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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Biography of Bishop James Montagu 1568-1618

Paternal Family Tree: Montagu

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Pakenham 1485-1544

In 1557 [his father] Edward Montagu (age 27) and [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 12) were married.

Around 1568 Bishop James Montagu was born to [his father] Edward Montagu (age 38) and [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 23).

On 21st September 1585 [his brother] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 22) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Jeffrey (age 17) were married at Weekley, Northamptonshire.

On 1st June 1601 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 38) and [his sister-in-law] Catherine Spencer (age 15) were married. The difference in their ages was 23 years.

On 26th January 1602 [his father] Edward Montagu (age 72) died at Brigstock, Boughton.

On 29th March 1608 Bishop James Montagu (age 40) was elected Bishop of Bath and Wells.

On 14th May 1608 Bishop James Montagu (age 40) was enthroned Bishop of Bath and Wells at Wells Cathedral [Map].

On 24th February 1612 [his brother] Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu (age 49) and [his sister-in-law] Frances Cotton (age 34) were married at Weekley, Northamptonshire.

On 9th November 1613 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 50) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Wincot (age 60) were married.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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Before 9th December 1614 Edmond Peacham was arrested on a complaint of Bishop James Montagu (age 46) by order of the court of high commission. On 9th December 1614 he was transferred to the Tower of London [Map]. On the 19th December 1614 he was brought to trial before the high commission court at Lambeth on a charge of libelling Montagu. He was found guilty, and was deprived of his orders.

In 1616 [his brother] Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 53) was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

On 3rd July 1616 Bishop James Montagu (age 48) was translated to Bishop of Winchester.

On 19th May 1618 [his mother] Elizabeth Harrington (age 73) died.

On 20th July 1618 Bishop James Montagu (age 50) died. He was buried at Bath Abbey [Map].

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. [13th August 1618]. The [his brother] lord chief justice (age 55), and all his brethren, go down on Monday toward Bath, to the burial of the Bishop of Winchester (deceased).

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th June 1668. Sunday. Up, and walked up and down the town [Map], and saw a pretty good market-place, and many good streets, and very fair stone-houses. And so to the great Church [Map], and there saw Bishop Montagu's tomb¹ and, when placed, did there see many brave people come, and, among others, two men brought in, in litters, and set down in the chancel to hear: but I did not know one face. Here a good organ; but a vain, pragmatical fellow preached a ridiculous, affected sermon, that made me angry, and some gentlemen that sat next me, and sang well.

Note 1. James Montagu, Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1608, and of Winchester in 1616-died 1618. He was uncle to the Earl of Sandwich, whose mother was Pepys's aunt. Hence Pepys's curiosity respecting the tomb. B.

Royal Ancestors of Bishop James Montagu 1568-1618

                Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand  Son of  King Edmund "Ironside" I of England            

                Kings Gwynedd: Great x 21 Grand  Son of  Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd            

                Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand  Son of  Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth            

                Kings Powys: Great x 21 Grand  Son of  Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd            

                Kings England: Great x 9 Grand  Son of  King Edward I of England            

                Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand  Son of  King Duncan I of Scotland            

                Kings Franks: Great x 23 Grand  Son of  Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor            

                Kings France: Great x 18 Grand  Son of  Hugh I King of the Franks            

                Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 21 Grand  Son of  Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine