On 18 Dec 1424 Archbishop John Stafford was appointed Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Letters and Papers 1535. 18 Dec 1535. R. O. 991. Thomas Broke to Lady Lisle (age 41).

I have delivered your token to Mrs. Margery Horsman, who says she knows not the man she sent to your Ladyship, but was desired by a near friend to write in his favor. She says also the Queen (age 34) sets much store by a pretty dog; "and her Grace (age 34) delighted so much in little Purkoy, that after he was dead of a fall there durst nobody tell her Grace of it." But she values a dog more than a bitch. Mr. Smythe says it would have been no use speaking of £160 or £180, for they would not agree to more than £120, but preferred that it should go to law. Jas. Roberts is come to London this day, but I cannot meet with him. As soon as I receive the cap I will have it sent to the prioress of Winchester. My bedfellow has been three times at Mr. Judd's, but has failed to find him. London, 18 Dec.

Hol., p. 1. Add.: At Calais.

Holinshed's Chronicle 1543. 18 Dec 1543. The eighteenth of December the archbishop of Canturburies palace at Canturburie was burnt, and therin was burnt his brother-in-law¹, and other men.

Note 1. It isn't clear who is meant by this. The Archbishop of Canterbury was Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 54).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1554. The xviij day of Desember was a grett tryhumph at the court gatte, by the Kyng (age 27) and dyvers lordes boyth English-men and Spaneards, the wyche the Kyng and his compene [were] in goodly harnes, and a-pon ther armes goodly jerkyns of bluw velvett, and hosse in-brodered with sylver and bluw sarsenett; and so thay rane on fott with spayrers [spears] and swerds at the tornay, and with dromes and flutes in whyt velvet [drawn] owt with blu sarsenett, and ther wher x aganst [the King] and ys compene, the wher xviij in odur colers.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Upon entering Smithfield, the ground was so muddy that two officers offered to carry him to the stake, but he replied: ‘Would you make me a pope? I am content to finish my journey on foot." Arriving at the stake, he said, "Shall I disdain to suffer at the stake, when my Redeemer did not refuse to suffer the most vile death upon the cross for me?" He then meekly recited the One hundred and » seventh and One hundred and eighth Psalms, and when he had finished his prayers, was bound to the post, and fire applied to the pile. On December 18, 1555, perished this illustrious martyr John Philpot (age 39), reverenced by man, and glorified in heaven!

Henry Machyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1558. The xviij day of Desember was [buried] my lade Ryche (deceased), the wyff of the lord Ryche (age 61), with a herse of v prynsepalles and a viij dosen penselles and a viij dosen skochyons and a grett baner of my lordes and my lades armes and iiij baner rolles, and iiij baner(s) of santtes; and grett whytt branchys and vj dosen of torchys; and xxiiij pore men had gownes; and the morow masse and a grett dener, and ij haroldes and mony morners.

Note. P. 184. Funeral of lady Rich. Elizabeth, sister of Thomas Jenks of London, was the wife of the successful lawyer (age 61) (himself of a London family) who founded the family of Rich, afterwards earls of Warwick and Holland. Richard first lord Rich (age 61) survived until 1568, and was buried at Felstead, Essex. See Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 388.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 18 Dec 1616Upon the 18th I alighted at Islington where my Lord (age 27) who came in my Lady Witby Pole’s coach which he borrowed, my Lady Effingham the widow, my Sister Beauchamp, and a great many more came to meet me so that we were in all 10 or 11 coaches and so I came to Dorset House where the Child met me in the Gallery. The house was well dressed up against I came.

