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.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Clifton
In 1404 [his father] Gervase Clifton [aged 14] and [his mother] Isabel Francis [aged 24] were married.
Around 1405 Gervase Clifton was born to [his father] Gervase Clifton [aged 15] and [his mother] Isabel Francis [aged 25] at Clifton, Nottinghamshire.
In or before 1423 William Scott and [his future wife] Isabel Finch were married.
In 1439 Gervase Clifton [aged 34] was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
Before 8th January 1449 Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 64] and [his future wife] Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby were married. She by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. They were sixth cousins.
In or before 1450 Gervase Clifton [aged 44] and Isabel Finch were married.
In 1450 Gervase Clifton [aged 45] was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
Around 1450 [his daughter] Joan Clifton was born to Gervase Clifton [aged 45] and [his wife] Isabel Finch in Clifton, Nottinghamshire. She married John Digges and had issue.
On or before 24th August 1453 Thomas Neville [aged 23] and [his future wife] Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby were married. Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby was the niece and heiress of Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell [aged 50] meaning traditional Percy lands would become Neville lands. The Percy's, being the older family, especially Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont [aged 30], took umbrage with the ensuing two year feud known as the Neville-Percy Feud. He the son of Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 53] and Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury [aged 46].
On 15th November 1453 [his father] Gervase Clifton [aged 63] died.
On 4th January 1456 Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell [aged 53] died at South Wingfield, Derbyshire [Map]. He was buried at the Collegiate Church, Tattershall. Baron Cromwell abeyant between his two nieces, daughters of his sister Maud Cromwell: [his future wife] Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby and [his future sister-in-law] Joan Stanhope.
In 1457 [his wife] Isabel Finch died.
On 13th June 1457 [his mother] Isabel Francis [aged 77] died.
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.'
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1458 Gervase Clifton [aged 53] was appointed High Sheriff of Kent.
In 1459 [his son-in-law] John Jerningham and [his daughter] Isabel Clifton were married.
Patent Rolls. 10th December 1459. Coventry, Warwickshire [Map]. Commission to Richard Wydevyle of Ryvers [aged 54], knight, Thomas Broun, knight, and the mayor of Sandwich to take near Sandwich, Kent [Map] the muster of the men at arms and archers ordered to go on the safe keeping of the sea in the company of Gervase Clyfton [aged 54], knight, and to certify the king thereof in Chancery. By K.
Commission to Thomas Kyryell [aged 63], knight, John Cheyne, knight, Thomas Broun, knight, John Seyncler, esquire, and Richard Dalafeld, esquire, to take near Sandwich, Kent [Map] the muster of the men at arms and archers ordered to go on the safe-keeping of the sea in the company of Richard Wydevyle of Ryvers, knight, as above. By K.
Before 20th March 1463 Gervase Clifton [aged 58] and Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby were married.
On 5th May 1471 those captured at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury were tried in the Market Square Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire [Map] by John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 46] and the Duke of Gloucester [aged 18]: Edmund Beaufort [aged 32], Hugh Courtenay [aged 44], Gervase Clifton [aged 66], Thomas Tresham [aged 51] and Humphrey Tuchet [aged 37].
On 6th May 1471 those captured at the 4th May 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury: Edmund Beaufort [aged 32], Hugh Courtenay [aged 44], Gervase Clifton [aged 66] and Humphrey Tuchet [aged 37] were executed.
Thomas Tresham [aged 51] was executed. His estates including manor of Westhall, in Rushton St Peter, were forfeit.
John Lelands Itinerary Volume 6. Names of those killed at the battle of Gaston near Tewskebury.
Prince Edward was buried in the monastery of Tewkesbury.
Lord Edmund, Duke of Somerset, was captured and beheaded, and was buried there.
Lord John of Somerset, brother of Duke Edmund, was also buried there.
Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devon, was buried there.
Lord Wenlock, whose body was later transferred elsewhere for burial.
Humphrey Handleley was beheaded with Thomas Courtenay and buried with him.
Edmund Howard, knight.
William Wichingham, knight.
Sir Delves the elder was killed in the field, and John Delves his son was beheaded there; they were buried together, later transferred elsewhere.
Sir John Leukenor, knight, was killed in the field and buried near the Delves.
Sir William Vaux, knight, was killed in the field and buried there.
Gervase Clifton was captured and beheaded, and buried there.
Sir William Carr and Sir Henry Roos, knights, were captured and beheaded. They were buried in the cemetery of Tewkesbury.
Sir Thomas Tresham was captured and beheaded, and buried there.
Sir William Lirmouthe, Sir John Urman, Sir Thomas Semar, and Sir William Rowys, knights, were killed in the field and buried there in the cemetery.
Sir William Newborough, knight, was captured and beheaded, and buried there.
Henry Wateley, esquire, was killed and buried there.
Henry Barow, esquire, was killed and buried there.
Fielding, esquire, was killed and buried there.
John Gower, standard-bearer of Prince Edward; John Flore, banner-bearer of the Duke of Somerset; Henry Tresham, Walter Courtenay, and Robert Acton were captured and beheaded.
The Prior of St. John's, London, was captured and beheaded; his body was brought back to London to his own people.
