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.
Mayor is in Miscellaneous.
In 1515 Robert Keilway [aged 32] was elected Mayor of Salisbury.
In 1572 Thomas Liddell of Newcastle upon Tyne was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1584 Henry Mitford of Newcastle on Tyne [aged 41] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1597 Thomas Liddell of Ravensworth Castle [aged 42] was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1609 Thomas Liddell of Ravensworth Castle [aged 54] was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1625 Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 47] was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1634 Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 56] was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1636 Thomas Liddell 1st Baronet [aged 58] was appointed Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1637 John Marlay [aged 47] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1642 John Marlay [aged 52] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1661 John Marlay [aged 71] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland [Map].
In 1665 Robert Fowler was appointed Mayor of Rochester, Kent [Map].
In 1586 George Smith of Exeter was appointed Mayor of Exeter.
In 1597 George Smith of Exeter was appointed Mayor of Exeter.
In 1607 George Smith of Exeter was appointed Mayor of Exeter.
In 1576 Thomas Moryson was appointed Mayor of Great Grimsby.
In 1636 Gervase Holles [aged 28] was elected Mayor of Grimsby.
In 1638 Gervase Holles [aged 30] was elected Mayor of Grimsby.
In 1669 Freschville Holles [aged 26] was elected Mayor of Grimsby.
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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1714 John Eden 2nd Baronet [aged 36] was appointed Mayor of Hartlepool.
In 1722 John Eden 2nd Baronet [aged 44] was appointed Mayor of Hartlepool.
In 1612 William Sands [aged 66] was appointed Mayor of Lancaster.
In 1775 and 1797 John Beckett 1st Baronet [aged 31] was elected Mayor of Leeds.
In 1826 Thomas Beckett 3rd Baronet [aged 47] was elected Mayor of Leeds.
In 1666 Charles Stanley 8th Earl of Derby [aged 37] was appointed Mayor of Liverpool.
In 1714, 1731 and 1736 Richard Gildart [aged 41] was elected Mayor of Liverpool.
In 1822 William Molyneux [aged 61] was elected Mayor of Liverpool.
In 1900 John Aird 1st Baronet [aged 66] was appointed Mayor of Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
In 1901 John Aird 1st Baronet [aged 67] was appointed Mayor of Metropolitan Borough of Paddington.
In 1400 Roger Thornton was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans
Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1402 Roger Thornton was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne and was re-elected the following three years.
In 1416 Roger Thornton was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1423 Roger Thornton was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne and re-elected the following year.
In 1593 Lionel Maddison [aged 56] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1605 Lionel Maddison [aged 68] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1617 Lionel Maddison [aged 80] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1846 James Archbold [aged 65] was elected Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne.