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: Talbot
On 29th September 1580 Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint was born to Henry Talbot [aged 17] and Elizabeth Rayner [aged 24].
In 1596 [her father] Henry Talbot [aged 33] died.
On 8th January 1601 Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 16] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 20] were married at Overton Longueville.
In 1604 Thomas Erskine 1st Earl Kellie [aged 38] and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Pierrepont Countess Kellie [aged 36] were married. There is some uncertainty about whether this is the right Elizabeth Pierrepoint.
In March 1606 [her son] Henry Pierrepont 1st Marquess Dorchester was born to [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 21] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 25]. He married (1) 1630 his sixth cousin Cecilia Bayning, daughter of Paul Bayning 1st Viscount Bayning and Anne Glemham Viscountess Bayning, and had issue (2) September 1652 his fifth cousin once removed Catherine Stanley Marchioness Dorchester, daughter of James Stanley 7th Earl of Derby and Charlotte Thouars Countess Derby.
In 1608 [her son] William Pierrepont of Thoresby was born to [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 23] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 27]. He married 8th June 1628 Elizabeth Harries aka Harris, daughter of Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet and Eleanor Gifford, and had issue.
In 1612 [her mother] Elizabeth Rayner [aged 56] died.
Before 8th September 1612 [her son] Francis Pierrepont was born to [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 28] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 31]. He married 1635 Elizabeth Bray and had issue.
In March 1619 Thomas Erskine 1st Earl Kellie [aged 53] was created 1st Earl Kellie. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Pierrepont Countess Kellie [aged 51] by marriage Countess Kellie.
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 1620 [her son] Gervase Pierrepont was born to [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 35] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 39].
On 29th June 1627 [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 42] was created 1st Baron Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepoint. Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 46] by marriage Baroness Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepoint.
In 1628 [her son] George Pierrepoint was born to [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 43] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 47].
On 25th January 1628 [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 43] was created 1st Earl Kingston upon Hull, 1st Viscount Newark. Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 47] by marriage Countess Kingston upon Hull.
On 8th June 1628 William Pierrepont of Thoresby [aged 20] and Elizabeth Harries aka Harris [aged 31] were married at St Martin's Church, Ludgate. He the son of Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 43] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 47].
Around 1630 Henry Pierrepont 1st Marquess Dorchester [aged 23] and Cecilia Bayning [aged 16] were married. He the son of Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 45] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 49]. They were sixth cousins.
In 1635 Francis Pierrepont [aged 22] and Elizabeth Bray [aged 20] were married. He the son of Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 50] and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 54].
On 16th July 1643 Francis Willoughby 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham launched a night attack on Gainsborough [Map] and captured it and [her husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston [aged 58].
On 25th July 1643 Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston Was accidentally shot and killed while a prisoner on board a vessel bound for Hull. His son Henry [aged 37] succeeded 2nd Earl Kingston upon Hull, 2nd Viscount Newark, 2nd Baron Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepoint. Catherine Stanley Marchioness Dorchester by marriage Countess Kingston upon Hull.
In 1649 Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint [aged 68] died. She was buried at the Church of St Edmund, Holme Pierrepoint [Map].
In or after 1852 the contents of the Crypt of the Church of St Edmund, Holme Pierrepoint [Map] were listed with a diagram by the Reverend James Cleaver, Rector of Holme Pierrepont, as follows:
1. [her former husband] Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston
2. Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint
3. William Pierrepoint died 1719
4. Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull
5. Unknown
7. [her great grandson] Robert Pierrepont 3rd Earl Kingston.
10. William Pierrepont 4th Earl Kingston
11. Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull
13. Unknown
15. Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull
16. Isabella Bentinck Duchess Kingston upon Hull
17. Francis Pierrepont, died Aug 13 1679.
18. Charles Medows aka Pierrepont 1st Earl Manvers.
19. Anne Mills Countess Manvers
20. Henry Pierrepont 1st Marquess Dorchester
21. Samuel Pierrepont aged 6, 1711.
22. Blank
23. Blank
24. Charles Herbert Pierrepont 2nd Earl Manvers [aged 73]
25. Mary Laetitia Eyre Countess Manvers [aged 67]
26. Annora Mary Pierrepont, daughter of Charles, Viscount Newark, 3 months, 1815.
27 - 31. Blank
33. Sophia Cecil.
35. Emily Littleton
36 - 41. Blank.
[her son] Robert Pierrepont was born to Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint.
[her father] Henry Talbot and [her mother] Elizabeth Rayner were married. He the son of [her grandfather] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and [her grandmother] Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford.
[her daughter] Elizabeth Pierrepont was born to Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint.
[her daughter] Mary Pierrepoint was born to Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston and Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint.
Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King William I of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Philip IV of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Butler Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Stafford Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham 
Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Leonard Hastings 
5 x Great Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings 6 x Great Grand Son of King William I of Scotland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Camoys 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 6th Baron Dacre Gilsland 
9 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Neville Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Parr 
7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mabel Parr Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tunstall
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Dacre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Greystoke 5th Baron Greystoke 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Greystoke 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Greystoke 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Greystoke 6th Baroness Greystoke Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Percy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: Henry Talbot 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Manners 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Manners 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Ogle 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Ros 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Tiptoft Baroness Ros of Helmsley 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St Leger 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas St Leger 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Donet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne York Duchess Exeter 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Paston 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Paston
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Mautby
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Paston
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Brewes
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Brewes
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Debenham
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Heydon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bridget Heydon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Boleyn 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Boleyn 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Hoo 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Mother: Elizabeth Rayner