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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Paternal Family Tree: Capet
Maternal Family Tree: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme 1436-1475
1558 Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France
1559 Henry II of France Dies Francis and Mary "Queen of Scots" Succeeds
On 28th October 1533 [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 14] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. He the son of [his grandfather] King Francis I of France [aged 39] and [his grandmother] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France. They were sixth cousins.
Diary of Edward VI. 17th June 1550. [Note. Mistake for 27th]. The [his mother] French quene [aged 31] was deliverid of a third sone, called mons. d'Angoulesme.1
Note 1. "The 27th day of this present, between three and five in the morning, the queen was delivered of a man-child, whom they call Monsieur d'Engoulesme. Here is divers talks who shall be godfathers. They that know much say that the queen is desirous to have the King our master to be one of them, and that for that purpose a gentleman shall be shortly sent from here to England." Letter from sir John Mason [aged 47] to the council, dated at Poissy June 29, 1550 (new style), in Tytler, i 307.
On 27th June 1550 Charles IX King France was born to [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 31] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 31].
On 24th October 1550 [his brother] Louis Valois Duke Orléans [aged 1] died.
On 24th April 1558 [his brother] Dauphin of France [aged 14] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots [aged 15] were married at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral [Map]. He by marriage King Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [aged 42]. He the son of [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 39] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 39]. They were third cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In 1559 [his brother-in-law] Charles "The Great" Lorraine III Duke Lorraine [aged 15] and [his sister] Claude Valois Duchess Lorraine [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Duchess Lorraine. She the daughter of [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 39] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 39]. He the son of Francis Lorraine I Duke Lorraine and Christina Oldenburg Duchess Lorraine [aged 37]. They were fourth cousins.
On 10th July 1559 [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 40] was killed whilst jousting in celebration of his [his sister] daughter's [aged 14] marriage to [his future brother-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32]. His son Francis [aged 15] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. Mary Queen of Scots [aged 16] by marriage Queen Consort France. They would reign for eighteen months only with Francis dying in Dec 1560. Francis and Mary would have no issue.
On 20th July 1559 [his brother-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32] and [his sister] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Spain. She the daughter of [his father] King Henry II of France [deceased] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 40]. He the son of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 5th December 1560 Francis II King France King Consort Scotland [aged 16] died, possibly from an ear abscess, in the Hotel Groslot, Orléans. On 23rd December 1560 he was buried at the Basilica of St Denis [Map]. His brother Charles [aged 10] succeeded IX King France: Capet Valois Angoulême; his mother Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 41] acted as Regent. His wife Mary Queen of Scots [aged 17] returned to Scotland arriving at Leith 19th August 1561 after having been in France for thirteen years.
In 1563 François Clouet [aged 53]. Portrait of Charles IX King France [aged 12].
On 14th May 1564 Charles IX King France [aged 13] was appointed 348th Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 30].
On 3rd October 1568 [his sister] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain [aged 23] died.
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.
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On 26th November 1570 Charles IX King France [aged 20] and Elisabeth of Austria Queen Consort France [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 43] and Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress [aged 42]. He the son of King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 51]. They were fourth cousins.
On 18th August 1572 [his brother-in-law] Henry IV King France [aged 18] and [his sister] Margaret Valois Queen Consort France [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [his father] King Henry II of France and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 53]. He the son of Antoine King Navarre and Jeanne Albret III Queen Navarre. They were second cousins.
On 28th April 1573 [his illegitimate son] Charles Valois Duke Angoulême was born illegitimately to Charles IX King France [aged 22] and Marie Touchet [aged 24]. The only child of Charles IX King France. She, Marie Touchet, would subsequently marry and have issue two daughters, Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues and Marie Charlotte de Balzac d'Entragues who were both mistresses to [his brother-in-law] Henry IV King France [aged 19].
On 30th May 1574 Charles IX King France [aged 23] died. His brother Henry [aged 22] succeeded III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.
On 22nd January 1592 [his former wife] Elisabeth of Austria Queen Consort France [aged 37] died.
[his daughter] Marie Elisabeth Valois was born to Charles IX King France and Elisabeth of Austria Queen Consort France.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 21 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great Grand Son of Louis XII King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan
GrandFather: King Francis I of France 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Savoy I Count Savoy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Valois Countess Savoy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Janus of Cyprus
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Cyprus Countess Savoy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anglesia Visconti
Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Valois Duchess Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: King Henry II of France 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois Duke Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis XII King France 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck 6 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck I Duke Cleves 7 x Great Grand Son of King Stephen I England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Stephen I England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary de la Marck Duchess Orléans 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montfort V Duke Brittany 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Montfort 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Montfort II Duke Brittany 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John I Count Foix
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gaston IV Count Foix
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Albret Countess Foix
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Foix Duchess Brittany 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John II King Aragon 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Navarre 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Charles IX King France 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Cosimo de Medici "The Elder"
Great x 3 Grandfather: Piero di Cosimo de Medici
Great x 2 Grandfather: Lorenzo de Medici
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francesco di Simone Tornabuoni
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucrezia Tornabuoni
Great x 1 Grandfather: Piero "The Unfortunate" de Medici
Great x 4 Grandfather: Orso Orsini
Great x 3 Grandfather: Giacomo Orsini
Great x 2 Grandmother: Clarice Orsini
GrandFather: Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino
Mother: Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bertrand IV Count Auvergne
Great x 3 Grandfather: Bertrand Auvergne V Count Auvergne
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie I Countess Auvergne
Great x 2 Grandfather: Bertrand Auvergne VI Count Auvergne
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jean IV Count Auvergne
Great x 3 Grandfather: Georges de La Trémoille
Great x 2 Grandmother: Louise de La Trémoïlle
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine de L'Isle-Bouchard
GrandMother: Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon 1st Count Vendôme 1st Count Castres 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Vendome
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bourbon VIII Count Vendôme 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Montfort Baron Laval
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Laval Countess Vendôme and Castres 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne 13th de Laval Baroness Laval 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jeanne Bourbon Duchess Bourbon 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme