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.

Biography of William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 1611-1664

Paternal Family Tree: Brereton

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Barratt 1571-1644

On 28th February 1611 William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton was born to John Bererton [aged 20] and Anne Fitton [aged 17].

Before 28th December 1629 [his father] John Bererton [aged 38] and [his mother] Anne Fitton [aged 35] were married. They were second cousin once removed.

On 28th December 1629 [his father] John Bererton [aged 38] died.

Before 4th May 1631 William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton [aged 20] and Elizabeth Goring Baroness Brereton were married. She the daughter of George Goring 1st Earl Norwich [aged 46] and Mary Neville [aged 41]. They were half fourth cousins.

On 4th May 1631 [his son] William Brereton 3rd Baron Brereton was born to William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton [aged 20] and [his wife] Elizabeth Goring Baroness Brereton. He married 21st October 1658 his fourth cousin Frances Willoughby Baroness Brereton, daughter of Francis Willoughby 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham and Elizabeth Cecil Baroness Willoughby of Parham, and had issue.

On 1st October 1631 [his grandfather] William Brereton 1st Baron Brereton [aged 81] died. His grandson William [aged 20] succeeded 2nd Baron Brereton and inherited Brereton Hall, Cheshire [Map]. [his wife] Elizabeth Goring Baroness Brereton by marriage Baroness Brereton.

After 1658 and before 7th January 1659 [his brother-in-law] Charles Goring 2nd Earl Norwich [aged 43] and Alice Leman Countess Norwich were married. The earlier date based on the death of her first husband. He the son of [his father-in-law] George Goring 1st Earl Norwich [aged 72].

On 21st October 1658 [his son] William Brereton 3rd Baron Brereton [aged 27] and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Willoughby Baroness Brereton [aged 33] were married at St Margaret Pattens. They were fourth cousins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th September 1659. Came to see me Mr. Brereton [aged 28], a very learned gentleman, son to my Lord Brereton [aged 48], with his wife and divers other ladies. Also, Henry Howard of Norfolk [aged 31], since Duke of Norfolk.

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.

In 1663 [his mother] Anne Fitton [aged 69] died.

On 6th January 1663 [his father-in-law] George Goring 1st Earl Norwich [aged 77] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Charles [aged 48] succeeded 2nd Earl Norwich, 2nd Baron Goring. Alice Leman Countess Norwich by marriage Countess Norwich.

In April 1664 William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton [aged 53] died. His son William [aged 32] succeeded 3rd Baron Brereton and inherited Brereton Hall, Cheshire [Map]. Frances Willoughby Baroness Brereton [aged 39] by marriage Baroness Brereton.

Around November 1687 [his former wife] Elizabeth Goring Baroness Brereton died.

/_PHOTOS/20230719-Brereton/20230719-131219.jpg

8th August 1999. St Oswald's Church, Brereton [Map]. Memorial to William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton. Bellringer and Donor of three bells in honour of his marriage to [his former wife] Elizabeth Goring Baroness Brereton. A special event took place at St Oswald's.Church, Brereton on 8th August 1999: the dedication of a plaque to the memory of William, 2nd Lord Brereton, founding member and first Master in 1637 of one of the oldest English change ringing societies, the Ancient Society of College Youths, which still flourishes nationally and internationally from its base in London.

Ancestors of William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 1611-1664

Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Brereton

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Brereton

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Brereton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Savage 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Savage 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Vernon

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Brereton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

GrandFather: William Brereton 1st Baron Brereton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Warburton

Great x 2 Grandfather: Peter Warburton of Arley

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Warburton 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Winnington 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Winnington 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Winnington 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Randall Grosvenor

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Anne Grosvenor

Father: John Bererton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Savage 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Savage of Frodsham 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Vernon

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Savage 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Savage 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Hill

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Margaret Savage 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Manners 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Ros 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas St Leger 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne York Duchess Exeter 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Manners 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Paston

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Paston

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Brewes

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Heydon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Bridget Heydon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

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

William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Fitton

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ellen Brereton

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Fitton 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guiscard Harbottle 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Willoughby 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Fitton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Warburton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Warburton of Arley

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Warburton 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Winnington 12 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Winnington 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Anne Grosvenor

GrandFather: Edward Fitton 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Holcroft

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Holcroft

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Holcroft

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Holcroft

Mother: Anne Fitton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: James Barratt

GrandMother: Anne Barratt

Biography of William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 1611-1664

Royal Ancestors of William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 1611-1664

Ancestors of William Brereton 2nd Baron Brereton 1611-1664