Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

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 Michael Newton 4th Baronet 1695-1743

1722 General Election

1727 General Election

1727 Death and Funeral of Isaac Newton

Before 9th June 1680 [his father] John Newton 3rd Baronet [aged 29] and Abigail Heveningham [aged 20] were married.

On 23rd January 1691 [his father] John Newton 3rd Baronet [aged 40] and [his step-mother] Susanna Wharton Lady Newton [aged 40] were married.

Around 1695 Michael Newton 4th Baronet was born to [his father] John Newton 3rd Baronet [aged 44].

On 31st August 1699 [his grandfather] John Newton 2nd Baronet [aged 73] died. His son [his father] John [aged 48] succeeded 3rd Baronet Newton of Barrs Court. [his step-mother] Susanna Wharton Lady Newton [aged 48] by marriage Lady Newton of Barrs Court.

On 30th April 1719 Thomas Coningsby 1st Earl Coningsby [aged 62] was created 1st Earl Coningsbury with a special remainder to the eldest daughter of his second marriage [his future wife] Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby [aged 10].

1722 General Election

In 1722 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 27] was elected MP Beverley in the 1722 General Election.

In 1725 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 30] was created Knight of the Bath.

1727 General Election

In 1727 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 32] was elected MP Grantham in the 1727 General Election.

Death and Funeral of Isaac Newton

On 28th March 1727 Isaac Newton [deceased] was buried in Scientist's Corner, Westminster Abbey [Map]; the first scientist to be buried there. The service was performed by the Bishop of Rochester [aged 74].

Before the funeral his body lay in state in the Jerusalem Chamber, Cheyneygates, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His coffin was followed by most of the Fellows of the Royal Society.

The Pall Bearers were the Lord Chancellor Peter King 1st Baron King [aged 58], James Graham 1st Duke Montrose [aged 44], Robert Ker 2nd Duke Roxburghe [aged 18], Thomas Herbert 8th Earl Pembroke 5th Earl Montgomery [aged 71], Talbot Yelverton 1st Earl of Sussex [aged 36] and Thomas Parker 1st Earl Macclesfield [aged 60].

The Chief Mourner was Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 32]; his third cousin.

Voltaire observed, "He was buried like a king who had done well by his subjects.".

The inscription on his John Michael Rysbrack [aged 32] monument reads "Here is buried Isaac Newton, Knight, who by a strength of mind almost divine, and mathematical principles peculiarly his own, explored the course and figures of the planets, the paths of comets, the tides of the sea, the dissimilarities in rays of light, and, what no other scholar has previously imagined, the properties of the colours thus produced. Diligent, sagacious and faithful, in his expositions of nature, antiquity and the holy Scriptures, he vindicated by his philosophy the majesty of God mighty and good, and expressed the simplicity of the Gospel in his manners. Mortals rejoice that there has existed such and so great an ornament of the human race! He was born on 25th December 1642, and died on 20th March 1726."

On 1st May 1729 Thomas Coningsby 1st Earl Coningsby [aged 72] died. His daughter [his future wife] Margaret [aged 20] succeeded 2nd Countess Coningsbury.

In 1730 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 35] and Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Coningsby 1st Earl Coningsby and Frances Jones.

On 16th October 1732 [his son] John Newton was born to Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 37] and [his wife] Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby [aged 23]. He died aged less than one years old.

On 4th January 1733 [his son] John Newton died at Culverthorpe Hall [Map]. He is reported to have died when he was removed from his crib by a pet monkey who then dropped him from the roof of the house; there are variations of the story. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Heydour [Map].

John Newton: On 16th October 1732 he was born to Michael Newton 4th Baronet and Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby.

In 1734 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 39] was elected MP Grantham.

On 12th February 1734 [his father] John Newton 3rd Baronet [aged 83] died. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Heydour [Map]; his monument sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack [aged 39]. His son Michael [aged 39] succeeded 4th Baronet Newton of Barrs Court. [his wife] Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby [aged 25] by marriage Lady Newton of Barrs Court.

John Newton 3rd Baronet: Around 1651 he was born to John Newton 2nd Baronet and Mary Eyre. Before 9th June 1680 he and Abigail Heveningham were married. On 23rd January 1691 he and Susanna Wharton Lady Newton were married. On 31st August 1699 John Newton 2nd Baronet died. His son John succeeded 3rd Baronet Newton of Barrs Court. Susanna Wharton Lady Newton by marriage Lady Newton of Barrs Court.

In 1741 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 46] was elected MP Grantham.

Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

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On 6th April 1743 Michael Newton 4th Baronet [aged 48] died. Baronet Newton of Barrs Court extinct. He was buried at St Michael's Church, Heydour [Map]. Sculpted by Peter Scheemakers [aged 52].

On 12th June 1761 [his former wife] Margaret Coningsby 2nd Countess Coningsby [aged 52] died. Earl Coningsbury extinct. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Heydour [Map]. Monument sculpted by John Michael Rysbrack [aged 66].

Ancestors of Michael Newton 4th Baronet 1695-1743

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Newton

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Newton

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Newton

GrandFather: John Newton 2nd Baronet

Father: John Newton 3rd Baronet

Great x 4 Grandfather: Anthony Eyre

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gervase Eyre

Great x 2 Grandfather: Anthony Eyre of Laughton en le Morthen and Rampton

Great x 1 Grandfather: Gervase Eyre

GrandMother: Mary Eyre

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Babington

Michael Newton 4th Baronet