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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Half Third Cousin Once Removed is in Third Cousin.
1328 Mortimer Double Marriage and Tournament
1420 Marriage of Henry V and Catherine of Valois
1501 Marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon
1509 Marriage and Coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
In 1195 Sancho "Strong" VII King Navarre (age 40) and Constance Rouerge Queen Consort Navarre (age 15) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Navarre. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of Raymond Count of Toulouse (age 38) and Beatrice Beziers. He the son of Sancho "Wise" King Navarre and Sancha Ivrea. They were half third cousin once removed.
After 1208 Anselm Marshal 6th Earl Pembroke and Maud Bohun Countess Pembroke and Winchester were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex (age 4) and Matilda Lusignan Countess Hereford and Essex. He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 62) and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke (age 36). They were half third cousin once removed.
In 1211 Philip Flanders I Marquis Namur (age 36) and Marie Capet (age 13) were married. He died a year later. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of King Philip II of France (age 45) and Agnes of Merania Queen Consort France. He the son of Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
On 6th December 1214 Floris Gerulfing IV Count Holland (age 4) and Mathilde Reginar Countess Holland and Palatine (age 14) were married. She by marriage Countess Holland. She the daughter of Henry Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine I Duke Brabant (age 49) and Maud Metz. He the son of William Gerulfing I Count Holland (age 47) and Adelaide Guelders Countess Holland. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Stephen I England.
Before November 1237 Richard de Clare 6th Earl Gloucester 5th Earl Hertford (age 15) and Margaret Burgh Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess Gloucester, Countess Hertford. She the daughter of Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 67) and Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent (age 44). He the son of Gilbert Clare 5th Earl Gloucester 4th Earl Hertford and Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford (age 37). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
Before 26th June 1242 Thomas Beaumont 6th Earl Warwick (age 34) and Ela Longespee Countess Warwick were married. She the daughter of William Longespée Earl Salisbury and Ela of Salisbury 3rd Countess of Salisbury (age 55). He the son of Henry Beaumont 5th Earl Warwick and Philipa Basset Countess Warwick. They were half third cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
In or after 1250 Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester (age 55) and Maud Bohun Countess Pembroke and Winchester were married. She by marriage Countess Winchester. She the daughter of Humphrey Bohun 2nd Earl Hereford 1st Earl Essex (age 46) and Matilda Lusignan Countess Hereford and Essex. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before August 1257 Robert Quincy and Elen ferch Llewellyn Aberffraw Countess Huntingdon and Mar were married. He the son of Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester and Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester. They were half third cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King John of England.
In 1272 Peter Capet Count Alençon (age 21) and Joan Chatillon I Countess Blois (age 19) were married. She the daughter of John Chatillon I Count Saint Pol and Alix Capet Countess Saint Pol (age 29). He the son of King Louis IX of France and Margaret Provence Queen Consort France (age 51). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
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.
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In 1282 Denis I King Portugal (age 20) and Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal (age 11) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Portugal. She the daughter of Peter III King Aragon (age 42) and Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon (age 33). He the son of Alfonso III King Portugal and Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal (age 40). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 14th November 1282 Alexander Dunkeld Prince Scotland (age 18) and Margaret Dampierre Countess Guelders (age 10) were married. She the daughter of Guy Dampierre Count Flanders (age 56) and Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Flanders (age 35). He the son of King Alexander III of Scotland (age 41) and Margaret Queen of Scotland. They were half third cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
Before 2nd February 1283 Arnoul Guines III Count Guînes (age 53) and Alix Coucy Countess Guînes (age 61) were married. She by marriage Countess Guînes. He the son of Baldwin Guines III Count Guînes and Mauhaut Fiennes Countess Guînes. They were half third cousin once removed.
