I find the poor man telling his lady [aged 65] privately, and she weeping. I went into them, and did seem, as indeed I was, troubled for this; and did give the best advice I could, which, I think, did please them: and they do apprehend me their friend, as indeed I am, for I do take the Vice-chamberlain for a most honest man. He did assure me that he was not, all expences and things paid, clear in estate £15,000 better than he was when the King [aged 36] come in; and that the King and Chancellor [aged 58] did know that he was worth, with the debt the King owed him, £50,000, I think, he said, when the King come into England.
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th April 1681. I dined at Mr. Brisbane's, Secretary to the Admiralty, a learned and industrious person, whither came Dr. Burnet [aged 37], to thank me for some papers I had contributed toward his excellent "History of the Reformation"..
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th April 1689. King James [aged 55] was now certainly in Ireland with the Marshal d'Estrades, whom he made a Privy Councillor; and who caused the King to remove the Protestant Councillors, some whereof, it seems, had continued to sit, telling him that the King of France [aged 50], his master, would never assist him if he did not immediately do it; by which it is apparent how the poor Prince is managed by the French.
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th April 1689. Scotland declares for King William [aged 38] and Queen Mary [aged 26], with the reasons of their setting aside King James [aged 55], not as abdicating, but forfeiting his right by maladministration; they proceeded with much more caution and prudence than we did, who precipitated all things to the great reproach of the nation, all which had been managed by some crafty, ill-principled men. The new Privy Council have a Republican spirit, manifestly undermining all future succession of the Crown and prosperity of the Church of England, which yet I hope they will not be able to accomplish so soon as they expect, though they get into all places of trust and profit.
John Evelyn's Diary. 12th April 1689. I went with the Bishop of St. Asaph [aged 61] to visit my Lord of Canterbury [aged 58] at Lambeth [Map], who had excused himself from officiating at the coronation, which was performed by the Bishop of London [aged 57], assisted by the Archbishop of York [aged 74]. We had much private and free discourse with his Grace concerning several things relating to the Church, there being now a bill of comprehension to be brought from the Lords to the Commons. I urged that when they went about to reform some particulars in the Liturgy, Church discipline, Canons, etc., the baptizing in private houses without necessity might be reformed, as likewise so frequent burials in churches; the one proceeding much from the pride of women, bringing that into custom which was only indulged in case of imminent danger, and out of necessity during the rebellion, and persecution of the clergy in our late civil wars; the other from the avarice of ministers, who, in some opulent parishes, made almost as much of permission to bury in the chancel and the church, as of their livings, and were paid with considerable advantage and gifts for baptizing in chambers. To this they heartily assented, and promised their endeavor to get it reformed, utterly disliking both practices as novel and indecent.
On 12th April 1692 William Fermor 1st Baron Leominster [aged 43] was created 1st Baron Leominster by King William III of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 41]. John Paulett 1354-1391 by marriage Baroness Leominster.
On 12th April 1696 George Fane -1572 [aged 27] was killed in a duel by Elizeus Burges at Leicester Fields Leicester Square.
On 12th April 1715 Thomas Wharton 1st Marquess Wharton [aged 66] died. He was buried at Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire. His son Philip succeeded 2nd Marquess Wharton, 2nd Earl Wharton, 6th Baron Wharton.
On 12th April 1756 Frederick I Duke Saxony 1370-1428 was born to Frederick I Duke Saxony 1370-1428 [aged 32] and Albert Azzo I Margrave of Milan 970-1018 [aged 32] at Coburg. He died aged two in 1758.
Letters of Harriet, Countess Granville. To the Marquis of Hartington [aged 19]. London. April 12, 1810.
Dearest Hartington, — You must think me a brute for having been so long without writing to you, but I have been for some time the idlest of human beings. We keep terrible late hours, and I do nothing from morning till night but think what an angel my husband is, which is more pleasant than profitable. Your absence furnishes me with conversation wherever I go. I really cannot explain your leaving London just now, your thinking Bath the best place for mathematics or Doctor Randolph's attractions. Poor worn-out Lady Warwick rien peut plus with it, but with a tremulous voice, like cowards just before they dip into the sea, follows me about — 'Where is he gone, my dear Lady Harriet, what can he be gone about?' There are shoals of Miss Mildmays, and the good-natured Dowager quite like a hen. Sir Henry and his wife go about in attitudes, but they match so well and look so handsome that one forgives them for it.
