John of Worcester. 08 Sep 1069. Before the Nativity of St. Mary [8th September] Harold (age 29) and Canute (age 27), sons of Sweyn (age 50), king of Denmark, and their uncle, earl Asbiorn, with earl Thurkill, arriving from Denmark with two hundred and forty ships, landed at the mouth of the river Humber, where they were met by Edgar (age 18) the etheling, earl Waltheof, Marlesweyn, and many others, with a fleet they had assembled. Aldred, archbishop of York, was so distressed at their arrival, that he fell dangerously sick, and departed this life, as he besought of God, on Friday the third of the ides [the 11th] of September, in the tenth year after he became archbishop, and was buried in the church of St. Peter on the eighth day afterwards, namely, on Saturday the thirteenth of the calends of October [19th September]. The Normans, who garrisoned the forts, set fire to the adjacent houses, fearing that they might be of service to the Danes in filling up the trenches; and the flames spreading, destroyed the whole city, together with the monastery of St. Peter. But they were speedily punished for this by an infliction of the divine vengeance; for on Monday the Danish fleet arrived before the city was entirely consumed, and the forts being stormed the same day, and more than three thousand of the Normans killed (the lives of William Malet and his wife and two children, with very few others, being spared), the ships drew off laden with plunder.

John of Worcester. After 08 Sep 1069. King William (age 41), receiving intelligence of this, immediately assembled an army, and hastened into Northumbria, giving way to his resentment; and spent the whole winter in laying waste the country, slaughtering the inhabitants, and inflicting every sort of evil, without cessation. Meanwhile, he despatched messengers to the Danish carl, Asbiorn, and promised to pay him secretly a large sum of money, and grant permission for his army to forage freely along the sea-coast, on condition that he would depart without fighting when the winter was over; and he, in his extreme greediness for lucre, and to his utter disgrace, consented to the proposal. In consequence of the ravages of the Normans, first, in Northumbria the preceding year, and again in the present and following year, throughout nearly the whole of England, so severe a famine prevailed in most parts of the kingdom, but chiefly in Northumbria and the adjacent provinces, that men were driven to feed on the flesh of horses, dogs, cats, and even of human beings.

Chroincle of Henry Knighton. 08 Sep 1346. The Siege of Calais. King Edward set up tents around the town of Calais for himself and his army, and he stationed himself in a city-like formation on the land and placed strong naval forces in the sea port, so that no relief could reach the citizens, neither by sea nor by land, as they were thus encircled in misery by the English. Then King Edward had siege engines and other masterful instruments brought from England, which were suitable for such a siege, to breach the walls.

Obsidio Calesie. Rex Edwardus finxit tentoria circa uillam Calesie pro se et exercitu suo, et hospitatus est in modum ciuitatis per terram et posuit nauigium forte in portu maris, ita quod nullum subsidium potuit ciuibus occurrere, nec per mare neque per terram, per Anglicos sic in miseria inclusis. Deinde rex Edwardus fecit afferri machinas et alia instrumenta magistralia de Anglia queque ad talem obsidionem pertinencia, ad infringendum muros.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. After 08 Sep 1346. However, soon after the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, Lord Bartholomew de Burghersh, senior, and Lord John Darcy, senior, and Master John Thornsly, and of Carleton, came to England to the council of ten bishops gathered at Westminster; who reported all the aforementioned and some other, yet not contradictory, details, also stating that our lord the king with his army began the siege of the town of Calais. Towards which place victuals came to him from England by sea. Perceiving this, the enemies came with twenty-five galleys and three ships from England along with other small ships carrying supplies, which they destroyed; and then they immediately withdrew stealthily.

Postea vero, cito post festum Nativitatis beatæ Mariæ, venerunt in Angliam dominus Bartholomæus de Burghasche, pater, et dominus Johannes Darsy, pater, et magister Johannes Thornsly, et de Carletone, ad concilium decem episcoporum Westmonasterii congregatorum; qui omnia præmissa et quædam alia, non tamen contraria, retulerunt, dicentes etiam quod dominus rex noster cum suo exercitu villam de Caleys obsidere incepit. Versus quem locum venerunt sibi victualia de Anglia per mare. Quod percipientes inimici, venerunt xx. quinque galeæ latenter et tres naves de Anglia una cum aliis parvis navibus victualia portantibus destruxerunt; et statim clandestine recesserunt.

