On this Day in History ... 12th July

Adam Murimuth Continuation. Most reverend father in God and my most honoured lord, Since I know well that you would gladly hear news of the king my lord and of the fleet, may it please you to know that, when he had fully organized and provisioned all the ships for a force of fifteen hundred, with the intention of going toward Gascony, and had taken his course intending to pass by the Needles at the end of the Isle of Wight and thus to hold his direct course toward La Rochelle, the wind became so contrary to him that he could not, by any means, keep that course, however long he waited in hope that God would grant him favourable weather to pass. And since it did not please God that he should go that way, he turned back to land wherever God would grant him grace to arrive, and he arrived safe and in good condition, with the whole fleet, in a country called Cotentin in Normandy, on the Wednesday before the feast of Saint Margaret, that is, on the 12th day of July [1346]. And upon landing, my lord the prince was made a knight, as were Montague, Mortimer, Roos, and many others. The town of Barfleur was taken. My lord of Warwick jousted in arms against the enemies and bore himself honourably and with good success; and my lord John de Beauchamp and many other knights and squires have had engagements with the enemies in chevauchées and by other means, so that, by all appearances, there was no delay. But the men-at-arms of the region had retreated to castles and fortified towns, while the common people of the land are all coming willingly into the obedience of our lord the king. Other news, sire, I do not know to send you at this time, except that the king with his host is advancing further into the land to assert his rightful claim, according as God shall give him His grace. Written at Hogues, the 12th day of July¹.

Tres reverent piere en Dieu et mon tres honure seignur, pur ceo qe jeo sai bien qe vous orres volantiers novels de roy mon seignur et de la flete, vous pleise saver ge, com il savoit ordeingne et fait vitailer totes les nefs pur ane XV^c, en entoncoun daver ale vers Gascoun, et avoit pris son chymyn, entendant daver passe par les Agules a bout de lyle de Wyght et ensi tenuz sonn dreit cours vers la Trade, le vent ly fast si contrare qil ne peut tener cel chymyn par nulle voie, coment gil guyst longement entendant si Dieu luy vousist aver done temps de passer; et, puys qil ne pluist nent a Dieux qil alast cel chymyn, il sen returna de prendre terre la ou Dieu luy dorreit la grace, et ariva seyn et en boun poynt ove tote la flete en un pais ge lem apelle Constantin en Normandie, le Mekerdi avant la seynt Margaret, suver le xij. jour de Juyl. Et, a laryval, mon seignur le priuce fut fait chivaler, Mountague, Mortimer, Roos et tut pleyn des altres. Et est la ville de Bareflete gayne. Et mon seignur de Warewyke jousta de gere od les enemyes et porta bone journe et honourable; et mon seignur Johan de Beuchamp et tut pleyn des altres chivalers et esquiers ount ew a fairce ou les enemyes en chivache et par altre voie, si qe a fasoun de icestes ny avoit il nul areste. Mes les gents darmes de pays se ouut retret as chastels et as villes de force, et les comunecs de la terre viengnent tout pleyn al obeissaunce nostre seignur le roy. Altres novels, sire, ne vous say jeo maunder a ceste foithe, mes qe le roy ou soun hoste chivache avant en la terre pur congerer soun dreit, solom ceo qe Dieu luy dorra sa grace. Escrit a Hoghes, le XI jour de Juyle.

Note 1. The date given in the letter, 12th July, is evidently incorrect since that is the day they landed, and they took Barfleur on 14th July. The letter should probably read XVIJ rather than XIJ i.e. 17th July 1346 rather than 12th.

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. Be it remembered that our lord the king and his host took land at St. Vaast de la Hougue the 12th day of July [1346], and in order to unship his horses and to rest him and his people and to bake bread he tarried there until the Tuesday next following. And he found at La Hongue eleven ships, whereof eight had castles fore and aft: the which wero burnt. And on the Friday, while the king tarried, certain men went to Barfleur, and thought to have found much people, and found none to speak of; and they found there nine ships with castles fore and aft, two good crayers, and other smaller vessels, which were also burnt. And the town was as good and aa large as the town of Sandwich. And after that the said people were gone, the seamen burned the town. And there are burnt many of the good towns and manors in the country roundabout. And on the Tuesday [18th July] when the king marched, he went to Valognes, and lay there all night and found food in plenty. And on the next day he marched a long march up to the bridge over the Douve, which they of Carentan had broken down. And the king made repair it the same night, and passed on the morrow even to the said town of Carentan, which is distant but about an English league from the said bridge. The which town is as large as Leicester; and in it they found wine and food in great plenty, and much of the town was burnt, for all that the king could do. And on the Friday the king went and lay in country towns, on a river which was hard to pass. And they of the city of St. Lo brake down the bridge; and the king made mend it, and passed on the morrow, he and his host, and encamped close by the city. And all they of the city had begun to strengthen the same, and had drawn to them many men of arms, to have held the same city; but they fled before the coming of the king. And they found in the said city full a thousand tuns of wine and of other goods great plenty. And the city is greater than Lincoln. And on the morrow the king marched on and lay at an abbey, and his host in the country towns round about him. And they of the host rode pillaging and laying waste five or six leagues round about each day, and they fired many places. And on the Monday the king marched and quartered in the country towns, and on the Tuesday also. And on the Wednesday betimes he came before the city of Caen at the hour of nones, and had news that great plenty of men of arms were within the city. And the king made array his battles, fair and great, and sent certain men to the city to spy it out. And they found the castle fair and strong; and within was the bishop of Bayeux, knights, and men of arms, who held it. And on that side the water in the city very fair and large; and at one end of the city is an abbey, as noble as can be, where William the Conqueror lies; and it is closed in with walls and embattled towers, great and strong. In the which abbey there was no man found. And at the other end of the city is another noble abbey 'des Dames.' And no man was found abiding in the said abbeys nor in the town on that side of the water, save only in the castle. And the men of the city were drawn into the city on the other side of the water, where was the constable of France, and the chamberlain of Tancarville, who is a very great lord, and much people, to the number of five or six hundred, and the commons of the city.