You will have seen in the papers all that has been going on about Sir Francis Burdett [aged 40]. London is quiet and dull again. The mob entirely dispersed and nothing but soldiers to be seen. These riots have been very animating to different people in different ways. Lord Carlisle [aged 61]1 - got well pelted with mud and dirt. Think of the nose of nice nobility. Little 02. was obliged to explain his politics to the mob, who were going to swallow him, I believe. He is so factious that if he was not so small and inarticulate he might some day or other get into mischief. As it is he is never heard and scarcely seen. So passe, passe, petit bonhomme, very harmless and very ridiculous.
We all go to Court the day after to-morrow. Lady Stafford [aged 44]3 presents me, Lady Liverpool [aged 43] the Duchess [aged 52]4.
Note 1. He married Lady Caroline Leveson Gower, a daughter of the first Marquis of Stafford and half-sister to Lord Granville [aged 36]. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1780 to 1782. He wrote indifferent poetry, and was sneered at in English Bards amd Scotch Beviewers by his relative and ward, Lord Byron [aged 22].
Note 2. Lord Ossulston [aged 33], who succeeded his father, Lord Tankerville [aged 66], in 1822,. He married in 1806 Mlle. Corisande de Gramont [aged 27], of whom there is frequent mention in these letters.
Note 3. Countess of Sutherland, married in 1785 to the second Marquis of Stafford [aged 52], half-brother to Lord Granville. He was Ambassador in Paris from 1790 to 1792. She did what she could for Marie Antoinette when in prison.
Note 4. Elizabeth.Duchess of Devonshire.
On 12th April 1855 Elizabeth Margaret HIbbert Lady Holland [aged 21] died from childbirth.
On 12th April 1866 Henry Fox 1670-1719 was born to Augustus Henry Fox Pitt-Rivers [aged 38] and Adam Stanley [aged 38].
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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On 12th April 1866 Frederick Hohenzollern I Burgrave Nuremburg 1138-1200 was born to Frederick III King Prussia [aged 34] and Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [aged 25]. She a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
On 12th April 1869 Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 was born to Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 [aged 28] and Anchitel Grey 1052-1138 [aged 20].
On 12th April 1875 Reverend Christopher Robert Lighton 6th Baronet [aged 55] died. Memorial at St Peter's Church, Ellastone.
Reverend Christopher Robert Lighton 6th Baronet: On 28th May 1819 he was born. On 2nd June 1843 he and Abel Ram 1753-1830 were married. In 1848 he was appointed Vicar of St Peter's Church, Ellastone which office he served for twenty-seven years.
12th April 1892. National Photographic Record and Survey; Mr Godfrey Bingley [aged 49]. Historic Stonehenge.
On 12th April 1894 Emma Lucy Madox Brown [aged 50] died at Hotel Victoria. Her husband William Michael Rossetti [aged 64] and daughter Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe Rossetti 1783-1854 [aged 18] were present.
St Michal's Church, Inveresk [Map]. Monument to Alexander Verner McLare M.C. Killed in action 12th April 1918.
On 12th April 1920 Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire [aged 67] died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].
Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire: On 24th September 1852 she was born to Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire. On 24th October 1886 Stephen Russell 1360-1438 and she were married. She the daughter of Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire. He the son of Stephen Russell 1360-1438 and Thomas West 1251-1343.
On 12th April 1921 William Strang [aged 62] died.
12th April 1933. The Bystander. Front page photograph of John Mitford 1643-1720 [aged 25].
John Mitford 1643-1720: On 25th November 1907 she was born to John Mitford 1643-1720 and Sydney Bowles Baroness Redesdale. 16th May 1929. Daily Mirror. It was learned last night at the house of the Hon. Pamela Freeman-Mitford that her engagement to Mr. Oliver Vernon Watney, a member of the famous brewery firm, has been broken off. First arranged for last October, the wedding was postponed until January 22, but was then postponed indefinitely because Mr. Watney was suffering from pleurisy. On 12th April 1994 John Mitford 1643-1720 died.