Diary of Edward VI. 08 Sep 1550. Removing to Nonesuch [Map].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 08 Sep 1559. The viij day of September at after-none [was] the obseque of Henry the Frenche kyng, the herse garnyshed with grett skochyons of armes bosted [Note. Possibly embossed] with grett crownes, and all under ther fett [feet] with blake, and a grett palle of cloth of gold, and ys helmett and mantyll of cloth of gold and cott armur, targett and sworde, and crest, and angyd [hanged] all the quer [choir] with blake and armes, and my lord tresorer (age 76) the cheyff [mourner], and next my lord chamburlen, my lord of Burgany, my lord of Hunsdon (age 33), and my lord Cobam (age 31), my lord Dacurs of the Sowth, and my lord Pallett, ser Recherd Sakefeld (age 52), and ser Edward Warner (age 48), and mony mo morners all in blake; and contenent songe durge, and a xiiij [14] haroldes of armes in ther cott armur afor the lordes, and after to the bysshope('s) palles to drynke.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1662. Up betimes and to my office preparing an account to give the Duke this morning of what we have of late done at the office. About 7 o'clock I went forth thinking to go along with Sir John Minnes (age 63) and the rest, and I found them gone, which did vex me, so I went directly to the Old Swan [Map] and took boat before them to Sir G. Carteret's (age 52) lodgings at Whitehall, and there staying till he was dressed talking with him, he and I to St. James's, where Sir Williams both and Sir John were come, and so up with Mr. Coventry (age 34) to the Duke; who, after he was out of his bed, did send for us in; and, when he was quite ready, took us into his closet, and there told us that he do intend to renew the old custom for the Admirals to have their principal officers to meet them once a-week, to give them an account what they have done that week; which I am glad of: and so the rest did tell his Royal Highness that I could do it best for the time past.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1663. Up and to my viall a while, and then to my office on Phillips having brought me a draught of the Katherine yacht, prettily well done for the common way of doing it. At the office all the morning making up our last half year's account to my Lord Treasurer (age 56), which comes to £160,000 or there abouts, the proper expense of this half year, only with an addition of £13,000 for the third due of the last account to the Treasurer for his disbursements, and £1100 for this half year's; so that in three years and a half his thirds come to £14,100.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1665. In the evening my Lord Bruncker (age 45) hearing that Mr. Ackeworth's clerke, the Dutchman who writes and draws so well, was transcribing a book of Rates and our ships for Captain Millet a gallant of his mistress's, we sent for him for it. He would not deliver it, but said it was his mistress's and had delivered it to her. At last we were forced to send to her for it; she would come herself, and indeed the book was a very neat one and worth keeping as a rarity, but we did think fit, and though much against my will, to cancell all that he had finished of it, and did give her the rest, which vexed her, and she bore it discreetly enough, but with a cruel deal of malicious rancour in her looks. I must confess I would have persuaded her to have let us have it to the office, and it may be the board would not have censured too hardly of it, but my intent was to have had it as a Record for the office, but she foresaw what would be the end of it and so desired it might rather be cancelled, which was a plaguy deal of spite. My Lord Bruncker (age 45) being gone and company, and she also, afterwards I took my wife and people and walked into the fields about a while till night, and then home, and so to sing a little and then to bed. I was in great trouble all this day for my boy Tom who went to Greenwich, Kent [Map] yesterday by my order and come not home till to-night for fear of the plague, but he did come home to-night, saying he staid last night by Mr. Hater's advice hoping to have me called as I come home with my boat to come along with me.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1665. Waked, and fell in talk with my wife about the letter, and she satisfied me that she did not know from whence it come, but believed it might be from her cozen Franke Moore lately come out of France. The truth is the thing I think cannot have much in it, and being unwilling (being in other things so much at ease) to vex myself in a strange place at a melancholy time, passed all by and were presently friends. Up, and several with me about business. Anon comes my Lord Bruncker (age 45), as I expected, and we to the enquiring into the business of the late desertion of the Shipwrights from worke, who had left us for three days together for want of money, and upon this all the morning, and brought it to a pretty good issue, that they, we believe, will come to-morrow to work.

The London Gazette 85. Whitehall, September, 8th [1666].

