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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Biography of Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw 1100-1172

Paternal Family Tree: Aberffraw

Maternal Family Tree: Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd 1065-1162

1136 Battle of Kidwelly

1136 Battle of Crug Mawr aka Cardigan

Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Alice Clare Baroness Percy Topcliffe were married. She the daughter of Richard de Clare and Alice Gernon. He the son of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd and Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd.

Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Tangwystl ferch Cadwallon were married. He the son of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd and Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd. They were uncle and niece.

In or before 1100 [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 44) and [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 34) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] Cynan ab Iago King Gwynedd and [his grandmother] Ragnaillt Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd. They were second cousin once removed.

Around 1100 Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Gwerfel ferch Gwrgan Unknown were married. He the son of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 45) and Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 35).

Around 1100 Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw was born to [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 45) and [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 35).

Around 1113 [his brother-in-law] Gruffudd ap Rhys King Deheubarth (age 32) and [his sister] Gwenllian Aberffraw Queen Consort Deheubarth (age 13) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Deheubarth. She the daughter of [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 58) and [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 48). He the son of Rhys ap Tewdwr King Deheubarth and Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon Mathrafal Queen Consort Deheubarth (age 53). They were half second cousin once removed.

Before 1130 [his brother] Owain "Great" King Gwynedd (age 29) and [his sister-in-law] Gwladus Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Gwynedd. He the son of [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 74) and [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 64).

1136 Battle of Kidwelly

In 1136 a battle, or skirmish, was fought at Maes Gwenllian [Map] between the Welsh forces of [his sister] Gwenllian (age 36), wife of [his brother-in-law] Gruffydd (age 55), with her two sons, and the Norman force of Maurice de Londres. Gwenllian and her two sons [his nephew] Morgan Dinefwr and [his nephew] Maelgwn Dinefwr were killed.

1136 Battle of Crug Mawr aka Cardigan

                    On 10th October 1136 [the date is uncertain] the Battle of Crug Mawr aka Cardigan between Welsh and Normans for control of Ceredigion, West Wales. The Welsh, led by [his brother] Owain "Great" King Gwynedd (age 36), Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw (age 36) and [his former brother-in-law] Gruffudd ap Rhys King Deheubarth (age 55) defeated Normans led by Robert Fitzmartin,; a significant setback to Norman expansion in Wales.
                
                    [his nephew] Einion Aberffraw was killed.
                
                    The exact location of the battle is unknown. Possibly near Crug Mawr [Map]. However, Annales Cambriae has "A battle was fought before the castle" followed by "others drowned in the river Teifi" suggesting the castle referred to may have been Cilgerran Castle [Map] which is on the River Teifi.

In 1137 [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd (age 82) died. His son [his brother] Owain (age 37) succeeded King Gwynedd.

Around 1140 [his son] Rhicert Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw (age 40) and Alice Clare Baroness Percy Topcliffe.

Around 1145 [his brother] Owain "Great" King Gwynedd (age 45) and [his sister-in-law] Cristin ferch Goronwy Unknown Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 40) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Gwynedd. He the son of [his father] King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd and [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 80). They were first cousins.

In 1162 [his mother] Angharad Queen Consort Gwynedd (age 97) died.

On 28th November 1170 [his brother] Owain "Great" King Gwynedd (age 70) died. His son [his nephew] Hywel succeeded King Gwynedd.

In 1172 Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw (age 72) died.

In 1172 [his son] Cadfan Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw (age 72) and [his wife] Gwerfel ferch Gwrgan Unknown. He married his first cousin once removed Gwenllian Unknown, daughter of Owain Cyfeiliog Mathrafal and Gwenllian Aberffraw.

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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[his son] Cadwallon Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Tangwystl ferch Cadwallon. Coefficient of inbreeding 12.60%.

[his son] Maredudd Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Tangwystl ferch Cadwallon. Coefficient of inbreeding 12.60%.

[his son] Ralph Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Alice Clare Baroness Percy Topcliffe.

[his son] Cunedda Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Alice Clare Baroness Percy Topcliffe.

[his son] Cadwgan Aberffraw was born to Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd Aberffraw and Tangwystl ferch Cadwallon. Coefficient of inbreeding 12.60%.