In 1593 Francis Prujean was born to Francis Prujean Rector at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk [Map].
On 23rd March 1610 Francis Prujean [aged 17] entered Caius College, Cambridge University as a sizar.
On 22nd December 1621 Francis Prujean [aged 28] became a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians.
In 1626 Francis Prujean [aged 33] was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
In or before 1661 Francis Prujean [aged 67] and Margaret Leggatt were married.
On 1st April 1661 Francis Prujean [aged 68] was knighted by King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 30].
John Evelyn's Diary. 9th August 1661. I went to that famous physician, Sir Fr. Prujean [aged 68], who showed me his laboratory, his workhouse for turning, and other mechanics; also many excellent pictures, especially the Magdalen of Caracci; and some incomparable paysages done in distemper; he played to me likewise on the polythore, an instrument having something of the harp, lute, and theorbo; by none known in England, nor described by any author, nor used, but by this skillful and learned Doctor.
On 13th February 1664 Francis Prujean [aged 71] and Margaret Gorges were married.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 11th November 1664. Here was a gentleman attending here that told us he saw the other day (and did bring the draught of it to Sir Francis Prigeon [aged 71]) of a monster born of an hostler's wife at Salisbury, two women children perfectly made, joyned at the lower part of their bellies, and every part perfect as two bodies, and only one payre of legs coming forth on one side from the middle where they were joined. It was alive 24 hours, and cried and did as all hopefull children do; but, being showed too much to people, was killed.
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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On 23rd June 1666 Francis Prujean [aged 73] died. He was buried at Hornchurch, Essex.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 24th June 1666. Sunday. Midsummer Day. Up, but, being weary the last night, not so soon as I intended. Then being dressed, down by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], and there did a great deale of business, being in a mighty hurry, Sir W. Coventry [aged 38] writing to me that there was some thoughts that the Dutch fleete were out or coming out. Business being done in providing for the carrying down of some provisions to the fleete, I away back home and after dinner by water to White Hall, and there waited till the councill rose, in the boarded gallery, and there among other things I hear that Sir Francis Prujean [deceased] is dead, after being married to a [his wife] widow about a yeare or thereabouts. He died very rich, and had, for the last yeare, lived very handsomely, his lady bringing him to it. He was no great painstaker in person, yet died very rich; and, as Dr. Clerke says, was of a very great judgment, but hath writ nothing to leave his name to posterity.