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: Gower
Maternal Family Tree: Catherine Cochrane Countess Galloway 1709-1786
In 1744 [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 22] and Elizabeth Fazakerley were married. He the son of [his grandfather] John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower [aged 49] and [his grandmother] Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower.
In 1748 [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 26] and Louisa Egerton Countess Gower [aged 24] were married. She the daughter of Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater and Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 41]. He the son of [his grandfather] John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower [aged 53] and [his grandmother] Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower. They were fifth cousins.
In 1768 [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 46] and [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford were married. She by marriage Countess Gower. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Alexander Stewart 6th Earl Galloway [aged 74] and [his grandmother] Catherine Cochrane Countess Galloway [aged 59]. He the son of John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower and Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower.
On 12th October 1773 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville was born to [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 52] and [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford.
On 4th September 1785 [his half-brother] George Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Duke Sutherland [aged 27] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Sutherland Duchess Sutherland 19th Countess Sutherland [aged 20] were married. He by marriage Earl Sutherland. She the daughter of William Sutherland 18th Earl Sutherland. He the son of [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 64] and Louisa Egerton Countess Gower.
In 1786 [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 64] was created 1st Marquess Stafford. [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford by marriage Marchioness Stafford.
In April 1789 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 15] was educated at Christ Church College, Oxford University.
On 16th May 1791 [his brother-in-law] Henry Charles Somerset 6th Duke Beaufort [aged 24] and [his sister] Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower Duchess Beaufort [aged 20] were married at St Mary at Lambeth Church, Surrey [Map]. She the daughter of [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 69] and [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford. He the son of Henry Somerset 5th Duke Beaufort [aged 46] and Elizabeth Boscawen Duchess Beaufort [aged 43]. They were half fourth cousin once removed.
In 1795 [his brother-in-law] Dudley Ryder 1st Earl of Harrowby [aged 32] and [his sister] Susanna Leveson-Gower Countess Harrowby Lincolnshire [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 73] and [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford.
In 1795 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 21] was elected MP Lichfield.
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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In 1799 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 25] was elected MP Staffordshire.
On 17th August 1800 [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Emma Arundel Stewart was born illegitimately to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 26] and Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough [aged 39]. She was born in secret and sent to be raised by a foster mother.
On 20th June 1803 Nathaniel Ryder 1st Baron Harrowby [aged 67] died. His son [his brother-in-law] Dudley [aged 40] succeeded 2nd Baron Harrowby of Harrowby in Lincolnshire. [his sister] Susanna Leveson-Gower Countess Harrowby Lincolnshire [aged 30] by marriage Baroness Harrowby of Harrowby in Lincolnshire.
On 11th October 1803 Henry Somerset 5th Duke Beaufort [aged 58] died. He was buried at St Michael and all Angels Church, Badminton. His son [his brother-in-law] Henry [aged 36] succeeded 6th Duke Beaufort, 8th Marquess Worcester, 12th Earl Worcester, 14th Baron Herbert of Raglan, 6th Baron Botetort. [his sister] Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower Duchess Beaufort [aged 32] by marriage Duchess Beaufort.
On 26th October 1803 [his father] Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford [aged 82] died. His son [his half-brother] George [aged 45] succeeded 2nd Marquess Stafford, 3rd Earl Gower, 4th Baron Gower, 8th Baronet Gower of Stittenham in Yorkshire. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Sutherland Duchess Sutherland 19th Countess Sutherland [aged 38] by marriage Marchioness Stafford.
Between 1804 and 1809. Thomas Lawrence [aged 34]. Portrait of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 30].
In 1805 [his mother] Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford died.
In 1809 [his brother-in-law] Dudley Ryder 1st Earl of Harrowby [aged 46] was created 1st Earl of Harrowby. [his sister] Susanna Leveson-Gower Countess Harrowby Lincolnshire [aged 36] by marriage Countess of Harrowby.
On 24th December 1809 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 36] and Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 24] were married. She the daughter of William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire [aged 61] and Georgiana Spencer Duchess Devonshire. He the son of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford and Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford. They were half fourth cousin once removed.
In 1810 [his daughter] Susan Georgiana Leveson-Gower Baroness Rivers was born to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 36] and [his wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 24]. She married 2nd February 1833 George Pitt-Rivers 4th Baron Rivers, son of Horace Beckford aka Pitt-Rivers 3rd Baron Rivers and Frances Rigby, and had issue.
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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On 29th July 1811 [his father-in-law] William Cavendish 5th Duke Devonshire [aged 63] died. His son [his brother-in-law] William [aged 21] succeeded 6th Duke Devonshire, 9th Earl Devonshire, 9th Baron Cavendish Hardwick, 8th Baron Clifford.
In August 1812 [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Emma Arundel Stewart [aged 11] joined her father's [aged 38] household in Staffordshire.
On 11th May 1815 [his son] Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Granville was born to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 41] and [his wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 29]. He married (1) 1840 Marie Louise Pelline de Dalberg Lady Acton (2) 26th September 1865 his half third cousin twice removed Sophia Castila Rosamund Campbell Countess Granville and had issue.
On 12th August 1815 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 41] was created 1st Viscount Granville. [his wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 29] by marriage Viscountess Granville.