Fait a remembrer qe nostre seignur le roy et son host pristrent terre a Hogges de Seint Vaal le XIJ jour de Juyl, et pur deskiper ses chivaux et reposer luy et ses gentz et fourner pain demurra illeosqes tantqe al Mardy proschein suant. Et treova a les Hogges xj. niefs, des queux viIJ avoient chastiel devaunt et derere: lez quenx homme fist ardre. Et le Vendredy, taunt come le roi demurra, ascuns gentz alerent a Barflet et quidoient avoir trove plusors gents, et troverent nulles a regard; et treoverent illesges ix. niefs on chastels devaunt et derere, IJ bones oraiers, et aultres meindres vesseaux, les queux fusrent auxint arz. Et feust la ville anxi bone et auxi graunde come la ville de Sandwich. Et apres qe lez ditz gentz fusrent ales, lez marineres arderent la ville. Et sount ars plusors des bones villes et manoirs en le pais enviroun. Et le Mardy qe le roi remua il ala a Valoignes, et geust illesqes tut la nuyt et trova des vitailles assetz. Et lendemain remua une graunt journey tantqe a pount Doue, quel ceux de la ville de Carantane debruserent. Et le roi le fist refaire mesme la nuyt, et passa lendemain tange al dite ville de Carantane, qe neet forsqe entour une lieu Engleis del dit pount. La quele ville est auxi grosse come Leicestre; od ils troverount vines et vitailles graunt foisoun, et feust molt de la ville ars, pur riens ge le roy purroit faire. Et le Vendredy le roy ala et geust en villes campestres, sur une river qe feust mal a passer. Et ceaux de la ville de Seint Lee dobraserent le pount; ot le roi le fist refaire, et passalendemain, luy et son host, et se herberga joynaunt a la ville. Et avoient toutz de la ville comence dafforcer la dit ville et attret a eux multz de gentz darmes, davoir tenu mesme la ville; et sen alerent, avaunt la venue le roy. Et troverount en la dite ville bien mil tonels de vin et des sultres biens grant foisoun. Et est la ville plus grosse qe nest Nichole. Et lendemain le roi prist son chemyn et geust a un abbe et son host as villes champestres entour luy. Et chivacherent lez gents del host robbantz et destruasuntsz V od VJ lieus environ touts les jours, et arderent en plusors lieus. Et le Lundi le roy remus et se herberga as villes champestres, et le Mardy auxint. Et le Mescredy par temps vint devaunt la ville de Caame a heure de none, et avoit novels ge graunt foisoun dez gentz darmes fusrent deinz la ville. Et le roi fist arraier ses batailles, bieles et grosses, et maunda ascuns gentz a la ville de lez veer. Et troveront le chastiel biele et fort; et leinz fust levesqe de Baious, chivalers, et gentz darmes, qe le tiegnent. Et cele partie de la eawe est la ville molt biele et molt grosse; et al une bout de la ville est une abbe, si noble come il peot estre, od William le conquerour gist; et est ferme de mures et toures bataillez, grauntz et fortes. En quele abbe nul homme nestoit. Et al antre bout de la ville une autre noble abbe des dames. Et nul homme ne feust demurre as dites abbeies ne en la ville de cele part del eawe, forsqge en chastel. Et lez gentz de la ville fusrent trahez en la ville del autre part del eawe, ou le conestable de Fraunce estoit, et le chamberlain de Tankerville, gest une mult graunt seignur, et plusors gentz, a la mountance de D od DC, et la comune de la ville.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. "Our lord the king, by the expedition undertaken against his enemies, granted to him, as it were, by heavenly promise, as will appear below, rightly exhorts that the following words be spoken: 'Blessed be the Lord, my God, who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight.' For in the twentieth year of his reign, on Wednesday, namely the twelfth day of the month of July [1346], as he was about to cross into France to prosecute manfully his right to the kingdom of France, he landed with his army in the regions of Normandy at La Hogue of Saint-Vaast. There he remained until the following Tuesday, for various reasons: both to refresh himself and his men from the labour of the sea, and also so that his horses and those of his men might be brought ashore from the ships. Nine ships found there, of which eight had fighting platforms at bow and stern, our lord ordered to be burned by fire; which was immediately carried out. On Friday [14th July 1346], while our lord was still staying in that place with his army, some of his men, with common consent, crossed over to the town of Barfleur, believing that they would find there a great multitude of people. However, they found none at all; but they found nine ships equipped with castles at bow and stern, two good crayers [small cargo vessels], and other smaller ships, some of which were burned. The said town of Barfleur might be compared in size and quality to Sandwich. After these men had returned to the king's army, the sailors and those who had remained behind burned the said town of Barfleur entirely, together with very many villages and manors round about. On Tuesday he set out toward Valognes, where he passed the night with his army, provisions being found there in abundance. On Wednesday he advanced toward the bridge of Douve; and when that bridge had been broken by the people of Carentan, our lord the king repaired it that same night. Thus, when morning came, he passed safely with his whole army beyond the said bridge to the town of Carentan, about one English mile distant from the bridge, a town considered as large as Leicester. Wine, goods, and other supplies were found there in abundance; nevertheless, contrary to the king of England's command, the town was partly burned. On Friday our lord the king moved himself and his army to open country near the bank of a certain river, dangerous and deep. The bridge over that river having been broken by the people of Saint-Lô, the king repaired it that same night, and the whole army crossed unharmed. The men of the said town of Saint-Lô, armed and in very great number, had intended to resist our lord the king, gathering their forces on every side; but when they heard of his approach and that of his army, they were seized with fear and, abandoning everything, withdrew altogether. Thus, the town was taken without resistance. Our men found there a thousand tuns of wine and other goods in great abundance, thanks be to God. The town of Saint-Lô is reckoned larger than the city of Lincoln. On the following day our lord the king set out toward a certain abbey, his army encamped in the surrounding towns and countryside. While he remained there for some time, the knights of our army rode out for five or six miles around, burning and plundering all villages, and killing those who wished to resist. On Monday our lord the king departed from that abbey, and on Monday and Tuesday the army likewise remained in towns and open country. On Wednesday, about the ninth hour, approaching the town of Caen, he heard that the said town was full of men in helmets and other armed troops. Whereupon he immediately ordered his battle lines to be drawn up, thinking to meet resistance from those within the town. He also sent some of his men to reconnoitre the town. On returning, they reported that there was a very strong castle there, in which were the bishop of Bayeux, knights, esquires, and many other armed men for its defence. On that side of the river the town appeared large and beautiful. At one end stood a noble abbey, than which none more splendid is found anywhere, where William the Conqueror of England is said to be buried; it was very strongly fortified with walls and towers. In this abbey, strangely enough, those who searched found no one. At the other end of the town there was another abbey of noble ladies. In neither this abbey nor in the aforesaid town of Caen, on that side of the river, did anyone remain, except those who were guarding the castle. The inhabitants of the town had withdrawn to the other side of the river, with arms and all their goods, where the constable of France and the chamberlain of Tancarville were staying with five or six hundred men-at-arms and many others, men of very great rank, as they were held. Some of our army, without command or counsel, made a fierce assault upon the bridge of that town, which was strongly defended. Before it could be taken, they encountered very strong resistance from the enemy. At length the bridge was forced, and they immediately captured the constable of France, namely the count of Eu, and the chamberlain of Tancarville, and about one hundred knights and esquires, and more besides. In that same conflict there were slain very many knights, esquires, and others, lying in gardens, houses, and streets, so many that no one could ascertain or know their number; and as soon as they were dead, they were stripped of everything, their bodies left naked. Of our own men, however, no nobleman was killed, except one esquire, who, mortally wounded, died within two days. In the said town were found provisions and goods beyond number; and it is reckoned larger than any English city or town, except London alone. But when our lord the king departed from La Hogue of Saint-Vaast, as has been said, two hundred ships remained behind. After the king had gone on, the sailors of those ships proceeded together to the town of Barfleur and also to Cherbourg, where there were a good town, a strong castle, and a fine abbey. Finding no resistance, they burned the said towns together with the abbey, and likewise the coastal region from Barfleur as far as a place near the port of Caen, so that they burned the countryside for one hundred and twenty English miles, carrying off abundant goods to their ships. Moreover, they burned completely sixty-one ships fitted with castles at bow and stern, twenty-three good crayers, and twenty-one other smaller vessels."

