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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Long as we could linger upon other parts of this volume, and much as we should like to quote a passage from the letter of the "head and fellows of Trinity college, Cambria, to Lord Burghley, to borrow the robes in the Tower of London, to wear in a tragedy to be acted by them," — we find it must not be: but as this volume contains many curious particulars relating to James I., the two Charleses, and James II., we are quite sure that it cannot fail to be as acceptable as its companions. There is a letter of "Dudley Lord Carleton to the queen, announcing the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham," which we give a brief extract: premising (in the language of the editor of the truth of which it has been our good fortune to have had ocular demonstration) that "the paper, which was found in Felton's hat," and by which he was identified as the assassin of the Duke of Buckingham, is STILL PRESERVED. It was recently found among the Evelyn papery at Wotton in Surrey; and is now in the possession of Mr. Upcott, of the London Institution. The pedigree of this singular sip of paper is satisfactorily given by Mr. Ellis. The passage from Carleton's letter to the queen, relating to the assassination of Buckingham, is as follows:
23rd August 1628.
"This day, betwixt nine and ten of the clock in the morning, the Duke of Buckingham, then coming out of a parlour, into a hall, to go to his coach, and so to the king, (who was four miles off) having about him divers lords, colonels, and Captains, and many of his own servants, was, by one Felton, (once a lieutenant of this our army) slain at one blow with a dagger knife. In his staggering, he turned about, uttering only this word 'villaine!' and never spake more: but presently, plucking out the knife from himself, before he fell to the ground, he made towards the traitor two or three paces, and then fell ainst a table, although he were upheld by divers that were near him, that (through the villain's close carriage in the act) could not perceive him hurt at all, but guessed him to be suddenly mare with some apoplexy, 'till they saw the blood come gushing from his mouth and the wound so fast, that life and breath at once left his begored body."
We have taken the liberty to modernise the spelling of this very curious description, in order to meet the tastes of the greater number of readers.