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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Lord High Steward is in Offices of State.
1483 Coronation of King Richard III
1509 Marriage and Coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
1536 Trial of Anne and George Boleyn
1641 Trial and Execution of the Earl of Strafford
1680 Trial and Execution of William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford
In September 1263 Roger Leybourne [aged 48] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 9th April 1413 King Henry V of England [aged 26] was crowned V King of England by Archbishop Thomas Fitzalan aka Arundel [aged 60] at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Duke Lancaster merged with the Crown.
Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick [aged 31] was appointed Lord High Steward. Henry Fitzhugh 3rd Baron Fitzhugh [aged 55] was appointed Constable of England.
In 1426 John Tiptoft 1st Baron Tiptoft was appointed Lord High Steward.
Patent Rolls. 3rd December 1461. Westminster Palace [Map]. Appointment of the king's [aged 19] kinsman Richard, Earl of Warwick [aged 33], to execute the office of steward of England at the trial of Henry VI and other rebels who murdered the King's father Richard, duke of York, at Wakefield.
In 1463 John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester [aged 35] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 6th July 1483 King Richard III of England [aged 30] and his wife Anne Neville [aged 27] at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Duke Gloucester, Earl Richmond forfeit merged with the Crown. Cardinal Thomas Bourchier [aged 65] officiated. Anne Neville Queen Consort England by marriage Queen Consort England.
John Howard 1st Duke of Norfolk [aged 58] was appointed Lord High Steward. William Brandon [aged 58], Thomas Fitzalan 10th or 17th Earl of Arundel [aged 33], Thomas St Leger [aged 43], Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby [aged 50], Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England [aged 46], Elizabeth York Duchess Suffolk [aged 39], Giles Daubeney 1st Baron Daubeney [aged 32] and Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 59] attended.
Robert Dymoke [aged 22] attended as the Kings' Champion.
Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent [aged 66] carried The Pointed Sword of Justice. Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk [aged 40] carried the Crown. Francis Lovell 1st Viscount Lovell [aged 27] carried the Third Sword of State. John de la Pole 2nd Duke of Suffolk [aged 40] carried the Sceptre. John de la Pole Earl Lincoln 1st [aged 21] carried the Cross and Ball. Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham [aged 28] carried the king's train. Edward Stafford 2nd Earl Wiltshire [aged 13] bore the Queen's Crown.
Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby [aged 48] carried the Lord High Constable's Mace. Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond [aged 40] held Queen Anne's train. Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland [aged 34] carried The Blunt Sword of Mercy. Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby [aged 30] was appointed Knight of the Bath.
Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland attended.
Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York [aged 68] refused to attend the Coronation of King Richard III. History doesn't record her reason.
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Close Rolls Edward IV Edward V Richard III 1476-1485. 30th June 1483 King Richard III of England [aged 30]. Westminster Palace [Map]. Commission to the king's kinsman John duke of Norfolk [aged 58], to execute the office of steward of England at the king's coronation. By K.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1509. 24th June 1509. 89. Edward Duke of Buckingham [aged 31]. To be Great Steward of England on 24 June, the day of the Coronation from sunrise until sunset. S.B. [213.]
On 15th May 1536 Queen Anne Boleyn [aged 35] tried at the King's Hall in the Tower of London [Map].
Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 63] was appointed Lord High Steward and presided. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey [aged 20] attended. Henry Pole 1st Baron Montagu [aged 44] was one of the judges. Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester [aged 34] was the principal witness.
The jurors were:
Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk [aged 52].
Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 24].
Thomas Fiennes 9th Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 21].
George Hastings 1st Earl Huntingdon [aged 49].
Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland [aged 44].
John Mordaunt 1st Baron Mordaunt [aged 56].
Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland [aged 38].
Henry Parker 11th Baron Marshal 10th Baron Morley [aged 55].
Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby [aged 27].
Thomas Stanley 2nd Baron Monteagle [aged 28].
John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford [aged 65].
Thomas Wentworth 1st Baron Wentworth [aged 35].
Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester [aged 40].
Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland.
Thomas Burgh 7th Baron Cobham 5th Baron Strabolgi 1st Baron Burgh [aged 48].
Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter [aged 40].
William Fitzalan 11th or 18th Earl of Arundel [aged 60].
Henry Fitzalan 12th or 19th Earl of Arundel [aged 24].
Thomas Audley 1st Baron Audley Walden [aged 48].
Edward Powers Lord Powers.
William Sandys 1st Baron Sandys of the Vyne [aged 66].
Thomas Ware.
Andrew Windsor 1st Baron Windsor [aged 69].
George Brooke 9th Baron Cobham [aged 39].
She was found guilty and sentenced to be beheaded. John Spelman [aged 56] signed the death warrant.
After Anne's trial her brother George Boleyn Viscount Rochford [aged 33] was also tried and found guilty.