"Dominus noster rex per expeditionem contra hostes suos, sibi cœlesti promissione concessam, prout inferius apparebit, verba dicere quæ sequuntur rationabiliter exhortatur, videlicet: Benedictus Dominus, Deus meus, qui docet 'manus mess ad prœlium et digitos meos ad bellum.' Nam, anno regni sui XX, die Mercurii, videlicet XIJ, die mensis Julii, versus Franciam transiturus, pro jure suo ad regnum Franciæ viriliter prosequendo, in partibus Normanniæ apud Hoghes de Seint Vaal cum suo exercitu ad terram applicuit. Ibique ad diem Martis proxime sequentem moram traxit, causis diversimodis ad hoc ductus, ut se et suos per requiem de labore maritimo recrearet similiter et ut equi sui et suorum de navibus et ducerentur. Novem naves ibidem inventas, de quibus octo castra anterius et posterius habuerunt, dominus noster igni jussit comburi; quod incontinenti fuerat expeditum. Die autem Vencris, domino nostro in eodem loco adhuc com et morante cum suo exercitu, quidam de suis ad villam de Barflet consensu unanimi trausierunt, credentes ibidem mag et nam hominum multitudinem et invenisse; non tamen invene et runt aliquos respective, sed novem naves, in parte anteriori et posteriori castra habentes, duas et bonas crayers, et alias naves minores, de quibus aliquæ sunt combustæ. Dicta autem villa de Barflet ad villam de Sandwyco quantitate et qualitate poterat comparari. Quibus ad exercitum domini regis reversis, nautæ et retro manentes dictam villam de Bar et flet totaliter combusserunt, cum villis et maneriis in circuita valde multis Die vero Martis ad Valeingnes iter suum arripuit, ibique cum suo exercitu pernoctavit, victualibus ad plenum ibidem inventis. Die Mercurii versus pontem Dovatum transivit, quo quidem ponte per gentes villæ Carantanæ dofracto, dominus nostor rex eadem nocte pontem prædictum refecit; unde, mane facto, ultra dictum pontem sanus et salvus cum toto suo exercitu pertransivit usque ad villam Carantanæ prædictam, a dicto ponte per unum milliare Anglicum situatam, quæ quidem villa ita grossa sicut Ley et cestria reputatur. Vino, bonis, et aliis ad plenum receptis, ptæcepto regis Angliæ contrario non obstante, villa pro parte est combusta. Die autem Veneris dominus noster rex se et suum exercitum transtulit ad villas campestres juxta ripam cujusdam aquæ periculosæ etiam et profandæ. Ponte ejus et dem aquæ per gentes de Seint Loo defracto et per dominam regem eadem nocte refecto, totus noster exercitus aquam prædictam transivit illæsus. Homines vero dictæ villæ de Seint Loo armati et alii in numero valde magno domino nostro regi fuerant in proposito resistendi, sibi viribus un et dique congregatis; sed de adventu suo et sui exercitus exaudito, metu ducti, relictis omnibus, unanimiter reces et serunt; unde illa capta est, nemine resistente. Nostri ctiam ibidem vini mille dolea habuerunt et alia bona, benedicto Deo, in multitudine copiosn. Villa vero prædicta do Seint Loo major civitate Lincolniæ reputatur. Die autem crastina dominus noster rex ad quandam abathiam arripuit iter suum, exercitu suo sibi in villis et campestribus in circuitu adjacente. Unde, domino nostro rege ibidem aliquotiens commorante, equites nostri exercitus per v. vel vj. milliaria in circuitu equitantes, villas omnes comburendo et spoliando, volentes resistere occiderunt. Die vero Lunæ dominus noster rex cum suo exercitu de dicta abathia recessit, et in villis et cam et pestribus die Lunæ et die Martis similiter morabantur. Die autem Mercurii, circa horam nonam, ad villam Cadomi ac et cedens, audivit quod villa Cadomi supradicta galeatis et armatis aliis erat plena. et Unde jussit et continuo suas acies ordinari, credens per exsistentes in villa obviam habuisse. Præterea misit aliquos de suis ad videndam villam Cadomi supradictam; unde venientes castrum ibidem invenerant valde forte, in quo erant episcopus Bayocensis, milites, ar et migeri, et alii armati, pro dicti castri custodia, valde multi. Ex illa parte aquæ villa grossa dinoscitur et formosa. In uno fine villæ prædictæ nobilis abathia consitur, qua nobilior nullucubi reperitur, ubi bonæ memoriæ Willelmus conquæstor Angliæ dicitur tumulatus; etenim muris et turribus valde fortiter est munita. In qua, quod mirum fuit, quærentes neminem invenerunt. In alio fine cjusdem villa est alia dominarum nobiliam abathis. In qua quidem abathia nec in villa Cadomi sæpedicta, ex illa parte aquæ, aliquis mora et batur, his exceptis qui dicti castri custodiam habuerunt. Gentes autem dictæ villæ se in villam ad aliam partem aquæ, cum armis et cum omnibus aliis, transtulerunt; ubi constabu et larius Franciæ et et camerarius Tankerville, cum quingentis vel sexcentis armatis et multis aliis, morabantur, qui valde magni et domini quasi al omnibus reputantur. Quidam vero nostri exercitus, sine consensu seu consilio, ponti dictæ villæ, defensioni et et bus multis munito, insultum fortem dederunt; et, antequam et capi posset, per adversarios habuerunt resistentiam valde fortem. Ponte tandem quæsito, prædictos constabularium Franciæ, videlicet comitem de Ewe, et camcrarium de Tan et kerville incontinenti ceperunt et circiter c. milites et armi et geros c. et plures. Eodem otiam conflictu sunt occisi et milites et armigeri et alii, in hortis, domibus, et plateis jacentes, in numero valde magno, ad quorum numerum vel et notitiam quis devenire non poterat, quin statim, cum mortui faerant, corpore nudo relicto, de omnibus fuerant spoliati. De nostris tamen nullus nobilis periit præter unum armi et geram, qui letaliter vulneratus infra duos dies sequentes decessit. In villa prædicta victualia et alia bona sine numero sunt inventa; quæ vero major tenctur civitate seu villa qualibet Anglicana, civitate Londoniarum dumtaxat excepta. Sed, quando dominus noster rex de villa de Hoghes de Scint Vaal, ut præfertur, recessit, ducentæ naves a retro remanserunt. Undo, rege præterito, nautæ navium prædictaram ad villam de Rothomasse ac ctiam ad villam de Cheyrburgh unanimiter transierunt; ubi villa bona, castram forte, et pulchra abathia etiam habebantur. Resistentia non inventa, villas prædictas cum abathia præ et dicta arserunt; et similiter patriam maris lateri adjacentem a villa de Rothomasse usquo ad villum de Hostreyne, quæ juxta portum Cadomi situatur; ita quod per C et XX milliaria Anglicana patriam concremaverunt, unde bona ad naves suas tulerant in multitudine copiosa. Præterea sexaginta et et et unam naves, castra in parte anteriori et posteriori habentes, XX tres bonas crayers, et alias naves minores XX et unam, totaliter concremaverunt."

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. Therefore the said Edward, the most excellent prince mentioned above, in the aforesaid year of the Lord and in the twentieth year of his reign in England and the seventh of his reign in France, intending to cross the sea in order to relieve the siege of Aiguillon, set out with a very great fleet, about a thousand ships, both large and small, loaded with fighting men, archers, and their equipment. However, while he was sailing, a contrary wind did not allow him to pass across the sea to that place. Instead, a favourable wind carried him to the land of his inheritance, to Normandy, at Hogues. There, on the twelfth day of July in the year of the Lord 1346, he landed with his army and rested for six days, sending most of the ships back to England. Afterward he advanced toward Caen. Master Michael de Northburgh, a capable cleric and one of the councillors of the said king of England who was accompanying him, wrote about the king's arrival there and his march toward Caen in the following words.

Dominus igitur Edwardus, princeps excellentissimus supradictus, anno Domini supradicto, et regni sui Angliæ XX, regni sui Franciæ VIJ, ad removendum dictam obsidionem de Agulonia, transfretare proponens, versus eam cum classe maxima, videlicet circiter mille navibus magnis et parvis, onustis de viris bellicosis sagittariisque et eorum sarcinolis, iter suum direxit. Ipsum tamen navigio venientem in mari illuc transire ventus cContrarius non permisit, sed spiritus bonus deduxit eum in terram hereditatis suæ, in Normanniam, apud Hogges; et ibidem XIJ die Julii, anno Domini millesimo CCCXLVI, cum exercitu suo terram ascendens, per sex dies quievit, dictasque naves pro majori parte in Angliam remittendo. Deindo progrediens versus Cadamum, magister Michael de Northburgh, valens clericus, de consiliariis dicti domini regis Anglorum exsistene, et progrediens cum eodem, ipsius regis adventum ibidem et progressum versus Cadamum scripsit in hæc verba:

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Finally, on the thirteenth day of the same month of July¹ [1346], they arrived at the desired port. Upon landing, the king knighted his eldest son and created him Prince of Wales. Immediately, the prince in turn knighted² the lords Mortimer [aged 17], Montagu [aged 18], and de Ros [aged 17], and others were likewise promoted to the order of knighthood. For the rest of that day and the whole night, the king lodged in the town of Hogue, and the next day, Tuesday, the army burned the town and proceeded inland through the region of the Cotentin Peninsula. That night, the king lodged at Marcellins, where he remained for five days, during which the entire countryside, including the town of Barfleur, was burned and laid waste along the whole coastline.