Diary of Anne Clifford 1619. 18 Dec 1619. The 18th my Lord (age 30) came and supped with me in my chamber, which he had not done before since his coming from London, for I determined to keep my chamber, and did not so much as go over the threshold of the door.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1660. I carried Mr. Spellman, a most ingenious gentleman, grandchild to the learned Sir Henry, to my Lord Mordaunt (age 34), to whom I had recommended him as secretary.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1661. At the office upon business extraordinary all the morning, then to my Lady Sandwich's (age 36) to dinner, whither my wife, who had been at the painter's (age 55), came to me, and there dined, and there I left her, and to the Temple [Map] my brother and I to see Mrs. Turner (age 38), who begins to be better, and so back to my Lady's, where much made of, and so home to my study till bed-time, and so to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1663. Up, and after being ready and done several businesses with people, I took water (taking a dram of the bottle at the waterside) with a gaily, the first that ever I had yet, and down to Woolwich, Kent [Map], calling at Ham Creeke, where I met Deane (age 30), and had a great deal of talke with him about business, and so to the Ropeyard [Map]e and Docke, discoursing several things, and so back again and did the like at Deptford, and I find that it is absolutely necessary for me to do thus once a weeke at least all the yeare round, which will do me great good, and so home with great ease and content, especially out of the content which I met with in a book I bought yesterday, being a discourse of the state of Rome under the present Pope, Alexander the 7th, it being a very excellent piece. After eating something at home, then to my office, where till night about business to dispatch. Among other people came Mr. Primate, the leather seller, in Fleete Streete, to see me, he says, coming this way; and he tells me that he is upon a proposal to the King (age 33), whereby, by a law already in being, he will supply the King (age 33), without wrong to any man, or charge to the people in general, so much as it is now, above £200,000 per annum, and God knows what, and that the King (age 33) do like the proposal, and hath directed that the Duke of Monmouth (age 14), with their consent, be made privy, and go along with him and his fellow proposer in the business, God knows what it is; for I neither can guess nor believe there is any such thing in his head.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1665. After dinner Sir W. Warren and I alone in another room a little while talking about business, and so parted, and I hence, my mind full of content in my day's worke, home by water to Greenwich, Kent [Map], the river beginning to be very full of ice, so as I was a little frighted, but got home well, it being darke. So having no mind to do any business, went home to my lodgings, and there got little Mrs. Tooker, and Mrs. Daniel, the daughter, and Sarah to my chamber to cards and sup with me, when in comes Mr. Pierce to me, who tells me how W. Howe has been examined on shipboard by my Lord Bruncker (age 45) to-day, and others, and that he has charged him out of envy with sending goods under my Lord's seale and in my Lord Bruncker's (age 45) name, thereby to get them safe passage, which, he tells me, is false, but that he did use my name to that purpose, and hath acknowledged it to my Lord Bruncker (age 45), but do also confess to me that one parcel he thinks he did use my Lord Bruncker's (age 45) name, which do vexe me mightily that my name should be brought in question about such things, though I did not say much to him of my discontent till I have spoke with my Lord Bruncker (age 45) about it. So he being gone, being to go to Oxford to-morrow, we to cards again late, and so broke up, I having great pleasure with my little girle, Mrs. Tooker.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1665. So to the 'Change [Map], hoping to see them in the streete, and missing them, went back again thither and back to the 'Change [Map], but no sight of them, so went after my business again, and, though late, was sent to by Sir W. Warren (who heard where I was) to intreat me to come dine with him, hearing that I lacked a dinner, at the Pope's Head; and there with Mr. Hinton, the goldsmith, and others, very merry; but, Lord! to see how Dr. Hinton (age 61) come in with a gallant or two from Court, and do so call "Cozen" Mr. Hinton, the goldsmith, but I that know him to be a beggar and a knave, did make great sport in my mind at it¹.

Note 1. John Hinton, M.D. (age 61), a strong royalist, who attended Henrietta Maria in her confinement at Exeter when she gave birth to the Princess Henrietta (age 21). He was knighted by Charles II, and appointed physician in ordinary to the King (age 35) and Queen (age 27). His knighthood was a reward for having procured a private advance of money from his kinsman, the goldsmith, to enable the Duke of Albemarle (age 57) to pay the army (see "Memorial to King Charles II (age 35). from Sir John Hinton, A.D. 1679", printed in Ellis's "Original Letters", 3rd series, vol. iv., p 296).

