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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In 1270 [his father] Charles II King Naples and [his mother] Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples were married.
On 8th September 1271 Charles Martel King Hungary was born to [his father] Charles II King Naples and [his mother] Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples.
In 1281 Charles Martel King Hungary and Clementia Habsburg were married. She the daughter of Rudolph I King Romans and Gertrude Hohenburg. He the son of Charles II King Naples and Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples.
In 1288 [his son] Charles I King Hungary was born to Charles Martel King Hungary and [his wife] Clementia Habsburg. On 5th May 1309 Charles I King Hungary succeeded I King Hungary. He married (1) 1306 Mary Bytom Queen Consort Hungary Queen Consort Poland (2) February 1319 Beatrix Luxemburg Queen Consort Hungary, daughter of Henry Luxemburg VII Holy Roman Emperor and Margaret Brabant Countess Luxemburg and Namur (3) 6th July 1320 Elisabeth Unknown Queen Consort Hungary and had issue.
In 1289 [his brother-in-law] Rudolf Habsburg II Duke Austria and Agnes Přemyslid Duchess Austria were married. She by marriage Duchess Austria. She the daughter of Ottokar "Iron King" II King Bohemia and Kunigunda Rostislavna Přemyslovna. He the son of [his father-in-law] Rudolph I King Romans and [his mother-in-law] Gertrude Hohenburg.
In 1290 [his daughter] Beatrix Hungary was born to Charles Martel King Hungary and [his wife] Clementia Habsburg.
In 1290 Charles Martel King Hungary was appointed King Hungary.
On 10th May 1290 [his brother-in-law] Rudolf Habsburg II Duke Austria died at Prague.
On 16th August 1290 [his brother-in-law] Charles Valois I Count Valois and [his sister] Margaret Capet Countess Valois were married. She by marriage Countess Valois. She the daughter of [his father] Charles II King Naples and [his mother] Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples. He the son of King Philip III of France and Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France.
On 15th July 1291 [his father-in-law] Rudolph I King Romans died at Speyer. He was buried at Speyer Cathedral. [his brother-in-law] Albert Habsburg I Duke Austria succeeded I Duke Austria.
In February 1293 [his daughter] Clementia Hungary Queen Consort France was born to Charles Martel King Hungary and [his wife] Clementia Habsburg. She married Louis X King France I Navarre, son of King Philip IV of France and Joan Blois I Queen Navarre, and had issue.
After 7th February 1293 [his former wife] Clementia Habsburg died.
On 12th August 1295 Charles Martel King Hungary died at Naples. He was buried at Naples Cathedral.
On 5th May 1309 [his father] Charles II King Naples died. Charles Martel King Hungary succeeded King Naples.