Tandem die tertio decimo eiusdem mensis Iulii, ad portum desideratum applicuerunt, ubi, nacti terram, in littore suum primogenitum fecit militem et eum principem Wallie constituebat. Statim princeps fecit milites dominos de Mortimer, de Monte acuto, et de Ros; et cum illis eciam fuerunt alii consimiliter ad ordinem promoti militarem. Per residuum diei et totam noctem rex in villa de Hogges ospitabatur, et in crastino, die Tovis, per exercitum villa combusta, deinde per patriam Constantin profectus, nocte sequenti in Marcelins rex hospitabatur, ibi per quinque dies commoratus, in quibus tota patria cum villa de Barbeflete combusta fuerat, vastata cum tota illa costa marina.

Note 1. The route of Edward's march in the Crécy campaign, across the north of France, from La Hougue to Calais, is here traced with great fullness, and there is no difficulty in identifying almost every place that is named. There is, however, a lack of dates, so that, were there no other means of checking the daily advance of the army, it would be hard, if not impossible, to make out the successive stages with perfect accuracy. Fortunately there is extant the journal of the king's kitchen, kept during the expedition, in which are recorded the names of the places where the king lodged, generally with accompanying dates. This document is quoted in 'Proofs of the early use of Gunpowder in the English Army,' by Mr. Joseph Hunter, printed in Archaeologia, 32: "The king landed at 'Hok,' or 'Hogges,' in Normandy, meaning the port of La Hogue, on Wednesday, the 12th July 1346, and the daily operations of his kitchen proceed at the same place till the Tuesday following, when they are transferred to Valognes. The day's stages of the King's march were now. Saint Come du Mount, Carenton, Pount Herbert, and Saint Lo. He then appears to have changed his purpose, and to have directed his march towards Caen, arriving there on Wednesday the 26th, the intermediate stages having been Sevance, Torteval, and Funtenay Paynel. He remained five days at Caen, and he left the place on the last day of July for Lisieux, at which place he arrived on the second of August, having passed through Treward and Leoperty. He was two days at Lisieux: on the 4th of August he was at Durenvile, on the 5th at Limburgh, the 7th at Oil de Boef, and the 8th at Pount Vadreel. The daily stages were now, Longvile, Frenose, Appone, Ferelaguillon, and Poissy, where he arrived on the 13th of August. He was then about 12 miles from Paris. He remained at Poissy till the 16th, on which day he had begun his march northward. The first day's march was to Grisy, the next to Anty, the next to Trussereux, then to Somerreux, Causeamyneux, and Asshen, where he arrived on the 21st of August. He spent the 22nd and 23rd at Asshen.

We then find him in this humble but authentic chronicle:

Thursday, August 24, 'sub foresta de Cressy.'

Friday, August 25, 'in foresta de Cressy.'

Saturday, August 26, 'adhuc sub foresta de Cressy.'

Sunday, August 27, 'in campis sub foresta de Cressy.'"

There is also a contemporary itinerary, copied in a hand of the 15th century, in the Cotton MS. Cleopatra D. 7. f. 179. From these two documents and Baker's route a perfect itinerary can be constructed.

There are extant also several letters written during the campaign, which enter more or less into details. These are the letters of Edward to sir Thomas Lucy (Coxe, The Black Prince, by Chandos Herald, Roxburghe Club, 1842, p. 351).

To the archbishop of Canterbury Lettenhove's Froissart 18.285.

To the archbishop of York Chronicle of Lanercost 342.

Bartholomew Burghersh to the archbishop of York; Adam Murimuth Continuation.

Bartholomew Burghersh to the archbishop of York; Adam Murimuth Continuation.

Letter of Thomas Bradwardine, chancellor of St. Paul's; Adam Murimuth Continuation.

Letter of Michael Northburgh; Murimuth 212, 367, Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury.

Letter of Michael Northburgh; Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury.

Letter of Richard Wynkeley, the king's confessor; Murimuth 215; Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury.

I here give the stages as they appear in the Kitchen Journal (see also Brit. Mus., Add. MS. 25461, f. II); and also print the itinerary from the Cotton MS:

Kitchen Journal

12 July (Wednesday). Hok.

18 July (Tuesday). Valognes.

19 July (Wednesday). Saint Comb du Mont.

20 July (Thursday). Carentan.

21 July (Friday). Pount [Hébert].

22 July (Saturday). Saint Lo.

23 July (Sunday). Sevaunce.

24 July (Monday). Torteval.

25 July (7uesday). Funtenay Paynel.

26 July (Wednesday). Caen.

31 July (Monday). Treward.

1 August (Zuesday). Leoperty.

2 August (Wednesday). Lisieux.

4 August (Friday). Durenvile.

5 August (Saturday). Limburgh.

7 August (Monday). Oil de Boef.

8 August (Tuesday). Pount Vadreel.

9 August (Wednesday). Longville.

10 August (Thursday). Frenose.

11 August (Friday). Appone.

12 August (Saturday). Ferelaguillon.

13 August (Sunday). Poissy.

16 August (Wednesday). Grisy.

17 August (Thursday). Auty.

18 August (Friday). Trussereux.

19 August (Saturday). Somerreux.

20 August (Sunday). Canseamyneux.

21 August (Monday). Assheu.

24 August (Thursday). Sub foresta de Cressy.

25 August (Friday). In foresta de Cressy.

26 August (Saturday). Adhuc sub foresta de Cressy.

27 August (Sunday). Incampissub foresta de Cressy.

28 August (Monday). Valoles.

29 August (Twuesday). Mauntenay.

30 August (Wednesday). Saint Joce in Pountif.

31 August (Thursday). Chastelnoef.

2 September (Saturday). Vintevill.

3 September (Sunday). Vintevill.

4 September (Monday). Coram Calais.

Cotton MS. Cleopatra D. 7, f. 179

On comparing these two itineraries with that given in the text, it will be seen that there are certain discrepancies. In some instances these are no doubt due to mere blundering; but others may be accounted for as variations of three different statements written independently by persons marching with different battles of the army. Putting the three itineraries together, we can lay down the following route:

12 July, Wednesday. Landing at Saint-Vaast-de-la-Hougue. Baker has inadvertently dated this event the 13th July; but, as he speaks of the next day as Thursday, he is only wrong in the day of the month.

13 July, Thursday. Headquarters at Morsalines, only two or three miles from St. Vaast. The Kitchen Journal does not notice the removal. Halt of five days. The country wasted, and Barfleur burnt [on Friday, 14th July].

18 July, Tuesday. To Valognes, 9 miles S.W.

19 July, Wednesday. To Saint-Côme-du-Mont, just north of the river Douve, 14 miles S. by E. Cott. MS. fixes the halt at 'Caueny,' no doubt Coigny, 5 miles W. of Saint-Côme-du-Mont. Probably one of the battles lay there.

20 July, Thursday. Across the Douve to Carentan, only two or three miles.

21 July, Friday. The K. J. and Cott. MS. name Pont-Hébert, a town lying 11 miles S.E. of Carentan and about 4 miles N.W. of Saint-Lo, as the halting place for this day. Baker records the march to 'Serins,' Saint-Lo, and Torigni, and their destruction, and then gives Cormolain as the king's headquarters for the night. He has clearly compressed the events of two days into one. 'Serins' is probably a clerical error for Sevins, Sept-Vents or Sevans, the place which K. J. calls 'Sevance.' If 'Serins' were the correct reading, it might mean Ceérisy-la-Forêt or Cérisy-l'Abbaye, which however lies too much off the route.

22 July, Saturday. To Saint-Lo (K. J. and Cott. MS.)

23 July, Sunday. To Sept-Vents (K. J.) about 12 miles S.E. of Saint-Lo. Cormolain, mentioned by Baker and Cott MS., is not far from Sept-Vents, and may be reckoned as the halting-place of some part of the army.

