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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Before 7th January 1643 [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet [aged 39] and [his mother] Mary Croke [aged 33] were married.
On 7th January 1643 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet was born to [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet [aged 39] and [his mother] Mary Croke [aged 33].
In 1648 [his grandfather] Harbottle Grimston 1st Baronet [aged 79] died. His son [his father] Harbottle [aged 44] succeeded 2nd Baronet Grimston of Bradfield.
On 21st May 1649 [his mother] Mary Croke [aged 39] died.
In May 1668 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet [aged 25] was elected MP St Albans at a by-election which seat he held until 1678. He was re-elected in 1679 and 1680.
On 14th February 1670 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet [aged 27] and Elizabeth Finch [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 48] and Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch [aged 43].
On 17th April 1673 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet [aged 30] and Anne Tufton Lady Grimston [aged 19] were married. They had a son and a daughter both of whom died young. She the daughter of John Tufton 2nd Earl of Thanet and Margaret Sackville Countess Isle Thanet [aged 58].
On 16th June 1674 [his brother-in-law] Daniel Finch 2nd Earl Nottingham 7th Earl Winchilsea [aged 26] and Essex Rich Countess Nottingham [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Robert Rich 3rd Earl Warwick and Anne Cheeke Countess Warwick. He the son of [his father-in-law] Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 52] and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Harvey Baroness Finch [aged 47].
In 1675 [his wife] Elizabeth Finch [aged 25] died.
On 24th November 1679 [his brother-in-law] Nicholas Tufton 3rd Earl of Thanet [aged 48] died. His brother John [aged 41] succeeded 4th Earl of Thanet, 4th Baron Tufton, 16th Baron de Clifford, 5th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
In 1680 [his brother-in-law] John Tufton 4th Earl of Thanet [aged 42] died. His brother Richard [aged 39] succeeded 5th Earl of Thanet, 5th Baron Tufton, 17th Baron de Clifford, 6th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
Jean de Waurin's Chronicle of England Volume 6 Books 3-6: The Wars of the Roses
Jean de Waurin was a French Chronicler, from the Artois region, who was born around 1400, and died around 1474. Waurin’s Chronicle of England, Volume 6, covering the period 1450 to 1471, from which we have selected and translated Chapters relating to the Wars of the Roses, provides a vivid, original, contemporary description of key events some of which he witnessed first-hand, some of which he was told by the key people involved with whom Waurin had a personal relationship.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 8th March 1684 [his brother-in-law] Richard Tufton 5th Earl of Thanet [aged 43] died. His brother Thomas [aged 39] succeeded 6th Earl of Thanet, 6th Baron Tufton, 18th Baron de Clifford, 7th Baronet Tufton of Hothfield.
On 14th August 1684 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Tufton 6th Earl of Thanet [aged 39] and Catherine Cavendish Countess Isle Thanet [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess of Thanet. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Henry Cavendish 2nd Duke Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 54] and Frances Pierrepont Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 53]. He the son of John Tufton 2nd Earl of Thanet and [his mother-in-law] Margaret Sackville Countess Isle Thanet. They were fifth cousin once removed.
On 2nd January 1685 [his father] Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet [aged 81] died. His son Samuel [aged 41] succeeded 3rd Baronet Grimston of Bradfield. [his wife] Anne Tufton Lady Grimston [aged 31] by marriage Lady Grimston of Bradfield.
On 24th November 1687 [his son-in-law] William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax [aged 22] and [his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston were married. He the son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax [aged 54] and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile.
On 22nd January 1689 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet [aged 46] was elected MP St Albans which seat he held until May 1699.
In 1694 [his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston died.
In October 1700 Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet [aged 57] died. Baronet Grimston of Bradfield extinct. William Grimston 1st Viscount Grimston [aged 15] inherited the family estates and adopted the surname Grimston.
On 22nd November 1713 [his former wife] Anne Tufton Lady Grimston [aged 59] died.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Grimston was born to Samuel Grimston 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Finch. She married 24th November 1687 William Savile 2nd Marquess Halifax, son of George Savile 1st Marquess Halifax and Dorothy Spencer Lady Savile, and had issue.
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Grimston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Grimston
GrandFather: Harbottle Grimston 1st Baronet
Father: Harbottle Grimston 2nd Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Croke
GrandFather: George Croke
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Unton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Unton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Unton
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Bulstrode
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Bulstrode
Great x 2 Grandmother: Cecily Bulstrode
Mother: Mary Croke
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Bennett
GrandMother: Mary Bennett