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.
Marquess Tavistock is in Marquessates of England Alphabetically, Marquessates of England Chronologically, Extant Marquessates of England.
Summary
11th May 1694. William Russell 1st Duke Bedford [aged 77] created.
7th September 1700. Grandson Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford [aged 19] succeeded.
26th May 1711. Son Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 3] succeeded.
23rd October 1732. Brother John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 22] succeeded.
5th January 1771. Grandson Francis Russell 5th Duke Bedford [aged 5] succeeded.
2nd March 1802. Brother John Russell 6th Duke Bedford [aged 35] succeeded.
20th October 1839. Son Francis Russell 7th Duke Bedford [aged 51] succeeded.
14th May 1861. Son William Russell 8th Duke Bedford [aged 51] succeeded.
27th May 1872. First Cousin Francis Russell 9th Duke Bedford [aged 52] succeeded.
14th January 1891. Son George William Sackville Russell 10th Duke Bedford [aged 38] succeeded.
23rd March 1893. Brother Herbrand Arthur Russell 11th Duke Bedford [aged 35] succeeded.
27th August 1940. Son Hastings William Russell 12th Duke Bedford [aged 51] succeeded.
9th October 1953. Son John Ian Robert Russell 13th Duke Bedford [aged 36] succeeded.
25th October 2002. Son Henry Robin Ian Russell 14th Duke Bedford [aged 62] succeeded.
13th June 2003. Son Andrew Ian Henry Russell 15th Duke Bedford [aged 41] succeeded.
On 11th May 1694 William Russell 1st Duke Bedford [aged 77] was created 1st Duke Bedford, 1st Marquess Tavistock.
On 7th September 1700 William Russell 1st Duke Bedford [aged 84] died at Bedford House Covent Garden. His grandson Wriothesley [aged 19] succeeded 2nd Duke Bedford, 2nd Marquess Tavistock, 6th Earl Bedford, 6th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 4th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 2nd Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 26th May 1711 Wriothesley Russell 2nd Duke Bedford [aged 30] died. His son Wriothesley [aged 3] succeeded 3rd Duke Bedford, 3rd Marquess Tavistock, 7th Earl Bedford, 7th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 5th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 3rd Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 23rd October 1732 Wriothesley Russell 3rd Duke Bedford [aged 24] died at A Coruña. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His brother John [aged 22] succeeded 4th Duke Bedford, 4th Marquess Tavistock, 8th Earl Bedford, 8th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 6th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 4th Baron Howland of Streatham. Diana Spencer Duchess Bedford [aged 22] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
On 5th January 1771 John Russell 4th Duke Bedford [aged 60] died at Woburn, Bedfordshire. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His grandson Francis [aged 5] succeeded 5th Duke Bedford, 5th Marquess Tavistock, 9th Earl Bedford, 9th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 7th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 5th Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 2nd March 1802 Francis Russell 5th Duke Bedford [aged 36] died unmarried at Woburn, Bedfordshire. He was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His brother John [aged 35] succeeded 6th Duke Bedford, 6th Marquess Tavistock, 10th Earl Bedford, 10th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 8th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 6th Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 20th October 1839 John Russell 6th Duke Bedford [aged 73] died. His son Francis [aged 51] succeeded 7th Duke Bedford, 7th Marquess Tavistock, 11th Earl Bedford, 11th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 9th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 7th Baron Howland of Streatham. Anna Maria Stanhope Duchess Bedford [aged 56] by marriage Marchioness Tavistock.
On 14th May 1861 Francis Russell 7th Duke Bedford [aged 73] died. His son William [aged 51] succeeded 8th Duke Bedford, 8th Marquess Tavistock, 12th Earl Bedford, 12th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 10th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 8th Baron Howland of Streatham.
On 27th May 1872 William Russell 8th Duke Bedford [aged 62] died. His first cousin Francis [aged 52] succeeded 9th Duke Bedford, 9th Marquess Tavistock, 13th Earl Bedford, 13th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 11th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 9th Baron Howland of Streatham
On 14th January 1891 Francis Russell 9th Duke Bedford [aged 71] shot himself as a result of insanity at 81 Eaton Square, Belgravia. His son George [aged 38] succeeded 10th Duke Bedford, 10th Marquess Tavistock, 14th Earl Bedford, 14th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 12th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 10th Baron Howland of Streatham. Adeline Marie Somers Duchess Bedford [aged 38] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
Monument in the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies erected by Elizabeth Sackville-West Duchess Bedford [aged 72] in 1892.
On 23rd March 1893 George William Sackville Russell 10th Duke Bedford [aged 40] died. George William Sackville Russell 10th Duke Bedford was buried at Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. His brother Herbrand [aged 35] succeeded 11th Duke Bedford, 11th Marquess Tavistock, 15th Earl Bedford, 15th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 13th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 11th Baron Howland of Streatham. Mary Caurroy Tribe Duchess Bedford [aged 27] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 27th August 1940 Herbrand Arthur Russell 11th Duke Bedford [aged 82] died. His son Hastings [aged 51] succeeded 12th Duke Bedford, 12th Marquess Tavistock, 16th Earl Bedford, 16th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 14th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 12th Baron Howland of Streatham. Louisa Crommelin Roberta Jowitt Whitwell Duchess Bedford by marriage Duchess Bedford.
On 9th October 1953 Hastings William Russell 12th Duke Bedford [aged 64] died. His son John [aged 36] succeeded 13th Duke Bedford, 13th Marquess Tavistock, 17th Earl Bedford, 17th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 15th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 13th Baron Howland of Streatham. Lydia Yarde-Buller Duchess Bedford [aged 35] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
On 25th October 2002 John Ian Robert Russell 13th Duke Bedford [aged 85] died at Santa Fe. His son Henry [aged 62] succeeded 14th Duke Bedford, 14th Marquess Tavistock, 13th Marquess Tavistock, 18th Earl Bedford, 18th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 16th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 14th Baron Howland of Streatham. Henrietta Joan Tiarks Duchess Bedford [aged 62] by marriage Duchess Bedford.
On 13th June 2003 Henry Robin Ian Russell 14th Duke Bedford [aged 63] died. His son Andrew [aged 41] succeeded 15th Duke Bedford, 15th Marquess Tavistock, 19th Earl Bedford, 19th Baron Russell of Cheneys, 17th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, 15th Baron Howland of Streatham.