In 1286 Reginald I Count Guelders (age 31) and Margaret Dampierre Countess Guelders (age 14) were married. She by marriage Countess Guelders. She the daughter of Guy Dampierre Count Flanders (age 60) and Isabelle Luxemburg Countess Flanders (age 39). He the son of Otto II Count Guelders and Philippe Dammartin Countess Eu. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
After 1305 Thomas Wake 2nd Baron Wake of Liddell (age 8) and Blanche Plantagenet Baroness Wake Liddell were married. She by marriage Baroness Wake of Liddell. She the daughter of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 24) and Maud Chaworth (age 22). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King John of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In or before 1321 Henry Percy 10th and 2nd Baron Percy (age 19) and Idonia Clifford Baroness Percy (age 17) were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick, Baroness Percy of Topcliffe. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 9th February 1321 Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey (age 15) and Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel (age 9) were married at Havering atte Bower, Essex [Map]. She by marriage Countess Arundel. He the son of Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel (age 35) and Alice Warenne Countess Arundel. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 31st May 1328 the Mortimer family leveraged their new status at a lavish ceremony that celebrated the marriages of two of Roger Mortimer's (age 41) daughters at Hereford [Map].
Edward Plantagenet (age 8) and Beatrice Mortimer (age 6) were married. She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville (age 42). He the son of Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk (age 27) and Alice Hales Countess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.
Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke (age 9) and Agnes Mortimer Countess of Pembroke (age 11) were married. She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville. He the son of John Hastings 2nd Baron Hastings 14th Baron Abergavenny and Juliana Leybourne Countess Huntingdon (age 25). They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.
King Edward III of England (age 15) and his mother Isabella of France Queen Consort England (age 33) attended as well as Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March.
In August 1338 Maurice Berkeley 9th and 4th Baron Berkeley (age 18) and Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Berkeley (age 13) were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley Feudal Baroness Berkeley. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King John of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Before 10th November 1341 Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 20) and Mary Plantagenet Baroness Percy (age 21) were married. She by marriage Baroness Percy of Alnwick. She the daughter of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 60) and Maud Chaworth. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
14th December 1344 Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey (age 38) and Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel (age 32) marriage annulled by Pope Clement VI on the grounds that he had never freely consented to marry Isabel. He, at this time, is believed to be having an affair with her first cousin Eleanor (age 26) who he married four months later.
On 25th December 1357 John Sutton 2nd Baron Sutton (age 18) and Katherine Stafford Baroness Sutton Dudley (age 9) were married. She by marriage Baroness Sutton of Dudley. She the daughter of Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 56) and Margaret Audley Countess Stafford. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke
Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.
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On 5th October 1376 Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland (age 14) and Philippa Guines Duchess Ireland (age 9) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She the daughter of Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 36) and Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 44). He the son of Thomas de Vere 8th Earl of Oxford and Maud Ufford Countess of Oxford (age 31). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1387 Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland (age 24) and Philippa Guines Duchess Ireland (age 19) were divorced.
Before 1390 Archibald Douglas 1st Duke Touraine (age 17) and Margaret Stewart Duchess Touraine were married. She the daughter of King Robert III of Scotland (age 52) and Annabella Drummond Queen Consort Scotland (age 39). He the son of Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas (age 60) and Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
In 1393 Waleran Luxemburg (age 38) and Bonne of Bar were married. She the daughter of Robert of Bar 1st Duke of Bar (age 48) and Marie Valois Duchess Bar (age 48). He the son of Guy of Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Ligny and Mathilde Chatillon Countess Saint Pol. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Before 19th June 1399 Edward Charleton 5th Baron Cherleton (age 29) and Eleanor Holland Countess March and Ulster (age 28) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (age 49). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 21st February 1402 Anthony Valois Duke Brabant (age 17) and Jeanne Luxemburg Duchess Brabant were married at Arras. She by marriage Duchess Brabant. He the son of Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 60) and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy (age 54). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Before 1407 Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 18) and Eleanor Holland (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent (age 56). He the son of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury (age 42). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Before 1412 Edward Hastings 8th Baron Hastings (age 29) and Muriel Dynham Baroness Hastings (age 29) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 2nd June 1420 Henry V (age 33) and Catherine of Valois (age 18) were married at Troyes Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France (age 51) and Isabeau Wittelsbach Queen Consort France (age 50). He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
Before 1424 James "Gross" Douglas 7th Earl Douglas 1st Earl Avondale (age 52) and Beatrice Stewart Countess Douglas and Avondale (age 62) were married. She by marriage Countess Douglas, Countess Avondale. She the daughter of Robert Stewart 1st Duke Albany and Margaret Graham 3rd Countess Menteith. He the son of Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas and Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King John of England.