On 12th April 1940 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 49] and Anaïs Melisande Folin were divorced.
On 12th April 1961 Russian astronaunt Yuri Gagarin completed the first manned space flight.
On 12th April 1990 Queen Elizabeth II [aged 63] distributed the Royal Maundy in the Cathedral Church St Nicholas, Newcastle upon Tyne [Map]. Sge was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh [aged 68].
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 24th February 1526 Robert "Strong" 830-866 was born to John III King Portugal [aged 23] and Catherine of Austria Queen Consort Portugal [aged 19]. Their first child, he died on 12th April 1526. Coefficient of inbreeding 11.30%.
On 12th April 1541 Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 was born to King James V of Scotland [aged 29] and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [aged 25]. Possibly named Arthur? He died eight days later. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 12th April 1550 Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford was born to John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford [aged 34] and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford [aged 24]. He married (1) Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford, daughter of William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley, and had issue (2) before 27th December 1591 Elizabeth TrenthamCountess of Oxford and had issue.
On 12th April 1577 Christian IV King of Denmark was born to Frederick II King of Denmark [aged 42] and Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark [aged 19].
On 12th April 1595 Miles Hobart 1495-1557 was born to Henry Hobart 1st Baronet [aged 35] and Dorothy Bell Lady Hobart in Plumstead, Greenwich. He married before 20th March 1628 Robert Peyton 1468-1518, daughter of John Peyton 1st Baronet and Edward Osborne 1530-1591, and had issue.
On 12th April 1601 Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 was born to Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 [aged 56] and Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt [aged 28]. He died aged less than one years old.
On 12th April 1624 Humbert "White Handed" Savoy I Count Savoy 980-1042 was born to Humbert "White Handed" Savoy I Count Savoy 980-1042 [aged 51]. He married 11th July 1643 his second cousin once removed Robert "Strong" 830-866, daughter of Robert "Strong" 830-866 and Gerard Metz I Duke Lorraine 1030-1070, and had issue.
On 12th April 1651 Bishop John Hough was born.
On 12th April 1717 Foster Cunliffe 1682-1758 was born to Foster Cunliffe 1682-1758 [aged 35]. He married 19th December 1760 Mary Bennet Lady Cunliffe and had issue.
On 12th April 1724 Mark Milbanke 1603-1677 was born to Mark Milbanke 1603-1677 [aged 36] and John Woodman aka Horsley [aged 22].
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
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On 12th April 1739 Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 was born to Vere Beauclerk 1st Baron de Vere [aged 39] and Mary Chambers Baroness Spencer [aged 25]. He a great grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. He died aged less than one years old.
On 12th April 1756 Frederick I Duke Saxony 1370-1428 was born to Frederick I Duke Saxony 1370-1428 [aged 32] and Albert Azzo I Margrave of Milan 970-1018 [aged 32] at Coburg. He died aged two in 1758.
On 12th April 1777 James Hamilton 1396-1440 was born to James Hamilton 1396-1440 [aged 27] and James Somerville 1st Baronet 1698-1748.
On 12th April 1781 William Hamner 1536- was born to William Hamner 1536- [aged 34] and Margaret Kenyon Lady Hanmer.
On 12th April 1792 John "Radical Jack" Lambton 1st Earl Durham was born to William Henry Lambton 1764-1797 [aged 28] and William de Villiers 1065- [aged 20] at 14 Berkeley Square, Mayfair. He married (1) 1st January 1812 Richard Cholmondeley 1475-1518, daughter of George Cholmondeley 1st Marquess Cholmondeley and Unamed Saint Albin, and had issue (2) 9th December 1816 Anchitel Grey 1052-1138, daughter of Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey and John Ponsonby 1609-1678, and had issue.