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Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. Item, on Munday,c the 15th of May, 1536, there was arreigned within the Tower of London [Map] Queene Anne [aged 35],d for treason againste the Kinges owne person, and there was a great scaffold made in the Kinges Hall within the Tower of London [Map], and there were made benches and seates for the lordes, my Lord of Northfolke [aged 63] sittinge under the clothe of estate, representinge there the Kinges person as Highe Steward of Englande and uncle to the Queene, he holdinge a longe white staffe in his hande, and the Earle of Surrey [aged 20] his sonne and heire, sittinge at his feete before him holdinge the golden staffe for the Earle Marshall of Englande, which sayde office the saide duke had in his handes; the Lord Awdley Chauncellour of England [aged 48], sittinge on his right hande, and the Duke of Suffolke on his left hande, with other marqueses, earles, and lordes, everie one after their degrees.
Note c. Stow's account seems to hare been taken from this, with considerable verbal differences and some omissions.
Note d. There was no precedent for the trial of a Queen for treason, so Henry determined that she should be arraigned before a commission of Lords, as had been practised in the case of the Duke of Buckingham.
On 20th June 1541 Thomas Fiennes 9th Baron Dacre Gilsland [aged 26] was tried for the murder of John Busbrig, servant of Nicholas Pelham [aged 24] on whose land they were poaching on 30 Apr 1541. Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk [aged 68] was appointed Lord High Steward for the trial.
On 20th February 1547 King Edward VI of England and Ireland [aged 9] was crowned VI King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer [aged 57].
John Russell 1st Earl Bedford [aged 62] was appointed Lord High Steward. Henry Fitzalan 12th or 19th Earl of Arundel [aged 34] was appointed Constable of England.
Anthony Browne 1st Viscount Montagu [aged 18], George Vernon "King of the Peak" [aged 39], Richard Devereux [aged 34] and William Sharington [aged 52] were created Knight of the Bath.
Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon [aged 33], Edward Courtenay, William Sharington, John Shelton [aged 44] and Walter Buckler were knighted.
Edward Dymoke [aged 39] attended as the King's Champion.
Alexander Unton [aged 53] and Edward Rogers [aged 49] were knighted.
In January 1572 Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 35] was tried for high treason for his involvement in the Ridolphi Plot. Thomas Sackville 1st Earl Dorset [aged 36] acted as judge.
George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 44] was appointed Lord High Steward for the trial.
Walter Mildmay [aged 51] helped prepare evidence against Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk.
In 1589 Henry Stanley 4th Earl of Derby [aged 57] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 25th July 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 37] was crowned I King England Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Charles Howard 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 67] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 26th July 1603 Thomas Bennett [aged 60] and Thomas Cambell [aged 67] were knighted.
On 27th July 1603 William Wrey 1st Baronet was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].
On 30th July 1603 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].
Bishop Thomas Bilson [aged 56] gave the sermon. While the wording conceded something to the divine right of kings, it also included a caveat about lawful resistance to a monarch.
On 13th April 1641 Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford [aged 48] was attainted by 204 votes to 59 ostensibly for his authoritarian rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland. Despite his promise not to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 40] signed the death warrant on the 10th May 1641 in the light of increasing pressure from Parliament and the commons.
Wenceslaus Hollar [aged 33]. Engraving of the Trial of Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford with the following marked:
A. King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.
C. Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England [aged 31].
D. King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 10].
E. Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 55], Lord High Steward.
F. Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester [aged 78], Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.
G. John Paulet 5th Marquess Winchester [aged 43].
H. Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey [aged 58], Lord Chamberlain.
I. Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery [aged 56], Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
V. Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford.
Z. Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk [aged 56].
John Evelyn's Diary. 30th November 1680. The signal day begun the trial (at which I was present) of my Lord Viscount Stafford [aged 66], (for conspiring the death of the King [aged 50], second son to my Lord Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Earl Marshal of England, and grandfather to the present Duke of Norfolk [aged 52], whom I so well knew, and from which excellent person I received so many favors. It was likewise his birthday, The trial was in Westminster Hall [Map], before the King, Lords, and Commons, just in the same manner as, forty years past, the great and wise Earl of Strafford (there being but one letter differing their names) received his trial for pretended ill government in Ireland, in the very same place, this Lord Stafford's father being then High Steward. The place of sitting was now exalted some considerable height from the paved floor of the hall, with a stage of boards. The throne, woolsacks for the Judges, long forms for the Peers, chair for the Lord Steward, exactly ranged, as in the House of Lords. The sides on both hands scaffolded to the very roof for the members of the House of Commons. At the upper end, and on the right side of the King's state, was a box for his Majesty, and on the left others for the great ladies, and over head a gallery for ambassadors and public ministers. At the lower end, or entrance, was a bar, and place for the prisoner, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London, the ax-bearer and guards, my Lord Stafford's two daughters, the Marchioness of Winchester being one; there was likewise a box for my Lord to retire into. At the right hand, in another box, somewhat higher, stood the witnesses; at the left, the managers, in the name of the Commons of England, namely, Serjeant Maynard [aged 76] (the great lawyer, the same who prosecuted the cause against the Earl of Strafford forty years before, being now near eighty years of age), Sir William Jones [aged 49], late Attorney-General, Sir Francis Winnington [aged 46], a famous pleader, and Mr. Treby, now Recorder of London, not appearing in their gowns as lawyers, but in their cloaks and swords, as representing the Commons of England: to these were joined Mr. Hampden, Dr. Sacheverell, Mr. Poule, Colonel Titus [aged 57], Sir Thomas Lee [aged 45], all gentlemen of quality, and noted parliamentary men. The first two days, in which were read the commission and impeachment, were but a tedious entrance into matter of fact, at which I was but little present. But, on Thursday, I was commodiously seated among the Commons, when the witnesses were sworn and examined. The principal witnesses were Mr. Oates [aged 31] (who called himself Dr.), Mr. Dugdale [aged 40], and Turberville [aged 32]. Oates swore that he delivered a commission to Viscount Stafford from the Pope, to be Paymaster-General to an army intended to be raised; Dugdale, that being at Lord Aston's, the prisoner dealt with him plainly to murder his Majesty; and Turberville, that at Paris he also proposed the same to him.