In 1424 James Berkeley 11th and 1st Baron Berkeley (age 30) and Isabel Mowbray Baroness Berkeley (age 24) were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. She the daughter of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 58). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
After 25th October 1439 John Holland 2nd Duke Exeter (age 44) and Anne Montagu Duchess Exeter (age 39) were married. She by marriage Duchess Exeter. She the daughter of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury. He the son of John Holland 1st Duke Exeter and Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Before 18th May 1445 William Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Groby (age 73) and Margaret Montagu Baroness Ferrers Groby (age 45) were married. She by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Groby. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury and Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1449 Thomas Boteler and Eleanor Talbot (age 12) were married. She the daughter of John "Old Talbot" Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (age 66) and Margaret Beauchamp Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 45). They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1459 David Lindsay 1st Duke Montrose (age 19) and Elizabeth Hamilton Duchess Montrose (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Crawford. She the daughter of James Hamilton 1st Lord Hamilton (age 44) and Euphemia Graham Lady Hamilton (age 51). He the son of Alexander Lindsay 4th Earl Crawford and Margaret Dunbar Countess Crawford (age 34). They were half third cousin once removed.
After 28th February 1463 William Stanley (age 28) and Joan Beaumont Baroness Lovel (age 28) were married. She the daughter of John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 63). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before 1501 John Clinton 7th Baron Clinton (age 30) and Anne West Baroness Clinton were married. She by marriage Baroness Clinton. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 14th November 1501 Arthur Prince of Wales (age 15) and Catherine of Aragon (age 15) were married at St Paul's Cathedral [Map] by Archbishop Henry Deane assisted by William Warham Bishop of London (age 51) and a further eighteen bishops. She wore a white satin dress with a farthingale and over her head wore a veil of fine silk trimmed with gold and pearls. She would, eight years later, marry his younger brother King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 10) - see Marriage and Coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She the daughter of Ferdinand II King Aragon (age 49) and Isabella Queen Castile (age 50). He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 44) and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England (age 35). They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Prince Henry who escorted her up the aisle and gave her away.
Cecily York Viscountess Welles (age 32) bore the train, Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset (age 24) was Chief Answerer.
Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 18) and Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 23) attended.
Thomas Englefield was appointed Knight of the Bath.
Immediately after their marriage Arthur Prince of Wales and Catherine of Aragon resided at Tickenhill Manor, Bewdley [Map] for a month. Thereafter they travelled to Ludlow, Shropshire [Map].
Before 1509 John Aske (age 22) and Eleanor Rhyther (age 18) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 11th June 1509, one month after the death of his father, Henry VIII (age 17) and Catherine of Aragon (age 23) were married at the Church of the Observant Friars, Greenwich [Map]. She had, eight years before, married his older brother Prince Arthur Tudor - see Marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. She the daughter of Ferdinand II King Aragon (age 57) and Isabella Queen Castile. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before 1512 Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland (age 18) and Margaret Talbot Baroness Clifford were married. She by marriage Baroness de Clifford. She the daughter of George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 43) and Anne Hastings Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 40). They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 8th May 1513 Charles Bourbon Duke Vendôme (age 23) and Françoise Valois Countess Vendôme (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess Vendôme. She the daughter of Rene Valois Duke Alençon and Margaret Lorraine Duchess Alençon (age 50). He the son of Francis Bourbon Count Vendôme and Soissons and Marie Luxemburg Countess Vendôme and Soissons. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In November 1513 William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 23) and Mabel Clifford Countess Southampton (age 31) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Before 1531 Christopher Danby (age 27) and Elizabeth Neville (age 30) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before September 1531 Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby (age 22) and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Agnes Tilney Duchess Norfolk (age 54). He the son of Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby and Anne Hastings Countess Derby (age 46). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Around 1533 Henry Norreys 1st Baron Norreys of Rycote (age 8) and Margery Williams Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 12) were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