History of the Arrival of Edward IV Part 5. [6th May 1471] This battayle thus done and atchived, and the Kyngs grace thus largly shewed, it was so that, in the abbey, and othar places of the towne, were founden Edmond, callyd Duke of Somerset, the prior of Seynt Johns, called Ser John Longesthrother, Ser Thomas Tressham [aged 51], Ser Gervaux of Clyfton [aged 66]45, knyghts, squiers, and othar notable parsonnes dyvers, whiche all, divers tymes, were browght afore the Kyng's brothar, the Duke of Gloucestar and Constable of England, and the Duke of Norfolke, Marshall of England, theyr iudges; and so were iudged to deathe, in the mydst of the towne, Edmond Duke of Somarset, and the sayd Prior of Seint Johns, with many othar gentils that there were taken, and that of longe tyme had provoked and continuyed the great rebellyon that so long had endured in the land agaynst the Kynge, and contrye to the wele of the Realme. The sayd Duke, and othar thus iudged, were executyd in the mydste of the towne, upon a scaffolde therefore made, behedyd evereche one, and without any othar dismembringe, or settynge up, licensyd to be buryed.
Note 45. Clyfton, Clyston, in MS.
On 30th August 1497 [his former wife] Maud Stanhope 4th Baroness Cromwell Baroness Willoughby of Eresby died. She was buried at Collegiate Church, Tattershall. Baron Cromwell abeyant between the daughters of the Ralph Cromwell 1st Baron Cromwell: Elizabeth Cromwell and Avice Cromwell Baroness Bardolf and their heirs.
[his daughter] Isabel Clifton was born to Gervase Clifton and Isabel Finch. She married 1459 John Jerningham and had issue.
A Chronicle of Tewkesbury Abbey. These are the names of the noblemen that were slayne at Tewkesbury felde.
Lord Edwarde, prince of Kynge Henry, in the felde of Gastum besyde Tewkesbery, slayne and buryed in ye mydste of ye covent quiere in ye monastery ther: for whom god worketh.
Lord Edmunde Duke late of Somarset taken and behedyd and buryed before an ymage of S. James at an autar in ye sayd monastery churche on ye northe parte.
Lord John Somarset, brother of ye sayd duke of Somarset, slayne in the fylde ther, and buryed with his sayd brother before ye sayd ymage toward mary mawdlyns auter.
Lord Thomas1 Courtney Erle of Devonshire slayne in the filde and buried about ye mydst of ye sayd auter of saynt James.
Syr Vmfray Haudeley ther take and behedyd and buryed with ye sayd Thomas Courtney, Erle of Devenshire, in one sepulcre before ye sayd altar.
Lord Wenloke slayne in the filde & his body take fro hens to be buryed.
Sir Edmund Barnarde knight slayne in ye filde and syr William Whytingham knyght, slayn also in ye filde and bothe bodyes buryed in ye body of ye sayd monastarye churche callyd ye parishe churche besyde saint Jorges chapell.
Syr John Delves, elder, slayne in ye filde: mastar John Delves, his sonne, take and beheadyd; and both buryed by syds seynt Johns chapell in ye sayde parishe churche and theyr bodies afterward take fro hens to theyr contrey.
Syr John Locnor [Lewknor] slayne and buryed in ye sayd parishe churche besyds ye bodies of ser Edmond and ser William before sayde.
Syr William Vauce, knyght, slayn in ye fild, and buryed in ye parishe churche before an image of our lady pety in ye northe syd.
Syr Geruase of Clifton, knyght, take and behedyd.
Syr William Car, knyght,
ser Henry Rose, knyght, taken and behedyd and buryed in ye churche yarde there.
Syr William Lyrmouthe, knyght, Ser John Vring, knyght, ser Thomas Seiner, knyght, ser William Rowes, knyght, all slayne in ye filde and buryed in ye churche yarde.
Syr Thomas Tryssam, knyght, take and behedyd, whos body was buryed in ye sayd monastary churche byfore a pilar betwyxt ye awtar of s. james and seint nicholas.
Syr Willyam Newborow, knyght, take and behedyd, buryed in ye parishe churche, besyds ye fante of baptisme yer in ye southe syde.
Mastar Henry Wrattesley, squier, slayne in ye filde and buryed in s. John baptist chaple in ye monastary churche on ye southe syde.
Mastar Henry Baron, squire, slayn and buryed in ye parishe churche before an Image of seint clement pope and martyr, and his body aftarwarde was fet from hens to his contrey.
Mastar Fildynge, squire, Mastar Hervy, recordar of Bristow, bothe slayne in ye filde and theyr bodyes buryed in ye churche with many othar.
John Gower, swerde berer of ye prince, John Flore2, bannarberer of ye duke of Somarset, Henry Tressam, Watar Courtney, Robait Acson3, Lewis Milis, Birchfeld of Westminstar, Mastar Gogh, squire, ser Thomas Tressam his clerke, Turnebull, all take and behedyd, and theyr bodyes buryed in ye churche in dyvars placis.
Also prior and lord of saynt Jones besyds London, taken in ye fild and with othar behedyd, whos body closyd in leade was take from hens to his owne place.
Note 1. Should be John.
Note 2. Stow has 'Flory'.
Note 3. Stow has 'Jackson'.
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gervase Clifton IV 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Clifton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gervase "The Chevalier" Clifton
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Clifton
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Pierrepoint 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Pierrepont
Great x 4 Grandmother: Annora Manvers
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Pierrepont
GrandFather: John Clifton
Father: Gervase Clifton
GrandFather: Robert Francis of Foremark
Mother: Isabel Francis