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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Herefordshire School of Carving is in Carvers.
The Herefordshire School of Carving is the name given to a carvings of a particular style found in Herefordshire, and elsewhere, that were created during the 12th Century. Their work draws on a variety of cultural sources for its religious and mystical images; Norman military figures, Anglo-Saxon animals, and patterns. The carvers may have originated from Northern Spain, on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim route. Subjects include arches, tympanums colums, fonts and corbels.
Examples of the Herefordshire School of Carving may be found at:
Herefordshire:
St Andrew's Church, Bredwardine [Map]
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Eardisley [Map]
Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck [Map]
St John the Baptist's Church, Letton [Map]
St Giles' Church, Pipe Aston [Map]
St Peter's Church, Rowlestone [Map]
St James the Great Church, Colwall [Map]
Derbyshire:
Church of St Michael and St Mary, Melbourne [Map]
Worcestershire:
St Leonard's Church, Ribbesford [Map]
St Peter and St Paul's Church, Rock [Map]
Dorset:
1100. St Peter and St Paul's Church, Rock [Map]. Herefordshire School of Carving. It was commissioned around 1150 by Roger Tosny. The nave and chancel are Norman but the south aisle and tower date from 1510. Restorations were carried out in 1861, 1881 and early in 20th Century.
Roger Tosny: Roger Tosny and Ida aka Gertrude Hainault were married. Around 1104 he was born to Raoul Tosny and Adelise Northumbria at Flamstead, Hertfordshire. On 29th September 1157 Roger Tosny died at Flamstead, Hertfordshire.
St Leonard's Church, Ribbesford [Map]. Herefordshire School of Carving tympanum. Archer aiming at what appears to be a bird with dog beneath. The description 'bird' somewhat difficult. Others call it a 'fishlike monster'. The capitals are carved with large bird pecking small bird, intertwined knots, and snakes.
Around 1120 the Church of St Michael and St Mary, Melbourne [Map] was constructed in the Norman, or Romanesque Style. It has numerous carvings of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
All Saints Church, Billesley [Map]. In the transept are two pieces of carved stone. One is a tympanum dating from about 1140 that depicts a man being attacked by a snake and a dragon, and being defended by a dove. The man is similarly dressed to those on the font at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Eardisley [Map]. Herefordshire School of Carving.
Around 1150. The Eardisley [Map] Font. A fine example of the Herefordshire School of Carving. Several scenes ... Two knights in combat, either with each other or the tendrils of evil. To the right of the knights is the Harrowing of Hell where Christ, holding the Cross, is pulling Adam by his forearm out of hell. There is another figure holding a book; unclear as to who he represents. A particularly well carved lion; possibly the Lion of Judah. The two knights prossibly represent the duel between Sir Ralph de Baskerville with his father-in-law Lord Drogo of Clifford Castle whom Baskerville alleged to have stolen some of his land. Baskerville killed Drogo then bought a pardon from the Pope.
1150. St Mary's Church, Halford [Map]. Norman tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving over the north door.
The South Door at St John the Baptist's Church, Letton [Map] has a red sandstone lintel with geometric pattern to centre and two zig-zags to each end. Jambs are mostly of tufa and continue the zig-zag to round super-arch where the motif changes to semi-circles. Label with nailhead design. Appears to be Herefordshire School of Carving.
1200. St Andrew's Church, Bredwardine [Map]. Carving of lintel above the south door. Herefordshire School of Carving.
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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1200. St Peter and St Paul's Church, Rock [Map]. Carvings of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
1200. St Andrew's Church, Bredwardine [Map]. Carving of lintel above north door. Possibly missing a Tympanum. From the Herefordshire School of Carving.
The Herefordshire School of Carving at St Giles' Church, Pipe Aston [Map]. Tympanum over the North doorway. An "agnus dei" - Lamb of God - flanked by a winged eagle and a winged bull surrounded byan archivolt of animals and foliage enclosed within a chevroned arch. The church guide describes the eagle as the emblem of St John complementing the winged bull emblem of St Luke which has at the end of one of its forelegs a block that is assumed to be St Luke's Gospel. Malcolm Thurlby, in this excellent book "The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture" suggest the carving is of a griffin. The imposts at the end of the arches have, on the left, dragons entwined, and, on the right, foliage. See Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Peter's Church, Rowlestone [Map]. Tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
Church of St Nicholas, Studland [Map] with carvings of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Mary's Church, Fownhope [Map]. Fine tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Nicholas' Church, Little Langford [Map]. Fine tympanum from the Herefordshire School of Carving.
Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck [Map]. South door with tympanum. Fine example of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St James the Great Church, Colwall [Map]. Herefordshire School of Carving. The Norman church was started in the 12th century as evidenced by the main south doorway with its scalloped capitals and a round headed arch on the west front of the nave. The south aisle was added in the middle of the 13th century. The south west tower is unusually situated and houses ten bells with six dating from 1778. In 1865 the chancel was replaced and widened and in 1880 the north aisle was added. In 2010 the chancel was reordered.
St John the Baptist Church, Beckford [Map]. Fine Tympanum showing Harrowing of Hell. Possibly Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Mary's Church, Stottesdon [Map]. Fine tympanum and font of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Michael and All Angels Church, Castle Frome [Map]. Fine Herefordshire School of Carving font..
All Saints Church, Pitsford [Map]Parts of the church date to the Norman Conquest, with the tympanum over the main church door dating to that period. See Herefordshire School of Carving.To Do List.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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St George's Church, Orleton [Map]. Font from the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Michael's Church, Houghton le Spring [Map]. The church dates from the 12C but during recent renovations the foundations of an earlier Anglo-Saxon church were discovered. Many Saxon post holders were found. Below the Saxon church were found some Roman foundations, possibly from a temple and boulders from an early prehistoric burial cairn or ritual site. A carved tympanum (which probably predates the church) features intertwined beasts. It is known as 'The Houghton Beasts or Dragons'. See Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Cassian's Church, Chaddesley Corbet [Map]. Monument in St Cassian's Church, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, to Elizabeth Holt, unmarried daughter of Sir Thomas Holte 1st Baronet. Font possibly of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