24 July, Monday. To Torteval (K. J. and Cott. MS.), only about 5 miles E. of Cormolain. Baker makes this day's halt at 'Gerin,' a monastic cell, which may be identical with Cairon or le Quéron, a little S. of Fontenay-le-Pesnel.

25 July, Tuesday. To Fontenay-le-Pesnel (K. J.), 7 or 8 miles E. According to Cott. MS., only to Mauperthuis, just past Torteval.

26 July, Wednesday. To Caen; taken by assault. Halt of five days. Baker dates the capture of Caen on the day before, and makes the halt to last six days.

31 July, Monday. To 'Troward ' (Troarn), 8 miles E.; and Argences, 4 miles S. of Troarn.

I August, Tuesday. To Rumesnil, 9 miles E. K.J. fixes the stage at Leaupartie, which is quite close to Rumesnil; Cott MS. on the other hand, at Saint-Pierredu-Jonque on the left of the Dives, only about 5 miles E. by S. of Troarn.

2, 3 August, Wednesday and Thursday. To Lisieux, 9 miles E. by S. Halt of two days. Baker makes it three days.

4 August, Friday. To 'Lestintnoland' (Le Teil-Nollent), 14 miles E., or to Duranville (K. J.) adjoining Le Teil-Nollent.

5 August, Saturday. Through Brionne, 9 miles, to Le Neubourg, 9 miles further E. The latter place appears as 'Limburgh' in K.J. Cott. MS. makes a halt on both the 4th and 5th at Le Teil-Nollent.

6 August, Sunday. Apparently a halt.

7 August, Monday. To Elbeuf on the Seine, 11 miles N.E. 'Celebeef,' in Baker; 'Oil de Boef," in K. J. Cott. MS. makes the march to Elbeuf fall on Sunday, and continues a day in advance down to the 11th.

8 August, Tuesday. Passing Pont-de-l'Arche, to Léry, said to be on the Seine, but really on the Eure, 9 miles E. K. J. makes this stage halt at 'Pount Vadreel,' no doubt St-Cyr-de-Vaudreuil, a little S. of Léry.

9 August, Wednesday. Through Gaillon to Longueville, near Vernon. Longueville does not appear in the maps. Perhaps it was a suburb of Vernon; 17 miles S.E.

10 August, Thursday? Capture of the castle of Roche-blanche (not in the maps). This seems to be the 'chastel de la Roche,' of Cott. MS., there stated to have been captured on the 7th. Advance to Freneuse, 9 miles up the Seine, incorrectly called 'Frevile' by Baker.

11 August, Friday. Through Mantes, to Epone, 12 miles S.E.

12 August, Saturday. To Fresnes, 5 or 6 miles E. K. J. has 'Ferelaguillon,' which is no doubt a corruption of Fresnes-Ecquevilly.

13 August, Sunday. To Poissy, 6 miles E. According to Baker, the march to Fresnes was on Friday, and the arrival at Poissy on Saturday. Skirmish with a detachment from Amiens.

14, 15 August, Monday and Tuesday. Halt.

16 August, Wednesday. To Grisy, 14 miles N. Baker calls this place 'Gersile.'

17 August, Thursday. To Auteuil, 15 miles N.

18 August, Friday. To Troissereux, 10 miles N.W.

19 August, Saturday. To Sommereux, 15 miles N. In these last marches Baker still continues a day in advance, making the stage of Auteuil on Wednesday, and from thence to Sommereux on Thursday and Friday.

20 August, Sunday. Poissy taken. Then to Camps-en-Amienois (K. J. and Cott. MS.), 8 miles N. Baker refers the capture of Poissy alone to Sunday.

21, 22 August, Monday and Tuesday. To Airaines, 6 miles N. of Camps-enAmienois. Halt. K. J. has 'Assheu ' (Acheux) under date of the 21st; the king's kitchen must have been sent on far in advance.

23 August, Wednesday. To Acheux, 13 miles N.W.

24 August, Thursday. Passage of the Somme. Skirmish at Noyelle-sur-Mer, 8 miles N. Le Crotoy taken. Camp 'sub foresta de Cressy ' (K. J.).

25 August, Friday. Pass through the forest (Cott. MS.). 'In foresta' (K. J.). Attempt by the French to cross the river.

26 August, Saturday. In the open field before Crécy (Cott. MS.), about 8 miles N.E. of Noyelle. 'Adhuc sub foresta' (K. J.). The battle fought.

27 August, Sunday. On the field of battle. 'In campis sub foresta' (K. J.).

28 August, Monday. To 'Abbeville' (Cott. MS.) or 'Valoles' (K. J.), evidently Valloire-Abbaye, on the road to Maintenay.

29 August, Tuesday. To Maintenay, 8 or 9 miles N. of Crécy.

30 August, Wednesday. To Saint-Josse, 10. miles N.W.

31 August, 1 September, Thursday and Friday. To Neufchatel, 10 miles N. Halt. 2, 3 September (Saturday and Sunday). To Wissant (Cott. MS.), 18 miles N. K. J. says 'Vintevill,' i.e. Wimille, 10 miles N. Halt,

4 September (Monday). To Calais.

Note 2. Of the three here mentioned, Roger Mortimer was born about the year 1327, was restored to the earldom of March in April 1354, and died in 1360; William de Montacute, the young earl of Salisbury, was born in 1328, and died in 1397; and William de Roos was summoned to parliament in 1350, and died in Prussia in 1351 - see Chronicle of Henry Knighton.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. When they had waited long enough and saw that the hostages were not ready, nor the money prepared, they took leave of King Jean and returned to England. They left the said King Jean and Sir Philippe, his young son, in the keeping of three knights and other very sufficient men, who gave them all the comfort they could reasonably provide. They allowed the knights of France to speak with him at dinner and supper, as he pleased, and often took him outside for recreation, hunting and otherwise, while waiting for the said sum of money, the promised sum, to be brought to Saint-Omer¹. But they would not deliver it until all the hostages had entered, as had been promised, and with good reason, for if the sum of florins had been delivered and afterwards all the hostages had not wished to enter, or had not agreed to do so, the said sum would have been lost, the peace would have been broken, and the said King Jean would have been taken back to England.

Quant ilz eurent assez attendu et virent que ces hostages n'estoient point appareilliez ne l'argent prest, ik prirent congié du roy Jehan et s'en retournerent en Angleterre. Si laisserrent ledit roy Jehan et messire Philippe, son jœune filz, en la garde de um chevaliers et d'aultres moult souffisans qui leur faisoient tout le solas que faire pouoient bonnement, et laissoient parler à luy à disner et à souper les chevaliers de France, à son plaisir, et le menoient souvent. à l'esbatement dehors en chasse et aultrement, attendant que laditte somme d'argent, la somme promise fut apportée à Saint Omer; mais on ne la voulut pas delivrer jusques à tant que tous les hostages fussent entrez, ainsy que promis estoit, et à bonne cause, car se la somme des flourins fust delivrée et aprez tous les hostages n'y voulsissent pas entrer ou ne s'y voulsissent accorder, laditte somme fust perdue, la paix fust brisée, ledit roy Jehan fust remené en Angleterre.

Note 1. On 12th July 1360, Charles, Duke of Normandy and Regent of France, went to Saint-Omer to have carried out as much of the treaty as he could; Grandes Chroniques.

1. Le 12 juillet 1360, Charles, due de Normandie, régent de France, alla à Saint-Omer pour faire exécuter tout ce qu'il pourrait du traité. (Grandes chroniques, 1. VI, p. 215.)