On 12th April 1799 John Yarde-Buller 1st Baron Churston was born to John Buller 1668-1701 [aged 32]. He married (1) 24th January 1823 Elizabeth Wilson-Patten, daughter of John Wilson aka Wilson-Patten 1st Baron Winmarleigh and Anna Maria Patten-Bold, and had issue (2) 1861 Robert Newman 1st Baronet 1776-1848, daughter of Robert Newman 1st Baronet 1776-1848.
On 12th April 1801 John Eliot 1592-1632 was born to William Eliot 2nd Earl St Germans [aged 34] and Thomas Gower [aged 31]. She married 1824 Reginald Pyndar 1687-1721, son of Reginald Pyndar 1687-1721 and Catherine Denn Countess Beauchamp, and had issue.
On 12th April 1803 Eadnoth the Constable aka Staller -1068 was born to Eadnoth the Constable aka Staller -1068 [aged 58]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 12th April 1809 Henry Anderson 1465-1520 was born to Henry Anderson 1465-1520 [aged 27]. He married 19th December 1831 Maria Adelaide Maude Countess Yarborough, daughter of Robert Maude 1st Baronet 1677-1750 and Jane Crawfurd Bruce, and had issue.
On 12th April 1810 Thomas Spencer 1362-1435 was born to Thomas Spencer 1362-1435 [aged 30] and Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 [aged 29]. He a great x 4 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.63%.
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.
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On 12th April 1814 Peter Beckford 1643-1710 was born to Peter Beckford 1643-1710 [aged 36] and Frances Rigby.
On 12th April 1816 Philip Rose 1st Baronet was born.
On 12th April 1818 Thomas Hay of Locherworth -1399 was born to Thomas Hay of Locherworth -1399 [aged 31] and William Montagu 1213-1270 [aged 17]. She married 30th June 1843 Simon Watson Taylor and had issue.
On 12th April 1821 William Seymour was born to William Seymour [aged 29] and Walter Palk 1686-1739 [aged 24]. He a great x 4 grandson of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.
On 12th April 1825 Anthony Henley 3rd Baron Henley 1st Baron Northington was born to Robert Henley 2nd Baron Henley [aged 35] and Harriet Peel [aged 22]. He married (1) 1846 his first cousin Julia Peel Baroness Henley and had issue (2) 1870 Clara Jekyll Baroness Henley and Northington and had issue.
On 12th April 1833 Richard Glyn 1st Baronet 1711-1773 was born to Richard Glyn 1st Baronet 1711-1773 [aged 36] and Pascoe Grenfell 1729-1810 [aged 31]. He married (1) 5th October 1858 Paulet St John 1st Baronet 1704-1780 (2) 19th February 1861 Carolina Henrietta Hale and had issue.
On 12th April 1837 John Bamfielde of Poltimore and Weston Bampfylde 1262-1337 was born to John Bamfielde of Poltimore and Weston Bampfylde 1262-1337 [aged 51] and John Buller 1668-1701 [aged 31]. He married 27th July 1858 Florence Sarah Wilhelmine Sheridan Baroness Poltimore.
On 12th April 1842 James Harris 1674-1731 was born to James Harris 1674-1731 [aged 33]. He married 16th November 1870 Sylvia Georgina Stewart Countess of Malmesbury and had issue.
On 12th April 1845 William Mordaunt 1432-1481 was born to William Mordaunt 1432-1481 [aged 36]. He died aged seven in 1853.
On 12th April 1846 Robert Fitzherbert -1535 was born to Robert Fitzherbert -1535 [aged 37] and Ann Alleyne Lady Fitzherbert [aged 31]. He married 10th October 1871 Richard Arkwright 1732-1792 and had issue.
On 12th April 1849 Thomas Beauchamp -1724 was born to Thomas Beauchamp -1724.
On 12th April 1852 John Turner -1708 was born to John Turner -1708 [aged 30].
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
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On 12th April 1866 Frederick Hohenzollern I Burgrave Nuremburg 1138-1200 was born to Frederick III King Prussia [aged 34] and Victoria Empress Germany Queen Consort Prussia [aged 25]. She a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
On 12th April 1866 Henry Fox 1670-1719 was born to Augustus Henry Fox Pitt-Rivers [aged 38] and Adam Stanley [aged 38].
