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: Gould
On 25th April 1726 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet was born. He was educated at Westminster School [Map] and Christ Church College, Oxford University reciving BA in 1747 and MA in 1750.
In 1758 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 31] and Jane Morgan [aged 27] were married.
On 4th February 1760 [his son] Charles Gould aka Morgan 2nd Baronet was born to Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 33] and [his wife] Jane Morgan [aged 29]. He married 1791 Mary Margaret or Magdalen Stoney and had issue.
In 1778 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 51] was elected MP Brecon which seat he held until 1787.
On 5th May 1779 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 53] was knighted.
In 1781 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 54] was appointed Bailiff to the board of the Bedford Level Corporation which position he held for life.
In 1782 [his son] John Gould was killed at the Battle of Saintes.
In 1787 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 60] was elected MP Breconshire which seat he held until 1806.
In 1791 [his son] Charles Gould aka Morgan 2nd Baronet [aged 30] and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Margaret or Magdalen Stoney were married.
On 27th June 1792 [his brother-in-law] John Morgan [aged 50] died. His sister [his wife] Jane Morgan [aged 61] and her husband Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 66] and inherited Tredegar House, Monmouthshire on condition he changed his name from Gould to Morgan which he did by royal licence on 20th November 1792. His children including [his son] Charles Gould aka Morgan 2nd Baronet [aged 32] also changed their surname.
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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On 30th October 1792 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 66] was created 1st Baronet Morgan of Tredegar.
In 1797 [his wife] Jane Morgan [aged 66] died.
On 7th December 1806 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet [aged 80] died at Tredegar House, Monmouthshire. His son Charles [aged 46] succeeded 2nd Baronet Morgan of Tredegar.
In 1807 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet succeeded his father Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet as Bailiff to the board of the Bedford Level Corporation which position he held until 1827.
In 1816 Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of his investment in agricultural improvements.
[his son] John Gould was born to Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet and Jane Morgan.
[his daughter] Elizabeth Gould was born to Charles Gould aka Morgan 1st Baronet and Jane Morgan. She married Rowley Lascelles and had issue.