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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Paternal Family Tree: Cooper
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Sheppard 1617
In 1796 [his father] Cropley Ashley-Cooper 6th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 27] and [his mother] Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough [aged 56] and [his grandmother] Caroline Russell Duchess of Marlborough [aged 52]. He the son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 4th Earl Shaftesbury and Mary Bouverie Countess Shaftesbury [aged 65]. They were third cousin twice removed.
On 28th April 1801 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury was born to [his father] Cropley Ashley-Cooper 6th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 32] and [his mother] Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury [aged 28].
On 14th May 1811 [his uncle] Anthony Ashley-Cooper 5th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 49] died. His brother [his father] Cropley [aged 42] succeeded 6th Earl Shaftesbury, 6th Baron Ashley of Wimborne St Giles, 7th Baronet Cooper of Rockbourne in Southampton. [his mother] Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury [aged 38] by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.
On 10th June 1830 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 29] and Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury were married. She the daughter of Peter Nassau Clavering-Cowper 5th Earl Cowper [aged 52] and Emily Lamb Countess Cowper [aged 43]. He the son of Cropley Ashley-Cooper 6th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 61] and Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury [aged 57].
On 27th June 1831 [his son] Anthony Ashley-Cooper 8th Earl Shaftesbury was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 30] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury. He married 22nd August 1857 Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester Countess Shaftesbury, daughter of George Chichester 3rd Marquess Donegal and Harriet Anne Butler Marchioness Donegal, and had issue.
In 1833 [his brother-in-law] George Augustus Frederick Cowper 6th Earl Cowper [aged 26] and Ann Florence Robinson Countess Cowper [aged 27] were married. She by marriage Countess Cowper. She the daughter of Thomas de Grey 2nd Earl de Grey [aged 51] and Henrietta Cole Countess de Grey [aged 48]. He the son of [his father-in-law] Peter Nassau Clavering-Cowper 5th Earl Cowper [aged 54] and [his mother-in-law] Emily Lamb Countess Cowper [aged 45].
On 13th March 1833 [his son] Anthony Francis Henry Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 31] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 22nd July 1835 [his son] Anthony Maurice William Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 34] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 24th July 1836 [his son] Anthony Evelyn Melbourne Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 35] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury. He married (1) 28th July 1866 his third cousin once removed Sybella Charlotte Farquhar, daughter of Walter Rockliffe Farquhar 3rd Baronet and Mary Octavia Somerset Lady Farquhar, and had issue (2) 30th June 1891 Alice Elizabeth Cole, daughter of William Willoughby Cole 3rd Earl Enniskillen and Jane Casamaijor Countess Enniskillen.
On 21st June 1837 [his father-in-law] Peter Nassau Clavering-Cowper 5th Earl Cowper [aged 59] died. His son [his brother-in-law] George [aged 30] succeeded 6th Earl Cowper, 5th Baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent, 7th Baronet Cowper of Ratling Court in Kent.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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On 23rd September 1837 [his daughter] Victoria Elizabeth Ashley-Cooper Baroness Templemore was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 36] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury. She married 8th January 1873 her fifth cousin Harry Chichester 2nd Baron Templemore, son of Arthur Chichester 1st Baron Templemore and Augusta Paget Baroness Templemore, and had issue.
On 7th September 1838 [his son] Anthony Lionel George Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 37] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 25th July 1842 [his daughter] Mary Charlotte Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 41] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 29th November 1845 [his daughter] Constance Emily Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 44] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 1st February 1847 [his daughter] Edith Florence Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 45] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 13th May 1849 [his son] Anthony Francis Henry Ashley-Cooper [aged 16] died.
On 8th August 1849 [his son] Anthony Cecil Ashley-Cooper was born to Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 48] and [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
On 2nd June 1851 [his father] Cropley Ashley-Cooper 6th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 82] died. His son Anthony [aged 50] succeeded 7th Earl Shaftesbury, 7th Baron Ashley of Wimborne St Giles, 8th Baronet Cooper of Rockbourne in Southampton. [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.
On 19th August 1855 [his son] Anthony Maurice William Ashley-Cooper [aged 20] died.
On 15th April 1856 [his brother-in-law] George Augustus Frederick Cowper 6th Earl Cowper [aged 49] died. His son Francis [aged 21] succeeded 7th Earl Cowper, 6th Baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent, 8th Baronet Cowper of Ratling Court in Kent.
On 22nd August 1857 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 8th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 26] and Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester Countess Shaftesbury were married. She the daughter of George Chichester 3rd Marquess Donegal [aged 60] and Harriet Anne Butler Marchioness Donegal [aged 58]. He the son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 56] and Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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On 3rd September 1861 [his daughter] Mary Charlotte Ashley-Cooper [aged 19] died.
