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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Baldachin is in Architectural Detail.
Baldachin. A canopy over an altar, tomb, or throne. The original meaning of 'baldachin' is a silk cloth from Baghdad (baldacco in Italian). A baldacchino is supported by columns and can be portable or fixed
After 1674. St Mary's Church, Chirk [Map]. Monument to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle and Maria Napier by John Bushnell of London. Life sized busts of Sir Thomas and his wife Maria flanked by obelisks carrying flaming urns. Black field curtained from a baldachin. The pedestalled busts stand on a moulded shelf, bracketed by a wide strapwork panel with a central Latin inscription, added in 1722.
Maria Napier: she was born to Robert Napier 1st Baronet and Mary Robinson. Before 2nd November 1624 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle and she were married. In 1674 she died.
After 1675. St Mary's Church, Chirk [Map]. Monument to Elizabeth Wilbraham Lady Myddelton (deceased) wife of Thomas Myddelton 2nd Baronet (age 24). She died in childbirth, the child days later. Monument by John Bushnell of London. Reclining figure of Elizabeth Myddleton suckling an infant, set in front of a draped black panel flanked by pedestalled urns, the drapery eminating from a baldachin, heads each side, and crowned by arms. Below the shelf a cushioned panel in a strapwork cartouche, set in front of a lower shelf with a fullsome inscription, all also added in 1722.
Elizabeth Wilbraham Lady Myddelton: Around 1653 she was born to Thomas Wilbraham 3rd Baronet and Elizabeth Mytton Lady Wilbrahim. Before 1675 Thomas Myddelton 2nd Baronet and she were married. She by marriage Lady Myddelton of Chirk Castle. In 1675 Elizabeth Wilbraham Lady Myddelton died in childbirth.
After 29th April 1714. St Michael's Church, Stowe Nine Churches [Map]. Monument to Thomas Turner (deceased). Sculpted by Thomas Stayner (age 49). Baldachin. Drapery. Baroque. The figure on the left is Faith who holds a model of a circular church. The figure on the right is Thomas Turner. Segmental Pediment. Moulded Cornice.
