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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Around 1551 Robert "The Elder" Peake was born.
On 30th April 1565 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 14] commenced his training under Laurence Woodham at the Sign of "The Key" Goldsmith's Row Cheapside.
On 20th May 1576 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 25] became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
After 20th May 1576 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 25] was in the pay of the Master of the Revels.
In 1582 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 31]. Portrait of Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr [aged 26].
Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr: On 19th June 1555 she was born to Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey. On 19th November 1571 Thomas West 2nd Baron De La Warr and she were married. On 30th December 1595 William West 1st Baron De La Warr died. His son Thomas succeeded 2nd Baron De La Warr. She by marriage Baroness De La Warr. On 30th August 1608 Anne Knollys Baroness De La Warr died.
1586 to 1590. Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 35]. Portrait of Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 19]. Frances was only firmly identified as the sitter in 2023 by Elise Effmann Clifford, a conservator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The original inscription had at some point been replaced with a false one identifying the sitter as Mary Queen of Scots. Once old overpaint and modern varnish had been removed, Elise Effmann Clifford was able to analyse traces of the original lettering and under close examination discovered that the original text read, 'The Ladie Sidney daughter/to Secretarye Walsingham.'
Around 1590. Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 39]. Portrait of Elizabeth Oldenburg [aged 16].
Elizabeth Oldenburg: On 25th August 1573 she was born to Frederick II King of Denmark and Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark. On 19th April 1590 Henry Julius Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and she were married. She the daughter of Frederick II King of Denmark and Sophie Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Consort Denmark. On 19th June 1625 Elizabeth Oldenburg died.
In 1590 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 39]. Portrait of Katherine Carey Countess Nottingham [aged 40].
Around 1597 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 46]. Portrait of Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby [aged 41].
In 1605 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 54]. Portrait of Arabella Stewart [aged 30].
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 1607 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 56] was appointed Sarjeant Painter to King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 40] sharing the office with John Critz [aged 56].
In 1608 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 57]. Portrait of Elizabeth D'Oyly née Knightley.
On 14th October 1608 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 57] was paid £7 for "pictures made by His Highness' [aged 14] command".
On 14th July 1609 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 58] was paid £3 "for a picture of His Highness [aged 15] which was given in exchange for the King's picture".
In 1610 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 59]. Portrait of Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia [aged 13].
In 1611 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 60] and Paul Isackson painted the cabins, carvings, and armorials on the ship the Prince Royal.
In 1611 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 60]. Portrait of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 10] in his Garter Robes and Leg Garter.
On 10th July 1613 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 62] was paid £13.6s.8d. by the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, "in full satisfaction for Prince Charles [aged 12] his picture", for a full-length portrait which is still in the Cambridge University Library.
In 1615 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 64]. Portrait of Elizabeth Watson Lady Penyston [aged 15]. She is wearing a draped mantle-embroidered with seed pearls in a pattern of ostrich plumes-and a matching turban. The mantle knotted on one shoulder was worn in Jacobean court masques.
Elizabeth Watson Lady Penyston: In 1600 she was born to Thomas Watson. In 1615 William Pope and she were married. He the son of William Pope 1st Earl Downe and Anne Hopton Baroness Wentworth. After 1622 Thomas Penyston 1st Baronet and she were married. She by marriage Lady Penyston of Leigh in Iden in Sussex. In 1624 she died.
In 1616 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 65]. Portrait of (possibly) Frances Cotton [aged 38].
Frances Cotton: In 1578 she was born to Thomas Cotton and Elizabeth Shirley. On 24th February 1612 Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu and she were married at Weekley, Northamptonshire. In May 1620 Frances Cotton died.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Before 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 67]. Portrait of Henry Frederick Stewart Prince of Wales in his Garter Robes and Leg Garter.
Before 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 67]. Portrait of Anne Vavasour [aged 58].
Before 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 67]. Portrait of William Pope 1st Earl Downe [aged 45].
In 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 68]. Portrait of Vere Egerton [aged 23].
Vere Egerton: Around 1596 she was born to Thomas Egerton and Isabella Venables. In 1619 William Booth and she were married. On 5th April 1629 Vere Egerton died. She was buried at Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon [Map] on 4th May 1629.
On 10th October 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [aged 68] made his will.
After 10th October 1619 Robert "The Elder" Peake [deceased] died.
On 16th October 1619 the will of Robert "The Elder" Peake [deceased] was proved.