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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Earl Dorset is in Earldoms of England Alphabetically.
There have been four creations of Earl Dorset:
1st. 1070. Bishop Osmund 1st Earl Dorset. Extinct. 3rd December 1099.
2nd. 5th July 1411. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter. Extinct. 31st December 1426.
3rd. August 1441. Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset. Forfeit. 15th May 1464. 15 May 1464 Battle of Hexham.
4th. 1604. Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset. Extinct. 29th July 1843.
Earl Dorset is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
1070. Bishop Osmund 1st Earl Dorset created.
3rd December 1099. Bishop Osmund 1st Earl Dorset extinct.
In 1070 Bishop Osmund 1st Earl Dorset was created 1st Earl Dorset.
On 3rd December 1099 Bishop Osmund 1st Earl Dorset died. Earl Dorset extinct. He was buried at Old Sarum [Map].
Earl Dorset is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Summary
5th July 1411. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 34] created.
31st December 1426. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter extinct.
On 5th July 1411 Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 34] was created 1st Earl Dorset. Margaret Neville Countess Dorest [aged 27] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 31st December 1426 Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 49] died at Greenwich, Kent [Map]. Some sources say 27th December 1426 and 1st January 1427. Duke Exeter and Earl Dorset extinct.
Earl Dorset is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Forfeit Earldoms of England.
Summary
August 1441. Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 35] created.
22nd May 1455. Son Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 19] succeeded. See First Battle of St Albans.
4th November 1461. Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset forfeit.
15th May 1464. Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset forfeit. See 15 May 1464 Battle of Hexham.
In August 1441 Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 35] was created 1st Earl Dorset. Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset [aged 32] by marriage Countess Dorset. The date possibly 1441.
On 22nd May 1455 the Wars of the Roses commenced with the First Battle of St Albans. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York [aged 43] commanded with Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury [aged 26], Richard Neville Earl Salisbury [aged 55], Edward Brooke 6th Baron Cobham [aged 40] and Walter Strickland [aged 44].
The Lancastrians...
Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 49] was killed. His son Henry [aged 19] succeeded 2nd Duke Somerset, 2nd Marquess Dorset, 5th Earl Somerset, 2nd Earl Dorset. Note his father is frequently incorrectly referred to as the second Duke and Henry as the third Duke. His father's Dukedom, however, was a new creation.
Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland [aged 62] was killed. His son Henry [aged 33] succeeded 3rd Earl of Northumberland, 6th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 14th Baron Percy of Topcliffe. Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland [aged 33] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.
Thomas Clifford 8th Baron Clifford [aged 41] was killed. His son John [aged 20] succeeded 9th Baron de Clifford, 9th Lord Skipton. Margaret Bromflete Baroness Clifford [aged 21] by marriage Baroness de Clifford.
William Cotton [aged 45] and Richard Fortescue [aged 41] were killed.
Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham [aged 52] was wounded and captured.
King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 33], John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 54] and Edmund Sutton [aged 30] were captured.
Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was wounded. James Butler 1st Earl Wiltshire 5th Earl Ormonde [aged 34] and John Wenlock 1st Baron Wenlock [aged 55] fought.
Richard Cotton of Hampstall Ridware [aged 51] and his son William Cotton of Connington in Huntingdonshire [aged 27] were killed.
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On 4th November 1461 Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 25] was attainted. Duke Somerset, Marquess Dorset, Earl Somerset, Earl Dorset forfeit.
On 15th May 1464 a Yorkist army commanded by John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu [aged 33] defeated a Lancastrian army commanded by Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset [aged 28] at Hexham, Northumberland [Map] during the Battle of Hexham.
Those fighting for York included John Stafford 1st Earl Wiltshire [aged 36], John Scrope 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton [aged 26] and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby [aged 36].
Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset was beheaded following the battle. The general pardon which he has previously received was annulled. Duke Somerset, Marquess Dorset, Earl Somerset and Earl Dorset forfeit for the second time. His son Edmund Beaufort [aged 25] was styled by supporters of the House of Lancaster as Duke of Somerset but had not right to do so.
Philip Wentworth [aged 40] was executed at Middleham [Map].
Earl Dorset is also in Earldoms of England Chronologically, Extinct Earldoms of England.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Summary
1604. Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 68] created.
19th April 1608. Son Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset [aged 47] succeeded.
27th February 1609. Son Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset [aged 19] succeeded.
28th March 1624. Brother Edward Sackville 4th Earl Dorset [aged 33] succeeded.
17th July 1652. Son Richard Sackville 5th Earl Dorset [aged 29] succeeded.
27th August 1677. Son Charles Sackville 6th Earl Dorset 1st Earl Middlesex [aged 34] succeeded.
29th January 1706. Son Lionel Cranfield Sackville 1st Duke Dorset [aged 18] succeeded.
