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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Created Baronetesses of England is in Baronetcies of England.
A Baronet is a Commoner. Baronets are eligible for election to the House of Commons. Baronets are not part of the Peerage.
Baronetcies did occur before 1600, but very rarely. The title appears to have been equivalent to Banneret.
In 1611 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland granted letters patent to two hundred gentlemen, of good birth with an income of at least £1,000 a year, in return for which each was required to pay for the upkeep of thirty soldiers for three years. These Baronets were created on 22 May 1611, 29 Jun 1611, 24 Sep 1611 and 25 Nov 1611.
Wives of Baronets are referred to as "Lady"; they are not Baronetesses. Most Baronetcies descend through the male line only hence Baronetesses are rare. See Created Baronetesses of England.
On 19th December 1635 Mary Witham 1st Baronetess Bolles [aged 56] was created 1st Lady Bolles by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 35] with remainder to her heirs male and assignees. The only creation of a Baronetess in history. Bolles the name of her late husband Thomas Bolles who had died nine months before.
