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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Constable of Windsor Castle is in Constables of Castles. See Windsor Castle [Map].
Before 1075 Walter FitzOther was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle.
Before 1202 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 31) was appointed Count Mortain Mortagne, and as Constable of Dover Castle, Constable of Windsor Castle, Constable of Chinon Castle.
In 1328 Thomas Foxley (age 23) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle which position he held for life.
In 1377 Simon Burley (age 37) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle.
Patent Rolls. 10th August 1377. Windsor Castle [Map]. Grant, for life, to Simon de Burley (age 37) of the office of constable of Windsor Castle and of the offices or bailiwicks within Windsor New Park and the parks of Wychemere, Guldeford and Kenyngton, also the custody of Kenyngton manor, in like manner as Thomas Cheyne held the same. By p.s.
Patent Rolls. 2nd July 1378. Westminster. Appointment, during pleasure, of Simon de Burley (age 38), knight, constable of Windsor castle and keeper of Windsor forest and parks, to supervise the other surveyors there and the works undertaken in the said castle and parks, and in the manors and lodges in the said forest, and to control all payments therefor. By bill of p.s.
In 1461 John Bourchier 1st Baron Berners (age 45) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle.
In 1628 Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland (age 37) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle.
John Evelyn's Diary. 23rd November 1666. At London, I heard an extraordinary case before a Committee of the whole House of Commons, in the Commons' House of Parliament, between one Captain Taylor and my Lord Viscount Mordaunt (age 40), where, after the lawyers had pleaded and the witnesses been examined, such foul and dishonorable things were produced against his Lordship, of tyranny during his government of Windsor Castle [Map], of which he was Constable, incontinence, and suborning witnesses (of which last, one Sir Richard Breames was most concerned), that I was exceedingly interested for his Lordship, who was my special friend, and husband of the most virtuous lady (age 34) in the world. We sat till near ten at night, and yet but half the counsel had done on behalf of the plaintiff. The question then was put for bringing in of lights to sit longer. This lasted so long before it was determined, and raised such a confused noise among the members, that a stranger would have been astonished at it. I admire that there is not a rationale to regulate such trifling accidents, which consume much time, and is a reproach to the gravity of so great an assembly of sober men.
John Evelyn's Diary. 28th August 1670. Windsor was now going to be repaired, being exceedingly ragged and ruinous. Prince Rupert (age 50), the Constable, had begun to trim up the keep or high round Tower, and handsomely adorned his hall with furniture of arms, which was very singular, by so disposing the pikes, muskets, pistols, bandoleers, holsters, drums, back, breast, and headpieces, as was very extraordinary. Thus, those huge steep stairs ascending to it had the walls invested with this martial furniture, all new and bright, so disposing the bandoleers, holsters, and drums, as to represent festoons, and that without any confusion, trophy-like. From the hall we went into his bedchamber, and ample rooms hung with tapestry, curious and effeminate pictures, so extremely different from the other, which presented nothing but war and horror.
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 1730 Charles Beauclerk 2nd Duke St Albans (age 33) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle and Warden of the Windsor Forest.
In 1791 James Brudenell 5th Earl Cardigan (age 65) was appointed Constable of Windsor Castle.