The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Paternal Family Tree: Montagu
Around 1485 Edward Montagu was born to Thomas Montagu [aged 33] and Agnes Dudley [aged 31].
Around 1501 [his mother] Agnes Dudley [aged 47] died.
On 22nd May 1506 Edward Montagu [aged 21] admitted at Middle Temple.
On 5th September 1517 [his father] Thomas Montagu [aged 65] died.
Around 1522 [his daughter] Elizabeth Montagu was born to Edward Montagu [aged 37] and [his future wife] Helen Roper [aged 22]. She married (1) George Tyrrell of Thornton in Buckinghamshire and had issue (2) in or before 1571 William Markham.
Before 1524 Edward Montagu [aged 38] and Agnes Kirkham were married.
Before 1525 Edward Montagu [aged 39] and Cicely Lane [aged 28] were married.
In or before 1525 [his daughter] Amy Montagu was born to Edward Montagu [aged 39] and [his wife] Cicely Lane [aged 28]. She married before 30th March 1593 George Lynne of Southwick Hall and had issue.
In 1525 [his wife] Cicely Lane [aged 29] died.
Before 1530 Edward Montagu [aged 44] and Helen Roper [aged 29] were married.
Around 1530 [his son] Edward Montagu was born to Edward Montagu [aged 45] and [his wife] Helen Roper [aged 30] at Brigstock, Boughton. He married 1557 Elizabeth Harrington and had issue.
On 18th October 1537 Edward Montagu [aged 52] was knighted.
In 1539 Edward Montagu [aged 54] was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
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 1545 Edward Montagu [aged 60] was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
On 30th December 1546 Henry VIII [aged 55] made his last revision to his will signed using the Dry Stamp that was used increasingly commonly. The will confirmed the succession as King Edward VI of England and Ireland [aged 9], Queen Mary I of England and Ireland [aged 30] and Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 13].
The will appointed sixteen executors: Anthony Browne [aged 46], Archbishop Thomas Cranmer [aged 57], Anthony Denny [aged 45], John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 42], William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke [aged 45], Edward Montagu [aged 61], Edward North 1st Baron North [aged 50], William Paget 1st Baron Paget Beaudasert [aged 40], William Paulet 1st Marquess Winchester [aged 63], John Russell 1st Earl Bedford [aged 61], Edward Seymour 1st Duke of Somerset [aged 46], Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall [aged 72] and Thomas Wriothesley 1st Earl of Southampton [aged 41].
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th July 1553. The xxvj day of July cam unto the Towre my lord marqwes of Northamton [aged 41], by and my lord Robart Dudley [aged 21], and the bysshop of London [aged 53], and ser Recherd Corbett; and after cam in to the Towre my lord cheyffe justes Chamley [aged 58], the lord Montyguw [aged 68], at v of the cloke at nyght.
Note. The lord Montague. The person intended by this designation was sir Edward Montague, who was lord chief justice of the common pleas, as sir Roger Cholmley was of the king's bench. The new queen appointed sir Richard Morgan and sir Thomas Bromley in their places.
Chronicle of Queen Jane and Two Years of Queen Mary 1553. September 1553. Note, that the (blank) daye of September, the lord Ferris [aged 65]1, the lord chefe justice Chumbley [aged 58]2, and the lorde Montegue [aged 68]3, wer dysmyssed of ther imprysonement in the Tower.
Note 1. Walter Devereux, who had been created viscount Hereford in 1550, though both in this Diary and in that of Machyn he is still called lord Ferrars, and by Stowe lord Ferrers of Chartley. In the register of the Privy Council he is properly styled viscount Hereford. He had married lady Mary Grey, aunt to the duke of Suffolk [aged 36].
Note 2. Sir Roger Cholmley: see notes to Machyn's Diary, p. 368.
Note 3. Sir Edward Montagu: see notes to Machyn's Diary, p. 356.
In 1557 [his son] Edward Montagu [aged 27] and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Harrington [aged 12] were married.
Before 10th February 1557 Edward Montagu [aged 72] bought the manor of Boughton, Northamptonshire.
On 10th February 1557 Edward Montagu [aged 72] died.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 5th March 1557. [The v day of March was buried in Northamptonshire sir Edward Montagu [deceased], late lord chief justice of England; with] cott armur, and targett, and sword, helmett, and man[tylls of] velvett, and iiij dosen of stayffes, ij whyt branchys .... dosen of skochyons, and iiij dosen of penselles, and with .... harold of armes and a hersse of wax.
Note. P. 128. Funeral of sir Edward Montagu. The progenitor of the dukes of Montagu and Manchester, and earls of Halifax. He was buried at Weekley in Northamptonshire, where is his effigy, and the epitaph will be found in Bridges's History of that county, vol. ii. p. 347; also in Collins's Peerage, 1779, vol. ii. p 83, together with his will and biographical notices; but his monument is there incorrectly placed at Hemington.
On 3rd May 1563 [his former wife] Helen Roper [aged 63] died.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 22nd September 1665. Among other discourse concerning long life, Sir J. Minnes [aged 66] saying that his great-grandfather was alive in Edward the Vth's time; my [his great grandson] Lord Sandwich [aged 40] did tell us how few there have been of his family since King Harry the VIIIth; that is to say, the then Chiefe Justice, and his son the Lord Montagu, who was father to Sir Sidney1, who was his father. And yet, what is more wonderfull, he did assure us from the mouth of my Lord Montagu himself, that in King James's time ([when he] had a mind to get the King [aged 35] to cut off the entayle of some land which was given in Harry the VIIIth's time to the family, with the remainder in the Crowne); he did answer the King in showing how unlikely it was that ever it could revert to the Crown, but that it would be a present convenience to him; and did show that at that time there were 4,000 persons derived from the very body of the Chiefe Justice. It seems the number of daughters in the family having been very great, and they too had most of them many children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This he tells as a most known and certain truth.
Note 1. These are the words in the MS., and not "his son and the Lord Montagu", as in some former editions. Pepys seems to have written Lord Montagu by mistake for Sir Edward Montagu.
[his father] Thomas Montagu and [his mother] Agnes Dudley were married.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Malcolm III of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 11 Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Baron Monthermer 
11 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Montagu 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Broughton 
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Montagu 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bassett 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Basset 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Christina Basset 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandFather: William Ladde Montagu 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Holcot
Father: Thomas Montagu 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Edward Montagu 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Dudley 
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Dudley
GrandFather: William Dudley
Mother: Agnes Dudley