10th October 1765. Son Charles Sackville 2nd Duke Dorset [aged 54] succeeded.
5th January 1769. Nephew John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset [aged 23] succeeded.
19th July 1799. Son George Frederick Sackville 4th Duke Dorset [aged 5] succeeded.
14th February 1815. First Cousin Once Removed Charles Sackville 5th Duke Dorset [aged 47] succeeded.
29th July 1843. Charles Sackville 5th Duke Dorset extinct.
In 1604 Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 68] was created 1st Earl Dorset. Cicely Baker Countess Dorset [aged 69] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 19th April 1608 Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 72] died suddenly at the council table, having apparently suffered a stroke. His funeral was held at Westminster Abbey [Map]. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His son Robert [aged 47] succeeded 2nd Earl Dorset, 2nd Baron Buckhurst. Anne Spencer Countess Dorset by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 27th February 1609 Robert Sackville 2nd Earl Dorset [aged 48] died at Dorset House. He was buried at Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His son Richard [aged 19] succeeded 3rd Earl Dorset, 3rd Baron Buckhurst and inherited Knole House, Sevenoaks. Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke [aged 19] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 28th March 1624 Richard Sackville 3rd Earl Dorset [aged 35] died at Dorset House. He was buried in the Sackville Chapel St Michael's Church Withyham East Sussex. His brother Edward [aged 33] succeeded 4th Earl Dorset, 4th Baron Buckhurst. Mary Curzon Countess Dorset [aged 34] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 17th July 1652 Edward Sackville 4th Earl Dorset [aged 61] died. His son Richard [aged 29] succeeded 5th Earl Dorset, 5th Baron Buckhurst. Frances Cranfield Countess Dorset [aged 30] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 27th August 1677 Richard Sackville 5th Earl Dorset [aged 54] died. His son Charles [aged 34] succeeded 6th Earl Dorset, 6th Baron Buckhurst. Mary Bagot Countess Falmouth and Dorset [aged 32] by marriage Countess Dorset.
On 7th March 1685 Charles Sackville 6th Earl Dorset 1st Earl Middlesex [aged 42] and Mary Compton Countess Dorset and Middlesex [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Countess Dorset, Countess Middlesex. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton and Mary Noel Countess Northampton. He the son of Richard Sackville 5th Earl Dorset and Frances Cranfield Countess Dorset [aged 63]. They were half sixth cousins.
On 29th January 1706 Charles Sackville 6th Earl Dorset 1st Earl Middlesex [aged 63] died at Bath, Somerset [Map]. His son Lionel [aged 18] succeeded 7th Earl Dorset, 2nd Earl Middlesex, 7th Baron Buckhurst, 2nd Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex.
In January 1709 Lionel Cranfield Sackville 1st Duke Dorset [aged 20] and Elizabeth Colyear Duchess Dorset [aged 20] were married. She by marriage Countess Dorset. He the son of Charles Sackville 6th Earl Dorset 1st Earl Middlesex and Mary Compton Countess Dorset and Middlesex.
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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On 10th October 1765 Lionel Cranfield Sackville 1st Duke Dorset [aged 77] died at Knole House, Sevenoaks. His son Charles [aged 54] succeeded 2nd Duke Dorset, 8th Earl Dorset, 3rd Earl Middlesex, 8th Baron Buckhurst, 3rd Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex.
On 5th January 1769 Charles Sackville 2nd Duke Dorset [aged 57] died. His nephew John [aged 23] succeeded 3rd Duke Dorset, 9th Earl Dorset, 4th Earl Middlesex, 9th Baron Buckhurst, 4th Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex.
In 1790 John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset [aged 44] and Arabella Diana Cope 3rd Duchess Dorset [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Duchess Dorset, 9th Countess Dorset. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of Charles Cope 2nd Baronet and Catherine Bishopp Countess Liverpool [aged 45]. They were fourth cousin once removed.
On 19th July 1799 John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset [aged 54] died. His son George [aged 5] succeeded 4th Duke Dorset, 10th Earl Dorset, 5th Earl Middlesex, 10th Baron Buckhurst, 5th Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex.
On 14th February 1815 George Frederick Sackville 4th Duke Dorset [aged 21] died. His first cousin once removed Charles [aged 47] succeeded 5th Duke Dorset, 11th Earl Dorset, 6th Earl Middlesex, 11th Baron Buckhurst, 6th Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex.
On 29th July 1843 Charles Sackville 5th Duke Dorset [aged 75] died unmarried. He was buried in St Peter's Church, Lowick [Map]. Duke Dorset, Earl Dorset, Earl Middlesex, Viscount Sackville of Drayton in Sussex, Baron Buckhurst, Baron Cranfield of Cranfield in Middlesex and Baron Bolebrooke in Sussex extinct.