On 3rd May 1819 [his son] Edward Frederick Leveson-Gower was born to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 45] and [his wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 33]. He married 1st June 1851 his half fifth cousin once removed Margaret Compton, daughter of Spencer Compton 2nd Marquess Northampton and Margaret Douglas-Maclean-Clephane Marchioness Northampton, and had issue.
On 27th January 1824 [his half-sister] Margaret Caroline Leveson-Gower Countess Carlisle died.
On 21st October 1824 [his son-in-law] George Godolphin Osborne 8th Duke Leeds [aged 22] and [his illegitimate daughter] Harriet Emma Arundel Stewart [aged 24] were married at the British Embassy, Paris. She the illegitmate daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 51] and Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough. They were fourth cousins.
On 4th September 1825 [his former brother-in-law] Frederick Howard 5th Earl Carlisle [aged 77] died. His son [his nephew] George [aged 51] succeeded 6th Earl Carlisle. [his sister-in-law] Georgiana Cavendish Countess Carlisle [aged 42] by marriage Countess Carlisle.
On 2nd February 1833 [his son-in-law] George Pitt-Rivers 4th Baron Rivers [aged 22] and Susan Georgiana Leveson-Gower Baroness Rivers [aged 23] were married at British Embassy, Paris. She by marriage Baroness Rivers of Stratfield Saye in Hampshire. She the daughter of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 59] and Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 47].
On 10th May 1833 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 59] was created 1st Earl Granville. [his wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 47] by marriage Countess Granville.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 19th July 1833 [his half-brother] George Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Duke Sutherland [aged 75] died. His son [his nephew] George [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Duke Sutherland, 3rd Marquess Stafford, 20th Earl Sutherland, 4th Earl Gower, 5th Baron Gower, 9th Baronet Gower of Stittenham in Yorkshire. Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard Duchess Sutherland [aged 27] by marriage Duchess Sutherland.
On 26th May 1838 [his sister] Susanna Leveson-Gower Countess Harrowby Lincolnshire [aged 65] died.
In 1840 Granville Leveson-Gower 2nd Earl Granville [aged 24] and Marie Louise Pelline de Dalberg Lady Acton [aged 27] were married. He the son of Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 66] and Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 54].
On 8th January 1846 Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville [aged 72] died. His son Granville [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Earl Granville, 2nd Viscount Granville. Marie Louise Pelline de Dalberg Lady Acton [aged 33] by marriage Countess Granville.
On 25th November 1862 [his former wife] Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville [aged 77] died.
[his son] George Leveson Gower was born to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville and Henrietta Frances Spencer Countess Bessborough.
[his daughter] Georgiana Leveson-Gower was born to Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville and Harriet Cavendish Countess Granville. She married Alexander Fullerton.
Kings Wessex: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 20 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 27 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 17 Grand Son of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 25 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Gower 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Gower 2nd Baronet
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Doyley Baroness Gower
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Leveson-Gower 4th Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Leveson
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Leveson Baroness Gower 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Christian Mildmay 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Baron Gower 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bevil Grenville
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Granville 1st Earl Bath
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Smith
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Granville Baroness Gower
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter Wyche
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jane Wyche
GrandFather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Manners Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Noel 2nd Viscount Campden 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baptist Noel 3rd Viscount Campden
Great x 4 Grandmother: Juliana Hicks Viscountess Campden
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bertie Viscountess Campden 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness 
Father: Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Marquess Stafford 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 1st Earl Kingston 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Pierrepont of Thoresby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Talbot Baroness Pierrepont Holme Pierrepoint 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Harries aka Harris 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harries aka Harris
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Gifford
Great x 1 Grandfather: Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Evelyn of West Dean
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Evelyn of Wiltshire
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Evelyn
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Coxe
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coxe
GrandMother: Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Feilding 1st Earl Denbigh 
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Feilding 1st Earl Desmond 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susan Villiers Countess Denbigh 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Feilding 2nd Earl Desmond 3rd Earl Denbigh 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Michael Stanhope 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bridget Stanhope Countess Desmond 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Read
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Carey 1st Earl Monmouth 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Carey 2nd Earl Monmouth 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Trevannion Countess Monmouth
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Carey Countess Desmond and Denbigh 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Martha Cranfield Countess Monmouth
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Sheppard
Granville Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Granville 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 1st Earl Galloway 
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Stewart 2nd Earl Galloway
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Stewart 3rd Earl Galloway
Great x 1 Grandfather: James Stewart 5th Earl Galloway 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Douglas 1st Earl Queensberry 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Douglas 2nd Earl Queensberry 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Kerr Countess Queensberry 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Douglas Countess Galloway 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Stewart 1st Earl Traquair 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Stewart Countess Queensberry 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carnegie Countess Traquair
GrandFather: Alexander Stewart 6th Earl Galloway 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Montgomerie 7th Earl Eglinton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Montgomerie 8th Earl Eglinton 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Leslie Countess of Eglinton 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Montgomerie 9th Earl Eglinton 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Crichton 2nd Earl of Dumfries
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Crichton
Great x 1 Grandmother: Catherine Montgomerie Countess Galloway 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cochrane 1st Earl Dundonald
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Cochrane
Mother: Susanna Stewart Marchioness Stafford 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cochrane 1st Earl Dundonald
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cochrane
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Cochrane 2nd Earl Dundonald 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Kennedy 6th Earl Cassilis 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Kennedy 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jean Hamilton Countess Cassilis
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Cochrane 4th Earl Dundonald 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Catherine Cochrane Countess Galloway 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England