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1666. So to Sir Robert Viner's (age 35) about my plate, and carried home another dozen of plates, which makes my stock of plates up 2 1/2 dozen, and at home find Mr. Thomas Andrews (age 34), with whom I staid and talked a little and invited him to dine with me at Christmas, and then I to the office, and there late doing business, and so home and to bed. Sorry for poor Batters.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1667. Up, and to my goldsmith's in the morning, to look after the providing of £60 for Mr. Moore, towards the answering of my Lord Sandwich's (age 42) bill of exchange, he being come to be contented with my lending him £60 in part of it, which pleases me, I expecting to have been forced to answer the whole bill; and this, which I do do, I hope to secure out of the plate, which was delivered into my custody of my Lord's the other day by Mr. Cooke, and which I did get Mr. Stokes, the goldsmith, last night to weigh at my house, and there is enough to secure £100.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Dec 1668. All the morning at the office about Sir W. Warren's accounts, my mind full of my business, having before we met gone to Lord Brouncker (age 48), and got him to read over my paper, who owns most absolute content in it, and the advantage I have in it, and the folly of the Surveyor.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1684. I went with Lord Cornwallis (age 28) to see the young gallants do their exercise, Mr. Faubert having newly rail'd in a manage, and fitted it for the academy. There were the Dukes of Norfolk (age 29) and Northumberland (age 18), Lord Newburgh, and a nephew of (Duras) Earle of Feversham (age 43). The exercises were, 1. running at the ring; 2. flinging a javelin at a Moor's head; 3. discharging a pistol at a mark; lastly, taking up a gauntlet with the point of a sword; all these perform'd in full speede. The D. of Northumberland (age 18) hardly miss'd of succeeding in every one, a dozen times, as I think. The D. of Norfolk (age 29) did exceeding bravely. Lords Newburgh and Duras seem'd nothing so dextrous. Here I saw the difference of what ye French call "belle homme a cheval", and "bon homme a cheval;" the Duke of Norfolk being the first, that is, rather a fine person on a horse, the Duke of Northumberland being both in perfection, namely, a graceful person and excellent rider. But the Duke of Norfolk told me he had not ben at this exercise these 12 yeares before. There were in the field ye Prince of Denmark (age 31), and the Lord Landsdown (age 23), sonn of ye Earle of Bath (age 56), who had ben made a Count of ye Empire last Summer for his service before Vienna.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1685. I din'd at the greate entertainment his Ma* (age 52) gave ye Venetian Ambassadors, Sign. Zenno and Justiniani, accompanied with 10 more noble Venetians of their most illustrious families, Cornaro, Maccenigo, &c. who came to congratulate their Maties coming to ye Crowne. The dinner was most magnificent and plentifull, at four tables, with music, kettle drums, and trumpets, wcb sounded upon a whistle at every health. The banquet [desert] was 12 vast chargers pil'd up so high that those who sat one against another could hardly see each other. Of these sweetemeates, weh doubtless were some days piling up in that exquisite manner, the Ambassadors touch'd not, but leaving them to ye spectators who came out of curiosity to see the dinner, were exceedingly pleas'd to see in what a moment of time all that curious work was demolished, the comfitures voided, and the tables clear'd. Thus his Ma* entertain'd them three days, which (for the table only) cost him £600, as the Cleark of the Greene cloth (Sr Wm Bbreman (age 73)) assur'd me. Dinner ended, I saw their procession or cavalcade to Whitehall, innumerable coaches attending. The two Ambass. had 4 coaches of their owne and 50 footemen (as I remember), besides other equipage as splendid as ye occasion would permitt, the Court being still in mourning. Thence I went to the audience wch they had in the Queene's presence chamber, the Banquetting house [Map] being full of goods and furniture till the galleries on the garden side, Council chamber, and new Chapell now in building, were finish'd. They went to their audience in those plain black gownes and caps which they constantly weare in the Citty of Venice. I was invited to have accompanied the 2 Ambassadors in their coach to supper that night, returning now to their own lodgings, as no longer at the King's expence; but being weary I excus'd myself.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Dec 1688. I saw the King (age 55) take barge to Gravesend, Kent [Map] at twelve o'clock-a sad sight! The Prince (age 38) comes to St. James's [Map], and fills Whitehall with Dutch guards. A Council of Peers meet about an expedient to call a Parliament; adjourn to the House of Lords. The Chancellor, Earl of Peterborough (age 67), and divers others taken. The Earl of Sunderland (age 47) flies; Sir Edward Hale (age 43), Walker, and others, taken and secured.

Roger Whitley's Diary. 18 Dec 1690. Thursday, dined at home; stayd in all day; Coling called at night; soe did Jackson & Fletcher.

Blomefield's Norfolk Volume 9 Gressenhale. After 18 Dec 1724. St Mary's Church, Gressenall.

Sir Nicholas Lestrange, baronet, son of Sir Nicholas Lestrange and Dame Mary his wife, born on the 2d of December, 1661, married to Anna, daughter of Sir Thomas Woodhouse and Dame Ann his wife on the 2d day of December, 1686, died at Gressenhall on the 2dth day of December, 1724.

On a marble monument of white marble in the chancel, Lestrange impaling Woodhouse.

Dame Ann, relict of Sir Nicholas L'estrange, baronet, only daughter of Sir Thomas Woodhouse of Kimberley, knight, and of Dame Ann, 2d daughter and coheiress of Sir William Airmine, of Osgodby in Lincolnshire, born the 2d of February 1688, dy'd at Gressenhall the 10th of Apr. 1727, and lyes interr'd by her late husband; she was a lady of the most extensive charity, whose memory will long outlast this monument.

Archaeologia Volume 7 Section XX. Remarks on the preceding Article. By Mr. Bray. In a letter to the Secretary. Read December 18, 1783.

The London Gazette 23581. War Office, Pall Mall, 28th January, 1870

21st Regiment of Foot. Lieutenant-General Frederick William Hamilton, C.B., to be Colonel, vice General Sir De Lacy Evans, G.C.B., deceased. Dated 10th January, 1870.

58th Regiment of Foot. Major-General Sir Arthur Johnstone Lawrence, K.C.B., to be Colonel, vice Major-General William Sullivan, C.B., deceased. Dated 6th January, 1870.

106th Regiment of Foot. Lieutenant-General Maurice Barlow, from the 3rd West India Regiment, to be Colonel, vice General Sir David Capon, K.C.B. deceased. Dated 18th December, 1869.

Royal Horse Guards, The Honourable William Charles Wentworth-FitzWilliam (age 21) to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Guinness, promoted. Dated 29th January, 1870.

The London Gazette 27865. Privy Council Office, December 18, 1905.

This day, in the presence of the Lord Chancellor, Mr. Richard Knight Causton (age 62), M.P., was sworn His Majesty's Paymaster-General.