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. Around this time, an innkeeper of Arras named Quentinet, who was a dice player and one who outrageously cursed and blasphemed God, died in the hospital of Saint John in Lestrée of a sickness of madness, as if deranged. At this time also, on the 9th of July, there were great storms around Arras, and the thunder killed a woman at Monchy-au-Bois while she was making hay, and it was said that she was pregnant. In the same year, around the 12th of July, in the town of Lille, two sodomites were burned, one about sixty years old, and the other a young man who could play the tambourine and who said he was a servant to the lord of Fretin. After they were burned, a sergeant of the provost of Lille named François, because he had found them committing the act and had not denounced them but instead had taken large sums of money from them, both for that and for other offenses, was condemned to death, and his head was cut off. Around this time, in the region of Arras and elsewhere in the county of Artois and in Picardy, many murders were committed, the causes and perpetrators of which were not known. In the said year fifty-nine, April and May were so cold and dry that there was very little oats, and the mencaud of Arras was worth sixteen or seventeen; that is, the load of a horse was worth thirty-three, and grain became more expensive, for there was little of it, and after harvest a horse-load of grain was worth twenty-eight. The year was very late, and for that reason the wines were very green and of little value, especially those from the region of Beaune, which were worth almost nothing and were very unripe.

Environ ce temps un cabartier d'Arras, nommé Quentinet, lequel estoit joueur de dez, regnieur et blasphesmeur de Dieu outrageusement, en l'hostel dieu de St Jehan en Lestrée mourut de maladie de derverie et comme dervé. En ce temps aussy, le ix de juillet, feirent grandes oraiges environ Arras, et tuist le tonnoire une femme a Monchy au Bois, laquelle fenoit foing, et disoit on qu'elle estoit enchainte d'enfant. Oudit an encoires, environ le xij de juillet, en la ville de Lille, feurent ards deux sodomites, l'ung de l'age de la lx ans, et l'aultre josne compagnon qui sçavoit jouer du tambourin, et se disoit estre serviteur au S^r de Fretin; après lesquels ards ung sergeant du prevost de Lille, nommé François, pour tant qu'il les avoit trouvés au peschié et neles avoit point raccusés, ains les avoit composés grands deniers, tant pour ce que pour aultres cas fust ledit François condampné a mort, et euist ledit François le hatreau tranchié. Environ ce temps, entour de la ville d'Arras et ailleurs, en la comté d'Artois et en Picardie, feurent faits plusieurs homicides, dont ne sçait les causes pourquoy ny les noms des aulteurs.: Audit an lix, apvril et may feurent sy froids et sy secqs, qu'il fust bien peu d'avoine, et valloit le mencaud d'Arras, xvj ou xvij^e; c'estoit la chierge d'un cheval xxxiij, et rencherirent les bleds, car il en estoit peu, et vaillut après aoust, la chierge d'ung cheval, de bled xxviij, et fust l'année très tardive; pourquoy les vins feurent très verds et ne vailloient guerres, mesme ceulx du pays de Bianne ne vaillerent comme riens et feurent très verds.

Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. 12th July 1553. The 12. of July word was brought to the Councell, being then at the Tower [Map] with the lady Jane [aged 17], that the lady Mary was at Keninghall castle [Map] in Norfolk, and with her the earle of Bath [aged 54], sir Thomas Wharton [aged 33] sonne to the lord Wharton [aged 58], sir John Mordaunt [aged 45] sonne to the lord Mordaunt [aged 73], sir William Drury [aged 3],^a sir John Shelton [aged 50], sir Henry Bedingfield [aged 44], master Henry Jerningham [aged 41], master John Sulierde, master Richard Freston, master sergeant Morgan, master Clement Higham of Lincolnes inne, and divers others; and also that the earle of Sussex and master Henry Ratcliffe his sonne were comming towards her: whereupon by speedy councell it was there concluded, that the duke of Suffolk, with certaine other noblemen, should goe towards the lady Mary, to fetch her up to London. This was first determined; but by night of the same day the said voyage of the duke of Suffolke was cleane dissolved by the speciall meanes of the lady Jane his daughter, who, taking the matter heavily, with weeping teares made request to the whole councell that her father might tarry at home in her company: whereupon the councell perswaded with the duke of Northumberland to take that voyage upon him, saying that no man was so fit therefor, because that he had atchieved the victory in Norfolke once already,^b and was therefore so feared, that none durst once lift up their weapon against him: besides that, he was the best man of warre in the realme; as well for the ordering of his campes and souldiers both in battell and in their tents, as also by experience, knowledge, and wisedome, he could animate his army with witty perswasions, and also pacific and alay his enemies pride with his stout courage, or else to disswade them if nede were from their enterprise. "Well (quoth the duke then) since ye thinke it good, I and mine will goe, not doubting of your fidelity to the quenes majestie, which I leave in your custodie." So that night hee sent for both lords, knights, and other that should goe with him, and caused all things to be prepared accordingly. Then went the councell in to the lady Jane and told her of their conclusion, who humbly thanked the duke for reserving her father at home, and beseeched him to use his diligence, whereto he answered that hee would doe what in him lay.

Note a. Sir William Drury, for his services "at Framlingham," received, by patent dated the 1st Nov. following, an annuity of 100 marks: see it printed in Rymer's Foedera, xv. 352. A like annuity of 200 marks was granted on the 14th Nov. to Thomas West lord la Warre for his services against the duke (ibid. p. 352); one of 100. on the 4th Dec. to sir Richard Southwell (ibid. p. 355); and one of 501. on the 10th Feb. to Francis Purefay for his services at Framlingham (ibid. p. 365). Probably many others, unnoticed by Rymer, are recorded on the Patent Rolls.

Note b. In the suppression of Kett's rebellion.

On 25th March 1605 Elizabeth Russell Countess Bath was buried at St Peter's Church, Tawstock [Map]. After 12th July 1623 William Bourchier 3rd Earl Bath [aged 47] was buried with his wife.

The monument subject to restoration and repainting around 1980.

Monument, possibly by Nicholas Johnson, with Latin inscriptions: Æ.S. Lege viator quæ Magnatum saxa rarissime, loquuntur vir probus et mobilis utero hic situs est Guiliemus Bourgchier Comes Bathone nsis æternitatem apud motales meritus Suauissimo connubio connnxit nobii tatem et virtutem utranq dignitatum in omnibus constanter retinvit et ornavit vixit in hac ipsa Devonia cvi datus est praefectus et puincian triginta pius minus annis integerppime administravit Deum tam privatis quam publicis officus religiosissime colvit magnificum exemplum beneficentiæ, et hosptalitatis pavprervmq et oppressorum acerrimus patronus diniq cum inoffensae foelicitatis cursum ad sinium vsq propuxisset decessit e vivis incens et aeternum Devoniae suæ desiderium 12 July anno salvitus 1623 ætatis vero suæ 65. Uxorem duxit lectissimam toeminan sociam ... sepulchri dnam Elizabetham Francisci Comitis Bedfordensis Filiam ex qua genuit Johem Robertum et Edwardum Filios et Franciscam Filiam E quibus Edwardum modo Comitem Bathoniensem solum reliquit supersitem ipsoum clarissimæ familiæ suis quoq virtutibus et foelicissimo conivgio futurum ornamentum. Hoc fac et vives.

"Reader, read what the rare stones of the great ones seldom speak, here lies buried William Bourchier, Earl of Bath, deserving of eternity among mortals. He united nobility and virtue by a most delightful marriage, consistently maintaining and adorning both dignities in all things. He lived in this very Devonshire, over which he presided as prefect and justice of the peace for thirty years with the utmost integrity. He devoutly worshipped God in both private and public duties, magnificently exemplifying benevolence, hospitality, and being the most ardent protector of the oppressed. When he had set forth the course of his harmless happiness to the bosom of eternity, he departed from the living, leaving behind an incense and eternal longing for his Devonshire. On July 12th, in the year of salvation 1623, at the age of 65. He married the most distinguished lady, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis, Earl of Bedford, by whom he begot John, Robert, and Edward, sons, and Frances, a daughter. Of these, he left surviving only Edward, now Earl of Bath, a future ornament to his most illustrious family by his own virtues and most happy marriage. Do this, and you will live."

