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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Archaeologia Volume 3 Section XXIX is in Archaeologia Volume 3.
Discoveries in a Barrow [Winster Barrow [Map]] in Derbyshire. Communicated by Mr. Mander, of Bakewell, in the said County. Read at the Society of Antiquaries, March 17, 1768.
Upon the commons of Winster [Map], a village within the King's great manor de Alto Pecco, which were lately inclosed, are divers barrows, or tumuli, chiefly of stone, and among the rest one of earth, which the inhabitants account the more singular. This being lately opened, there were found in it two glass vessels, between eight and ten inches in height, with wide circular mouths, and a little bulge in the middle, and containing about a pint of water, of a light greenish colour, and exceeding limpid. With these was also found a silver collar or bracelet, about an inch broad, joining at the ends in dovetail fashion, and studded with human heads, and other small ornaments, secured by rivets, which might occasionally be detached. Also an ornament of the size and fashion above [below] represented, composed chiefly of filligree work, of gold or silver gilt, and set with garnets, or red glass. The inward part (a) is raised above the rest, and suppofed to be gold. The partitions, marked (b), were filled with red glass or garnets; as were the four spots marked (c). The rest was filligree, or chain-work. The large sstone which filled the socket in the centre is wanting. To the back of this ornament is affixed a plate of silver, secured by four rivets, lying under the four circular stones in the border. There were also several square and round beads, of various colours, of glass and earth, and some small remains of brass, like clasps and hinges, and pieces of wood, as of a little box, in which the ornaments had been deposited.