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Before 19th September 1534 Thomas Berkeley 6th Baron Berkeley (age 29) and Anne Savage Baroness Berkeley (age 38) were married. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
Before 28th October 1539 John Conyers 3rd Baron Conyers (age 15) and Maud Clifford Baroness Conyers (age 16) were married. She by marriage Baroness Conyers. She the daughter of Henry Clifford 1st Earl of Cumberland (age 46) and Margaret Percy Baroness Clifford (age 39). They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before 26th March 1543 Thomas Clifford and Lucy Browne were married. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before June 1543 John Hay 3rd Lord Hay (age 53) and Elizabeth Douglas Lady Hay were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 14th February 1556 Ulrich Mecklenburg-Schwerin (age 28) and Elizabeth Oldenburg (age 31) were married. She the daughter of King Frederick I of Denmark and Sophie of Pomerania Queen Consort of Denmark and Sweden (age 58). They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1562 Thomas Wingfield of Kimbolton Castle (age 22) and Honora Denny (age 35) were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 10th January 1563 James Stewart 1st Lord Doune (age 34) and Margaret Campbell (age 19) were married. There was a masque involving courtiers and musicians dressed in white taffeta as shepherds. She the daughter of Archibald Campbell 4th Earl Argyll and Margaret Graham Countess Argyll. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 29th April 1566 Jacques of Savoy 2nd Duke of Nemours (age 34) and Anna d'Este (age 34) were married. She the daughter of Ercole Este II Duke Ferrara and Renée of France Duchess of Ferrara (age 55). They were half third cousin once removed.
On 15th May 1567 James "Lord Bothwell" Hepburn 1st Duke Orkney (age 33) and Mary Queen of Scots (age 24) were married in the Great Hall Holyrood House. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
In or before 1568 John Scudamore (age 25) and Elynor Croft (age 25) were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
In 1571 Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel (age 13) and Anne Dacre Countess Arundel (age 13) were married. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk (age 34) and Mary Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1572 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 10) and Mary Dacre (age 8) were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. She died six years later three months short of her fifteenth birthday. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk (age 35) and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 27th October 1573 Christopher Mecklenburg-Schwerin (age 36) and Dorothea Oldenburg (age 45) were married. She the daughter of King Frederick I of Denmark and Sophie of Pomerania Queen Consort of Denmark and Sweden. They were half third cousin once removed.
Annals of the six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet
Translation of the Annals of the Six Kings of England by that traces the rise and rule of the Angevin aka Plantagenet dynasty from the mid-12th to early 14th century. Written by the Dominican scholar Nicholas Trivet, the work offers a vivid account of English history from the reign of King Stephen through to the death of King Edward I, blending political narrative with moral reflection. Covering the reigns of six monarchs—from Stephen to Edward I—the chronicle explores royal authority, rebellion, war, and the shifting balance between crown, church, and nobility. Trivet provides detailed insight into defining moments such as baronial conflicts, Anglo-French rivalry, and the consolidation of royal power under Edward I, whose reign he describes with particular immediacy. The Annals combines careful year-by-year reporting with thoughtful interpretation, presenting history not merely as a sequence of events but as a moral and political lesson. Ideal for readers interested in medieval history, kingship, and the origins of the English state, this chronicle remains a valuable and accessible window into the turbulent world of the Plantagenet kings.
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On 28th October 1577 William Howard (age 13) and Elizabeth Dacre (age 12) were married. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 20th November 1586 John Savile 1st Baron Savile (age 30) and Elizabeth Carey Baroness Savile (age 16) were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
Around 1595 John Arundell (age 31) and Ann Jerningham (age 23) were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1598 William Herbert 1st Baron Powis (age 24) and Eleanor Percy Baroness Herbert (age 14) were married. She the daughter of Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland and Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland. They were half third cousin once removed.
In or before 1601 Philippe Carteret 3rd Seigneur Sark (age 16) and Anne Dowse were married. She by marriage Seigneur of Sark. They were half third cousin once removed.