BATHONÆ COMTIÆ DEVON PRAEFECTO MEMORIÆ ERGO Ana: Crono: Epi: Mors mihi Ivcrvm ... In grama tum ... Bon Temps viendra Morior ... Orior ... Ad sepul crum ... Finis ... Coronat Ana: Gulielmus Bourchier Luge (si ob Iucrum Heri) Quid sibi vult Tumulus. Quaeve hoec Insignia Iuctus Eft COMES in Svperos ecce LOCUMQ TENES Quare fles, Devonia vel, Bathonia, qvare eXIIt: en bon teMps nVnCo VIenDra patet (Crono) IVLIVS, hoc, mensis fuit AUGUSTISSIMUS, anno Atq SECUNDA (decem junge) SECUNDA dies Non amor, invidia est, DOLOR, euge, lege, (ALME VIATOR) Et difce exemplo VIVERE, disce mori. Sic cecinit, non elevit.

To the memory of William Bourchier, Earl of Bath, Prefect of Devon: Ana: Chrono: Epitaph: Death is my Law ... Then in the grave ... Good Times will come. I die ... I rise ... To the tomb ... The End ... Ana crowns: William Bourchier Mourn (if for the joy of yesterday) What does the Tumulus mean? What does this Emblem of Grief signify? BEHOLD, the Earl holds a place among the heavens. Why do you weep, Devon or Bath, why do you mourn: behold, good times are coming, soon they will come (Chronos) JULY, this, was the most AUGUST month, in the year and the second day (join ten) The second day. Not love, but envy is SORROW, hail, read (kind traveler) And learn to live by example, learn to die. Thus he sang, not did he elevate.

The Plantagenet Arms indicate his being a 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England through his paternal grandfather John Bourchier 2nd Earl Bath and his paternal grandmother Robert Manners 1298-1355.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th July 1666. But was up again by five o'clock, and was forced to rise, having much business, and so up and dressed myself (enquiring, was told that Mrs. Tooker was gone hence to live at London) and away with Poundy to the Tower [Map], and thence, having shifted myself, but being mighty drowsy for want of sleep, I by coach to St. James's, to Goring House [Map], there to wait on my Lord Arlington [aged 48] to give him an account of my night's worke, but he was not up, being not long since married: so, after walking up and down the house below,-being the house I was once at Hartlib's sister's wedding, and is a very fine house and finely furnished,-and then thinking it too much for me to lose time to wait my Lord's rising, I away to St. James's, and there to Sir W. Coventry [aged 38], and wrote a letter to my Lord Arlington giving him an account of what I have done, and so with Sir W. Coventry into London, to the office. And all the way I observed him mightily to make mirth of the Duke of Albemarle [aged 57] and his people about him, saying, that he was the happiest man in the world for doing of great things by sorry instruments. And so particularized in Sir W. Clerke [deceased], and Riggs, and Halsey, and others. And then again said that the only quality eminent in him was, that he did persevere; and indeed he is a very drudge, and stands by the King's business. And this he said, that one thing he was good at, that he never would receive an excuse if the thing was not done; listening to no reasoning for it, be it good or bad. But then I told him, what he confessed, that he would however give the man, that he employs, orders for removing of any obstruction that he thinks he shall meet with in the world, and instanced in several warrants that he issued for breaking open of houses and other outrages about the business of prizes, which people bore with either for affection or fear, which he believes would not have been borne with from the King [aged 36], nor Duke [aged 32], nor any man else in England, and I thinke he is in the right, but it is not from their love of him, but from something else I cannot presently say. Sir W. Coventry did further say concerning Warcupp, his kinsman, that had the simplicity to tell Sir W. Coventry, that the Duke did intend to go to sea and to leave him his agent on shore for all things that related to the sea. But, says Sir W. Coventry, I did believe but the Duke of Yorke would expect to be his agent on shore for all sea matters. And then he begun to say what a great man Warcupp was, and something else, and what was that but a great lyer; and told me a story, how at table he did, they speaking about antipathys, say, that a rose touching his skin any where, would make it rise and pimple; and, by and by, the dessert coming, with roses upon it, the Duchesse [aged 29] bid him try, and they did; but they rubbed and rubbed, but nothing would do in the world, by which his lie was found at then.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th July 1667. Up betimes and to my chamber, there doing business, and by and by comes Greeting and begun a new month with him, and now to learn to set anything from the notes upon the flageolet, but, Lord! to see how like a fool he goes about to give me direction would make a man mad. I then out and by coach to White Hall and to the Treasury chamber, where did a little business, and thence to the Exchequer to Burges, about Tangier business, and so back again, stepping into the Hall a little, and then homeward by coach, and met at White Hall with Sir H. Cholmly [aged 34], and so into his coach, and he with me to the Excise Office, there to do a little business also, in the way he telling me that undoubtedly the peace is concluded; for he did stand yesterday where he did hear part of the discourse at the Council table, and there did hear the King [aged 37] argue for it. Among other things, that the spirits of the seamen were down, and the forces of our enemies are grown too great and many for us, and he would not have his subjects overpressed; for he knew an Englishman would do as much as any man upon hopeful terms; but where he sees he is overpressed, he despairs soon as any other; and, besides that, they have already such a load of dejection upon them, that they will not be in temper a good while again. He heard my Chancellor [aged 58] say to the King, "Sir", says he, "the whole world do complain publickly of treachery, that things have been managed falsely by some of his great ministers".-"Sir", says he, "I am for your Majesty's falling into a speedy enquiry into the truth of it, and, where you meet with it, punish it. But, at the same time, consider what you have to do, and make use of your time for having a peace; for more money will not be given without much trouble, nor is it, I fear, to be had of the people, nor will a little do it to put us into condition of doing our business". But Sir H. Cholmly tells me he [the] Chancellors did say the other day at his table, "Treachery!" says he; "I could wish we could prove there was anything of that in it; for that would imply some wit and thoughtfulness; but we are ruined merely by folly and neglect".

Letters of Horace Walpole. Arlington Street, Jul 12, 1765.

If you knew with what difficulty and pain I write to you you would allow my dear sir that I have some zeal for your satisfaction I have been extremely ill for these last sixteen days with the gout all over me in head stomach and both feet but as it never budged from the latter it soon attracted all the venom from the upper parts Oh it is a venomous devil I have lain upon a couch for two days but I question whether I shall be so alert to day as I have had a great deal of pain in the night and little sleep Still I must write to you as it is both for your satisfaction and my own and as this is the first moment that I have enjoyed the liberty of the post for these three years We e may say what we will I may launch out and even you need not be discreet when our letters pass through Mr Conway's office He has already himself told you in form that he is your principal and I repeat how glad of it I am for your sake as well as for all others I told him last night that I believed the Duke of York had obtained the promise of a red riband for you and begged that promise at least of the late odious ministers might be fulfilled and that none of our new aspirants might be thrust in before you He readily with kind expressions towards you promised me his interest.

kind expressions towards you promised me his interest Well at last the four tyrants are gone undone by their own insolence and unpitied Their arrogance to the King and proscriptions of every body but their own crew forced his Majesty to try any thing rather than submit to such task masters Mr Pitt who was ready and willing to have assumed the burden was disappointed by the treachery of Lord Temple who has reconciled and leagued himself with his brother George In this distress the Duke of Čumberland has persuaded the Opposition to accept and form a ministry Without Mr Pitt they were unwilling but pressed and encouraged by Mr Pitt and fearing the crown should be reduced to worse shifts rather than again bend to the yoke they have submitted and every thing promises fairer than could be expected The Duke of Bedford, Grenville and the two secretaries are already dismissed and their places filled by Lord Winchelsea Lord Rockingham and Mr Dowdswell as First Commissioners of the Admiralty and Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer the Duke of Grafton and Mr Conway The list of ins and outs will be much more considerable by degrees though not rapidly nor executed with the merciless hand of late years for the present system is composed of men as much more virtuous in that respect as in every other than their predecessors Nobody has resigned yet but those immediately connected with the fallen as Lord Gower Lord Thomond and Lord Weymouth and who would not have been suffered to stay if they had desired it.