On 12th April 1868 Richard Maitland of Lethington 1496-1586 was born to Richard Maitland of Lethington 1496-1586 [aged 27].
On 12th April 1869 Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 was born to Walter Fitzalan 1st High Steward 1106-1177 [aged 28] and Anchitel Grey 1052-1138 [aged 20].
On 12th April 1869 John Buller 1668-1701 was born to John Buller 1668-1701 [aged 43]. She married 22nd April 1891 William Feilden 4th Baronet, son of William Feilden 3rd Baronet, and had issue.
On 12th April 1898 Roger Wodehouse was born to Roger Wodehouse [aged 50] and Edward Stracey 1st Baronet 1741-1829 at Witton, near North Walsham.
On 12th April 1899 John Pratt 1657-1725 was born to John Pratt 1657-1725 [aged 27] and Joan Marion Neville Marchioness Camden [aged 22].
On 12th April 1907 William Douglas 1st Lord Douglas -1214 was born to William Douglas 1st Lord Douglas -1214 [aged 28] and Thomas Hay of Locherworth -1399 [aged 26].
On 12th April 1909 William Vane was born to Henry Fane of Hildenborough in Tunbridge [aged 49] and John Pakenham 1433-1485 [aged 41].
On 12th April 1914 Michael Addison 3rd Viscount Addison was born to Christopher Addison 1st Viscount Addison [aged 45] and Isobel Gray. He married 22nd August 1936 Kathleen Wand, daughter of Bishop John William Wand and Amy Agnes Wiggins, and had issue.
On 12th April 1930 Reverend Stackpole Pery was born to Reverend Stackpole Pery [aged 41] and Angela Olivia Trotter Countess of Limerick [aged 33].
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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On 12th April 1934 Francis Chaplin 1627-1680 was born to Francis Chaplin 1627-1680 and Alvilde Bridges Viscountess Chaplin [aged 24].
On 12th April 1937 Caroline Elizabeth Wethered Marchioness of Ailesbury was born to Commander Owen Francis MacTier Wethered. She married (1) 18th September 1974 Michael Brudenell-Bruce 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, son of Robert Brudenell 1461-1531.
On 12th April 1363 Robert Ros 1172-1226 [aged 28] and Hervey Bagot 1153-1214 [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford [aged 61] and William Audley. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 12th April 1385 a double wedding of the Burgundian Court was celebrated with two sets of siblings:
John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy [aged 13] and Otto Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria 1117-1183 [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria [aged 48] and Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria [aged 43]. He the son of Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy [aged 43] and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy [aged 37]. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
Otto Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria 1117-1183 [aged 20] and Robert "Strong" 830-866 [aged 10] were married. She the daughter of Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy. He the son of Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Lower Bavaria and Margaret of Silesia Duchesa Lowwer Bavaria. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 12th April 1649 John Hussey 1417-1443 [aged 23] and Richard Brownlow 1553-1638 [aged 19] were married at the St James' Church, Clerkenwell. They had seven sons and eight daughters.
On 12th April 1651 Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 [aged 38] and Marie Sibylle Nassau Saarbrücken Duchess Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck were married at Beck. She by marriage Duchess Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. He the son of Dietrich Count of Oldenburg 1398-1440 and Dorothea Schwarzburg Duchess Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg.
On 12th April 1672 Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford [aged 45] and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of Aubrey I de Vere 1040-1112 and Beatrice Van Hemmema Countess of Oxford.
On 12th April 1757 William Feilding of Newnham Paddock -1607 [aged 38] and Walter Cotton of Langwade 1389-1445 [aged 4] were married. She by marriage Countess Desmond, Countess Denbigh. The difference in their ages was 33 years. He the son of William Feilding of Newnham Paddock -1607 and Isabella Jong Countess Desmond and Denbigh.
On 12th April 1823 Bingham Baring 2nd Baron Ashburton [aged 23] and William Montagu 1213-1270 [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of William Montagu 1213-1270 and Louisa Lowry-Corry Countess of Sandwich [aged 42].
On 12th April 1825 Theophilus Biddulph 1st Baronet 1612-1683 [aged 40] and William Vyner of Eathorpe Warwickshire 1570-1639 [aged 22] were married.
