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: Maltravers
Maternal Family Tree: Gwenllian Unknown
Around 1345 Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham was born to [her father] John Maltravers and [her mother] Gwenllian Unknown at Etchingham Lewes.
In or before 1350 [her father] John Maltravers and [her mother] Gwenllian Unknown were married.
On 13th October 1350 [her father] John Maltravers died.
On 17th February 1359 John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 11] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 14] were married. He the son of Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey [aged 53] and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey [aged 40]. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
Around 1360 [her daughter] Joan Fitzalan was born to [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 12] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 15]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married William Echingham and had issue.
On 16th September 1360 William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 50] died. He was buried either in the Courtenay Chantry Chapel at Exeter Cathedral [Map] or at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son Humphrey [aged 19] succeeded 2nd Earl of Northampton. [her sister-in-law] Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton [aged 13] by marriage Countess of Northampton.
On 5th October 1361 Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham [aged 66] died of plague at Lingfield, Surrey. He was buried at Lingfield, Surrey. His son [her future husband] Reginald [aged 13] succeeded 2nd Baron Cobham.
On 15th October 1361 Humphrey Bohun 6th Earl Hereford 5th Earl Essex [aged 52] died. His nephew Humphrey [aged 20] succeeded 7th Earl Hereford, 6th Earl Essex. [her sister-in-law] Joan Fitzalan Countess Essex, Hereford and Northampton [aged 14] by marriage Countess Essex, Countess Hereford.
On 3rd November 1364 [her son] John Fitzalan Baron Maltravers 2nd Baron Arundel was born to [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 16] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 19]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. He married before 1st August 1385 his half third cousin Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Zouche, Harringworth, Maltravers and Arundel, daughter of Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh and Elizabeth Burghesh 3rd Baron Burghesh, and had issue.
On 16th February 1365 [her grandfather] John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers [aged 75] died. He was buried at Lytchett Maltravers, Dorset. Baron Maltravers abeyant between Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 20] and [her sister] Joan Maltravers.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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In 1366 [her son] Richard Fitzalan was born to [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 18] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 21]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England.
In 1368 [her future husband] Reginald Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham [aged 19] and Elizabeth Stafford Baroness Cobham, Ferrers and Strange [aged 28] were married at Lingfield, Surrey. She by marriage Baroness Cobham. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford [aged 66] and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1369 [her son] William Fitzalan was born to [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 21] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 24]. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England.
Before 13th October 1370 Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent [aged 20] and [her sister-in-law] Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. She the daughter of [her father-in-law] Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey [aged 64] and [her mother-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey [aged 52]. He the son of Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales [aged 42]. They were third cousins. He a great grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In 1372 [her daughter] Margaret Fitzalan Baroness Ros of Helmsley was born to [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 24] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 27]. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England. She married 1394 her fourth cousin once removed William Ros 6th Baron Ros Helmsley, son of Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley and Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond, and had issue.
On 13th August 1373 [her brother-in-law] Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel [aged 20] was appointed Bishop of Ely.
On 24th January 1376 [her father-in-law] Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey [aged 70] died. He was buried at Lewes Priory [Map]. His son [her brother-in-law] Richard [aged 30] succeeded 9th Earl Surrey, 4th or 11th Earl Arundel. Elizabeth Bohun Countess Arundel and Surrey [aged 26] by marriage Countess Arundel, Countess Surrey.
On 4th August 1377 [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 29] was created 1st Baron Arundel by writ of summons. Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 32] by marriage Baroness Arundel.
On 16th December 1379 [her husband] John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers [aged 31] drowned. He was buried at Lewes Priory [Map]. His son John [aged 15] succeeded 2nd Baron Arundel.
The Chronica Majora reports "... that during the panic of the storm, Sir John murdered those of his men who refused to make for shore for fear of being shipwrecked upon the rocks. Subsequently, after safely arriving on an island off the Irish coast, Sir John and his boat captain were swept back into the sea and drowned".
Thomas Banastre [aged 45] drowned.
