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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Biography of Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 1586-1642

Paternal Family Tree: Verney Warwickshire

Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Merbury

On 29th October 1582 [his father] Richard Verney 14th Baron Latimer 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 19] and [his mother] Margaret Greville 14th Baroness Latimer 6th Baroness Willoughby of Broke [aged 21] were married at Alcester, Warwickshire [Map].

In 1586 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby was born to Richard Verney 14th Baron Latimer 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 23] and Margaret Greville 14th Baroness Latimer 6th Baroness Willoughby of Broke [aged 25].

In 1614 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 28] was elected MP Warwick.

On 13th May 1618 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 32] and Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke [aged 25] were married. She the daughter of Robert Southwell and Elizabeth Howard Countess Carrick [aged 54]. They were sixth cousins.

Around 1620 [his son] Greville Verney 16th Baron Latimer 8th Baron Willoughby was born to Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 34] and [his wife] Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke [aged 27]. He married before 9th December 1648 Elizabeth Wenman Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke, daughter of Thomas Wenman 2nd Viscount Wenman, and had issue.

In 1621 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 35] was elected MP Warwick.

On 28th January 1621 [his son] Richard Verney 19th Baron Latimer 11th Baron Willoughby was born to Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 35] and [his wife] Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke [aged 28]. He married (1) after 29th November 1651 Mary Pretyman Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke, daughter of John Pretyman 1st Baronet and Elizabeth Turpin Lady Pretyman, and had issue (2) 1677 Frances Dove Baroness Latimer and Willoughby and had issue.

On 30th September 1628 [his uncle] Fulk Greville 13th Baron Latimer 5th Baron Willoughby 1st Baron Brooke [aged 73] was killed at his house in London by servant Ralph Haywood who believed that he had been cheated in his master's will; Haywood then turned the knife on himself. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Warwick [Map]. His sister [his mother] Margaret [aged 67] de jure 14th Baroness Latimer of Corby, 6th Baroness Willoughby Broke. [his father] Richard Verney 14th Baron Latimer 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 65] by marriage Baron Latimer of Corby, Baron Willoughby Broke. His first cousin once removed Robert [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Baron Brooke of Beauchamps Court in Warwickshire.

Around 1630 [his father] Richard Verney 14th Baron Latimer 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 67] died.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

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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On 26th March 1631 or 26th March 1632 [his mother] Margaret Greville 14th Baroness Latimer 6th Baroness Willoughby of Broke [aged 70] died. She was buried at Compton Verney Chapel [Map]. Her son Greville [aged 45] succeeded 15th Baron Latimer of Corby, 7th Baron Willoughby Broke. [his wife] Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke [aged 38] by marriage Baroness Latimer of Corby, Baroness Willoughby Broke.

In 1635 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 49] was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire.

On 12th May 1642 Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby [aged 56] died. His son Greville [aged 22] succeeded 16th Baron Latimer of Corby, 8th Baron Willoughby Broke.

On 13th April 1657 [his former wife] Catherine Southwell Baroness Latimer and Willoughby Broke [aged 64] died.

Ancestors of Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 1586-1642

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Verney

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Verney

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Verney

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Verney

GrandFather: George Verney

Father: Richard Verney 14th Baron Latimer 6th Baron Willoughby

Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Greville

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Greville

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Poyntz

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Greville

Great x 1 Grandfather: Fulk Greville Baron Latimer, Baron Willoughby

GrandFather: Fulke Greville 12th Baron Latimer 4th Baron Willoughby 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 1st Baron Willoughby 9th Baron Latimer 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby 10th Baron Latimer 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Champernowne

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Willoughby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp Powick 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Willoughby of Broke 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stafford 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Willoughby 11th Baroness Latimer 3rd Baroness Willoughby of Broke 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Neville 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Neville 2nd Baron Latimer of Snape 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Bourchier 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Neville 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 10 x Great Grand Son of King David I of Scotland

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Stafford Baroness Latimer 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Fray

Mother: Margaret Greville 14th Baroness Latimer 6th Baroness Willoughby of Broke 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 1st Baron Neville of Raby 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Holland Countess Douglas and Avondale 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Booth

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Booth

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Sandes

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Sandes

Great x 2 Grandmother: Edith Sandys Baroness

GrandMother: Anne Neville Baroness Latimer 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke

Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Devereux 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Biography of Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 1586-1642

Royal Ancestors of Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 1586-1642

Ancestors of Greville Verney 15th Baron Latimer 7th Baron Willoughby 1586-1642