This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
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In 1515 Bishop Thomas Watson was born.
On 18th November 1553 Bishop Thomas Watson [aged 38] was elected Dean of Durham.
On 15th April 1556 Bishop Thomas Watson [aged 41] was elected Bishop of Lincoln.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 15th April 1556. The xv day of Aprell was electyd at Grenwyche bysshope of Wynchastur master doctur Whyt [aged 46], byshope of Lynckolne; and doctur Westun [aged 41], dene of Westmynster, to be bysshope of Lynckolne; and the dene of Durram to be bysshope of Karlelle.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th January 1557. [The xxvj day of January went to Cambridge, Watson [aged 42] bishop elect of Lincoln, Scot bishop of Chester, and Christopherson bishop elect of Chichester,] comyssyoners to the [lord cardinal, to the] chyrche of sant Mares [Map], and thay toke up on Martin [Bucer] that was bered ther, and Paulus Phagius [was] taken up at Sant Myghelle cherche that was [buried there,] and after brentt [burned] boyth.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 17th March 1557. The xvij day of Marche cam rydyng from kyng Phelype [aged 29] from be-yond the see unto the court at Grenwyche [Map], to owre quen [aged 41], with letters in post, my lord Robart Dudley [aged 24], and after master Kemp of the preve chambur, that the kyng wold com to Cales [Map] the xvij day of Marche; and the sam day dyd pryche a-for the quen the nuwe bysshope of Lynckolne doctur Watsun [aged 42].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 3rd April 1557. The iij day of Aprell dyd pryche doctur Wattsun [aged 42] bysshope of Lynckolne at Allallows the Mor in ... at after-non, wher was grett audyens of pepull.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 22nd April 1557. The xxij of Aprell dyd pryche at sant Mare speytyll [doctor] Watsun [aged 42] nuw-choyssen bysshope of Lynckolne a godly sermon.
On 15th August 1557 Bishop Thomas Watson [aged 42] was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln by Archbishop Nicholas Heath [aged 56].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20th February 1558. The xx day of Feybruary dyd pryche [at Paul's] crosse [Map] docthur Watsun [aged 43] bysshope of Lyncoln, and mad a godly sermon, for ther wer [present ten] bysshopes, be-syd my lord mare and the althermen and juges, and men of the law, and gret [audience] ther was.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
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Henry Machyn's Diary. 3rd April 1559. The iij day of Aprell the bysshopes and the nuw prychers mett at the abbay a-for my lord keper of the brod seylle, and dyvers of the consell, and ther to gyff a answer of the matter; the sam nyght, my lord bysshope of Wynchester [aged 49] and my lord of Lynkolne [aged 44] was send to the towre of London [Map] by the gard by water, to the Old Swane, and to Belynsgatt after.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th June 1559. The sam day was deprevyd of ther bysshoprykes the bysshope of Wynchestur [aged 49] and the bysshope of Lynckolne [aged 44] at master Hawse the kyng('s) shreyff in Mynsyon lane, and the bysshope of Wynchester to the Towre [Map] agayne, and the bysshope of Lynckolne delevered a-way.
Note. P. 201. Bishops deprived. Mr. Bruce has given a list of the deprived bishops, founded upon documents in Rymer's Fœdera, in Hayward's Annals of Q. Eliz. p. 27.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 20th May 1560. The xx day of May was send to the Towre [Map] master Fecknam [aged 45], docthur Wattsun [aged 45] latt byshope of Lynkolne, and docthur Colle [aged 60] latt dene of Powlles, and docthur Chadsay; and at nyght abowtt viij of the cloke was send to the Flett [Map] docthur Score [aged 50], and master Fecknam the last abbot of Westmynster, to Towre [Map].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 29th May 1560. The xxix day of May toke ther gorney [journey] into Skotteland master Syssell [aged 39] secretore and master docthur Wattun [aged 45] my (unfinished).
On 27th September 1584 or 15th October 1584 Bishop Thomas Watson [aged 69] died at Wisbech Castle [Map] having been confined for the previous twenty-five years.