In 1862 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [aged 42] appointed seven Knights of the Garter:
729th Charles Canning 1st Earl Canning [aged 49]. He died a month later.
730th Edward Adolphus Seymour 12th Duke of Somerset [aged 57].
731st. John Russell 1st Earl Russell [aged 69].
732nd Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 60].
733rd William Thomas Wentworth-Fitzwilliam 6th and 4th Earl Fitzwilliam [aged 46].
734th Prince Louis Hesse Darmstadt IV Grand Duke [aged 24].
735th Grand Duke Frederick William of Mecklenburg-Strelitz [aged 42].
In 1865 [his mother] Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury [aged 92] died.
On 28th July 1866 Anthony Evelyn Melbourne Ashley-Cooper [aged 30] and Sybella Charlotte Farquhar [aged 20] were married. He the son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 65] and Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury. They were third cousin once removed.
On 16th September 1872 [his daughter] Constance Emily Ashley-Cooper [aged 26] died.
On 15th October 1872 [his wife] Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury died.
On 8th January 1873 [his son-in-law] Harry Chichester 2nd Baron Templemore [aged 51] and Victoria Elizabeth Ashley-Cooper Baroness Templemore [aged 35] were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square. She by marriage Baroness Templemore of Templemore in Donegal. She the daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 71] and Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper Countess Shaftesbury. They were fifth cousins.
Around 1877. John Collier [aged 26]. Portrait of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 75].
Before 5th October 1878 Francis Grant [aged 75]. Portrait of Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 77].
On 1st October 1885 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury [aged 84] died. His son Anthony [aged 54] succeeded 8th Earl Shaftesbury, 8th Baron Ashley of Wimborne St Giles, 9th Baronet Cooper of Rockbourne in Southampton. Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester Countess Shaftesbury by marriage Countess Shaftesbury.
Kings Wessex: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 24 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Kings Scotland: Great x 21 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 28 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Son of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 26 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cooper 1st Baronet
Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Ashley-Cooper 1st Earl Shaftesbury 
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Ashley Lady Cooper 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Ashley-Cooper 2nd Earl Shaftesbury 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: David Cecil 3rd Earl Exeter 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Cecil 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Egerton Countess Exeter 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 1 Grandfather: Anthony Ashley-Cooper 3rd Earl Shaftesbury 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Manners 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Grace Pierrepont 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Dorothy Manners Countess Shaftesbury 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Montagu Countess Rutland 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Cotton 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Anthony Ashley-Cooper 4th Earl Shaftesbury 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Ewer of Bushey Hall in Hertfordshire
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Ewer Countess Shafetsbury 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: James Montagu 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Spencer 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Montagu 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Baynard
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Baynard
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ursula Stapleton 
Father: Cropley Ashley-Cooper 6th Earl Shaftesbury 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward des Bouverie
Great x 2 Grandfather: William des Bouverie 1st Baronet
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jacob de la Forterie
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne de la Foterie
Great x 1 Grandfather: Jacob Bouverie 1st Viscount Folkestone
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Urry of Mill Place, Isle of Wight
Great x 3 Grandfather: David Urry
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Urry Lady Bouverie
GrandMother: Mary Bouverie Countess Shaftesbury
Great x 2 Grandfather: Bartholemew Clarke
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Clarke
Anthony Ashley-Cooper 7th Earl Shaftesbury 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Spencer 2nd Earl of Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Digby 2nd Earl Bristol 
8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Digby Countess Sunderland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Russell Countess Bristol 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Winston Churchill 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drake 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Churchill Countess Sunderland 15 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Jennings
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sarah Jennings Duchess of Marlborough
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Thornhurst
GrandFather: George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Trevor 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor Bromham
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Trevor 2nd Baron Trevor Bromham
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Searle
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Trevor Duchess of Marlborough
Mother: Anne Spencer-Churchill Countess Shaftesbury 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Russell 1st Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Russell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Carr Countess of Bedford 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Wriothesley 4th Earl of Southampton 2nd Earl Chichester 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Rachel Wriothesley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry IV of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Rachel Massue Countess Southampton
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Russell 4th Duke Bedford 10 x Great Grand Son of King Henry IV of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Howland
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Howland Duchess Bedford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Josiah Child
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Child
GrandMother: Caroline Russell Duchess of Marlborough 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Leveson-Gower 4th Baronet 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Baron Gower 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jane Granville Baroness Gower
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Leveson-Gower 1st Earl Gower 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Manners 1st Duke Rutland 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Manners Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Noel Duchess Rutland 
11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Gertrude Leveson-Gower Duchess Bedford 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Evelyn
Great x 2 Grandmother: Evelyn Pierrepont Baroness Gower 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Feilding 2nd Earl Desmond 3rd Earl Denbigh 
7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Carey Countess Desmond and Denbigh 
8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England