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: Villiers
Maternal Family Tree: Susanna Temple 1600-1669
On 22nd April 1725 Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 16] and [his mother] Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. She was the step-daughter of his sister Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 18]. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 43] and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater. He the son of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford. They were sixth cousins.
On 23rd June 1733 [his father] William Villiers 3rd Earl Jersey [aged 26] and [his mother] Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Countess Jersey. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 51] and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater. He the son of William Villiers 2nd Earl Jersey. They were fourth cousin once removed.
On 9th June 1735 George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey was born to [his father] William Villiers 3rd Earl Jersey [aged 28] and [his mother] Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford.
In 1762 [his mother] Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford died.
On 14th May 1766 John Fitzgerald Villiers 1st Earl Grandison [aged 82] died. His second cousin once removed [his father] William [aged 59] succeeded 6th Viscount Grandison.
On 28th August 1769 [his father] William Villiers 3rd Earl Jersey [aged 62] died. His son George [aged 34] succeeded 4th Earl Jersey, 7th Viscount Grandison, 4th Viscount Villiers, 4th Baron Villiers.
In March 1770 George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 34] and Frances Twysden [aged 17] were married. She just past her 17th birthday, he twice her age. He the son of William Villiers 3rd Earl Jersey and Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford.
In 1771 [his daughter] Charlotte Anne Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 35] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 17]. She married 11th July 1789 her fifth cousin once removed William Russell and had issue.
In 1772 [his daughter] Anne Barbara Frances Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 36] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 18]. She married (1) 1791 William Henry Lambton and had issue (2) 1801 her fifth cousin Charles William Wyndham, son of Charles Wyndham 2nd Earl Egremont and Alicia Carpenter Countess Egremont.
On 19th August 1773 [his son] George Child-Villiers 5th Earl Jersey was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 38] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 20]. He married 23rd May 1804 Sarah Sophia Fane Countess Jersey, daughter of John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland and Sarah Anne Child Countess of Westmoreland, and had issue.
On 16th December 1774 [his daughter] Caroline Elizabeth Villiers Duchess Argyll was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 39] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 21]. She married (1) 5th July 1795 Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey, son of Henry Bayly-Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge and Jane Champagné Countess Uxbridge, and had issue (2) 29th November 1810 George William Campbell 6th Duke Argyll, son of John Campbell 5th Duke Argyll and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll.
In 1779 [his daughter] Sarah Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 43] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 25].
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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In 1780 [his son] William Augustus Henry Vernon was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 44] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 26].
In 1786 [his daughter] Frances Elizabeth Villiers Viscountess Ponsonby was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 50] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 32]. She married 13th January 1803 John Ponsonby 1st Viscount Ponsonby, son of William Ponsonby 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly in County Cork and Louisa Molesworth Countess Fitzwilliam.
In 1788 [his daughter] Harriet Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 52] and [his wife] Frances Twysden [aged 34]. She married 1806 her fifth cousin once removed Bishop Richard Bagot, son of William Bagot 1st Baron Bagot and Elizabeth St John Baroness Bagot, and had issue.
On 11th July 1789 [his son-in-law] William Russell [aged 21] and Charlotte Anne Villiers [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 54] and Frances Twysden [aged 36]. They were fifth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
In 1791 [his son-in-law] William Henry Lambton [aged 27] and Anne Barbara Frances Villiers [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 55] and Frances Twysden [aged 37].
In 1795 George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 59] was appointed Master of the Horse to the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 32].
On 5th July 1795 [his son-in-law] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey [aged 27] and Caroline Elizabeth Villiers Duchess Argyll [aged 20] were married. She the daughter of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 60] and Frances Twysden [aged 42]. He the son of Henry Bayly-Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge [aged 51] and Jane Champagné Countess Uxbridge [aged 53].
In 1801 [his son-in-law] Charles William Wyndham [aged 40] and Anne Barbara Frances Villiers [aged 29] were married. She the daughter of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 65] and Frances Twysden [aged 47]. He the son of Charles Wyndham 2nd Earl Egremont and Alicia Carpenter Countess Egremont. They were fifth cousins.
On 13th January 1803 [his son-in-law] John Ponsonby 1st Viscount Ponsonby [aged 33] and Frances Elizabeth Villiers Viscountess Ponsonby [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 67] and Frances Twysden [aged 49]. He the son of William Ponsonby 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly in County Cork [aged 58] and Louisa Molesworth Countess Fitzwilliam [aged 54].
On 23rd May 1804 George Child-Villiers 5th Earl Jersey [aged 30] and Sarah Sophia Fane Countess Jersey [aged 19] were married at Berkeley Square, Mayfair. She the daughter of John Fane 10th Earl of Westmoreland [aged 44] and Sarah Anne Child Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 68] and Frances Twysden [aged 51].
On 22nd August 1805 George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey [aged 70] died. His son George [aged 32] succeeded 5th Earl Jersey, 8th Viscount Grandison, 5th Viscount Villiers, 5th Baron Villiers. Sarah Sophia Fane Countess Jersey [aged 20] by marriage Countess Jersey.
On 25th July 1821 [his former wife] Frances Twysden [aged 68] died in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. She was buried in the Villiers Vault, All Saints' Church, Middleton Stoney.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey and Frances Twysden.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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[his daughter] Georgiana Villiers was born to George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey and Frances Twysden.
Adeline Horsey Recollections. I remember often meeting Lady Charlotte Cadogan, who ran away with Lord Anglesey; they lived together for some years until Lady Anglesey divorced her husband, and he was free to marry Lady Charlotte. Lady Anglesey, who was a daughter of the Earl of Jersey, afterwards married the sixth Duke of Argyll, but she was a great invalid and quite a cripple during the latter part of her life.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 17 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 23 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 11 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Villiers of Brokesby
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Villiers
Great x 4 Grandmother: Audrey Saunders
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Villiers
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Barbara St John
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Hungerford
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Villiers 1st Earl Jersey
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Howard
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Home 1st Earl Dunbar
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
GrandFather: William Villiers 2nd Earl Jersey
11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Unknown Chiffinch
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Chiffinch
Great x 1 Grandmother: Barbara Chiffinch Countess Jersey
Father: William Villiers 3rd Earl Jersey
12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
George Bussy Villiers 4th Earl Jersey
8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Egerton 1st Viscount Brackley
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Egerton 1st Earl Bridgewater
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ravenscroft
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Egerton 2nd Earl Bridgewater
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinando Stanley 5th Earl of Derby
2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Stanley Countess Bridgewater
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Spencer Countess Derby
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Egerton 3rd Earl Bridgewater
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles Cavendish
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cavendish 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Ogle 8th Baroness Ogle 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cavendish Countess Bridgewater
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Bassett
11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne
12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Paulet 4th Marquess Winchester 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Paulet 5th Marquess Winchester 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Cecil Marchioness Winchester
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Paulet 1st Duke Bolton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Savage 1st Viscount Savage
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Savage Marchioness Winchester
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Darcy 1st Countess Rivers
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Paulet Countess Bridgewater 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Scrope 10th Baron Scrope of Bolton
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Emanuel Scrope 1st Earl of Sunderland
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philadelphia Carey Baroness Scrope Bolton
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Scrope 6th Marchioness Winchester
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Martha Jeanes
Mother: Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Winston Churchill
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough
14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Drake
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Drake
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drake 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Boteler 1st Baron Boteler 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Helen Boteler 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Villiers Baroness Boteler Brantfield
GrandMother: Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater
15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Jennings
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Jennings
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gifford Thornhurst 1st Baronet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances Thornhurst
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Temple
Great x 3 Grandmother: Susanna Temple