In 1601 William Douglas 1st Marquess Douglas (age 12) and Margaret Hamilton Countess Angus (age 16) were married. He the son of William Douglas 10th Earl Angus (age 49) and Elizabeth Oliphant Countess Angus. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 2nd October 1607 James Stewart 3rd Earl of Moray (age 16) and Anne Gordon Countess Moray were married. She by marriage Countess Moray. She the daughter of George Gordon 1st Marquess Huntly (age 45) and Henrietta Stewart Marchioness Huntly (age 34). He the son of James "The Bonnie Earl" Stewart 2nd Earl of Moray and Elizabeth Stewart 2nd Countess Moray. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.
On 16th July 1608 César Bourbon Vendôme 1st Duke Vendôme (age 14) and Françoise Lorraine Duchess Vendôme (age 15) were married. She by marriage Duchess Vendôme. He the illegitmate son of Henry IV King France (age 54) and Gabrielle d'Estrées. They were half third cousin once removed.
In 1609 William Kettler Duke Courland (age 34) and Sophie Hohenzollern (age 26) were married. She the daughter of Albert Frederick Hohenzollern Duke Prussia (age 55) and Marie Eleonore La Marck. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1645 John Hay 1st Marquess Tweeddale (age 19) and Jean Scott Marchioness Teviotdale were married. She the daughter of Walter Scott 1st Earl Buccleuch and Mary Hay Countess Buccleuch. He the son of John Hay 1st Earl Tweeddale (age 51) and Jean Seton. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 1653 Edward Littleton 2nd Baronet (age 20) and Mary Wrottesley Lady Littleton were married. She by marriage Lady Littleton of Pillaton Hall. They were half third cousin once removed.
Before 9th October 1656 Colonel John Lamplugh of Lamplugh Hall in Cumberland (age 37) and Frances Lamplugh were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 2nd May 1670 John Cecil 5th Earl Exeter (age 22) and Anne Cavendish Countess Exeter (age 21) were married. She the daughter of William Cavendish 3rd Earl Devonshire (age 52) and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Devonshire (age 51). He the son of John Cecil 4th Earl Exeter (age 42) and Frances Manners Countess Exeter. They were half third cousin once removed.
In or before 1678 John Arundell 2nd Baron Arundel of Trerice (age 28) and Margaret Acland Baroness Arundel Trerice were married. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward IV of England.
On 29th April 1697 John Hamilton-Leslie 9th Earl of Rothes (age 18) and Jean Hay were married. She the daughter of John Hay 2nd Marquess Tweeddale (age 52) and Mary Maitland Marchioness Tweddale. He the son of Charles Hamilton 5th Earl Haddington and Margaret Leslie 8th Countess Rothes and Haddington. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 17th August 1736 William Lowther 2nd Baronet (age 42) and Catherine Ramsden Lady Lowther (age 38) were married. She by marriage Lady Lowther of Swillington in West Yorkshire. They were half third cousin once removed.
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 2nd July 1784 George Fitzroy 2nd Baron Southampton (age 22) and Laura Keppel Baroness Southampton (age 19) were married. She by marriage Baroness Southampton. She the daughter of Bishop Frederick Keppel and Laura Walpole. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland.
Before 29th January 1788 John Clifton (age 24) and Elizabeth Widdrington Riddell (age 18) were married. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 25th July 1854 George Byng 3rd Earl Strafford (age 24) and Alice Leveson-Gower aka Egerton Countess Strafford (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Francis Leveson Gower aka Egerton 1st Earl Ellesmere (age 54) and Harriet Greville Countess Ellesmere (age 51). He the son of George Byng 2nd Earl Strafford (age 48) and Agnes Paget. They were half third cousin once removed.
On 21st July 1874 John Beresford 5th Marquess Waterford (age 30) and Blanche Somerset Marchioness of Waterford (age 18) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Waterford. She the daughter of Henry Charles Fitzroy Somerset 8th Duke Beaufort (age 50) and Georgiana Charlotte Curzon Howe Duchess Beaufort (age 49). He the son of John Beresford 4th Marquess Waterford and Christiana Leslie Marchioness of Waterford (age 54). They were half third cousin once removed.
On 1902 William Lygon 7th Earl Beauchamp (age 29) and Lettice Mary Elizabeth Grosvenor Countess Beauchamp (age 25) were married. She by marriage Countess Beauchamp. He the son of Frederick Lygon 6th Earl Beauchamp and Mary Catherine Stanhope Countess Beauchamp. They were half third cousin once removed.