On 12th April 1836 Thomas Fowell Buxton 1756-1793 [aged 23] and Joseph Gurney 1691-1750 [aged 22] were married. They were first cousins.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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On 12th April 1871 Henry Fane of Hildenborough in Tunbridge [aged 41] and Thomas Gladstones 1732-1809 were married.
On 12th April 1913 John Gore 1490-1575 [aged 28] and Beatrice Edith Mildred Gascoyne-Cecil Baroness Harlech [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of James Gascoyne-Cecil 4th Marquess Salisbury [aged 51] and John Gore 1490-1575 [aged 45].
On 12th April 1940 Gerald Leslie Brockhurst [aged 49] and Anaïs Melisande Folin were divorced.
On 12th April 1165, Easter eve, Roger Gloucester -1082 was killed by Seisyll ap Dyfnwal Gwent at Arnold Arnaullt Castle [Map]. He buried at Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucestershire [Map]. His brother Mahel succeeded Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation.
On 12th April 1256 Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre [aged 39] died.
On 12th April 1323 Bishop Rigaud of Assier died.
On 12th April 1411 Theodoric I Count of Montbéliard and Bar 1045-1105 [aged 66] died.
On 12th April 1434 Joan Holland Duchess York [aged 54] died.
On 12th April 1443 Archbishop Henry Chichele [aged 80] died. He was buried at Canterbury Cathedral [Map].
On 12th April 1493 Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford [aged 59] died at Londesborough.
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.'
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On 12th April 1530 Joanna "La Beltraneja" Trastámara Queen Consort Portugal [aged 68] died.
On 12th April 1550 Claude Lorraine 1st Duke Guise [aged 53] died. His son Francis [aged 31] succeeded 1st Duke Guise.
On 12th April 1555 Joanna "The Mad" Trastámara Queen Castile [aged 76] died.
On 12th April 1557 John Brydges 1st Baron Chandos [aged 65] died at Sudeley Castle [Map]. His son Edmund [aged 35] succeeded 2nd Baron Chandos of Sudeley. Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys [aged 33] by marriage Baroness Chandos of Sudeley.
On 12th April 1639 Robert Carey 1st Earl Monmouth [aged 79] died. His son Henry [aged 43] succeeded 2nd Earl Monmouth. Thomas Cranfield [aged 38] by marriage Countess Monmouth.
On 12th April 1641 George Hanover Duke Brunswick-Lüneburg 1582-1641 [aged 59] died. His son Christian [aged 19] succeeded Duke Brunswick Lüneburg.
On 12th April 1662 Elizabeth Sheldon Countess Anglesey [aged 54] died.
On 12th April 1681 or 14th April 1681 Thomas Littleton 2nd Baronet [aged 60] died. His son Thomas [aged 34] succeeded 3rd Baronet Littleton of Stoke Milburgh in Suffolk
On 12th April 1687 Henrietta Boyle Countess Rochester [aged 41] died.
On 12th April 1706 Thomas Howard 3rd Earl Berkshire [aged 86] died. His great nephew Henry [aged 20] succeeded 4th Earl Berkshire, 4th Viscount Andover in Hampshire, 4th Baron Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire. Fergus Graham of Plump in Kirkandrews-upon-Esk in Cumberland by marriage Countess Berkshire.
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 12th April 1715 Thomas Wharton 1st Marquess Wharton [aged 66] died. He was buried at Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire. His son Philip succeeded 2nd Marquess Wharton, 2nd Earl Wharton, 6th Baron Wharton.
On 12th April 1736 John Sebright -1565 [aged 43] died. His son Thomas [aged 12] succeeded 5th Baronet Sebright of Besford in Worcestershire.
On 12th April 1770 Thomas Adams 6th Baronet [aged 41] died. Baronet Adams of London extinct.
On 12th April 1775 Andrew Kerr 1405-1481 [aged 65] died at Bath, Somerset [Map]. His son William [aged 38] succeeded 5th Marquess Lothian, 8th Earl Lothian, 6th Earl Lothian. Thomas Fortescue 1620-1710 [aged 30] by marriage Marchioness Lothian.
