On 14 Dec 1444 Louis King Cyprus (age 8) and Anabella Stewart (age 8) were betrothed at Stirling Castle [Map]. The marriage never took place and the betrothal was annulled in 1456.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1619. 14 Dec 1619. The 14th Wat. Conniston began to read the book of Fosephus.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 14 Dec 1622. Thus, by the failing of seasonable assistance, were the Prince Elector's whole dominions invested by his bloody enemies, and the intercessions of his greatest friends (after the fatal breach and abortive dissolution of the late Parliament here,) scorned and neglected. The house of Austria began now, by reason of its many victories, to grow so formidable, as I believe it drew the French King, abont the end of this summer, to make peace with his Protestants at home. Certainly, had not the Prince Elector exauctorated [deprived of office] and discharged the Duke of Brunswick and Earl of Mansfield, who were strong in Alsatia, with their conjoined troops, notwithstanding their late defeats, Tilly could never so soon have been Master of Heidelburg and Manheim. But after the King of Great Britain, abased by the Spaniards' faithless promises, had induced the said Prince, his son-in-law, to discbarge and cashier those considerable forces which yet stood for him, the Imperial army, most safely and ignobly, took advantage upon it to finish the conquest of his moat ancient and undoubted inheritance.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 14 Dec 1622. The first part of the holidays, and some part of the same month foregoing, (my father, with the rest of his family, taking his journey into Surrey, to my brother Elliot's, on Saturday, the 14th day of the same month,) I was out of commons, into which I came not again, till the beginning of the next month; intending, before I enter into the discourse thereof, to set down a short abstract of the further prevailing of the bloody Emperor, the second Ferdinand, and of the Popish armies in Germany, this summer past until the end of December. Here Count Mansfield (age 42) and Christian Duke of Brunswick (age 23) were severally profligated and quite overthrown by Tilly and Corduba: whilst, in the mean season, the city itself of Heidelburg and the castle came into the power of the enemy; the city being first taken by assault on the 6th (16th) day of September, which brought with it innumerable rapes, murders, and cruelties; and the castle, by composition, the 10th (20th) of the same month following. Here was a world of wealth gotten by the bloody soldier, besides that inestimable library of ancient manuscripts aod other rarities, which was most of it carried away to Rome; the loss of it to the Protestant party being irreparable. From Heidelborg, Tilly removed with his army to that inexpugnable [invicible] fort of Manheim, being part also of the Prince Palatine's dominions; and, after some six weeks' siege, took it by composition. Sir Horace Vere (age 57), Knt., a great and ancient soldier and very nobly extracted, giving it up by reason he and the garrison were by that time reduced to great extremity, without all hope of relief from England or Germany.

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Dec 1639. According to injunctions from the Heads of Colleges, I went (among the rest) to the Confirmation at St. Mary's, where, after sermon, the Bishop of Oxford (age 65) laid his hands upon us, with the usual form of benediction prescribed: but this received (I fear) for the more part out of curiosity, rather than with that due preparation and advice which had been requisite, could not be so effectual as otherwise that admirable and useful institution might have been, and as I have since deplored it.

Diary of Isabella Twysden 1645. the 14 desem my nan came home from Mr harry.