Colonel Ignatius Nugent and Jane Plunkett were married. He the son of Richard Nugent 1st Earl Westmeath and Jane Plunkett Countess Westmeath. They were half third cousin once removed.
Enguerrand Montdidier I Count Ponthieu and Adelina Gerulfing Countess Boulogne and Ponthieu were married. She by marriage Countess Ponthieu. She the daughter of Arnulf Gerulfing Count Holland and Luitgarde Luxemburg Countess Holland. He the son of Hugh Montdidier I Count Ponthieu and Gisela Capet Countess Ponthieu. They were half third cousin once removed.
Baldwin IX Count Flanders VI Count Hainaut and Marie Blois Countess Flanders were married. She by marriage Countess Flanders, Countess Flanders. She the daughter of Henry Blois I Count Champagne and Marie Capet Countess Champagne. He the son of Baldwin Flanders V Count Hainaut and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
Raoul Nesle and Isabelle Hainaut were married. She the daughter of John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland and Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainaut and Holland. He the son of John Nesle III Count Soissons and Margaret Montfort Countess Soissons. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Stephen I England.
John Savage and Elizabeth Manners were married. She the daughter of Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
James Douglas 2nd Earl Douglas and Isabella Stewart Countess Douglas were married. She by marriage Countess Douglas. She the daughter of King Robert II of Scotland and Elizabeth Mure Queen Consort Scotland. He the son of William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas and Margaret Mar Countess Douglas 11th Countess Mar. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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Alfonso II King Aragon and Sancha Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. She the daughter of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon and Richeza Unknown Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon. He the son of Raymond V Count Barcelona and Petronilla Jiménez Queen Aragon. They were half third cousin once removed.
Matthias Metz I Duke Lorraine and Bertha aka Judith Hohenstaufen Duchess Lorraine were married. She by marriage Duchess Lorraine. She the daughter of Frederick "One Eyed" Hohenstaufen I Holy Roman Emperor and Judith Welf Holy Roman Empress. He the son of Simon Metz I Duke Lorraine and Adelaide Reginar Duchess Lorraine. They were half third cousin once removed.
Gilbert Talbot 3rd Baron Talbot and Petronella Butler were married. She the daughter of James Butler 1st Earl Ormonde and Eleanor Bohun Countess Ormonde. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
William Harcourt and Hilaria or Eleanor Hastings were married. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
Simon Metz I Duke Lorraine and Adelaide Reginar Duchess Lorraine were married. She the daughter of Henry Reginar III Count Louvain and Gertrude Flanders Duchess Lorraine. He the son of Theodoric "Valiant" Metz II Duke Lorraine and Hedwige Formbach Duchess Lorraine. They were half third cousin once removed.
Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol and Marie Capet were married. She the daughter of John II Duke Brittany and Beatrice Plantagenet. He the son of Guy Chatillon III Count Saint Pol and Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 3 grandson of King Stephen I England. She a granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
Philip Wenman 7th Viscount Wenman and Anne Eleanora Bertie Viscountess Wenman were married. She the daughter of Willoughby Bertie 3rd Earl of Abingdon and Anna Maria Collins Countess Abingdon. They were half third cousin once removed.
John "Lord Darnley" Stewart and Jean Hepburn were married. She the daughter of Patrick Hepburn 3rd Earl Bothwell and Agnes Sinclair Countess Bothwell. He the illegitmate son of King James V of Scotland and Elizabeth Carmichael. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great grandson of King Henry VII of England and Ireland. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
David Stewart 1st Duke Rothesay and Marjory Douglas Duchess Rothesay were married. She the daughter of Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas and Joanna Strathearn Countess Douglas. He the son of King Robert III of Scotland and Annabella Drummond Queen Consort Scotland. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England.
Nicholas Audley and Katharine Giffard were married. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King John of England.
Ralph Capet II Count Vermandois and Margaret Metz Countess Hainaut and Flanders were married. She the daughter of Thierry Count Flanders and Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex. He the son of Ralph I Capet I Count Vermandois and Petronilla Poitiers. They were half third cousin once removed.