Chronicle of Gregory 1431. 23 Jul 1431. And the xxiij day of Julyy there was one Kusselle i-drawe, hanggyd, and quarteryde, and his hedde was sette on Londyn Brygge, and his quarterys in dyvers placys in London; for he wolde have made newe lordys, dukys, erlys, and baronys, aftyr his entente & his oppynyon, &c.

Diary of Edward VI. 23 Jul 1549. In the mean season, bicause ther was a rumour that I was dead, I passed thorowgh London.³

Note 3. "Item the xxiij. day of the same monyth (July) the Kynges grace came from the dewke of Suffokes place in Sothwarke thorrow London, and soo to Whytte hall, goodly, with a goodly company." Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London, p. 60.

Diary of Edward VI. 23 Jul 1550. Removing to Windsore [Map].

Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. 23 Jul 1553. A lettere written in London mentiones that the lord admirall, and the lords Greye (age 44),^b Garret, Wormon,^c and the lord Fitzwarren, sir Henry Sidney (age 24), and sir James Croffts (age 35), with divers others, have already their pardon graunted them.

The duke of Northumberland is in custody of the garde as a prisoner in Cambridge, and my ladie his wyfe, the lord Guilford (age 18), and the lady Jane (age 17), are in the Towere as prisoneres. My lord marques of Northampton, the earle of Huntingdon, sir Henry Gates, and divers other, cannot as yet gett their pardones."

Note b. William lord Grey of Wilton (age 44) was the commander upon whose military talents the duke of Northumberland seems to have mainly relied: but lord Grey, who had been an adherent of the duke of Somerset, probably did not serve on this occasion very cordially. He seems to have left Northumberland when at Cambridge, and made his submission to Mary; who on her arrival at her manor of Newhall in Essex, on the 31st of July, dismissed him to his former charge of the castle of Guisnes, with a reinforcement of 350 footmen and 50 horsemen demi-lances: see her letters patent, printed in the Appendix to the Life of Lord Grey of Wilton, No. VI.

Note c. The earl of Ormond.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1557. The xxiij day of July sir Gorge Pallett (age 65) and ser Wyllyam Cortnay (age 28) toke ther barge at Towre warff [Map], at ... of the cloke at after-non, toward Dover, Kent [Map], and dyvers captaynes.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1661. Put on my mourning. Made visits to Sir W. Pen (age 40) and Batten. Then to Westminster, and at the Hall staid talking with Mrs. Michell a good while, and in the afternoon, finding myself unfit for business, I went to the Theatre [Map], and saw "Brenoralt", I never saw before. It seemed a good play, but ill acted; only I sat before Mrs. Palmer (age 20), the King's mistress, and filled my eyes with her, which much pleased me.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1662. At night home, and late packing up things in order to their going to Brampton to-morrow, and so to bed, quite out of sorts in my mind by reason that the weather is so bad, and my house all full of wet, and the trouble of going from one house to another to Sir W. Pen's (age 41) upon every occasion. Besides much disturbed by reason of the talk up and down the town, that my Lord Sandwich (age 36) is lost; but I trust in God the contrary.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1663. So to the yard, and there mustered the yard, and found many faults, and discharged several fellows that were absent from their business. I staid also at Mr. Ackworth's desire at dinner with him and his wife, and there was a simple fellow, a gentleman I believe of the Court, their kinsmen, that threatened me I could have little discourse or begin, acquaintance with Ackworth's wife, and so after dinner away, with all haste home, and there found Sir J. Minnes (age 64) and Sir W. Batten (age 62) at the office, and by Sir W. Batten's (age 62) testimony and Sir G. Carteret's (age 53) concurrence was forced to consent to a business of Captain Cocke's (age 46) timber, as bad as anything we have lately disputed about, and all through Mr. Coventry's (age 35) not being with us.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1664. At noon to the 'Change [Map], where I took occasion to break the business of my Chancellor's (age 55) timber to Mr. Coventry (age 36) in the best manner I could. He professed to me, that, till, Sir G. Carteret (age 54) did speake of it at the table, after our officers were gone to survey it, he did not know that my Chancellor (age 55) had any thing to do with it; but now he says that he had been told by the Duke (age 30) that Sir G. Carteret (age 54) had spoke to him about it, and that he had told the Duke that, were he in my Chancellor's (age 55) case, if he were his father, he would rather fling away the gains of two or £3,000, than have it said that the timber, which should have been the King's, if it had continued the Duke of Albemarle's (age 55), was concealed by us in favour of my Chancellor (age 55); for, says he, he is a great man, and all such as he, and he himself particularly, have a great many enemies that would be glad of such an advantage against him. When I told him it was strange that Sir J. Minnes (age 65) and Sir G. Carteret (age 54), that knew my Chancellor's (age 55) concernment therein, should not at first inform us, he answered me that for Sir J. Minnes (age 65), he is looked upon to be an old good companion, but by nobody at the other end of the towne as any man of business, and that my Chancellor (age 55), he dares say, never did tell him of it, only Sir G. Carteret (age 54), he do believe, must needs know it, for he and Sir J. Shaw are the greatest confidants he hath in the world. So for himself, he said, he would not mince the matter, but was resolved to do what was fit, and stand upon his owne legs therein, and that he would speak to the Duke, that he and Sir G. Carteret (age 54) might be appointed to attend my Chancellor (age 55) in it. All this disturbs me mightily. I know not what to say to it, nor how to carry myself therein; for a compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry (age 36), and a discompliance to my Chancellor (age 55). But I think to let it alone, or at least meddle in it as little more as I can.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1665. I followed the King (age 35) to chappell, and there hear a good sermon; and after sermon with my Lord Arlington (age 47), Sir Thomas Ingram (age 51) and others, spoke to the Duke (age 31) about Tangier, but not to much purpose. I was not invited any whither to dinner, though a stranger, which did also trouble me; but yet I must remember it is a Court, and indeed where most are strangers; but, however, Mr. Cutler carried me to Mr. Marriott's the house-keeper, and there we had a very good dinner and good company, among others Lilly (age 46), the painter.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1666. After dinner to the office and there till five or six o'clock, and then by coach to St. James's and there with Sir W. Coventry (age 38) and Sir G. Downing (age 41) to take the gyre in the Parke. All full of expectation of the fleete's engagement, but it is not yet. Sir W. Coventry (age 38) says they are eighty-nine men-of-warr, but one fifth-rate, and that, the Sweepstakes, which carries forty guns. They are most infinitely manned. He tells me the Loyall London, Sir J. Smith (which, by the way, he commends to be the-best ship in the world, large and small), hath above eight hundred men; and moreover takes notice, which is worth notice, that the fleete hath lane now near fourteen days without any demand for a farthingworth of any thing of any kind, but only to get men. He also observes, that with this excesse of men, nevertheless, they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen ships, which they have robbed of their men, which certainly might have been manned, and they been serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleete well-manned, according to the excesse of supernumeraries, which we hear they have. At least two or three of them might have been left manned, and sent away with the Gottenburgh ships. They conclude this to be much the best fleete, for force of guns, greatnesse and number of ships and men, that ever England did see; being, as Sir W. Coventry (age 38) reckons, besides those left behind, eighty-nine men of warr and twenty fire-ships, though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen. The French are not yet joined with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy the Hollanders, and if they should have a defeat, will undo De Witt; the people generally of Holland do hate this league with France. We cannot think of any business, but lie big with expectation of the issue of this fight, but do conclude that, this fight being over, we shall be able to see the whole issue of the warr, good or bad.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1666. So homeward, and walked over the Parke (St. James's) with Sir G. Downing (age 41), and at White Hall took a coach; and there to supper with much pleasure and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Jul 1667. By and by comes an order from White Hall to send down one of our number to Chatham, Kent [Map], fearing that, as they did before, they may make a show first up hither, but then go to Chatham, Kent [Map]: so my Lord Bruncker (age 47) do go, and we here are ordered to give notice to the merchant men-of-war, gone below the barricado at Woolwich, Kent [Map], to come up again. So with much trouble to supper, home and to bed.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1678. Went to see Mr. Elias Ashmole's (age 61) library and curiosities, at Lambeth. He had divers MSS., but most of them astrological, to which study he is addicted, though I believe not learned, but very industrious, as his History of the order of the Garter proves. He showed me a toad included in amber. The prospect from a turret is very fine, it being so near London, and yet not discovering any house about the country. The famous John Tradescant bequeathed his Repository to this gentleman, who has given them to the University of Oxford, and erected a lecture on them, over the laboratory, in imitation of the Royal Society.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1678. Mr. Godolphin (age 33) was made Master of the Robes to the King (age 48).

