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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Maternal Family Tree: Emmeline Riddlesford 1223 1276
Before January 1423 [her father] John Chideock 6th Baron Fitzpayn [aged 21] and [her mother] Catherine Lumley [aged 27] were married.
Around January 1423 Catherine Chideocke was born to John Chideock 6th Baron Fitzpayn [aged 21] and Catherine Lumley [aged 27].
Before 1439 William Stafford [aged 18] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 15] were married.
Around 1439 [her son] Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon was born to [her husband] William Stafford [aged 19] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 15] at Staffordshire.
Before 1445 [her future husband] Roger Lewknor of Broadhurst [aged 23] and Eleanor Camoys [aged 36] were married.
Around 1450 [her daughter] Margaret Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford [aged 30] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 26] at Staffordshire. Date adjusted to reflect death of father in 1450. She married before 14th August 1499 her fourth cousin George de Vere, son of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Oxford, and had issue.
On 6th March 1450 [her father] John Chideock 6th Baron Fitzpayn [aged 48] died. Baron Fitzpayn abeyant between his daughters Catherine Chideocke [aged 27] and [her sister] Margaret Chideock [aged 18] and their heirs.
Chronicle of Gregory. 7th June 1450. And yn the fowarde, as they wolde have folowyde the captayne, was slayn Syr Umfray Stafforde [aged 50] and [her husband] Wylliam Stafford [aged 30], squyer, one the mannylste man of alle this realme of Engelonde, whythe many moo othyr of mene personys at Sevenocke [Map], in Kentt, in her oute ragyng fro her oste of our sovereign lordys the kyng, Harry the vj te. And the kyng [aged 28] loggyd that nyght at Grenewyche [Map], and son aftyr every lord whythe his retynewe rood home in to her contraye. [Note. The date sometimes given as the 8th June 1450 and 18th June 1850]
Around 1454 [her son] Thomas Arundell was born to John Arundell [aged 32] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 30] at Lanherne, St Mawgan in Pyder. He married December 1473 his fourth cousin once removed Katherine Dinham and had issue.
In 1456 [her daughter] Margaret Arundell was born to John Arundell [aged 34] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 32]. She married before 1480 William Capell and had issue.
In 1458 [her daughter] Thomasine Arundell was born to John Arundell [aged 36] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 34]. She married before 1466 Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney and had issue.
Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall
The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall (Chronicon Anglicanum) is an indispensable medieval history that brings to life centuries of English and European affairs through the eyes of a learned Cistercian monk. Ralph of Coggeshall, abbot of the Abbey of Coggeshall in Essex in the early 13th century, continued and expanded his community’s chronicle, documenting events from the Norman Conquest of 1066 into the tumultuous reign of King Henry III. Blending eyewitness testimony, careful compilation, and the monastic commitment to record-keeping, this chronicle offers a rare narrative of political intrigue, royal power struggles, and social upheaval in England and beyond. Ralph’s work captures the reigns of pivotal figures such as Richard I and King John, providing invaluable insights into their characters, decisions, and the forces that shaped medieval rule. More than a simple annal, Chronicon Anglicanum conveys the texture of medieval life and governance, making it a rich source for scholars and readers fascinated by English history, monastic authorship, and the shaping of the medieval world.
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In 1461 [her mother] Catherine Lumley [aged 65] died.
Before 1466 [her son-in-law] Henry Marney 1st Baron Marney [aged 18] and [her daughter] Thomasine Arundell [aged 7] were married.
Before 1469 [her future husband] Roger Lewknor of Broadhurst [aged 47] and Mary West were married.
On 17th August 1469 [her son] Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon [aged 30], having escaped after the Battle of Edgecote Moor, was captured and executed by a mob at Bridgwater, Somerset [Map]. He was buried at Glastonbury Abbey [Map]. Earl Devon, Baron Stafford of Southwick forfeit.
In December 1473 [her son] Thomas Arundell [aged 19] and [her daughter-in-law] Katherine Dinham were married. They were fourth cousin once removed.
Before 23rd July 1478 Roger Lewknor of Broadhurst [aged 57] and Catherine Chideocke [aged 55] were married.
On 23rd July 1478 [her husband] Roger Lewknor of Broadhurst [aged 57] died.
On 10th April 1479 Catherine Chideocke [aged 56] died.
[her daughter] Jane Arundell was born to John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke. She married 1502 William Petre.
[her daughter] Dorothy Arundell was born to John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke. She married her fifth cousin once removed Henry Strangeways and had issue.
[her daughter] Ellen Arundell was born to John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke. She married Unknown Copplestone.
Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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[her daughter] Elizabeth Arundell Baroness Offaly was born to John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke. She married before December 1493 Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney and had issue.
[her daughter] Catherine Arundell was born to John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke.
John Arundell and Catherine Chideocke were married. They were fifth cousins.
Kings Wessex: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Chideock
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Chidiock 4th Baron Fitzpayn
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Fitzpayn 1st Baron Fitzpayn
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Fitzpayn 2nd Baron Fitzpayn
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Fitzpayn
GrandFather: John Chidiock 5th Baron Fitzpayn
Father: John Chideock 6th Baron Fitzpayn 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fulk Fitzwarin 1st Baron Fitzwarin 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fulk Fitzwarin 2nd Baron Fitzwarin 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Fitzwarin 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Baroness Fitzwarin
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Duncan II of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cicely Vivonne Forz Baroness Beauchamp 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Duncan II of Scotland
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ivo Fitzwarin 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandMother: Eleanor Fitzwarin 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Argentine
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maud Argentine
Catherine Chideocke 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Lumley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Marmaduke Lumley
4 x Great Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Marmaduke Thweng
Great x 3 Grandfather: Marmaduke Thweng
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Bruce
Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucia Thweng 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ros
Great Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Ros
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William I of Scotland
GrandFather: Ralph Lumley 1st Baron Lumley
5 x Great Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert de Holand of Upholland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Holland 1st Baron Holand
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Holland 2nd Baron Holand
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alan Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Ashby
2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Zouche Baroness Holand
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Segrave
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Holand
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Mother: Catherine Lumley
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Neville
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 2nd Baron Neville of Raby
6 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Fitzroger 5th Baron Warkworth
12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandmother: Euphemia Clavering Baroness Neville Raby
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Zouche Baroness Warkworth
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Audley
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Audley 1st Baron Audley of Stratton Audley
2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ela Longespée
Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Audley Baroness Greystoke and Neville
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Mortimer 2nd Baron Mortimer of Wigmore
2 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Iseult Mortimer
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Fiennes
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Eleanor Neville Baroness Lumley
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 7th Baron Percy Topcliffe 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 9th and 1st Baron Percy 8 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Warenne Baroness Percy Topcliffe
7 x Great Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 1st or 8th Earl of Arundel
3 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Fitzalan Baroness Percy
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Clifford
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Clifford 1st Baron Clifford
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Vipont 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas de Clare
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Clare Baroness Clifford Baroness Welles
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Juliana Fitzgerald
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England