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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Biography of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100

Paternal Family Tree: Chateaudun

Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche were married. She by marriage Countess Mortain Mortagne. She the daughter of Hilduin Montdidier IV Count Montdidier. He the son of Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche and Adeliza de Bellême Countess Perche.

Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche was born to [his father] Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche and [his mother] Adeliza de Bellême Countess Perche.

In 1044 [his father] Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche succeeded II Count Perche.

In 1060 Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche succeeded II Count Mortain Mortagne.

14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings

                    On 14th October 1066 the Norman army led by King William "Conqueror" I of England [aged 38] defeated the English army of King Harold II of England [aged 44] at the 14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings fought at Senlac Hill Hastings. Aimery Thouars [aged 42], Ralph de Gael 2nd Earl East Anglia [aged 24], Eustace II Count Boulogne [aged 51], William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford [aged 46], Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche, William Warenne 1st Earl of Surrey, Raoul Tosny, Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan [aged 26], Hugh Grandesmil [aged 34], Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (possibly), Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall [aged 35] and Bishop Odo of Bayeux fought for William.
                
                    King Harold II of England was killed. Earl Wessex, Earl Hereford extinct.
                
                    Leofwine Godwinson 2nd Earl Kent [aged 31] was killed. Earl Kent extinct.
                
                    His brothers Gyrth Godwinson Earl East Anglia [aged 34] and Engenulphe Aigle [aged 56] were killed.

In 1080 [his father] Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche died. His son Geoffrey succeeded III Count Perche. Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche by marriage Countess Perche.

Around 1080 [his son] Routrou "The Great" Chateaudun III Count Perche was born to Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche. He married (1) before 1120 Matilda Fitzroy Countess Perche and had issue (2) before 1135 Hawise Salisbury Countess Dreux, daughter of Walter of Salisbury 2nd Baron Chitterne and Sybilla Chaworth Baroness Chitterne, and had issue.

Before 1100 [his son-in-law] Henry Beaumont 1st Earl Warwick [aged 49] and Marguerite Chateaudun Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. She the daughter of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche.

In October 1100 Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche died. His son Routrou [aged 20] succeeded III Count Perche.

[his daughter] Marguerite Chateaudun Countess Warwick was born to Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche. She married before 1100 Henry Beaumont 1st Earl Warwick and had issue.

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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[his daughter] Juliette du Perche Chateaudun was born to Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche. She married Gilbert Aigle Lord Aigle and had issue.

[his daughter] Mathilde Chateaudun was born to Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche and Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche.

Biography of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100

Royal Descendants of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100

Biography of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100

Royal Descendants of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100

Royal Descendants of Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche -1100
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.