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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Paternal Family Tree: Lowther
On 25th January 1857 Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale was born to [his father] Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale [aged 38].
On 4th March 1872 William Lowther 2nd Earl Lonsdale [aged 84] died. His nephew [his father] Henry [aged 53] succeeded 3rd Earl Lonsdale, 4th Viscount Lowther, 4th Baron Lowther.
On 15th August 1876 [his father] Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale [aged 58] died. His son [his brother] George [aged 20] succeeded 4th Earl Lonsdale, 5th Viscount Lowther, 5th Baron Lowther.
In 1878 Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale [aged 20] and Grace Cecilie Gordon Countess Lonsdale [aged 23] were married. She the daughter of Charles Gordon 10th Marquess Huntly and Maria Antoinetta Pegus Marchioness Huntly [aged 57]. He the son of Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale.
On 6th July 1878 [his brother] George Henry Lowther 4th Earl Lonsdale [aged 22] and [his sister-in-law] Constance Gwladys Herbert Marchioness Ripon [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Lonsdale. He the son of [his father] Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale.
On 8th February 1882 George Henry Lowther 4th Earl Lonsdale [aged 26] died at a house in London he had purchased for Connie Gilchrist [aged 17] and other girls of the Gaiety Theatre. He bequeathed the house, and a sizeable legacy, to Gilchrist. His brother Hugh [aged 25] succeeded 5th Earl Lonsdale, 6th Viscount Lowther, 6th Baron Lowther. Grace Cecilie Gordon Countess Lonsdale [aged 27] by marriage Countess Lonsdale.
In 1885 George Chetwynd 4th Baronet [aged 35] and Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale [aged 27] came to blows at Hyde Park [Map] over the affections of Emilie Charlotte Le Breton "Lily Langtry" [aged 31] who they had both arranged to meet. George Chetwynd 4th Baronet, apparently, got the better of Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale. Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale was summoned by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom [aged 65] to explain himself.
On 1st January 1887 [his brother-in-law] Victor Albert Francis Spencer 1st Viscount Churchill [aged 22] and [his sister] Verena Lowther [aged 21] were married. She by marriage Baroness Churchill Wychwood in Oxfordshire. They had four children. When she wished to divorce Lord Churchill, King Edward forbade it, to avoid a scandal among his social circle. Instead she disappeared in 1909 taking their son, aged 19, and two daughters, aged 13 and 8, with her. In 1927 he obtained a divorce on the grounds of desertion. She the daughter of [his father] Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale.
On 13th November 1888 Clementina Drummond Willoughby 24th Baroness Willoughby of Eresby Baroness Aveland [aged 79] died. Her son Gilbert [aged 58] succeeded 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. [his sister-in-law] Evelyn Elizabeth Gordon Countess Ancaster [aged 42] by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.
On 24th April 1889 [his brother] Lancelot Edward Lowther 6th Earl Lonsdale [aged 21] and [his sister-in-law] Gwendoline Sheffield [aged 20] were married. He the son of [his father] Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale.
In 1892 Gilbert Henry Heathcote Drummond Willoughby 1st Earl Ancaster [aged 61] was created 1st Earl Ancaster in Lincolnshire. [his sister-in-law] Evelyn Elizabeth Gordon Countess Ancaster [aged 45] by marriage Countess Ancaster in Lincolnshire.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough
A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'
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On 16th March 1921 [his sister-in-law] Evelyn Elizabeth Gordon Countess Ancaster [aged 74] died.
On 26th June 1922 [his brother-in-law] Charles Gordon 11th Marquess Huntly [aged 75] and Charlotte Jane Fallon Marchioness of Huntly were married. She by marriage Marchioness Huntly. He the son of Charles Gordon 10th Marquess Huntly and [his mother-in-law] Maria Antoinetta Pegus Marchioness Huntly.
In 1927 [his brother-in-law] Victor Albert Francis Spencer 1st Viscount Churchill [aged 62] and [his sister] Verena Maud Lowther Viscountess Churchill Wychwood [aged 61] were divorced.
In 1928 Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale [aged 70] was appointed 875th Knight of the Garter by King George V of the United Kingdom [aged 62]..
On 20th February 1937 [his brother-in-law] Charles Gordon 11th Marquess Huntly [aged 89] died. His great nephew Douglas [aged 29] succeeded 12th Marquess Huntly, 17th Earl Huntley, 8th Earl Aboyne.
On 12th May 1941 [his wife] Grace Cecilie Gordon Countess Lonsdale [aged 86] died.
On 13th April 1944 Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale [aged 87] died. His brother Lancelot [aged 76] succeeded 6th Earl Lonsdale, 7th Viscount Lowther, 7th Baron Lowther.
Kings Wessex: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 22 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 28 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 23 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 24 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 31 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 26 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 29 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Lowther 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Christopher Lowther
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Lowther 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Lowther 1st Earl Lonsdale
GrandFather: Henry Cecil Lowther 13 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Fane of Brympton 
9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Fane 8th Earl of Westmoreland 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Scrope 
9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fane 9th Earl of Westmoreland 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Swymmer
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Swymmer Countess Westmoreland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Augusta Fane Countess Lonsdale 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Bertie 1st Duke Ancaster and Kesteven 
10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Montagu Bertie 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Albinia Farington Duchess Ancaster and Kesteven
Great x 2 Grandmother: Augusta Bertie 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Piers
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Piers
Father: Henry Lowther 3rd Earl Lonsdale 14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bennet Sherard of Whissendine
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Sherard 2nd Earl Harborough 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Fairfax 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Sherard 4th Earl Harborough 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Pedley
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Pedley Countess Harborough
Great x 4 Grandmother: Frances Apreece
Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Sherard 5th Earl Harborough 12 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Lucy Eleanor Sherard 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Hugh Cecil Lowther 5th Earl Lonsdale 15 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England