Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

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.

Watling Street

Wroxeter, Shropshire Dow Bridge High Cross, Warwickshire Watling Street Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans Watling Street 1h Wall to Wroxeter Watling Street 1e St Albans to Towcester Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross Watling Street 1g High Cross to Wall Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury

Watling Street is in Roman Roads.

Watling Street was a major Roman Road that travels from the Kent ports broadly north-west through London and St Albans, Hertfordshire [Map] to Viroconium Cornoviorum [Map]. Significant parts of Watling Street remain now being known as the A5.

Watling Street is number 1 in 'Roman Roads of Britain' by Ivan D Margary.

Dow Bridge [Map] is where Watling Street crossed the Warwickshire River Avon.

In the Roman Period High Cross, Warwickshire [Map] was known as Venonae. It was an important settlement being the crossing point of two major Roman Roads Watling Street and the Fosse Way.

Watling Street

Watling Street. From Durobrivae [Map] the road continues through Park Pale, Kent [Map], Vagniacis [Map], Dartford, Kent [Map], Noviomagus [Map], Bexley, Kent [Map], down Shooter's Hill, Greenwich [Map] past Eltham Common, Kent [Map] to Greenwich Park [Map] where the road either (or both):

1. went along the Old Kent Road [Map] and crossed the River Thames at either the London Bridge [Map] or a ford near Westminster Bridge [Map] after which it continued north past St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside [Map], Newgate Gate [Map], Ludgate Hill [Map] and over the River Fleet at Fleet Bridge [Map] to Marble Arch [Map].

2. continued north-west through Camberwell, Surrey [Map] crossing the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge [Map] after which it continued north to Marble Arch [Map].

Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester

Watling Street 1b Canterbury to Rochester. From Durovernum [Map] the road continues in a north-east direction through Upper Harbledown, Kent [Map], Boughton Street, Kent [Map], Durolevo [Map], Key Street, Kent [Map], Gillingham, Kent [Map] to Durobrivae [Map] where it crosses the River Medway.

Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury

Watling Street 1a Dover to Canterbury. From the main Roman port of Portus Dubris [Map] to Durovernum [Map] via Kearnsey, Kent [Map], Lydden Hill, Kent [Map], Bridge, Kent [Map], and Renville, Kent [Map].

Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans

Watling Street 1d Marble Arch to St Albans. From Marble Arch [Map] Watling Street continues north-west along the Edgeware Road, Maida Vale [Map], Cricklewood [Map], Sulloniacis [Map], Radlett, Hertfordshire [Map], Park Street, Hertfordshire [Map] to Verulamium, Hertfordshire [Map] aka St Albans.

Watling Street 1h Wall to Wroxeter

Watling Street 1e St Albans to Towcester

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross

Watling Street 1f Towcester to High Cross. From Lactodorum [Map] Watling Street continues north-west through Weedon, Northamptonshire [Map], Bannaventa [Map], Watford Gap, Northamptonshire [Map], Dunsmore Hill [Map], Tripontium, Warwickshire [Map] to Venonae [Map].

Watling Street 1g High Cross to Wall

Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury

Watling Street 10 Richborough to Canterbury. Rutupiae [Map], Reculver, Kent [Map], Portus Lemanis [Map] to Durovernum [Map]. This route wasn't included in Margery's scheme for Watling Street.