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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St Marcella's Church, Denbigh is in Denbighshire.
St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map] is dedicated to a saint from the 7th century, which according to tradition was supposed to have a hermitage with a holy well in this place. It was such an important place for the local population that even though it was a kilometer away from the town center, it was always a parish church for Denbigh. The current church was established by Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln at the turn of the C13/C14; the church is first mentioned in the Norwich Taxation of 1291. The present building is largely the result of a late Perpendicular remodelling of c1500 and includes a tall, contemporary (or perhaps marginally later) W tower. The church is also known as the White Church aka Whitchurch.
1563. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. A Copy of an Act for the Translating of the Bible and the Divine Service into Welsh promoted through Parliament by Humphrey Lhuyd (age 36) in 1563.
On 31st December 1565 Jane Dryhurst (age 40) died. Brass memorial at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
On 31st August 1568 Humphrey Llwyd aka Lluyd (age 41) died. He was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Victorian Monument to Humphrey Llwyd 1527-1568. Prie-Dieu.
On 8th February 1575 Richard Myddelton (age 66) died. Brass memorial at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Richard Myddelton: Before 1509 he was born to Fulke Myddelton of Llansannan. In 1541 Richard Myddelton and Jane Dryhurst were married. They had nine sons and seven daughters. In 1542 Richard Myddelton was elected MP Denbigh Boroughs. In 1563 Humphrey Llwyd aka Lluyd lived at Denbigh Castle by permission of Sir John Salusbury [Note. Some sources say Richard Myddelton] who was then the Lord of the Manor of Denbigh.
In 1578 John Salusbury (age 59) died. He was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Monument to John Salusbury and Jane Myddelton (age 88) erected by his wife in 1588. Dress Folds at Feet. Richard and Gabriel Royley of Burton-upon-Trent. Bongrace.
John Salusbury: In 1519 he was born to Roger Salusbury. Before 1578 John Salusbury and Jane Myddelton were married. In 1578 John Salusbury died. He was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Jane Myddelton: In 1500 she was born to David Myddelton. In 1588 Jane Myddelton died.
After 1693 St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Memorial to Mary Drihurst, daughter of Hugh Drihurst of Denbigh, who married John Roberts of Denbigh.
On 12th June 1705 or 15th June 1705 Thomas Davies of Denbigh (age 51) died. He was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Thomas Davies of Denbigh: Around 1654 he was born. Before 12th June 1705 Thomas Davies of Denbigh and
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 7th October 1710 Hester Salusbury (age 73) died. She was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Hester Salusbury: In 1637 she was born to Thomas Salusbury 2nd Baronet and Hester Tyrrell Lady Salusbury. Around 1666 Robert Cotton 1st Baronet and she were married. They had five sons and eleven daughters and over one hundred grandchildren. On 23rd May 1684 John Salusbury 4th Baronet died. Baronet Salusbury of Lleweni in Denbighshire extinct. His sister Hester Salusbury and her husband Robert Cotton 1st Baronet inherited his estates. Combermere Papers. After 23rd September 1685. By an act of kindness unusual on the part of James II Sir Robert was allowed the society of one of his family within the Tower He chose his fourth son Thomas a boy of eleven years old and beguiled the tedium of captivity by teaching him to read. Lady Cotton not being allowed to share her husband's imprisonment used to walk every day at a certain hour on Tower Hill till she learnt by an agreed signal hung out from a window that her husband was well. After a short delay Sir Robert was released the charge made against him having been found to be groundless. That there were however letters although perhaps not treasonable from the Electress Sophia we learn from Mrs Piozzi who when a child saw some of this correspondence. She was too young to recollect anything about the contents but was afterwards told that they were full of Latin quotations. In accordance with what seems to have been a family mania for the destruction of papers Lord Combermere's father burnt the letters in question
On 12th January 1713 Robert Cotton 1st Baronet was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map] next to his wife Hester Salusbury.
After 1717. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Monument to the Shaw family.
On 16th August 1744 Anne m Thomas Davies (age 84) died. She was buried at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
In 1774 Robert Salusbury (age 51) died. Memorial at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Robert Salusbury: Around 1723 he was born to Norfolk Salusbury. Before 10th September 1756 Robert Salusbury and Gwenilian Davis were married.
After 1784. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Monument to the Clough family.
In 1789 Gwenilian Davis died. Memorial at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
Gwenilian Davis: she was born to Ellis Davis of Nantyrerwheidd in Merionethshire.
In 1791 John Salusbury (age 33) died. Memorial at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map].
John Salusbury: Around 1758 he was born to Robert Salusbury and Gwenilian Davis.
After 1791. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Monument to the Heaton family.
After 1793. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Grave slab of the Pannell family.
After 1802. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Grave slab of Margaret Edwards.
After April 1810. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Grave of poet Thomas Edwards aka Twm o'r Nant.
After 1st July 1836. St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map]. Grave of Reverend Edward Jones. Headmaster of Ruthin Grammar School for 23 Years.
On 3rd September 1913 Jeanette Octavia Cliff (age 55) died. She was buried at, and/or has a memorial, at St Marcella's Church, Denbigh [Map] sculpted by Albert Toft (age 51).
Jeanette Octavia Cliff: On 17th February 1858 she was born to William Cliff. On 20th July 1892 Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Ward and she were married. On 28th October 1902 Lieutenant-Colonel John Foster Manifold and Amy Mary Cliff were married at the Mother Church at Hawarden, Flintshire. Her sister Jeanette Octavia Cliff was a witness, as well as Walter Andrew Urquart and Augustus (Augusta?) Hodges.