The crown of Ireland is offered to Lord Heriford All this sets my family in an illustrious light enough yet it does not dazzle me My wishes and intentions are just the same as they were Moderation privacy and quiet sum up all my future views and having seen my friends landed my little cock boat shall waft me to Strawberry as soon as I am able to get into it The gout they tell me is to ensure me a length of years and health but as I fear I must now and then renew the patent at the original expense I am not much flattered by so dear an annuity You may judge of my sensations when I tell you I reckon the greatest miracle ever performed was that of bidding the cripple take up his bed and walk I could as soon do the former as the latter .

Since I began to write I hear that this morning have kissed hands Lord Ashburnham [aged 40] for the Great Wardrobe in room of Lord Despencer, Lord Besborough and Lord Grantham Postmasters in the places of Lord Hyde and Lord Trevor Lord Villierst as Vicechamberlain instead of old Will Finch who believe has a pension and Lord Scarborough who succeeds Lord Thomond in the Cofferer's office You will say that all this is strongly tinctured with peerage it is true but the House of Commons will have its dole though not yet as folks do not like a re election depending for six months.

The Duke of Bolton [aged 47] the other morning nobody knows why or wherefore except that there is a good deal of madness in the blood sat himself down upon the floor in his dressing room and shot him self through the head. What is more remarkable is that it is the same house and same chamber in which Lord Scarborough performed the same exploit I do not believe that shooting one's self through the head is catching or that any contagion lies in a wainscot that makes one pull a suicide trigger but very possibly the idea might revert and operate on the brain of a splenetic man I am glad he had not a blue garter but a red one as the more plenty the sooner one gets to Florence.

This is a long epistle in my condition Pray unseal and decypher your lips now the tower has no longer the least air of the Bastille. Halifax, Sandwich [aged 46] and General Warrants are sent to the devil though I believe Sandwich will contrive to return like Belphegor even though he should be obliged to marry his own wife [aged 48] again but he can never get rid of the smell of brimstone Adieu.

Thomas Bateman 1845. The 12th of July, 1845, was devoted to the examination of a very large barrow [Map] [Note. Probably Ilam Tops Low [Map]] upon Ilam Moor, Staffordshire, which was found to be composed of alternate layers of earth and loose stones, some of considerable magnitude; these strata were clearly defined, there being no admixture of stone with the earthy layers, or of earth with the stony ones. At a distance of two yards from the centre, the cist, or vault, over which the mound had been originally piled, was discovered; it was excavated in a square form, about three feet deep in the solid rock, and was covered by several large blocks of stone, laid over the sides of the cist, the ends being raised, and meeting together so as to form a kind of cyclopean arch over the vault; these stones being removed, the cist was found to be filled with stones, amongst which were found the skull of a child, and a few scattered bones of a person of mature age; the floor of the cist was covered with a layer of charcoal, at least two inches in thickness, apparently produced from the combustion of oak timber; upon this stratum lay the head of a bull, un-burnt, and various other bones of the same animal, which were partially charred; near these, but not quite so low down, were the remains of two urns, one rudely, the other very neatly ornamented; a small brass pin pointed at each end; and a few bones of deer and dogs. Precisely in the centre of the tumulus, at about a yard from the surface, lay the skeleton of a dog, with which was a small chipping of flint; with this exception, nothing more was discovered in this very remarkable barrow, although no pains were spared in removing a large area of the artificial soil, until the rock came to view, upon which the whole fabric was raised. A somewhat similar instance of the discovery of a bulls head in a sepulchral cist is recorded as having been made in 1826 upon one of the cliffs at the bay of Worthbarrow, Dorsetshire, a place famed as the greatest depository in England for the well-known "Kimmeridge coal money" (See Miles's History of the Kimmeridge Coal Money, page 41.)

Adeline Horsey Recollections. On the morning of July 12, 1858, I was awakened by a loud knocking at the front door. I looked at my watch, and saw that it was not seven o'clock; I was, needless to say, very alarmed, as I wondered whether anything had happened to my father or my brothers. The knocking continued - I heard the bolts drawn, the door opened, and a voice I knew well called impatiently for me. It was Lord Cardigan [aged 60]! I had just time to slip on a dressing-gown before he came into my room, sans ceremonie, and taking me in his arms he said, "' My dearest, she's [aged 60] dead ... let's get married at once". Then I knew that the trying period of our probation was over, and that we were free to be happy together at last.

When Cardigan grew calmer he told me he had just come from his wife's death-bed. The poor lady had urged him to marry me, saying she knew that I should make him happy. She had also warned him against Maria, Marchioness of Ailesbury [aged 45], the extent of whose love affairs, it appears, was only known to Lady Cardigan, who told his Lordship the unvarnished truth about them.

Note A. I did not wish to insult the memory of the dead woman, who had shown me so many kindnesses, I refused to marry Cardigan until some time had elapsed. He went to Ireland in his official capacity of Inspector of Cavalry, and I lived on quietly at Norfolk Street till September, when I left London for Cowes. I then went on board Lord Cardigan's yacht the Airedale, where he and a party of friends were awaiting me, and we sailed for Gibraltar.

Nothing particular occurred en route; we were all in the best of spirits, and I felt as though I were the Princess in some delightful fairy-tale. The day after we arrived at Gibraltar there was a terrible storm, almost tropical in its violence. Roofs were torn off houses and whirled, light as dead leaves, through the air, great trees were uprooted, heavy masonry fell everywhere, and the ships tossed about like cockle-shells in the harbour. It was almost a scene from the Inferno, and our horror was intensified when we saw the signals from a French vessel in distress. Nobody seemed inclined to put out, so I begged Lord Cardigan to send the Airedale to try and save the crew. He assented, and through this timely aid from our yacht fourteen men were rescued, and we also took a French poodle off a raft to which he was clinging, his owner doubtless having been drowned.

On 26th May 1911 Richard Cholmondeley 1475-1518 [aged 39] died two weeks after falling out of a window at her home at 5 Wilton Place, Belgravia and suffering severe injuries. At an inquest, the coroner found that the fall was purely accidental.

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931). 12th July 1911

AN, AWFUL FALL.

A terrible fate befell the only sister of Lord Delamere [aged 41], as disclosed at the inquest at Westminster, London. Mrs. Sybil Burnaby, according to the tragic story, had been kneeling at an open, window on a settle which ran upon castors and wishing to know the time, stood on the settle and reached forward to see the clock of St. Paul's Church. The leafage of the trees obstructed her view, and is she leaned further the settle ran from under her, and she fell. A nurse, who had been standing, a yard or two away, managed to seize her dress as she fell through the window, and Mrs. Burnaby turned and grasped the wooden window frame. The nurse, retaining a frenzied hold of the dress with both bands, screamed for aid. Mrs. Barnaby's maid rushed in; she also reached through the window and caught at the dress, her mistress imploring them, "Don't let me go!'' For a moment or two they held her so, when suddenly time silk material of the dress ripped and tore in their hands. Mrs. Burnaby's fingers were wrenched from the window-sill, and she fell from the bedroom window to the area beneath. Suffering from terrible fractures, she was still conscious when admitted to the hospital. Captain Edward Seymour stated that Mrs. Burnaby, who was his cousin, was 39 years of age. He was the executor of her will. She had been married to Colonel Algernon Edwyn Burnaby [aged 43], formerly of the Royal Horse Guards, but she obtained a divorce from him in 1892 [Note. A mistake for 1902]. Since then she had lived chiefly in Wilton-place. She had no trouble in her affairs, and, to the best of his belief, she had got over the trouble of the divorce from her husband. She was a person of calm and quiet disposition. The nurse, Katherine Cleghorn, said the accident happened about 7 in the; morning, when Mrs. Burnaby came into the witness bedroom as usual. She was partly dressed I and looking quite bright and cheerful. The surgeon at St. George's Hospital said Mrs. Burnaby's injuries were a compound compressed comminuted fracture of the frontal bone and fracture of both thighs. She was not unconscious, but he did not ask her any questions. The Coroner said there was no doubt that Mrs. Barnaby's death was purely accidental. A verdict accordingly was returned.