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1666. Up and with Sir W. Batten (age 65) and Sir W. Pen (age 45) by water to White Hall and they to St. James's. I stopped with Sir G. Carteret (age 56) to desire him to go with us, and to enquire after money. But the first he cannot do, and the other as little, or says, "when we can get any, or what shall we do for it?" He, it seems, is employed in the correspondence between the City and the King (age 36) every day, in settling of things. I find him full of trouble, to think how things will go. I left him, and to St. James's, where we met first at Sir W. Coventry's (age 38) chamber, and there did what business we can, without any books. Our discourse, as every thing else, was confused. The fleete is at Portsmouth, Hampshire [Map], there staying a wind to carry them to the Downes, or towards Bullen [Map], where they say the Dutch fleete is gone, and stays. We concluded upon private meetings for a while, not having any money to satisfy any people that may come to us. I bought two eeles upon the Thames, cost me six shillings.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1667. I to Sir G. Carteret's (age 57) to dinner; where Mr. Cofferer (age 63) Ashburnham; who told a good story of a prisoner's being condemned at Salisbury for a small matter. While he was on the bench with his father-in-law, judge Richardson, and while they were considering to transport him to save his life, the fellow flung a great stone at the judge, that missed him, but broke through the wainscoat. Upon this, he had his hand cut off, and was hanged presently! Here was a gentleman, one Sheres, one come lately from my Lord Sandwich (age 42), with an express; but, Lord! I was almost ashamed to see him, lest he should know that I have not yet wrote one letter to my Lord since his going. I had no discourse with him, but after dinner Sir G. Carteret (age 57) and I to talk about some business of his, and so I to Mrs. Martin, where was Mrs. Burroughs, and also fine Mrs. Noble, my partner in the christening of Martin's child, did come to see it, and there we sat and talked an hour, and then all broke up and I by coach home, and there find Mr. Pelling and Howe, and we to sing and good musique till late, and then to supper, and Howe lay at my house, and so after supper to bed with much content, only my mind a little troubled at my late breach of vowes, which however I will pay my forfeits, though the badness of my eyes, making me unfit to read or write long, is my excuse, and do put me upon other pleasures and employment which I should refrain from in observation of my vowes.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1667. And here it comes into my head to set down what Mr. Rawlinson (age 53), whom I met in Fenchurch Street [Map] on Friday last, looking over his ruines there, told me, that he was told by one of my Chancellor's (age 58) gentlemen lately (----byname), that a grant coming to him to be sealed, wherein the King (age 37) hath given her [Baroness Castlemaine (age 26)], or somebody by her means, a place which he did not like well of, he did stop the grant; saying, that he thought this woman would sell everything shortly: which she hearing of, she sent to let him know that she had disposed of this place, and did not doubt, in a little time, to dispose of his. This Rawlinson do tell me my Chancellor's (age 58) own gentleman did tell him himself.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1667. Lord's Day. Up, and walked to St. James's; but there I find Sir W. Coventry (age 39) gone from his chamber, and Mr. Wren (age 38) not yet come thither. But I up to the Duke of York (age 33), and there, after being ready, my Lord Bruncker (age 47) and I had an audience, and thence with my Lord Bruncker (age 47) to White Hall, and he told me, in discourse, how that, though it is true that Sir W. Coventry (age 39) did long since propose to the Duke of York (age 33) the leaving his service, as being unable to fulfill it, as he should do, now he hath so much public business, and that the Duke of York (age 33) did bid him to say nothing of it, but that he would take time to please himself in another to come in his place; yet the Duke's doing it at this time, declaring that he hath found out another, and this one of the Chancellor's (age 58) servants, he cannot but think was done with some displeasure, and that it could not well be otherwise, that the Duke of York (age 33) should keep one in that place, that had so eminently opposed him in the defence of his father-in-law, nor could the Duchesse ever endure the sight of him, to be sure. But he thinks that the Duke of York (age 33) and he are parted upon clear terms of friendship.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1667. He tells me he do believe that my Baroness Castlemayne (age 26) is compounding with the King (age 37) for a pension, and to leave the Court; but that her demands are mighty high: but he believes the King (age 37) is resolved, and so do every body else I speak with, to do all possible to please the Parliament; and he do declare that he will deliver every body up to them to give an account of their actions: and that last Friday, it seems, there was an Act of Council passed, to put out all Papists in office, and to keep out any from coming in.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Sep 1668. Up, and by water to White Hall, and to St. James's, there to talk a little with Mr. Wren (age 39) about the private business we are upon, in the Office, where he tells me he finds that they all suspect me to be the author of the great letter, which I value not, being satisfied that it is the best thing I could ever do for myself; and so, after some discourse of this kind more, I back to the Office, where all the morning; and after dinner to it again, all the afternoon, and very late, and then home to supper, where met W. Batelier and Betty Turner; and, after some talk with them, and supper, we to bed. This day, I received so earnest an invitation again from Roger Pepys (age 51), to come to Sturbridge-Fair [at Cambridge] that I resolve to let my wife go, which she shall do the next week, and so to bed. This day I received two letters from the Duke of Richmond (age 29) about his yacht, which is newly taken into the King's service, and I am glad of it, hoping hereby to oblige him, and to have occasions of seeing his noble Duchess, which I admire.

