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: Ivrea
Maternal Family Tree: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence 1180-1242
Before 24th August 1358 [her father] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 24] and [her mother] Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 19] were married. He the illegitmate son of [her grandfather] Alfonso "Avenger" XI King Castile and [her grandmother] Eleanor Guzman. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
After 1363 Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre was born to Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 28] and Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 24].
On 3rd April 1367 the forces of [her uncle] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 32] commanded by Edward "Black Prince" [aged 36] defeated the army of [her father] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 33] at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera [Map]. The English forces included John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 27], William Scrope, Peter Courtenay [aged 21], John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 30], John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 42], Bernard Brocas [aged 37] and Thomas Banastre [aged 33].
The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin [aged 47]. The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.
John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 36] was killed. His son Robert [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters Constance [aged 13] and Isabella [aged 12] as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 25].
On 23rd March 1369 [her uncle] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 34] was murdered by his half-brother [her father] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 35] outside the wall of the castle of Montiel, La Mancha. His half brother Henry succeeded II King Castile.
In 1375 Charles III King Navarre [aged 14] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 11] were married. She the daughter of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 40] and Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 36]. He the son of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 42] and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 29th May 1379 [her father] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 45] died. His son [her brother] John [aged 20] succeeded I King Castile.
Before 4th October 1379 [her brother] John I King Castile [aged 21] and [her sister-in-law] Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of Peter IV King Aragon [aged 60] and Eleanor of Sicily Queen Consort Aragon. He the son of [her father] Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile and [her mother] Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 40]. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 27th March 1381 [her mother] Juana Manuel Queen of Castile [aged 42] died.
In 1382 [her daughter] Joanna Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 21] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 18]. She married 1402 John I Count Foix.
On 2nd October 1386 John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 47] and [her sister-in-law] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 16] were married at Saillé [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux, Countess Richmond. His third marriage, her first. The marriage proceeded when her father [her father-in-law] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 53] agreed to give his daughter 120,000 gold francs and to pay 6,000 francs owed to John, duke of Brittany, for the rent of certain lands. He, John, gave her the cities of Nantes [Map] and Guerrand [Map]. The difference in their ages was 31 years. She the daughter of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 1st January 1387 [her father-in-law] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre [aged 54] burned to death. His son [her husband] Charles [aged 26] succeeded III King Navarre. Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 24] by marriage Queen Consort Navarre.
See Note p Harleian Library 6217: ""
Around 1388 [her daughter] Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 27] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 24]. She married before 29th May 1421 her first cousin once removed John II King Aragon, son of Ferdinand I King Aragon and Eleanor of Alberquerque Queen Consort Aragon, and had issue.
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 1388 [her daughter] Maria Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 27] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 24].
In 1390 [her daughter] Margaret Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 29] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 26].
On 9th October 1390 [her brother] John I King Castile [aged 32] died. His son [her nephew] Henry [aged 11] succeeded III King Castile.
In 1392 [her daughter] Beatrice Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 31] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 28]. She married 1406 her fourth cousin once removed James Bourbon Count Le Marche, son of Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche and Catherine Vendome, and had issue.
In 1395 [her daughter] Isabella Évreux Countess Armagnac was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 34] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 31]. She married 10th May 1419 her second cousin John IV Count Armagnac, son of Bernard VII Count Armagnac and Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy, and had issue.
In 1397 [her daughter] Charles Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 36] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 33]. She died aged five in 1402.
In 1402 [her daughter] Charles Évreux [aged 5] died.
In 1402 [her son-in-law] John I Count Foix [aged 20] and Joanna Évreux [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of Charles III King Navarre [aged 41] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 38].
In 1402 [her son] Louis Évreux was born to [her husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 41] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 38].
In 1403 [her daughter] Margaret Évreux [aged 13] died.
