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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Haddon Hall, Derbyshire is in Derbyshire Dales.
Around 1346 Richard Vernon was born to William Vernon (age 34) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married in or before 1368 Juliana Pembridge and had issue.
Around 1368 Richard Vernon was born to Richard Vernon (age 22) and Juliana Pembridge (age 19) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married (1) before 1390 his fifth cousin once removed Alice Vernon (2) 1390 Joan ferch Rhys Griffith and had issue.
Around 1389 Richard Vernon aka Pembridge was born to Richard Vernon (age 21) and Joan ferch Rhys Griffith at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 1427 Benedicta Ludlow and had issue.
Around 1415 Elizabeth Pembrugge was born at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
Around 1415 Richard Vernon was born to Richard Vernon aka Pembridge (age 26) and Benedicta Ludlow (age 24) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 1434 Elizabeth Pembrugge and had issue.
In 1416 William Vernon was born to Richard Vernon aka Pembridge (age 27) and Benedicta Ludlow (age 25) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1434 Richard Vernon (age 19) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1442 Benedicta Vernon was born to William Vernon (age 26) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. She married 1463 Henry Foljambe and had issue.
Around 1445 Henry Vernon was born to William Vernon (age 29) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 1451 Anne Talbot, daughter of John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury and Elizabeth Butler Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford, and had issue.
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.
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Around 1451 Agnes Vernon (age 24) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 24th August 1451 Richard Vernon aka Pembridge (age 62) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map].
In 1453 Elizabeth Pembrugge (age 38) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 30th July 1467 William Vernon (age 51) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map].
In 1476 Humphrey Vernon was born to Henry Vernon (age 31) and Anne Talbot (age 31) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married after 1494 his third cousin Alice Ludlow and had issue.
Around 1476 Anne Vernon was born to Henry Vernon (age 31) and Anne Talbot (age 31) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
In 1478 John Vernon was born to Henry Vernon (age 33) and Anne Talbot (age 33) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married his fifth cousin once removed Ellen Montgomery and had issue.
In 1503 Eleanor Manners Countess Bath was born to George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley (age 33) and Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley (age 26) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married before 25th May 1524 her fourth cousin once removed John Bourchier 2nd Earl Bath, son of John Bourchier 1st Earl Bath and Cecily Daubeney Baroness Fitzwarin, and had issue.
Around 1508 George Vernon "King of the Peak" lived at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
On 13th April 1515 Henry Vernon (age 70) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map].
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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On 22nd March 1572 George Manners was born to John Manners (age 45) and Dorothy Vernon (age 41) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 10th June 1604 Grace Pierrepont and had issue.
On 24th June 1584 Dorothy Vernon (age 53) died. On 4th June 1611 John Manners (age 57) died at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. Both were buried at All Saint's Church, Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map]. Elizabethan Period facing each other. Complex armorial of his arms impaled with her arms.
Arms of John Manners impaled with those of Dorothy Vernon.
On the left, Top Row: 1 
Manners Augmented Arms 2 His great-grandmother Eleanor Ros.
Second Row: 5 
Beauchamp Arms 6 
Beaumont Arms 7 
Berkeley Arms 8 
Lisle Arms.
Third Row: 11 
Tiptoft Arms.
On the right the arms of Dorothy Vernon. Top Row: 1 
Vernon Arms. Her arms. Second Row: 5 
Welles Arms. Third Row: 9 
Tailboys Arms. Fourth Row: 10 Berkeley Arms.
Dorothy Vernon: In 1531 she was born to George Vernon "King of the Peak" and Margaret Tailboys. Before 22nd March 1572 John Manners and she were married. He the son of Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
John Manners: In 1527 he was born to Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland.
Eleanor Ros: Around 1449 she was born to Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley and Philippa Tiptoft Baroness Ros of Helmsley. In or before 1460 Robert Manners and she were married. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward I of England. In 1487 Eleanor Ros died. In 1492 George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley became a ward of his uncle-in-law Thomas Lovell, husband of his mother's sister Isabel Ros as a consequence of his father Robert Manners being deemed unable to administer his own affairs.
On 10th June 1604 John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland was born to George Manners (age 32) and Grace Pierrepont (age 29) at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]. He married before 2nd June 1629 Frances Montagu Countess Rutland, daughter of Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu and Frances Cotton, and had issue.
Around 1855. Benjamin Brecknell Turner (age 40). Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
Before 1879. Samuel Rayner (age 72). "Barons, Chapel Haddon Hall [Map] Derbyshire".
Before 1879. Samuel Rayner (age 72). "Attic in Haddon Hall [Map]".
1888. William Harold Cubley (age 71). "The Chapel, Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]".
1888. William Harold Cubley (age 71). "The Terrace, Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]".
Around 1890. William Harold Cubley (age 73). "Dorothy Vernon's Doorway, Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]".
Before 1899. William Richardson (age 84). "Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]".
Before 1900. William Powell Frith (age 80) and Thomas Creswick. "Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map] Steps".
After 1902. St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map]. The East Window was designed by Kempe in 1902 copying from the 15th Century design of the West Window and the East Window at Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map].
Before 1924. Louise Ingram Rayner (age 91). 'Haddon Hall [Map], North Entrance'.
Before 1924. Louise Ingram Rayner (age 91). 'Haddon Hall [Map], Entrance Gateway'.
Before 1924. Louise Ingram Rayner (age 91). 'The Long Gallery, Haddon Hall [Map]'.
Before 1924. Louise Ingram Rayner (age 91). 'Haddon Hall [Map]'.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Before 1924. Louise Ingram Rayner (age 91). 'The Banqueting Hall, Haddon [Map]'.
Filmed in 1987 The Princess Bride locations include:
Bradley Rocks, Birchover [Map]: Buttercup's farm.
Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map]: Prince Humperdinck's Castle.
Cave Dale, Castleton [Map]: Buttercup shoves herself and Dread Pirate Roberts down a hill.
Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire [Map]: The Battle of Wits.
Robin Hood's Stride [Map]: Dread Pirate Roberts fights Fezzik.
Carl Wark [Map]: Buttercup and Dread Pirate Roberts cross the moors.
The Derbyshire River Wye rises at Axe Edge Moor, Derbyshire [Map] after which it travels broadly south-west through Buxton, Derbyshire [Map], Millers Dale, Derbyshire [Map], Cressbrook, Derbyshire [Map], Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire [Map], Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map] and Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map] to Rowsley, Derbyshire [Map] where it joins the River Derwent.
The River Lathkill rises near Monyash, Derbyshire [Map] flowing through Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire [Map], where there are a number of seasonal springs, to Conksbury Bridge, Derbyshire [Map] then Alport, Derbyshire [Map] where it is joined by the River Bradford. After Alport, Derbyshire [Map] the River Lathkill flows east to a point around 600m south of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire [Map] where it joins the Derbyshire River Wye.