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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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Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle 1586-1666

Paternal Family Tree: Middleton

On 18th February 1584 [his father] Thomas Myddelton of Chirk [aged 34] and [his mother] Hester Saltonstall [aged 29] were married.

In 1586 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle was born to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk [aged 36] and Hester Saltonstall [aged 31].

In 1587 [his mother] Hester Saltonstall [aged 32] died.

Before 25th March 1588 [his father] Thomas Myddelton of Chirk [aged 38] and Jane aka Elizabeth Danvers [aged 45] were married.

In 1598 [his uncle] Hugh Myddelton 1st Baronet [aged 38] and Elizabeth Olmstead were married. She the step-daughter of his brother Thomas Myddelton of Chirk [aged 48] who had married her mother Jane aka Elizabeth Danvers [aged 55]. They had fifteen children, of whom only three sons and four daughters appear to have survived their father.

On 22nd February 1605 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 19] matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford University.

In 1607 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 21] became a student at Gray's Inn.

On 10th February 1617 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 31] was knighted.

In 1624 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 38] was elected MP Weymouth and Melcombe Regis which seat he held until 1625.

Before 2nd November 1624 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 38] and Maria Napier were married.

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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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On 2nd November 1624 [his son] Thomas Myddelton 1st Baronet was born to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 38] and [his wife] Maria Napier. He married 1. before 1651 Maria Cholmondeley and had issue 2. after 1658 Jane Trevor.

In 1625 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 39] was elected MP Denbigh.

Around 1625 [his daughter] Sarah Myddelton was born to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 39] and [his wife] Maria Napier. She married 1654 Richard Wynn 4th Baronet, son of Owen Wynn 3rd Baronet and Grace Williams, and had issue.

In 1631 [his son] Richard Myddelton was born to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 45] and [his wife] Maria Napier.

On 12th August 1631 [his father] Thomas Myddelton of Chirk [aged 81] died. Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 45] inherited Chirk Castle [Map].

In 1640 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 54] was elected MP Denbigh which seat he held until 1648.

11th June 1643. Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 57] was appointed sergeant-major-general for North Wales.

On 10th August 1643 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 57] reached Nantwich, Cheshire [Map] where he was joined by William Brereton 1st Baronet [aged 38]. The proceeded on 4th September 1643 to Market Drayton, Shropshire, Wem, Shropshire on 11th September 1643, which they seized, garrisoned and made their Shropshire headquarters.

In 1646 John Edisbury [aged 38] became Steward of Chirkland under Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 60].

Before 1651 [his son] Thomas Myddelton 1st Baronet [aged 26] and [his daughter-in-law] Maria Cholmondeley [aged 22] were married.

In 1651 [his son-in-law] Edward Herbert 3rd Baron Herbert of Cherbury [aged 18] and [his daughter] Ann Myddelton were married.

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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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In 1654 [his son-in-law] Richard Wynn 4th Baronet [aged 29] and [his daughter] Sarah Myddelton [aged 29] were married.

After 1658 [his son] Thomas Myddelton 1st Baronet [aged 33] and [his daughter-in-law] Jane Trevor were married.

Around 1660 [his daughter] Ann Myddelton died.

On 13th July 1663 Thomas Myddelton 1st Baronet [aged 38] died. His son Thomas [aged 12] succeeded 2nd Baronet Myddelton of Chirk Castle.

In 1666 Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle [aged 80] died.

In 1674 [his former wife] Maria Napier died.

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.

[his daughter] Ann Myddelton was born to Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle and Maria Napier. She married 1651 Edward Herbert 3rd Baron Herbert of Cherbury, son of Richard Herbert 2nd Baron Herbert of Cherbury and Mary Egerton Baroness Herbert of Cherbury.

Ancestors of Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle 1586-1666

Great x 2 Grandfather: David Myddelton

Great x 1 Grandfather: Fulke Myddelton of Llansannan

Grandfather: Richard Myddelton

Father: Thomas Myddelton of Chirk

Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh Dryhurst of Denbigh

Grandmother: Jane Dryhurst

Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle

Great x 1 Grandfather: Gilbert Saltonstall

Grandfather: Richard Saltonstall

Mother: Hester Saltonstall

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Poyntz of South Ockendon

Grandmother: Suzanna Poyntz