On 7th February 1403 King Henry IV of England [aged 35] and [her sister-in-law] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] were married at Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. His third marriage, her second. She had eight children with her first husband but, despite ten years of marriage, none with Henry. She the daughter of [her father-in-law] Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and Blanche Duchess of Lancaster. They were third cousins. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 26th February 1403 [her sister-in-law] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 33] was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey.
On 26th November 1405 Thomas Fitzalan 10th Earl of Surrey 5th or 12th Earl of Arundel [aged 24] and Beatrice Aviz Duchess Exeter [aged 23] were married. King Henry IV of England [aged 38] and [her sister-in-law] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England [aged 35] were present at their wedding feast. She the illegitmate daughter of King John I of Portugal [aged 53] and Ines Peres. He the son of Richard Fitzalan 9th Earl of Surrey 4th or 11th Earl of Arundel and Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey. They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward I of England.
In 1406 [her son-in-law] James Bourbon Count Le Marche [aged 36] and Beatrice Évreux [aged 14] were married in Pamplona [Map]. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of Charles III King Navarre [aged 45] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 42]. He the son of Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche and Catherine Vendome. They were fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
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 1412 [her daughter] Beatrice Évreux [aged 20] died.
In 1413 [her daughter] Joanna Évreux [aged 31] died.
On 10th May 1419 [her son-in-law] John IV Count Armagnac [aged 22] and Isabella Évreux Countess Armagnac [aged 24] were married. She by marriage Countess Armagnac. She the daughter of Charles III King Navarre [aged 58] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 56]. He the son of Bernard VII Count Armagnac and Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy [aged 54]. They were second cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
Before 29th May 1421 [her son-in-law] John II King Aragon [aged 22] and Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon [aged 33] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. She the daughter of Charles III King Navarre [aged 60] and Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 58]. He the son of Ferdinand I King Aragon and Eleanor of Alberquerque Queen Consort Aragon [aged 47]. They were first cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In 1425 Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre [aged 61] died.
On 8th September 1425 [her former husband] Charles III King Navarre [aged 64] died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Godwinson: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland
Kings France: Great x 3 Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Kings Spain: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon 
Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elisabeth Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 2 Grandfather: Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon 
Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ferdinand IV King Castile IV King Leon 3 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon
GrandFather: Alfonso "Avenger" XI King Castile 4 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal 
5 x Great Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso III King Portugal 
Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Denis I King Portugal 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal 3 x Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mayor Guillén de Guzmán
Great x 1 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal 2 x Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Manfred King Sicily 10 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 3 Grandmother: Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Marchioness of Saluzzo 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Father: Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile 5 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
GrandMother: Eleanor Guzman
Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand II King Leon Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso IX King Leon Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile 
Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Manuel Ivrea 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Frederick "Barbarossa" Hohenstaufen I Holy Roman Emperor 7 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip King Germany 8 x Great Grand Son of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice of Burgundy Holy Roman Empress 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elisabeth Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
GrandFather: Juan Manuel Prince of Villena 3 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humbert Savoy III Count Savoy 12 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy 13 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Macon Countess Savoy
Great x 2 Grandfather: Amedeo Savoy IV Count Savoy 14 x Great Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 4 Grandfather: William I Count Geneva
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy 15 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Barral of Baux 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Cecilia Baux Countess Savoy
Mother: Juana Manuel Queen of Castile 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elisabeth Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ferdinand de la Cerda Ivrea 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ferdinando de la Cerda Grand Son of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 
Son of King Philip II of France
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Son of King Louis VIII of France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raymond IV Count Provence Grand Son of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence 14 x Great Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
GrandMother: Blanca de la Cerda y Lara Great Grand Daughter of King Louis IX of France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Juan Núñez de Lara
Great x 1 Grandmother: Juana "La Palomilla" Núñez de Lara 3 x Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Lope Díaz II de Haro
Great x 3 Grandfather: Diego López III de Haro 2 x Great Grand Son of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Alfonso de León Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Teresa Díaz de Haro 2 x Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guillem Ramon de Moncada
Great x 3 Grandmother: Constanza de Béarn Great Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Garsenda Barcelona Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon