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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Paternal Family Tree: Sutton
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Bettershorne 1353-1427
After October 1405 Edward Charleton 5th Baron Cherleton [aged 35] and [his mother] Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley were married. She by marriage Baroness Cherleton. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
After 14th March 1420 [his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 19] and [his mother] Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley were married at Dudley, Staffordshire.
In 1425 Bishop William Dudley was born to [his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 24] and [his mother] Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley at Dudley Castle [Map].
On 15th February 1440 [his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 39] was created 1st Baron Dudley. [his mother] Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley by marriage Baroness Dudley.
On 23rd September 1459 a Lancastrian army of James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet [aged 61] and [his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 58] fought with a Yorkist army commanded by Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 59] at Blore Heath, Staffordshire [Map] whilst he, Salisbury, was travelling to Ludlow [Map] to join up with the main Yorkist army. Forewarned by scouts Salisbury arranged his troops into battle order the night before, arranging his wagons defensively, and digging trenches.
The Yorkist army included John Conyers [aged 48], Thomas Harrington [aged 59], James Harrington [aged 29], John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 28], William Stanley [aged 24], Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley [aged 26], John Savile, Walter Strickland [aged 48] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 59].
The Lancastrian army included brothers John Dutton, Thomas Dutton [aged 38] and Peter Dutton who were killed.
James Tuchet 5th Baron Audley, 2nd Baron Tuchet was killed, probably by Roger Kynaston of Myddle and Hordley. His son John [aged 33] succeeded 6th Baron Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, 3rd Baron Tuchet. Anne Echingham Baroness Audley Heighley [aged 39] by marriage Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire, Baroness Audley of Heighley in Staffordshire.
John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley and Edmund Sutton [aged 34] were captured. Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles [aged 53] fought.
William Troutbeck [aged 23], Richard Molyneux of Sefton and John Egerton [aged 55] were killed.
After the battle Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England [aged 29] took refuge at Eccleshall Castle, Staffordshire [Map]. Thomas Harrington, John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Thomas Neville [aged 29] were captured at Acton Bridge, Tarporley [Map] and imprisoned at Chester Castle [Map] having been detached from the main Yorkist force.
In 1471 Bishop William Dudley [aged 46] was appointed Dean Chapel Royal Windsor.
On 31st July 1476 Bishop William Dudley [aged 51] was appointed Bishop of Durham.
On 17th April 1483 the coffin of Edward IV [deceased] was carried to Westminster Abbey [Map] by Edward Stanley 1st Baron Monteagle [aged 21], John Savage [aged 39], Thomas Wortley [aged 50], Thomas Molyneux [aged 38], probably John Welles 1st Viscount Welles [aged 33] who had married Edward's daughter Cecily), John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne [aged 41], Walter Hungerford [aged 19], Guy Wolston [aged 50], John Sapcote [aged 35], Thomas Tyrrell [aged 30], John Risley, Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 15], John Norreys, Louis de Bretelles and John Comyn 4th Lord Baddenoch.
Those in the procession included:
Thomas St Leger [aged 43], widow of Edward's sister Anne.
William Parr [aged 49].
William Stonor [aged 33].
Henry Ferrers [aged 40].
James Radclyffe [aged 43].
George Browne [aged 43].
Gilbert Debenham [aged 51].
John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 58] walked in front of the coffin with Edward's personal arms.
John Marlow Abbot Bermondsey followed by:
Bishop Thomas Kempe [aged 93].
Bishop John Hales [aged 83] (Bishop of Chester?).
Bishop Robert Stillington [aged 63].
Bishop William Dudley [aged 58].
Cardinal John Morton [aged 63] (as Bishop of Ely).
Bishop Edmund Tuchet [aged 40] (as Bishop of Rochester).
Bishop Peter Courtenay, and.
Bishop Lionel Woodville [aged 36].
Archbishop Thomas Rotherham [aged 59] brought up the rear.
Cardinal Thomas Bourchier [aged 65], then Archbishop of Canterbury, took no part due to infirmity.
John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 21]; the King's nephew,.
William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 52].
Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset [aged 28].
William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon [aged 32] (some sources say Earl of Huntingindon?).
William Berkeley 1st Marquess Berkeley [aged 57].
Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 48].
Richard Fiennes Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 68].
[his father] John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 82].
George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Abergavenny [aged 43].
John Tuchet 6th Baron Audley, 3rd Baron Tuchet [aged 57].
Walter Devereux Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 51].
Edward Grey 1st Viscount Lisle [aged 51].
Henry Lovell 9th Baron Marshal 8th Baron Morley [aged 7].
Richard Woodville 3rd Earl Rivers [aged 30].
John Brooke 7th Baron Cobham [aged 35].
Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby [aged 50].
John Bourchier 6th Baron Ferrers of Groby [aged 45].
On 29th November 1483 Bishop William Dudley [aged 58] died. He was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].
After 29th November 1483 Bishop William Dudley [deceased] was buried at Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland [Map]. His gravestone was found during reconstruction work in the 19th Century.
Kings Wessex: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 11 Grand Son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn King Gwynedd King Powys
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 15 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 10 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Son of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 19 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 16 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Sutton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Sutton 1st Baron Sutton
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Somery
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Sutton 2nd Baron Sutton
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Charleton 1st Baron Cherleton
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Charleton Baroness Sutton Dudley
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hawise "Lady of Powys" Mathrafal Baroness Cherleton
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Sutton 3rd Baron Sutton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Clinton 2nd Baron Clinton 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Clinton 3rd Baron Clinton 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Corbet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Clinton Baroness Sutton Dudley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Limbury
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Limbury Baroness Clinton
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Unknown
GrandFather: John Sutton 4th Baron Sutton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Unknown Baroness Sutton Dudley
Father: John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Blount 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Blount
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Beauchamp 
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Blount
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joanna Sodington
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Blount 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Somerset 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Somerset 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Cheduit Baroness Beauchamp Somerset
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 1st Baron St John of Basing 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret St John Baroness Beauchamp Somerset 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Courtenay Baroness St John of Basing 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandMother: Constance Blount Baroness Sutton Dudley 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Diego Gómez Toledo
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sancha Toledo
Bishop William Dudley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Plantagenet Baroness Berkeley 
Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley 2 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby 
3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Ferrers Baroness Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Quincy Countess Derby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 8th and 3rd Baron Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Zouche 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Eudo Zouche
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bisset
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eva Zouche
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cantilupe 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Millicent Cantilupe
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eva de Braose 
GrandFather: John Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Clivedon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Clivedon Baroness Berkeley
Mother: Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandMother: Elizabeth Bettershorne