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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Paternal Family Tree: Capell
Maternal Family Tree: Janet Lyle
On 28th February 1692 [his father] Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex [aged 21] and [his mother] Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 12] were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William Bentinck 1st Earl of Portland [aged 42] and [his grandmother] Anne Villiers Countess Portland. He the son of Arthur Capell 1st Earl Essex and Elizabeth Percy Countess Essex [aged 56]. They were third cousins.
On 11th January 1697 William Capell 3rd Earl Essex was born to [his father] Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex [aged 26] and [his mother] Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 17].
On 10th January 1710 [his father] Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex [aged 39] died. His son William [aged 12] succeeded 3rd Earl Essex, 4th Baron Capell Hadham.
On 27th November 1718 William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 21] and Jane Hyde Countess Essex were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. She the daughter of Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Rochester 4th Earl Clarendon [aged 46] and Jane Leveson-Gower Countess Rochester and Clarendon. He the son of Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex and Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 39]. They were fourth cousins.
On 10th March 1720 Charles Douglas 3rd Duke Queensberry [aged 21] and [his sister-in-law] Catherine Hyde Duchess Queensbury [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Queensberry. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Henry Hyde 2nd Earl Rochester 4th Earl Clarendon [aged 47] and [his mother-in-law] Jane Leveson-Gower Countess Rochester and Clarendon. He the son of James Douglas 2nd Duke Queensberry and Mary Boyle Duchess Queensbury. They were second cousins.
In January 1724 [his wife] Jane Hyde Countess Essex died.
After January 1724 William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 26] and Elizabeth Russell Countess Essex [aged 13] were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. She the daughter of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford [aged 42]. He the son of Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex and Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 44]. They were fourth cousins.
On 22nd April 1725 [his brother-in-law] Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 16] and Anne Egerton Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. She was the step-daughter of his sister [his sister-in-law] Rachel Russell Duchess Bridgewater [aged 18]. She the daughter of Scroop Egerton 1st Duke Bridgewater [aged 43] and Elizabeth Churchill Countess Bridgewater. He the son of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford. They were sixth cousins.
On 20th August 1726 [his mother] Mary Bentinck Countess Essex [aged 47] died.
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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On 7th May 1729 [his brother-in-law] Alan Brodrick 2nd Viscount Midleton [aged 27] and [his sister] Mary Capell were married. She by marriage Viscountess Midleton of Midleton in Cork. She the daughter of [his father] Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex and [his mother] Mary Bentinck Countess Essex.
On 11th October 1731 [his brother-in-law] John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 21] and Diana Spencer Duchess Bedford [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland and Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland. He the son of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford. They were third cousins.
On 7th October 1732 [his son] William Anne Capell 4th Earl Essex was born to William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 35] and [his wife] Elizabeth Russell Countess Essex [aged 21] at Turin. He married (1) 1st August 1754 his half sixth cousin Frances Hanbury Williams Countess Essex and had issue (2) 2nd March 1767 Harriet Bladen Countess Essex and had issue.
On 23rd October 1732 [his brother-in-law] Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 24] died at A Coruña. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His brother John [aged 22] succeeded 4th Duke Bedford, 4th Marquess Tavistock, 8th Earl Bedford, 8th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 6th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 4th Baron Howland of Streatham. Diana Spencer Duchess Bedford [aged 22] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
Around 1735 George Knapton [aged 37]. Portrait of William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 37].
In April 1737 [his brother-in-law] John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 26] and Gertrude Leveson-Gower Duchess Bedford were married. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. She the daughter of John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower [aged 42] and Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower. He the son of Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford and [his mother-in-law] Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford.
In 1738 William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 40] was appointed 552nd Knight of the Garter by King George II of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 54].
On 8th January 1743 William Capell 3rd Earl Essex [aged 45] died. His son William [aged 10] succeeded 4th Earl Essex, 5th Baron Capell Hadham.
In 1784 [his former wife] Elizabeth Russell Countess Essex [aged 73] died.
[his daughter] Charlotte Capell Countess Clarendon was born to William Capell 3rd Earl Essex and Jane Hyde Countess Essex. She married 30th March 1752 her second cousin once removed Thomas Villiers 1st Earl Clarendon, son of William Villiers 2nd Earl Jersey, and had issue.
[his daughter] Mary Capell was born to William Capell 3rd Earl Essex and Jane Hyde Countess Essex. She married John Forbes and had issue.
Kings Wessex: Great x 20 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 20 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 26 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 24 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Capell 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Arthur Capell 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Manners 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Capell 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Grey 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Grey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Browne 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Arthur Capell 1st Baron Capell Hadham 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Helen Roper 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Theodosia Montagu 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James Harrington 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Harrington
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Sidney 
GrandFather: Arthur Capell 1st Earl Essex 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Morrison 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Morrison 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Morrison 1st Baronet 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Clerke
Great x 3 Grandmother: Dorothea Clerke
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Morrison Baroness Capell Hadham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Hicks
Great x 3 Grandfather: Baptist Hicks 1st Viscount Campden
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Hicks Lady Cooper and Morrison
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard May
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth May Viscountess Campden
Father: Algernon Capell 2nd Earl Essex 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Percy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Harbottle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 4th Baron Latimer of Snape 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lucy Somerset Baroness Latimer Snape 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Devereux 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Hastings 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Knollys 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Carey 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Elizabeth Percy Countess Essex 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Brooke 10th Baron Cobham 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Brooke 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Newton Baroness Cobham 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Cecil 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk 
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Knyvet 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stumpe
William Capell 3rd Earl Essex 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandFather: William Bentinck 1st Earl of Portland 
Mother: Mary Bentinck Countess Essex 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Villiers of Brooksby Leicestershire 
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Villiers of Brokesby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Collette Clarke
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Villiers
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Saunders of Harrington Northamptonshire
Great x 3 Grandmother: Audrey Saunders
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Villiers 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas St John 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Blount 
13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Barbara St John 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Hungerford 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucy Hungerford 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Dormer 
GrandMother: Anne Villiers Countess Portland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Knyvet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Stumpe
Great x 1 Grandmother: Frances Howard 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Manderston Home
Great x 3 Grandfather: George Home 1st Earl Dunbar
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alexander Gordon 3rd of Gight 13 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar 14 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Beaton