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Dec 1660. I visited my Lady Chancellor, the Marchioness of Ormond (age 45), and Countess of Guildford, all of whom we had known abroad in exile.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1663. He being gone I mightily pleased with his discourse, by which I always learn something, I to read a little in Rushworth, and so home to supper to my wife, it having been washing day, and so to bed, my mind I confess a little troubled for my Lord Sandwich's (age 38) displeasure. But God will give me patience to bear since it rises from so good an occasion.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1663. Thence to the King's Head ordinary, and there dined among a company of fine gentlemen; some of them discoursed of the King of France's (age 25) greatness, and how he is come to make the Princes of the Blood to take place of all foreign Embassadors, which it seems is granted by them of Venice and other States, and expected from my Lord Hollis (age 64), our King's Embassador there; and that either upon that score or something else he hath not had his entry yet in Paris, but hath received several affronts, and among others his harnesse cut, and his gentlemen of his horse killed, which will breed bad blood if true. They say also that the King of France (age 25) hath hired threescore ships of Holland, and forty of the Swede, but nobody knows what to do; but some great designs he hath on foot against the next year.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1663. Then, my Lord Sandwich (age 38) being there, we all went into the Duke's closet and did our business. But among other things, Lord! what an account did Sir J. Minnes (age 64) and Sir W. Batten (age 62) make of the pulling down and burning of the head of the Charles, where Cromwell was placed with people under his horse, and Peter, as the Duke called him, is praying to him; and Sir J. Minnes (age 64) would needs infer the temper of the people from their joy at the doing of this and their building a gibbet for the hanging of his head up, when God knows, it is even the flinging away of £100 out of the King's purse, to the building of another, which it seems must be a Neptune.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1663. Thence I through White Hall only to see what was doing, but meeting none that I knew I went through the garden to my Lord Sandwich's (age 38) lodging, where I found my Lord got before me (which I did not intend or expect) and was there trying some musique, which he intends for an anthem of three parts, I know not whether for the King's chapel or no, but he seems mighty intent upon it. But it did trouble me to hear him swear before God and other oathes, as he did now and then without any occasion, which methinks did so ill become him, and I hope will be a caution for me, it being so ill a thing in him. The musique being done, without showing me any good or ill countenance, he did give me his hat and so adieu, and went down to his coach without saying anything to me.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1665. Up, and to the office a while with my Lord Bruncker (age 45), where we directed Sir W. Warren in the business of the insurance as I desired, and ended some other businesses of his, and so at noon I to London, but the 'Change [Map] was done before I got thither, so I to the Pope's Head Taverne, and there find Mr. Gawden and Captain Beckford and Nick Osborne going to dinner, and I dined with them and very exceeding merry we were as I had [not] been a great while, and dinner being done I to the East India House and there had an assignment on Mr. Temple for the £2,000 of Cocke's (age 48), which joyed my heart; so, having seen my wife in the way, I home by water and to write my letters and then home to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1666. Thence in the evening round by coach home, where I find Foundes his present, of a fair pair of candlesticks, and half a dozen of plates come, which cost him full £50, and is a very good present; and here I met with, sealed up, from Sir H. Cholmly (age 34), the lampoone, or the Mocke-Advice to a Paynter¹, abusing the Duke of York (age 33) and my Lord Sandwich (age 41), Pen (age 45), and every body, and the King (age 36) himself, in all the matters of the navy and warr. I am sorry for my Lord Sandwich's (age 41) having so great a part in it. Then to supper and musique, and to bed.

Note 1. In a broadside (1680), quoted by Mr. G. T. Drury in his edition of Waller's Poems, 1893, satirical reference is made to the fashionable form of advice to the painter. "Each puny brother of the rhyming trade At every turn implores the Painter's aid, And fondly enamoured of own foul brat Cries in an ecstacy, Paint this, draw that". The series was continued, for we find "Advice to a Painter upon the Defeat of the Rebels in the West and the Execution of the late Duke of Monmouth (age 17)" ("Poems on Affairs of State", vol. ii., p. 148); "Advice to a Painter, being a Satire on the French King", &c., 1692, and "Advice to a Painter", 1697 ("Poems on Affairs of State", vol. ii., p. 428).

Pepy's Diary. 14 Dec 1667. Up and to the office, where busy, and after dinner also to the office again till night, when Mr. Moore come to me to discourse about the £200 I must supply my Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 19), and I promised him to do it, though much against my will.

Evelyn's Diary. 14 Dec 1671. Went to see the Duke of Buckingham's (age 43) ridiculous farce and rhapsody, called the "The Recital" [Note. This is an error by Evelyn - he means the play The Rehearsal.] buffooning all plays, yet profane enough.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 14 Dec 1690. Sonday, dined at home with Bellot, Minshall, Jackson & Kent; after dinner came William Mainwaring; he & Jackson stayd not long; then came Coling & Gilmore; they, Bellot & Mainwaring went about 6; I went to Wood; there was Dr Ashenhurst; I stayd ½ houer, went home before 8.

Before 14 Dec 1702 Joseph Highmore (age 10). Portrait of Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet (age 62) and Mary Offley (age 53).

Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet: On 05 Jul 1640 he was born to Thomas Aston 1st Baronet and Anne Willoughby Lady Aston. On 24 Mar 1645 Thomas Aston 1st Baronet died. His son Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet succeeded 2nd Baronet Aston of Aston. Before 17 Jan 1665 Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet and Mary Offley were married. On 14 Dec 1702 Willoughby Aston 2nd Baronet died. His son Thomas Aston 3rd Baronet succeeded 3rd Baronet Aston of Aston.

Mary Offley: On 03 Feb 1649 she was born to John Offley and Mary Broughton. On 22 Jan 1711 she died.