On 12th April 1823 Diana Middleton 2nd Baroness Barham [aged 60] died. Her son Charles [aged 41] succeeded 3rd Baron Barham.
On 12th April 1824 Roger Hales 1274-1313 [aged 89] died. Baronet Hales of Beakesbourne in Kent extinct.
On 12th April 1834 Isabella Anne Ingram Marchioness Hertford [aged 74] died at Hertford aka Manchester House Manchester Square Marylebone.
On 12th April 1841 Peter Langdale -1617 [aged 89] died.
On 12th April 1845 Robert Fitzmaldred 1150-1248 [aged 55] died. His brother William [aged 52] succeeded 4th Earl Abergavenny, 4th Viscount Neville, 5th Baron Abergavenny. Caroline Leeke Countess Abergavenny by marriage Countess Abergavenny.
On 12th April 1855 Elizabeth Margaret HIbbert Lady Holland [aged 21] died from childbirth.
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 12th April 1861 Thomas Hill aka Harwood 1693-1782 [aged 60] died. His brother William [aged 59] succeeded 6th Baron Berwick of Attingham in Shropshire.
On 12th April 1863 Christopher aka Stephen St Lawrence 1st Baron Howth -1430 [aged 51] died.
On 12th April 1868 James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil 2nd Marquess Salisbury [aged 76] died. His son Robert [aged 38] succeeded 3rd Marquess Salisbury in Wiltshire, 9th Earl Salisbury. Georgina Anderson [aged 41] by marriage Marchioness Salisbury in Wiltshire.
On 12th April 1881 John Poole of Wylton 1370- [aged 68] died.
On 12th April 1893 Thomas Hoghton of Hoghton Tower in Lancashire -1589 [aged 69] died. His brother James [aged 42] succeeded 11th Baronet Hoghton of Hoghton Tower in Lancashire.
On 12th April 1894 Emma Lucy Madox Brown [aged 50] died at Hotel Victoria. Her husband William Michael Rossetti [aged 64] and daughter Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe Rossetti 1783-1854 [aged 18] were present.
On 12th April 1896 Robert Wilmot of Chaddesden 1580-1638 [aged 54] died. His son John [aged 14] succeeded 4th Baronet Eardley-Wilmot of Berkswell Hall in Warwickshire.
On 12th April 1916 Ulick Fionn Burke 6th Lord Clanricarde -1509 [aged 83] died. Marquess Clarincade, Baron Somerhill of Somerhill in Kent extinct.
On 12th April 1920 Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire [aged 67] died. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].
Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire: On 24th September 1852 she was born to Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire. On 24th October 1886 Stephen Russell 1360-1438 and she were married. She the daughter of Thomas Cocks of Castleditch Herefordshire. He the son of Stephen Russell 1360-1438 and Thomas West 1251-1343.
On 12th April 1921 William Strang [aged 62] died.
On 12th April 1929 John Baring 1697-1748 [aged 78] died. Earl Northbrook extinct. His half first cousin Francis [aged 47] succeeded 4th Baron Northbrook, 6th Baronet Baring of Larkbeer in Devon.
On 12th April 1942 Oswald Keppel [aged 83] died at Quidenham, Norfolk. His son Walter [aged 60] succeeded 9th Earl Albermarle, 9th Viscount Bury in Lancashire, 9th Baron Ashford of Ashford in Kent. Diana Grove Countess of Albermarle [aged 32] by marriage Countess Albermarle.
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342
The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 12th April 1956 John Hoskyns of Hereford 1566-1638 [aged 29] died unmarried. His brother Benedict [aged 27] succeeded 16th Baronet Hoskyns of Harewood in Herefordshire.
On 12th April 1999 Samuel Morley 1st Baron Hollenden 1845-1929 [aged 85] died. His son Ian [aged 53] succeeded 4th Baron Hollenden of Leigh in Kent.
On 12th April 2009 Richard Stanhope 1360-1436 [aged 86] died. His son Charles [aged 63] succeeded 12th Earl Harrington, 12th Viscount Petersham, 12th Baron Harrington.