After 08 Sep 1668. Memorial at St Mary’s Church, Sprotbrough [Map] to Sam Bower, Rector of St Mary’s Church, Sprotbrough [Map] for thirty-seven years.

Evelyn's Diary. 08 Sep 1678. While I was at church came a letter from Mr. Godolphin (age 33), that my dear friend his lady (age 26) was exceedingly ill, and desiring my prayers and assistance. My wife (age 43) and I took boat immediately, and went to Whitehall [Map], where, to my inexpressible sorrow, I found she had been attacked with a new fever, then reigning this excessive hot autumn, and which was so violent, that it was not thought she could last many hours.

Evelyn's Diary. 08 Sep 1686. Dr. Compton, Bishop of London (age 54), was on Monday suspended, on pretense of not silencing Dr. Sharp (age 41) [NOTE. Assumed to be the subsequent Archbishop?] at St. Giles's [Map], for something of a sermon in which he zealously reproved the doctrine of the Roman Catholics. The Bishop having consulted the civilians, they told him he could not by any law proceed against Dr. Sharp (age 41) without producing witnesses, and impleaded according to form; but it was overruled by my Lord Chancellor (age 41), and the Bishop sentenced without so much as being heard to any purpose. This was thought a very extraordinary way of proceeding, and was universally resented, and so much the rather for that two Bishops, Durham (age 53) and Rochester (age 51), sitting in the commission and giving their suffrages the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 69) refused to sit among them. He was only suspended ab officio, and that was soon after taken off. He was brother to the Earl of Northampton, had once been a soldier, had traveled in Italy, but became a sober, grave, and excellent prelate.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 08 Sep 1690. Monday, I, sonne (age 39), Bidolph, Mainwaring, daughters, sisters, &c. went to Chester, dined at Jacksons; there Danold trimmed me; the yonger Wilbraham came to me about his fathers money; Gleg came after dinner, stayd not long; I & Bidolph went to Angells; I went thence to G.Mainwaring's (age 47) saw Mr Bartley; thence I went to the almeshouses; there was Crosse, Mercer, Rummer Tavern, Morris, Pack, Cotton, Jones, 2 Bostocks, 3 Bricklayers; I gave them a dosen of ale at the widdow's; Mr Browne came to us as we were parting; I & Mercer called on Anderson, dranck a tankerd of ale with him & his wife; went thence to Jacksons, met Taylor in the streete, took him with me, discoursed him awhile in the kitchen; also Wilbraham (who payed Crosse 10 li in part of rent) the Governor, Major, Bidolph, Mainwaring my sonne (age 39), Parry, Morgan,&c. were in the parlor & cosen Whitley (who dined with us); the Governor & Major went presently & we soone after; retorned to Peele about 8.

Greville Memoirs. 08 Sep 1831. His Majesty, I hear, was in great ill-humour at the levee yesterday; contrary to his usual custom he sent for nobody, and gave no audiences, but at ten minutes after one flounced into the levee room; not one Minister was come but the Duke of Richmond. Talleyrand and Esterhazy alone of the Corps Diplomatique were in the next room. He attacked the officer of the Guards for not having his cap on his head, and sent for the officer on guard, who was not arrived, at which he expressed great ire. It is supposed that the peerages have put him out of temper. His Majesty did a very strange thing about them. Though their patents are not made out, and the new Peers are no more Peers than I am, he desired them to appear as such in Westminster Abbey and do homage. Colonel Berkeley asked me what he should do, and said what the King had desired of him. I told him he should do no such thing, and he said he would go to the Chancellor and ask him. I don't know how it ended. Howe told me yesterday morning in Westminster Abbey that Lord Cleveland (age 65) is to be a duke, though it is not yet acknowledged if it be so. There has been a battle about that; they say that he got his boroughs to be made a marquis, and got rid of them to be made a duke.⁸

Note 8. The Earl of Darlington (age 65) had been made Marquis of Cleveland in 1827, and was raised to the dukedom in January 1833.

The London Gazette 22038. Commissions signed by the Loid Lieutenant of the County of Essex.

Colchester and East Essex or 1st Volunteer Rifle Subdivision.

Sir Claude William Champion de Crespigny (age 41), Bart., to be Lieutenant. Dated 8th September, 1859.

John Fitzsimmons Bishop, Esq., to be Ensign. Dated 8th September, 1859.