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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Croydon, Surrey is in Surrey.
Close Rolls Edward II 1307-1313. 9th February 1308 King Edward II of England [aged 23]. Dover, Kent [Map]. To Alice, late wife of Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Marshall of England. Order to meet the king at Dover, Kent [Map] on his return from France with his consort about Sunday next after the Feast of the Purification of St Mary. Witnessed by Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 24].
The like to:
Elizabeth, Countess of Hereford and Essex [aged 25].
Henry de Lancastre [aged 27].
Robert de Monte Alto.
Almaric de Sancto Amando[Ibid].
To R Archbishop of Canterbury [aged 63]. Order to attend the king's coronaion on Sunday next after the feast of St Valentine [14 Feb] at Westminster [Map], to execute what pertains to his office.
To the Sheriff of Surrey. Order to proclaim in market towns, etc., that no knight, esquire, or other shall, under pain of forfeiture, pressure to tourney or make jousts or bordices (torneare, justos seu burdseicas facere), or otherwise go armed at Croydon, Surrey [Map] or elsewhere before the king's coronation.
Diary of Edward VI. 24th May 1551. An earthquake was at Croidon [Map] and Blechingliee [Map], and in the most part of Surrey, but no harme was donne.
On 2nd September 1600 William aka Francis Howard [aged 60] died at Croydon, Surrey [Map].
On 10th November 1631 Daniel Harvey was born to Daniel Harvey [aged 44] at Croydon, Surrey [Map]. He married 1651 Elizabeth Montagu, daughter of Edward Montagu 2nd Baron Montagu and Anne Winwood, and had issue.
John Evelyn's Diary. 29th September 1695. Very cold weather. Sir Purbeck Temple, uncle to my son Draper, died suddenly. A great funeral at Addiscombe. His lady being own aunt to my son Draper, he hopes for a good fortune, there being no heir. There had been a new meeting of the commissioners about Greenwich Hospital [Map], on the new commission, where the Lord Mayor, etc. appeared, but I was prevented by indisposition from attending. The weather very sharp, winter approaching apace. The King [aged 44] went a progress into the north, to show himself to the people against the elections, and was everywhere complimented, except at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map], where it was not as he expected, so that he hardly stopped an hour there, and having seen the theater, did not receive the banquet proposed. I dined with Dr. Gale [aged 60] at St. Paul's school, who showed me many curious passages out of some ancient Platonists' MSS. concerning the Trinity, which this great and learned person would publish, with many other rare things, if he was encouraged, and eased of the burden of teaching.
John Evelyn's Diary. 13th March 1700. I was at the funeral of my Lady Temple, who was buried at Islington [Map], brought from Addiscombe, near Croydon. She left my son-in-law Draper (her nephew) the mansion house of Addiscombe, very nobly and completely furnished, with the estate about it, with plate and jewels, to the value in all of about £20,000. She was a very prudent lady, gave many great legacies, with £500 to the poor of Islington [Map], where her husband, Sir Purbeck Temple, was buried, both dying without issue.
John Evelyn's Diary. 27th June 1702. I went to Wotton, Surrey [Map] with my family for the rest of the summer, and my son-in-law, Draper, with his family, came to stay with us, his house at Addiscombe being new-building, so that my family was above thirty. Most of the new Parliament were chosen of Church of England principles, against the peevish party. The Queen [aged 37] was magnificently entertained at Oxford and all the towns she passed through on her way to Bath, Somerset [Map].
John Evelyn's Diary. 11th July 1703. I went to Addiscombe, sixteen miles from Wotton, to see my son-in-law's new house, the outside, to the coving, being such excellent brickwork, based with Portland stone, with the pilasters, windows, and within, that I pronounced it in all the points of good and solid architecture to be one of the very best gentlemen's houses in Surrey, when finished. I returned to Wotton in the evening, though weary.
Croydon Minster is also in Minsters in England.
On 23rd March 1757 Archbishop Thomas Herring [aged 64] died. He was buried in Croydon Minster [Map].
On 25th November 1718 Elizabeth Tulse [aged 57] died at Croydon Palace.
On 21st October 1585 Francis Howard was born to William aka Francis Howard [aged 45] and Frances Gouldwell [aged 32] at Halling House. He married 4th July 1604 Jane Monson and had issue.