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1679. I went to Clifden [Map], that stupendous natural rock, wood, and prospect, of the Duke of Buckingham's (age 51), and buildings of extraordinary expense. The grots in the chalky rocks are pretty: it is a romantic object, and the place altogether answers the most poetical description that can be made of solitude, precipice, prospect, or whatever can contribute to a thing so very like their imaginations. The stand, somewhat like Frascati as to its front, and on the platform is a circular view to the utmost verge of the horizon, which, with the serpenting of the Thames, is admirable. The staircase is for its materials singular; the cloisters, descents, gardens, and avenue through the wood, august and stately; but the land all about wretchedly barren, and producing nothing but fern. Indeed, as I told his Majesty (age 49) that evening (asking me how I liked Clifden) without flattery, that it did not please me so well as Windsor, Berkshire [Map] for the prospect and park, which is without compare; there being but one only opening, and that narrow, which led one to any variety; whereas that of Windsor is everywhere great and unconfined.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1679. To Court: after dinner, I visited that excellent painter, Verrio (age 43), whose works in fresco in the King's (age 49) palace, at Windsor, Berkshire [Map], will celebrate his name as long as those walls last. He showed us his pretty garden, choice flowers, and curiosities, he himself being a skillful gardener.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1692. I went with my wife (age 57), son (age 37), and daughter (age 23), to Eton [Map], to see my grandson (age 10), and thence to my Lord Godolphin's (age 47), at Cranburn, where we lay, and were most honorably entertained. The next day to St. George's Chapel [Map], and returned to London late in the evening.

On 23 Jul 1694 Charles Middleton 2nd Earl Middleton (age 44) was tried for treason and outlawed. He was attainted on 02 Jul 1695. Earl Middleton forfeit.

On 23 Jul 1723 William Stukeley (age 35) made sketches of Stanton Drew Great Circle [Map].

The Journal of the Reverend John Wesley 1748. 23 Jul 1748. On Saturday, the 23d of July last, there fell for about three hours, in and about Hayfield, Derbyshire [Map] in Derbyshire, a very heavy rain, which caused such a flood as had not been seen by any now living in those parts. The rocks were loosened from the mountains: one field was covered with huge stones from side to side. Several water-mills were clean swept away, without leaving any remains. The trees were torn up by the roots, and whirled away like stubble. Two women of a loose character were swept away from their own door and drowned: one of them was found near the place; the other was carried seven or eight miles. Hayfield church-yard [Map] was all torn up, and the dead bodies swept out of their graves. When the flood abated, they were found in several places. Some were hanging on trees; others left in meadows or grounds; some partly eaten by dogs, or wanting one or more of their members.

Volume 9 1876. Transactions of the Bristol anb Gloucestershire Archaeologhical Society. At the Annual Meeting, held at Evesham, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 23rd, 24th and 25th July, 1884.