In 1380 Reginald Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham [aged 31] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 35] were married. She by marriage Baroness Cobham. They were second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
In 1381 [her son] Reginald Cobham 3rd Baron Cobham was born to [her husband] Reginald Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham [aged 32] and Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 36] at Sterborough Castle, Kent. Coefficient of inbreeding 1.62%. He married (1) before 1422 Eleanor Culpepper Baroness Cobham Sternborough and had issue (2) 1427 his half fifth cousin Anne Bardolf Baroness Cobham Sternborough, daughter of Thomas Bardolf 5th Baron Bardolf and Avice Cromwell Baroness Bardolf.
Around 1383 Joan Maltravers died. Her sister Eleanor [aged 38] succeeded 2nd Baroness Maltravers. John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers by marriage Baron Maltravers.
Before 1st August 1385 [her son] John Fitzalan Baron Maltravers 2nd Baron Arundel [aged 20] and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Zouche, Harringworth, Maltravers and Arundel were married. She by marriage Baroness Maltravers, Baroness Arundel. They were half third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 14th August 1390 John Fitzalan Baron Maltravers 2nd Baron Arundel [aged 25] died. He was buried at Missenden Abbey [Map]. His son John [aged 5] succeeded 3rd Baron Arundel.
Around 1394 [her son-in-law] William Ros 6th Baron Ros Helmsley [aged 24] and [her daughter] Margaret Fitzalan Baroness Ros of Helmsley [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Ros Helmsley. She brought a 40 mark annuity to the marriage awarded to her by King Richard II of England [aged 26] following the death of his wife Anne of Bohemia Queen Consort England [aged 27] in whose household she had been. She the sister of the [her former brother-in-law] Earl of Arundel [aged 48]. He the son of Thomas Ros 4th Baron Ros Helmsley and Beatrice Stafford Countess Desmond [aged 53]. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In 1400 [her son] William Fitzalan [aged 31] died.
On 6th July 1403 [her husband] Reginald Cobham 2nd Baron Cobham [aged 55] died. His son Reginald [aged 22] succeeded 3rd Baron Cobham.
On 1st September 1404 [her daughter] Joan Fitzalan [aged 44] died.
On 12th January 1405 Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham [aged 60] died at Sussex. She was buried at Lewes Priory [Map]. Her grandson John [aged 19] succeeded 3rd Baron Maltravers.
Effigy of John Fitz-Alan, Lord Maltravers and Earl of Arundel. [her great grandson] JOHN FITZ-ALAN was descended directly, in the third degree, from [her former husband] John the second son of [her former father-in-law] Richard Earl of Arundel, noticed at p. 83, who [Note. John.] married Eleanor daughter of Lord Maltravers, he was the eldest son of John Fitz-Alan, Lord Maltravers, by his wife Eleanor [aged 54], daughter of Sir John Berkeley, and was born in 1407. His father had previously succeeded to the estates of his kinsman, Thomas Earl of Arundel, grandson of Richard before mentioned, by the elder branch; but it does not appear that he ever bore the title of Earl of Arundel. In 1432 John Fitz-Alan preferred a petition to the Parliament that he might be admitted to his due place in all public councils, inasmuch as he was seised of the Castle and Honour of Arundel, to which the title of Earl had, by peculiar custom, time out of mind, been annexed.
Kings Wessex: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King John of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Maltravers
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Maltravers
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Maltravers
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Maltravers
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Gorges 
GrandFather: John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ralph Gorges
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Gorges
Father: John Maltravers 4 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Somery Baroness Berkeley
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 6th and 1st Baron Berkeley Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Fitzroy 
Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Plantagenet Baroness Berkeley Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Rohese de Dover
Great x 1 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 7th and 2nd Baron Berkeley 2 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ferrers 5th Earl of Derby 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Gernon Countess Derby 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Ferrers Baroness Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Quincy Countess Derby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Helen Galloway Countess Winchester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandMother: Milicent Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alain Zouche 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Zouche
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adelicia Belmeis
Great x 2 Grandfather: Eudo Zouche
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Bisset
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eva Zouche
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cantilupe 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cantilupe
Great x 2 Grandmother: Millicent Cantilupe
Great x 4 Grandfather: William de Braose 9th Baron Abergavenny 7th Baron Bramber 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eva de Braose
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eva Marshal 
Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Mother: Gwenllian Unknown