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John Evelyn's Diary. 21st February 1689. Innumerable were the crowds, who solicited for, and expected offices; most of the old ones were turned out. Two or three white staves were disposed of some days before, as Lord Steward, to the Earl of Devonshire [aged 49]; Treasurer of the household, to Lord Newport; Lord Chamberlain to the King, to my Lord of Dorset [aged 46]; but there were as yet none in offices of the civil government save the Marquis of Halifax [aged 55] as Privy Seal. A council of thirty was chosen, Lord Derby [aged 34] president, but neither Chancellor nor Judges were yet declared, the new Great Seal not yet finished.
On 20th October 1714 King George I [aged 54] was crowned I King Great Britain and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Thomas Tenison [aged 78].
Charles Fitzroy 2nd Duke Grafton [aged 30] was appointed Lord High Steward.
Willam Humphreys 1st Baronet officiated in his capacity of Lord Mayor of London, entertaining the King and his court at Guildhall
The 1715 Battle of Preston was the final action of the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion. It commenced on 9th November 1715 when Jacobite cavalry entered Preston, Lancashire [Map]. Royalist troops arrived in number over the next few days surrounding Preston forcing the Jacocobite surrender. 1463 were taken prisoner of which 463 were English. The Scottish prisoners included:
George Seton 5th Earl of Winton [aged 38]. The only prisoner to plead not guilty, sentenced to death, escaped from the Tower of London [Map] on 4th August 1716 around nine in the evening. Travelled to France then to Rome.
On 24th February 1716 William Gordon 6th Viscount Kenmure [aged 44] was beheaded on Tower Hill [Map].
On 9th February 1716 William Maxwell 5th Earl Nithsale was sentenced to be executed on 24th February 1716. The night before his wife [aged 36] effected his escape from the Tower of London [Map] by exchanging his clothes with those of her maid. They travelled to Paris then to Rome where the court of James "Old Pretender" Stewart [aged 27] was.
James Radclyffe 3rd Earl Derwentwater [aged 26] was imprisoned in the Tower of London [Map]. He was examined by the Privy Council on 10th January 1716 and impeached on 19th January 1716. He pleaded guilty in the expectation of clemency. He was attainted and condemned to death. Attempts were made to procure his pardon. His wife Anna Maria Webb Countess Derwentwater [aged 24], her sister Mary Webb [aged 21] [Note. Assumed to be her sister Mary], their aunt Anne Brudenell Duchess Richmond [aged 45], Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland appealed to King George I [aged 55] in person without success.
On 24th February 1716 James Radclyffe 3rd Earl Derwentwater was beheaded on Tower Hill [Map]. Earl Derwentwater, Baronet Radclyffe of Derwentwater in Cumberland forfeit.
William Murray 2nd Lord Nairne was tried on 9th February 1716 for treason, found guilty, attainted, and condemned to death. He survived long enough to benefit from the Indemnity Act of 1717.
General Thomas Forster of Adderstone [aged 31] was attainted. He was imprisoned at Newgate Prison, London [Map] but escaped to France.
On 14th May 1716 Henry Oxburgh was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn [Map]. He was buried at Church of St Gile's in the Fields. His head was spiked on Temple Bar.
The trials and sentences were overseen by the Lord High Steward William Cowper 1st Earl Cowper [aged 50] for which he subsequently received his Earldom.
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In 1755 John Manners 3rd Duke Rutland [aged 58] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 22nd September 1761 King George III of Great Britain and Ireland [aged 23] was crowned III King Great Britain and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Charles Compton 7th Earl of Northampton [aged 24] was the Bearer of the Ivory Rod with the Dove.
William Talbot 1st Earl Talbot [aged 51] was appointed Lord High Steward.
Francis Hastings 10th Earl Huntingdon [aged 32] was the bearer of the Sword of State although the actual Sword of State couldn't be found and the Lord Mayor's Pearl Sword was substituted.
